Education

Strategies for overcoming behavioural biases

Why is it so difficult to avoid them?

Pourquoi est-il si difficile d’éviter les biais comportementaux ?

Why is it so difficult to avoid behavioural biases?

  • Behavioural biases are a natural part of human decision-making. They help us make quick decisions in uncertain and complex environments.
  • These biases can be useful in everyday life, but they may prevent investors from achieving their long-term financial goals. For example, the status quo bias can delay important financial decisions, while loss aversion can discourage risk taking and investment.
  • The goal is to put simple, repeatable safeguards in place to reduce these biases and keep investors on track.

Taking action: concrete strategies for overcoming behavioural biases

Focus on your long term goals

Investors who check their portfolios less often tend to take more risks over the long term and achieve better performance1.

 

Tip: Avoid checking your portfolio too often, as this can increase anxiety and lead to impulsive decisions.

Focus on your long term goals

Se concentrer sur ses objectifs à long terme

Delegate investment management

Studies show that reducing savers' concerns through financial advice is associated with greater market participation and increased risk taking2, 3. 


Did you know?

  • Professional portfolio management is now accessible to many investors via robo-advisors - low-cost digital investment platforms that use algorithms to automatically manage diversified* portfolios.
  • Some robo-advisors offer recommendations while leaving the final decision with the investor.
  • Investors who use robo-advisors often rebalance more consistently and can achieve better outcomes due to disciplined, algorithmic decision making4.
     

Automate your investments

Déléguer la gestion de ses investissements

Automate your investments

Studies show that automatic contributions can help savers overcome procrastination and take consistent action5, 6.
 

Did you know?
 

There are many ways for savers to invest automatically:
 

  • Set up recurring transfers (weekly, monthly, etc.) from your bank account. You are free to choose the amount you wish to invest and the frequency of these payments. You can adjust or stop them at any time! Use direct debit or payroll deduction to invest before you see the money.
  • Use a robo-advisor to schedule regular investments and automatic rebalancing.


 

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Discover the other chapters in the series

biais comportementaux - header

Retourner à la page d'accueil : Raison en action

Bousculez vos automatismes pour des décisions financières plus rationnelles
biais comportementaux - 2

Chapitre 1 : Le statu quo, ou pourquoi ne rien faire vous coûte cher

"Qui ne tente rien n'a rien" Proverbe français
Illustration excès de prudence

Chapitre 2 : Le facteur peur, l'aversion à la perte dans l'investissement

"Les pertes ont plus de poids que les gains" Daniel Kahneman, Lauréat du Prix Nobel d'économie en 2002
illustration d'un homme en costume, sur des marches en billets d'argents

Chapitre 3 : Trop sûr pour échouer : le coût de la surconfiance

"L'excès de confiance est le plus grand des ennemis" Proverbe chinois
"On ne découvre pas de terre nouvelle sans consentir à perdre de vue tout rivage"

Chapitre 4 : Biais domestique : quand privilègier ce qui est familier limite la diversification de la...

"On ne découvre pas de terre nouvelle sans consentir à perdre de vue tout rivage" André Gide, écrivain français, prix Nobel de littérature
« Les apparences sont souvent trompeuses », dicton populaire

Chapitre 5 : Jugements hâtifs : le piège caché dans vos décisions d'investissement

« Les apparences sont souvent trompeuses », dicton populaire

Illustrations : Cléo Wehrlin

*Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against a loss. 

Sources

1Thaler, Richard H., Amos Tversky, Daniel Kahneman, and Alan Schwartz. (1997). The Effect of Myopia and Loss Aversion on Risk Taking: An Experimental Test. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 112(2), 647–661.

2Gennaioli, N., Shleifer, A., and Vishny, R. (2015). Money doctors. Journal of Finance.

3Foerster, Stephen, et al. (2017). Retail Financial Advice: Does One Size Fit All? Journal of Finance.

4Bianchi, Milo, and Marie Brière. "Human-robot interactions in investment decisions." Management Science 72.1 (2026): 14-31.

5Madrian, Brigitte C., and Dennis F. Shea. (2001). The Power of Suggestion: Inertia in 401(k) Participation and Savings Behavior. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 116(4), 1149–1187.

6Thaler, Richard H., and Shlomo Benartzi. (2004). Save More Tomorrow™: Using Behavioral Economics to Increase Employee Saving. Journal of Political Economy, 112(S1), S164–S187.

Unless otherwise stated, all information contained in this document is from Amundi Asset Management S.A.S. and is as of 22 April 2026. Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against a loss. The views expressed regarding market and economic trends are those of the author and not necessarily Amundi Asset Management S.A.S. and are subject to change at any time based on market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance that countries, markets or sectors will perform as expected. These views should not be relied upon as investment advice, a security recommendation, or as an indication of trading for any Amundi product. This material does not constitute an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security, fund units or services. Investment involves risks, including market, political, liquidity and currency risks. Past performance is not a guarantee or indicative of future results.
 

Date of first use: 22 April 2026
Doc ID: 5351365