We see this question a lot. Sometimes it’s framed as “the fastest,” “the safest,” or “the one that’ll grow the most.” At the core, they’re all really asking the same thing: what has the highest total expected return? And that’s where the problem starts — because it’s not a useful question. There’s no universal answer. You’ve got the baseline — the market portfolio, essentially “owning everything.” A globally diversified ETF like XEQT is just an attempt to approximate that. From there, anyone trying to “beat the market” is making a judgment call on which stocks or funds they believe will outperform. But here’s the catch: if everyone could easily identify the obvious winners, they wouldn’t be winners for long. Prices move quickly to reflect that information. If a group of investors on Blossom could all consistently beat the market by 10%, that would mean another group is collectively underperforming by 10%. That’s not how markets work — obvious edges get competed away. That’s also why past performance isn’t predictive. You’ll hear lines like: “This fund beat that one the last 3 years. Numbers don’t lie.” “It’s been working great for me so far.” They sound convincing, but they’re not well-informed takes. The reasons it outperformed are already reflected in today’s price. What worked before won’t stay an easy edge. Another trap: assuming prices reflect what average retail investors think. They don’t. Whether you or I buy or sell a few shares barely makes a blip. Markets are shaped by massive pools of capital, not small investors picking blue chips on their phones. So what should you do instead of asking for ticker symbols? Focus on why. Understand the thesis behind a stock or ETF, and evaluate it for yourself. That’s how you learn — not by chasing someone else’s shortcut.
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54 Comments
Carter the Investing Cat@takoyaro · 1yr
I also think people approach investing the wrong way. Instead of chasing the highest gains and yields, they should define a reasonable rate of return for themselves and use that as a goal. For me, my target is 9%. If I can achieve that every year, I double my portfolio every 8 years. I don’t need to compare to someone who gets 15% or 20% in a year. I’m happy for them, but I don’t need that risk. The right questions should be: what kind of return do I need? And how can I build a portfolio so I reach that annually?
Mr Financial
@mr.financial · 1yr
That's a great way to frame the topic! Valuations matter. And in a ever more efficient market, those prices get baked in mighty fast. Growth stocks are expensive. Why? The expected growth is priced in. Value stocks are cheaper than the fundamentals say. Why? The unfavorable growth is priced in. These basic concepts are hard to grasp. Of course, assets may be mispriced for a moment. True deals never really last. The deal is usually just in the investors belief that it is being undervalued.
Catherine
@ffcatherine · 1yr
Great points! Each individual should do their own research & figure out their own timeline & needs or goals & beliefs with their own portfolio It’s okay to reach out & ask for a few suggestions a to start researching but when someone says “what’s the best stock” or what’s the difference between A& B (first show us that you’ve researched the basic & then get some guidance to finish your final decision that’ll work for you
EVID Wealth@evidwealth · 1yrEdited
Great breakdown 👏 And I think it’s also worth pointing out that even something like $XEQT or $VT isn’t a true representation of the full market portfolio 🌍. The theoretical market portfolio includes everything: global equities 🌎, bonds 💵, private credit 🏦, private equity 🤝, real estate 🏠, commodities 🏅, crypto 🤖, even collectibles/art 🎨. By definition, no ETF can actually capture all of that. So when someone invests in $XEQT or $VT, they’re still making an active bet 🎯. Choosing to concentrate in listed equities and exclude other asset classes. That’s an intentional tilt, whether or not the investor frames it that way. Which makes your point even stronger 💡: there’s no single “safest” or “fastest” answer. Every choice! Even a globally diversified ETF, is still a decision about risk, return, and what mix of assets someone believes will get them to their goals 📈.
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