General information only, not medical, legal, tax, or investment advice. Consult a qualified professional.

“Guaranteed high returns” is a no

Best valueCost: freeEffect: largeEvidence C

In one line

If the same sentence promises a high return and a principal that cannot fall, decline before the pitch finishes. “I’ll try a small amount” is still a way in.

What it costs

Free. You pause when you hear the phrase.

What you get

A promised high return often skips the risk. The book quoted a Chinese regulator’s 6% / 8% / 10% rule of thumb. That local context was removed, and the grade is now C.

How strong the evidence is

C. What the grades mean

Source

Habit generalized from book item 5-6. Not investment advice.

Watch-outs

No product, company, or account is recommended. The same phrase is a no inside a Japanese NISA or iDeCo, and inside a U.S. 401(k) or IRA.

Adapted from HowToLiveBetter item 5-6.

Next habit

Best value

Among similar funds, pick the lower fee

A fee that is 1 point higher each year leaves you about 18% less after 20 years and about 26% less after 30, if the pre-fee return is the same.

Cost: freeEffect: largeEvidence C

Best value

Don’t buy pricey supplements to “fix” the body

A bigger box does not turn the contents into medicine. If you want to show care, food or a trip to the clinic connects to the rest of the book better than a tonic.

Cost: freeEffect: largeEvidence C

Best value