What common error might an investor make when diversifying investments?

An investor who puts too much money in a single sector is making a common error known as over-concentration. While diversification is a key principle in investment strategy intended to reduce risk, concentrating investments in one specific sector can expose the investor to higher levels of risk associated with that sector's performance. For instance, if the technology sector experiences a downturn, an investor heavily weighted in technology stocks may suffer significant losses, while a more diversified portfolio would likely mitigate those losses by including assets from various sectors that may perform differently.

Diversification is designed to spread risk across various assets, thus improving the overall stability of an investment portfolio. In contrast to the tendency to over-concentrate, investors should aim to spread their investments across different sectors, asset classes, and geographic regions to enhance their risk-adjusted returns. This holistic approach is essential for managing market volatility and achieving more consistent performance over time.