Investing 101: Know what you own

Peter Lynch is an investing legend. (Image: Getty)

Sat, 02 Nov 2024

World-renowned investor Peter Lynch famously coined the mantra: “Know what you own and know why you own it.”Lynch took over the Magellan Fund at Fidelity in Boston when he was 33. It had US$20 million (NZ$33.4m) in assets, and he grew it to US$14 billion, achieving an average annual return of 29.2%. He retired at 46, is worth half a billion US dollars, remains Fidelity's vice chair, and gives lots of money to charities. What an investing legend. Now, this is the important part of this opinion piece. Read. It. Slowly.Th...

Subscribe to BusinessDesk

Stay informed on business, government and financial developments across New Zealand.

Stay informed on business, government and financial developments across New Zealand.
Deeply researched, twice-edited and fact-checked news
Annual subscribers also receive a complimentary subscription to The Wall Street Journal
Personalised email news alerts, plus gift up to 5 stories a month to non-subscribers

You can cancel anytime with two clicks, an email or a phone call.
Find out more.

We are serious about journalism.

Name {{ registerForm.errors.get('name') }}

Email address {{ registerForm.errors.get('email') }}

Phone Number {{ registerForm.errors.get('phone') }}

Job Title {{ registerForm.errors.get('title') }}

Password Minimum password length of 8 characters.
Require at least one upper and lowercase, numeric, and special character. {{ registerForm.errors.get('password') }}

Repeat password {{ registerForm.errors.get('password_confirmation') }}

We had trouble validating your card. It's possible your card provider is preventing us from charging the card. Please contact your card provider or customer support.

Credit Card

Cardholder's name

{{ __(plans[index].name) | capitalize }} {{ plans[index].attributes.old_price | currency }} {{ plans[index].price | currency }}

All subscriptions auto renew but are easy to cancel.

I Accept The Terms Of Service

{{ registerForm.errors.get('terms') }}

Tax: {{ taxAmount(selectedPlan) | currency }}

Total Price Including Tax: {{ priceWithTax(selectedPlan) | currency }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerSeat ? '/ '+ spark.seatName : '' }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerTeam ? '/ '+ __('teams.team') : '' }} / {{ __(selectedPlan.interval) | capitalize }}

The Quiz Free

QuiznessDesk, Wednesday, March 26

Can you beat the Quizmaster?

The Quizmaster 9:15am

Property

Graeme Hart owed over failed housing venture

The billionaire put a caveat on a St Heliers property now up for mortgagee sale.

Maria Slade 5:00am

Graeme Hart owed over failed housing venture

Economy

US tariffs will ‘squeeze, not choke, growth’

Uncertainty and weak domestic demand delay NZ’s recovery

Rebecca Howard 5:00am

US tariffs will ‘squeeze, not choke, growth’

Sponsored

“Extraordinary” uptake for Auckland’s new growth hub

63% of lots at Spedding Road precinct sold ahead of completion.

Spedding Road

Sponsored

Research shows AI-based attacks causing concern and senior leaders overestimating cybersecurity readiness

Research highlights from Datacom’s State of Cybersecurity Index show AI-based attacks are top of mind and senior leaders might be overestimating their organisations’ readiness to recover from cyber incidents.

Datacom