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🗑️Intermediate

The Sunk Cost Trap

Past losses don't justify future ones

A sunk cost is money already spent that cannot be recovered. 'I can't sell — I'm down 40%' is a sunk cost fallacy. The only question that matters is: given what I know today, is this stock the best use of this capital? If not, selling and redeploying into a better opportunity is rational, even if it means realising a loss.

Quick check

A stock you bought is down 50%. The right question to ask is: