Nick Murray's statement, "Wealth isn't primarily determined by investment performance, but by investor behavior," emphasizes the significance of investor behavior in achieving financial success. Here's a breakdown of what he likely means:
Murray's statement implies that even with a portfolio of investments with strong performance potential, investors may undermine their wealth accumulation efforts if they exhibit poor behavior—such as panic selling during market downturns, constantly changing investment strategies, or failing to stay disciplined with long-term investment plans.
The statement underscores the importance of disciplined, rational, and informed investor behavior. Even with average investment returns, investors who exhibit good behavior—such as staying invested long-term, avoiding emotional decisions, and adhering to a well-thought-out investment plan—are more likely to build wealth over time than those who let emotions or short-term market fluctuations dictate their actions.