Pundit or Professional?
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.
