Investing in 2026: A Plan You Can Stick With - motley-fool-money Recap

Podcast: motley-fool-money

Published: 2026-01-01

Duration: 23 minutes

Summary

The episode provides insights into developing a sustainable investing strategy for 2026, focusing on learning from past mistakes and adopting resilient habits for consistent growth.

What Happened

The episode kicks off with Jason Hall and his co-hosts, Dan Caplinger and Jon Quast, discussing the perennial challenge of sticking to New Year's resolutions, particularly in investing. Jon Quast humorously admits to never making resolutions, preferring to adjust his investing strategy as needed rather than waiting for the new year. He shares his early disdain for investing in risky companies, which led him to adopt a 'barbell strategy' that balances safer investments with riskier ones.

The hosts delve into common investing pitfalls, with Jon recounting his experience of investing more money into falling stocks without a solid thesis, despite his rule to wait for improvements. This leads to a discussion on the importance of adaptability in investing, as Dan Caplinger highlights the need to accept failures and learn from them, rather than giving up entirely.

Dan shares his personal struggle with timing investments, using Dollar General as an example of a stock he finally purchased after initially feeling too late. He emphasizes the importance of staying objective and not rushing into investments during a company's struggles, a lesson he learned from past experiences.

Jon discusses prioritizing investments in companies he genuinely loves, citing the psychological advantage it provides in holding through downturns. He mentions companies like NVIDIA, AMD, and Celsius, which have experienced significant drops yet remained top performers.

The conversation shifts to the importance of setting measurable goals in investing, rather than vague aspirations. Jason Hall shares his strategy of delaying earnings reviews to avoid the noise of market reactions, allowing for a more objective assessment of his core holdings.

Dan Caplinger introduces the idea of a joint stock account with his spouse, which has performed better due to a more balanced approach and less meddling. This account serves as a core portfolio, giving him the freedom to take calculated risks elsewhere.

The hosts wrap up by sharing personal habits that help them stick to their investing plans. Jon Quast emphasizes the psychological benefit of starting with small investments to overcome the hurdle of initial commitment. Meanwhile, Jason Hall appreciates the discipline imposed by The Motley Fool's disclosure policy, keeping him aligned with sound investment principles.

Key Insights