If you self invest in shares when do you sell?

[Mortgageportgage]

Having a debate with DH. He's in the "hold them for ever" mindset, and I'm more willing to put the admin time in and sell once a % has been made, say 40%, then invest in something else.

What do you do?

Time in the market beats timing the market every time.

Having said that, balancing your portfolio of extraordinary gainers to reduce your risk exposure is a good practice. Think Tesla 10x etc.

Or dead losers that you know are really in trouble and want recover. Better to cut losses. Mine for example, Zoom.

I'm definitely in the hold long term camp though. 5+ years at least.

@BasicDad that's interesting. I've one investment that's risen 83%, and another by about 60% due to potential buy outs. If the buy out doesn't happen the price will presumably plunge again....you still wouldn't sell even in that circumstance?

Could you take some profits and keep the rest in? It can be a nice way of hedging if you're not sure.

@Trumporange agreed

Taking profits is the way, not selling up. Balance the risk/exposure instead of trying to time the sweet spot.

And it all entirely depends. I've ridden the NVDA wave since 2017. MSFT since 2015. NVDA is a fair bit riskier but I've not taken profits, as I know the market well and I see a foreseeable future for GPU in the age of GenAI. MSFT is a power house, and I don't think I'll sell up...in fact keep buying.

I had a positive experience top slicing with Oca as an example.

Sold out of too much NVDA!Still in there somewhat and might buy a shade more again.

But back to the OP, I'd definitely suggest you bank some or all your profits and leave the original amount invested again.

I am mixed and have good steady vanguard funds but a small amount was invested in Scottish mortgage.

It soared due to tesla stocks and I'm kicking myself that I didn't sell it when it got really high and either kept it as cash or reinvested in the safety Vanguard.

But... It's a lesson well learned

Mstf??

You will find that most people who try to time the market and sell when they are up, leave lots of money on the table as they sell and the price keeps going up and up. It depends on the reason for the stock rise really.

Sometimes the question you should ask is “would I buy it now at this price?”