Why Are You the Only One Losing Money in a Booming Taiwan Stock Market? 6 Fatal Retail Investor Mistakes
The Taiwan Weighted Index surged from a 2020 COVID low of roughly 8,000 points to over 20,000 points in 2024, a gain of more than 150% in four years. Yet according to the Securities Investment Trust and Consulting Association (SITCA), the proportion of Taiwanese retail investors who achieve stable long-term profits is far lower than you imagine. The index rises, but you lose to your own psychology. This article breaks down 6 common retail mistakes, 3 real-account scenarios (including the gap between single-stock picks and broad-market ETFs in 2022), 4 ironclad veto rules, 4 actionable steps, and 2 overlooked Taiwan-specific traps (ETF distribution tax mechanics, and the incentive logic behind relationship-manager recommendations). It also includes a panic playbook for sudden drops of more than 20%. The core line: the index rises, but you lose to your own humanity. Action hint: today, audit every position against the 4 veto rules and rebalance before the next session opens.