From Investor to Trader: Why Patience is Tough

Many people start out wanting to invest like Warren Buffett, buying safe blue-chip stocks and holding them for years to minimize risk. The idea is simple: buy strong stocks and wait. But sticking to this plan is much harder than it sounds.

When the market drops and stock prices fall, it’s hard to stay calm. Watching your portfolio go down can make you impatient, even if you know prices might recover. It’s tempting to sell and avoid further losses.

At the same time, you see other stocks going up fast, and the fear of missing out (FOMO) kicks in. You might decide to sell your long-term investments and chase these stocks instead.

This is why many people who start as investors end up becoming traders. In the end, being a long-term investor takes more patience and discipline than most people realize.