Isn't it a bad idea to allow people to copy others' portfolios?
Browsing, finding and sharing portfolios is a key part of who we are at Pearler; by giving all investors a platform to share what they do with their money, we believe we can make a generation of confident and competent long-term investors.
But you may be wondering, why allow people to copy? Doesn't everyone have different circumstances and goals? Is that not a bad idea?
The short answer is... it depends.
It can be a bad idea if portfolios are shared without context and/or if the recipient of the information doesn't understand what is and what is not suitable for them.
But it is a good idea if the recipient is provided with appropriate context and understands what is suitable for them - in this case, enabling people to copy a portfolio removes a significant amount of friction.
So at Pearler, we have made a great effort to provide avenues for our community to share the context of why and how they invest.
For some profiles, the context is provided on their profiles, as well as their public platforms (social media & websites).
For community members, we expect friends who connect with each other to provide the additional context for each other, whether on their profiles, over a coffee - or preferably both! Having conversations about money is what we're all about!
Ultimately, it is up to every individual to decide whether another person's portfolio may suit their goals and needs as well. Most times they won't, but sometimes they will. And in every case, the person making the evaluation will have learned something & be a better investor at the end.
Carmen
23 November 2020