Recovery from an investing perspective: Why good data matters

We feel better when we are in control because we think that having control equals good outcomes. When it comes to investing at least, that’s totally not true.

The Straits Times just published today that 1 in 2 CPF members who use their funds to invest made less than the guaranteed 2.5%. In short, they would have performed better if they did nothing.

Don’t make the mistakes that people are already making.

This doesn’t mean investing is bad for you.

The investor who chose to enter the market at the worst times (i.e., buy high) and hold could very well outperform the average investor in the long run. Bearing in mind that the average investor only had a 20-year annualised return of 1.9% as of end-March 2020.

There are two takeaways here. One, most people are terrible at investing. Two, don’t be one of these terrible people if you want to invest.

P. S., Our friends at Endowus, who manage over a billion dollars, allow you to invest with your CPF!

P. S., No, I don’t get anything out of promoting them. I just super like that they charge crazy low fees, and are data-centric and transparent about their processes.

How does big data improve decision making?

If you are thinking of investing your CPF money, you’d probably do some research on how to invest then roll with it to see what happens.

Right?

That makes sense. You’ve done your homework. You know 2.5% is not much given our current 2.1% inflation rate. You want to take actions to secure a better financial future for yourself.

What if somebody told you that you have 50-50 chance of losing money? Will you still go ahead with it?

That’s pretty much the probability of getting a coin toss right!

Again, nobody is saying that you can’t beat 2.5%. What I am saying is that knowing such information puts you in a better position to make decision.

Sure, you can move ahead to invest with your CPF. I am willing to bet you would do more research and homework now that you know there’s a 50% chance you may end up worse.

What does this have anything to do with recovery?

It has everything to do with evidence-based practice.

Some people think research is out-of-touch and it doesn’t give us a real world indication of what’s going on.

Well, not true. Research gives us a big picture view of what’s going on and tells you what works versus what doesn’t work.

For example, The Lancet guidelines clearly stated that ergonomic interventions are ineffective. It is saying that you are not likely to get better from using an expensive ergonomic chair.

Could your back pain potentially feel better? Yes.

Is it likely to? No.

The guideline is also clear in that exercise plus education is superior to exercise alone. So, just exercising alone is also not good enough.

Feeling better doesn’t mean that you are recovering!

Unfortunately, feeling better only means that you are feeling better. That’s it.

Feeling better is not an indicator that you are actually recovering.

This is why we need data. We need research to tell us what are the thing that truly matters in our recovery. It help us focus on what works.

If you were to confuse symptom alleviation with recovery or symptom aggravation with further injury, you would absolutely get nowhere.

Imagine this. If you cut your finger and put it under running water, it will hurt.

Does that mean the running water is making your injury worse? No.

In fact, it’s probably one of the better things you can do to clean up the wound.

You need research to guide your decisions. It is only with evidence-based practice that you can get truly outstanding results.

Research also tells you other people’s mistakes (i.e., what not to do).

Other pain sufferers have made mistakes in their recovery so you don’t have to make them.

I have written about Singapore chiropractors and it is to-date the most read page on our website.

Yes, I do have a conflict of interest. This is why I reference everything I share on the website. I also include the link to the original source so you can do your own fact checking.

Trust me, I’ve worked with enough pain sufferers to know that recovery is challenging. I’ve also worked with clients who lived with chronic pain for over ten years — all because they received care that was not evidence-based.

You don’t have to suffer unnecessarily by choosing treatments that are not backed by science. Sometimes they look attractive. Sometimes they give you instant relief. But they are unlikely to be your true pain solution.

If you have been living with chronic pain for a long time, and you are simply not getting anywhere with your treatments, reach out to us via the contact form below. We’ll love to help!