According to the American Heritage Idioms Dictionary, William Camden was the first to record the saying, “The early bird gets the worm.” He included it in his 1605 edition of English proverbs.1 Its straightforward meaning is that the person who arrives or acts first is more likely to get what he wants.
It’s been a guiding principle for anyone seeking something that is scarce and is also being sought by others. So, whether you want treasures at an estate sale, a cheap TV on Black Friday, or Taylor Swift tickets, you better show up early.
But like any proverb, “The early bird gets the worm,” has its limitations. Being the first to market with a product does not necessarily mean that you will own the segment. Apple’s category-dominating iPod came several years after other companies had already introduced MP3 players. And in investing, many “ground floor” opportunities end up losing money.
In fact, sometimes it pays not to be the early bird.
Legendary ventriloquist Edgar Bergen is credited with saying, “The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.”2 It’s the idea that rushing in to be ahead of everyone else can sometimes spell disaster. The first mouse who comes upon a trap baited with a chunk of cheese sees only an opportunity to gain something he wants.
But he’s missing important information—information that becomes available only when he’s sprung the trap. It’s the second mouse, the one who doesn’t immediately take every opportunity at face value, who benefits from the first mouse’s failure.
Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett seems to relish his role as second mouse. In a recent shareholders meeting he said, “What gives you opportunities is other people doing dumb things.”
He added that many investors, some of them big, are constantly trying to outsmart each other. Buffett adds that this “game” is focused almost entirely on immediate profit. This short-term focus can end up leaving much more opportunity for those who are in it for the long run.3
“The world is overwhelmingly short-term focused,” said Buffett. “I mean that it is a world that is made to order for anybody that’s trying to think about what you should do that should work over five or ten or twenty years.”
The powerful emotion that drives the Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) is known as aversion to losing out on something you think you should have been entitled to. It can be difficult to ignore. But when you realize that the worm the early birds are in such a hurry to get may not be at all what they expect, the urge to rush along with them goes away.
As a prudent investor whose goal is not to get rich quick, but rather to grow your wealth prudently, your time horizon is not limited to next week or even next quarter. You are going to want to pursue actions that have the best chance of resulting in success over the long-term.
Having a diverse strategy and the help of a trusted financial advisor can help you avoid the futile pursuit of trying to invest in the next big thing.
If you ever have any questions about your investments or retirement plans, please feel free to give me a call at 801-545-0696.
Regards,
Mark Lund
Stonecreek Wealth Advisors, Inc.
11576 S State Street, Bldg. 1002
Draper, UT 84020
Sources:
1. http://go.pardot.com/e/91522/he-early-bird-catches-the-worm/93tykv/2082973135?h=v-H5aZGYw-DVGcPlj_4vHaGjmCo93sNe8ncvByR73EQ
2. http://go.pardot.com/e/91522/quote-599995/93tyky/2082973135?h=v-H5aZGYw-DVGcPlj_4vHaGjmCo93sNe8ncvByR73EQ
3. http://go.pardot.com/e/91522/ple-doing-dumb-things-647d371a/93tyl2/2082973135?h=v-H5aZGYw-DVGcPlj_4vHaGjmCo93sNe8ncvByR73EQ
Disclosure: This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. All economic and performance data is historical and not indicative of future results. Market indices discussed are unmanaged. Investors cannot invest in unmanaged indices. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This material was prepared by Efficient Advisors, LLC (“EA’) for Mark Lund, Mark is a Financial Advisor in Utah. He is known as a Wealth Advisor, The 401k Advisor, Investor Coach, Financial Planner, Investment Advisor and author of The Effective Investor. Mark offers investment advisory services through Stonecreek Wealth Advisors, Inc. a fiduciary, independent, fee-only, Registered Investment Advisor firm providing investment management and retirement planning for individuals and 401k consulting for small businesses. Mark’s newsletter is called The Effective Investor Newsletter. Cities served in Utah are: Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah County, Park City, Murray City, West Jordan City, Sandy City, Draper City, South Jordan City, Provo City, Orem City, Lehi City, Highland City, Alpine City, American Fork City. The views expressed herein are exclusively those of Efficient Advisors, LLC (‘EA’), and are not meant as investment advice and are subject to change. All charts and graphs are presented for informational and analytical purposes only. No chart or graph is intended to be used as a guide to investing. EA portfolios may contain specific securities that have been mentioned herein. EA makes no claim as to the suitability of these securities. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. Information contained herein is derived from sources we believe to be reliable, however, we do not represent that this information is complete or accurate and it should not be relied upon as such. All opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. This information is prepared for general information only. It does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and the particular needs of any specific person who may receive this report. You should seek financial advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in any security or investment strategy discussed or recommended in this report and should understand that statements regarding future prospects may not be realized. You should note that security values may fluctuate and that each security’s price or value may rise or fall. Accordingly, investors may receive back less than originally invested. Investing in any security involves certain systematic risks including, but not limited to, market risk, interest-rate risk, inflation risk, and event risk. These risks are in addition to any unsystematic risks associated with particular investment styles or strategies.
