Why Patience Actually Works in Investing
Most people want fast results. They check their portfolios daily, panic during dips, and chase the next big thing. But here's what we've learned after years of watching Canadian investors — the ones who do well aren't the smartest or the luckiest.
They're just more patient.
Our materials focus on building that mindset. Not through vague motivational talk, but through understanding how markets actually move over time. We look at real data from Canadian exchanges, track how businesses grow over decades, and show you what happens when you stop trying to time everything perfectly.
Four Things We Teach That Matter
These aren't complicated strategies. They're observations from watching people make and lose money in Canadian markets since the early 2000s.
Time Beats Timing
You can't predict market tops or bottoms consistently. Nobody can. But you can stay invested through cycles and let compound growth do its work.
Example: Someone who invested in the TSX Composite in early 2009 and just held on saw their portfolio grow substantially by 2024, despite multiple crashes and corrections along the way.
Emotions Are Expensive
Selling when you're scared and buying when you're excited is how most investors underperform. Our materials help you recognize these patterns in yourself before they cost you money.
We break down actual behavioral mistakes from 2020's pandemic crash and 2022's inflation fears — real decisions people regretted later.
Diversification Isn't Boring
Spreading investments across sectors and geographies feels unexciting compared to betting big on one stock. But it's what keeps you in the game when things go wrong.
Canadian energy stocks taught everyone this lesson in 2014. Those who had only oil exposure suffered badly. Diversified portfolios recovered faster.
Learning Costs Less Than Mistakes
Every investor pays tuition to the market somehow. You can pay through losses, or you can learn from other people's losses first. We prefer the second option.
Our case studies cover everything from cannabis stock hype in 2018 to tech bubble 2.0 in 2021 — so you understand the warning signs next time.
Two Approaches, Different Results
We tracked two hypothetical investors over ten years. Same starting capital, same access to Canadian markets. The only difference? Their approach to patience and discipline.
This comparison appears in our advanced materials, but it's based on real trading patterns we've observed across hundreds of portfolios managed in British Columbia and beyond.
Stellan Viklund
Active trader, frequent portfolio changes
Tamsin Kershaw
Patient investor, minimal adjustments
Soren Lynge
Balanced approach with research focus
| Investment Approach | Active Trading | Patient Holding | Researched Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trades Per Year | 45-60 transactions | 3-5 transactions | 12-18 transactions |
| Portfolio Turnover | Complete turnover 2-3 times | Holds most positions multi-year | Selective adjustments quarterly |
| Market Timing Attempts | Frequent entry/exit decisions | Ignores short-term movements | Waits for clear opportunity signals |
| Emotional Response | High stress during volatility | Comfortable with fluctuations | Uses volatility strategically |
| Transaction Costs | Significant commission impact | Minimal cost drag | Moderate cost consideration |
| Tax Efficiency | High short-term capital gains | Defers gains, pays lower rates | Plans around tax implications |