Common investment mistakes to watch out for

Current returns will continue
An assumption often adopted by investors is that current returns and economic conditions are a guide for the future. As a result, regardless of whether times are good or bad, investors expect results to persist.

Trusting the experts
Experts get things right but they also get things wrong. "The grander the forecast, the greater need for skepticism," the note said, stating that the value-add coming from experts should be in providing investors with a better understanding of issues rather than making predictions.

Letting strong views get in the way
There's a difference between being right and making money

Looking too much
Checking one's investments too many times can result in overexposure to market noise, which can cause investors to act in an irrational manner, the note said. The solution to this is to practise patience, which should allow investors to look beyond short term market movements.

Timing the market
"Without a tried and tested asset allocation process, trying to … sell before falls and buy ahead of gains is very difficult."Investors tend to hurt their own returns when they attempt to avoid the worst days in the markets as they either "get out after the bad returns have occurred (or get in) just in time to miss out on some of the best days,"