Mental accounting can impact investment strategies from "summary" of Beyond Greed and Fear:Understanding Behavioral Finance and the Psychology of Investing by Hersh Shefrin
Mental accounting refers to the tendency for individuals to mentally categorize their money into separate accounts based on various criteria, such as the source of the funds or the intended use. This can impact investment strategies in several ways. One way mental accounting can influence investment decisions is through the creation of arbitrary boundaries between different accounts. For example, an individual may have a separate account for retirement savings and a separate account for discretionary spending. This can lead to suboptimal investment decisions, as the individual may be more likely to take risks with the discretionary account while being overly conservative with the retirement account. Furthermore, mental accounting can lead to an overemphasis on short-term gains or losses, rather than taking a more holistic view of one's overall investment portfolio. This can result in individuals making impulsive investment decisions based on emotional reactions to short-term market fluctuations, rather than sticking to a long-term investment strategy. Additionally, mental accounting can also result in individuals failing to take advantage of opportunities to diversify their investment portfolios. For example, an individual may have separate mental accounts for stocks, bonds, and real estate, and may be reluctant to reallocate funds between these accounts even if doing so would result in a more balanced and diversified portfolio.- Mental accounting can impact investment strategies by influencing how individuals allocate their funds, make investment decisions, and manage risk. By being aware of the potential pitfalls of mental accounting, investors can strive to make more rational and informed investment decisions that take into account their overall financial goals and objectives.
