pundit

What’s the best source of financial advice?  A pundit or a professional?  Charlie Bilello, the Director of Research at Pension Partners, provides this perspective-building comparison so you can make the right choice:

Pundit (noun): A supposed expert in a particular field who is frequently called on to give opinions to the public. See also Dennis Gartman.

Professional (noun): A person competent or skilled in a particular activity. See also John Bogle.

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The Pundit spends their days making subjective predictions.

The Professional spends their days making objective assessments.

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The Pundit seeks self-promotion.

The Professional seeks self-improvement.

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The Pundit exudes hubris.

The Professional exudes humility.

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The Pundit is forever calling for the next big melt-up or crash.

The Professional is forever focused on avoiding the next big mistake.

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The Pundit seeks out only opinions that confirm their views.

The Professional seeks out all evidence, even if it runs contrary to their views.

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The Pundit believes they know everything.

The Professional knows they know nothing.

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The Pundit makes a living selling fear and greed.

The Professional makes a living helping to control these emotions.

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The Pundit has a sense of entitlement.

The Professional has a sense of gratitude.

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The Pundit seeks to inform.

The Professional seeks to educate.

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The Pundit makes extreme forecasts to gain attention.

The Professional forecasts wide ranges of possible outcomes to gain respect.

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The Pundit thinks in terms of long or short, this market or that market.

The Professional thinks in terms of asset allocation and the entire portfolio.

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The Pundit believes in certainty, conviction, and precision.

The Professional believes in uncertainty, reservation, and probabilities.

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The Pundit reads the news and listens to financial TV.

The Professional reads books and listens to podcasts.

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The Pundit sees everything in markets as black or white.

The Professional understands there is often a gray area.

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The Pundit makes the simple sound complex.

The Professional makes the complex sound simple.

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The Pundit has a prophecy.

The Professional has a plan.

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The Pundit has an answer for every question.

The Professional is often saying “I don’t know.”

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The Pundit is an entertainer.

The Professional is an educator.

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The Pundit gives recommendations.

The Professional offers guidance.

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The Pundit provides a reason for every wiggle in the market.

The Professional provides evidence of randomness and noise.

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The Pundit believes their success is a result of their exceptional talent.

The Professional understands their success is a result of hard work and luck.

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The Pundit lectures.

The Professional listens.

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The Pundit is thinking about the next day.

The Professional is planning for the next decade.

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Pundit or Professional? The choice is yours.