DIY investors save 1% on fees… and lose 3–5% in after-tax returns.

Every week, I talk to investors who take pride in managing their own portfolios. They think they’re saving money. But what they don’t realize is that they’re often leaving far more on the table - quietly, and permanently.

Here are the big three mistakes that cost DIY investors the most:

1️⃣ Tax Efficiency

Most investors don’t realize how much return is lost to taxes.

With strategies like tax-aware long/short equity accounts and tax-aware hedge funds, you can systematically harvest losses to offset capital gains and even reduce ordinary income taxes - something no index fund can do.

2️⃣ Diversification

DIY portfolios tend to be heavily concentrated in public equities - because that’s all most individuals can easily access.

Professionally managed portfolios can include private equity, infrastructure, hedge funds, real estate, and private credit - expanding the sources of return and increasing the odds of long-term success.

3️⃣ Time

Every hour you spend managing your portfolio, rebalancing, researching, or doing tax work is time you’re not spending doing what you do best.

Whatever your time is worth, that’s the real drag on your portfolio.

DIY investors save 1% on fees - but lose 3–5% in after-tax returns, lost compounding, and missed opportunities.

Sometimes, the cheapest option ends up being the most expensive.

🎥 Give the video a watch if you want to learn more about how I quantify these costs - and what the world’s wealthiest investors do differently.