Investing Sayings: Wisdom or Outdated Myths?

Investing jargon and market “rules” are everywhere—think “Sell in May and go away,” “Don’t catch a falling knife,” or “Buy the dip.” They sound clever, but do they actually stand up to scrutiny—or could they be leading everyday investors astray? 

As I shared with Kiplinger, catchy phrases like “Sell in May and go away” are a perfect example of the rhyme-as-reason effect, a cognitive bias where we believe ideas simply because they sound memorable. In reality, trusting old Wall Street adages can actually lock you out of gains or push you into unnecessary risk. Historical data shows the stock market often rises in summer months, and attempting to time moves based on slogans like this is rarely a winning approach for a retirement or long-term portfolio.

Our brains are wired to latch onto stories and patterns—especially when market headlines are blaring. But as I told Kiplinger, long-term investing success still comes back to the fundamentals: patience, discipline, diversification, and a plan you’ll stick with in both rough waters and sunny days. It’s easy to fall for market proverbs, but over the long haul, markets reward prepared and patient investors far more than those chasing the next market “secret.” If you’re ready to cut through the noise and focus on strategies grounded in evidence (not slogans), let’s connect for objective, practical advice—so your plan stays focused on your future, not on Wall Street folklore.