It’s easy to feel left behind when you see headlines like:
“This Stock Is Up 300% This Year!”
“Bitcoin Hits Another Record High”
“If You Invested $10,000 Here, You’d Have $1 Million Today!”
These stories stir up a powerful urge — the fear of missing out. But reacting emotionally to market hype can be one of the most damaging mistakes you make with your retirement savings.
At Financial Services of America, we call this behavior chasing the hot dot — jumping into whatever investment is currently making headlines. And it can quietly erode decades of careful planning.
The Temptation of Headlines
Whether it’s cryptocurrencies, artificial intelligence stocks, or the next tech darling, the pattern is the same: once it’s on the news, you’re probably already late to the party.
By the time most investors get in, institutional money is getting out — locking in gains while retail investors shoulder the risk.
These cycles create a false sense of urgency and often lead to buying high and selling low, the opposite of long-term success.
A 65-Year-Old Playing Catch-Up
One of the most concerning situations we see is a pre-retiree who feels “behind” and tries to make up ground by investing aggressively.
One client told us, “I haven’t saved enough, but if this one sector keeps going, I could double my money.”
But by the time a sector gets media attention, the biggest gains have often already been captured — usually by institutional investors. The rest are left taking on risk with limited upside.
For someone approaching retirement, this isn’t strategy — it’s speculation.
High Risk ≠ High Reward (Especially in Retirement)
There’s a common myth that high risk always leads to higher returns. While risky investments may offer more upside, they also carry the potential for devastating losses — often at the worst possible time.
Warren Buffett put it best:
“It’s insane to risk what you have in order to obtain what you don’t need.”
That’s especially true for someone who’s spent decades building a nest egg to support their lifestyle. Why put that at risk for returns you may not need — and may never see?
The Psychology Behind Performance Chasing
Why do even experienced investors fall into this trap?
Recency bias: We assume recent trends will continue indefinitely.
FOMO: We see others making money and don’t want to miss out.
Confirmation bias: We seek out information that supports what we already want to believe.
Overconfidence: We overestimate our ability to pick winners or time the market.
Even professional investors battle these behaviors. That’s why structure and discipline matter so much in retirement planning.
Investing Should Be Boring. Retirement Should Be Exciting.
At FSA, we say it often:
“Your investments should be boring so your retirement can be exciting.”
That means:
Allocating your portfolio according to your goals, not market noise
Maintaining diversification to reduce exposure to any single trend
Rebalancing regularly to avoid overconcentration
Prioritizing steady, tax-efficient income
Protecting against the risks that matter most — like longevity and inflation
This isn’t flashy. It won’t get you on the cover of an investment magazine. But it works — especially when your focus is on financial security and peace of mind.
The Real Opportunity: Better Planning
Want a better return on your time and energy? Consider this:
Saving $50,000 in taxes through smart planning has the same financial impact as earning 5% more on a $1 million portfolio — but with zero additional risk.
Optimizing when and how you take Social Security can boost lifetime income significantly — again, with no market risk.
Adjusting your withdrawal strategy can preserve capital and reduce unnecessary taxes.
In other words: planning pays off more consistently than speculation ever will.
Take the Next Step — with Confidence
If you’ve ever chased a “hot” investment or felt tempted to jump into what’s trending, you’re not alone. But retirement success doesn’t come from timing the market — it comes from aligning your strategy with your values, goals, and stage of life.
You’ve spent years saving and sacrificing. Let’s make sure your money keeps working for you — without chasing the next big thing.