I am so grateful that I know what I know about investing.
This morning, my wife and I went to the gym to swim. Friday tends to be a good day for us, and today didn’t disappoint. We both enjoyed swimming in the pool (and lounging in the jacuzzi). Afterward, I went back in the locker room to change. On the TV, two announcers were discussing the stock market and speculating on the direction it would take. Their loud booming voices suggested this was the pre-game show before a football game. The mood was tense and excited. Green and red numbers indicating gains and losses flashed across the screen. The ominous caption read: “STOCKS HIT SESSION LOW.”
I laughed at that. “Really? That is news? Don’t stocks hit a session low at some point every single day?”
To be fair, TV stock market shows are an easy target for ridicule, because their circus-like hoopla is transparently dramatic. There is nothing wrong with this hyped up infotainment, but I think calling it news misses the mark. Also, I question its value, since many people who watch it probably never have opened a personal finance book or gotten a proper education on investing. Instead, they are fed this vacuous drama, which is so full of detail and yet so lacking in instruction.
Ah well.
I know for myself, as a kid I was introduced to the stock market on the nightly news, which was not so different from what I saw on the show today. Fortunately, as an adult I got myself financially educated, primarily through reading (joining an investing discussion group also helped). It took an immense amount of effort to overcome my ignorance. If I were limited to getting my information from shows like the one I saw today–with its adrenaline-filled, edge-of-your-seats format–I probably would never have gotten very far. The subject would seem too confusing!
I’m glad I went searching for answers that actually help me in my life.
Appreciating financial education!