Against all odds, 2020 has been a fantastic year in the stock market. Year to date, the S&P 500 is up more than 14%. And if you were smart enough to buy during the downturn in March or the recovery this spring, you are likely sitting on some big gains. But buying is the easy part... even if you looked disaster in the face as stocks were tanking and had the guts to buy during that crazy time. Buying is always easier than selling. When we buy stocks or other investments, we feel hope and optimism. It's a pleasant experience. We may even daydream about what we'll do with our profits. Selling is the opposite. If we're selling for a loss, we are acknowledging that we were wrong and taking an action that will cause pain. That is very difficult to do from an emotional standpoint. But even if we're selling for a win, big ones included, it removes those positive emotions we had when we bought. We'll always question whether we're getting out too early and leaving more gains on the table. Making the decision to sell is just plain hard. That's why I try to never let my emotions play a role in my selling decision. I have an exit plan from the moment I enter a trade because emotions will almost always lead you down the wrong path. You'll justify why you should stay in longer than you otherwise would have or bail too quickly. | 
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