Lesson 1 of 3 · 4 min read
FOMO & fear
Two emotions that cost most investors money.
FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out)
When something rises sharply, everyone wants in — often just before the top. Buying out of FOMO means buying at your most expensive.
Panic during declines
When everything is red, you want to sell to stop the pain — often just before the recovery. Selling out of panic means selling at your cheapest.
The plan protects you
A plan set in advance (how much, how often, in what) makes sure you decide with your head, not your emotions.
Stocky says
Write down your rules when things are calm, not when there's panic. 'I invest €X every month and don't sell during declines' — thought out on a calm day — saves you from dumb decisions on a red day.
Meme-stock hype: late entrants lose the most
When GameStop and AMC went viral, thousands jumped in at the top out of FOMO. Those who bought last saw the price fall sharply afterwards — the classic pattern of hype-driven entry.
Remember this
- FOMO makes you buy just before the top — at your most expensive.
- Panic makes you sell just before the recovery — at your cheapest.
- A plan set in advance lets you decide with your head, not your emotions.
- Write down your rules when things are calm, not in the middle of the panic.
There is a quiz for this lesson
2 questions that check whether it stuck. They live in the app, because a quiz nobody grades teaches nothing.
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