Compared using a robo-advisor vs doing my own investing for 18 months - the difference was brutal

I put $5k into a Wealthfront account back in early 2022 and another $5k into my own picks on Fidelity. After tax season I actually sat down and looked at both. The robo-advisor lost like 3% but my own picks were down 17%. I thought I knew what I was doing because I read some subreddits lol. Has anyone else had that humbling moment comparing their DIY returns to something automated?

2 comments

2 Comments

lee_butler23h ago

Haven't we all learned that lesson the hard way (myself included)? The thing is, robots don't get emotional about a stock tanking and panic sell. My self-managed account is basically a monument to overconfidence and bad timing.

blake43217h ago

Did you ever figure out what your biggest trigger was for selling at the wrong time, or is it still a mystery to you? I feel like most people know they're emotional traders but can't pin down the exact moment they break. Asking because I'm trying to get a handle on my own bad habits before I lose another chunk lol.