BIO: Harley Bassman is an industry thought leader and commentator on macroeconomic issues spanning decades.

STORY: In 2019, Harley bought some calls and sold some puts on Citibank stock for a cost strategy. He believed the stocks would increase because all its peers were trading above their book value. When COVID came, the stocks went south, causing Harley to make his biggest loss ever.

LEARNING: When something trades well below what you think its value is, consider why that’s the case. Size the investment.

 

“Forget timing; size the investment. Pick the size such that you’ll make enough if you’re right, and if you’re wrong, you won’t get wiped out.”Harley Bassman

 

Guest profile

Harley Bassman is an industry thought leader and commentator on macroeconomic issues spanning decades. He spent 26 years at Merrill Lynch. From 2014 to 2017, Harley was an Executive VP and Portfolio Manager at PIMCO. In 2011, he joined Credit Suisse’s Global Rates. In 2006, he built the RateLab, a full spectrum US Rates Trading Desk Strategy Group.

Presently, Harley is a Managing Partner at Simplify Asset Management. He continues to pen an episodic macroeconomic Commentary as well as manage a “hedge fund of one.”

Harley has a B.A. in management science from the University of California, San Diego, and an MBA in finance and marketing from the University of Chicago.

Worst investment ever

In 2019, Harley bought some calls and sold some puts on Citibank stock for a cost strategy. He believed the stocks would increase because all its peers were trading above their book value. Harley put more into this trade than he logically should have. He was hung up on the value construct and wasn’t thinking about why the stock traded under tangible.

When COVID came, the stocks went south, causing Harley to make his biggest loss ever.

Lessons learned

• When something trades well below what you think its value is, consider why that’s the case.
• Size the investment. When you make an investment, invest enough so that your gain can be worthwhile.
• Sizing is more critical than entry-level.

Andrew’s takeaways

• Be very careful when investing in banks because if their equity gets hit, the value of their assets could fall.

Actionable advice

Don’t fall into a value trap. Be careful of single names because there’s always a lottery effect that you can never predict.

Harley’s recommendations

Harley recommends reciting his Maven mantra: Number one, it’s always about character. Number two, it’s never different this time. And number three, you’re born, you live, and then you die. Prioritize your life.

No.1 goal for the next 12 months

Harley’s number one goal for the next 12 months is to focus and spend more time with his family.

Parting words

 

“Just be careful and stay safe.”Harley Bassman

 

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Connect with Harley Bassman

• LinkedIn
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• Blog
• Website

Andrew’s books

• How to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock Market
• My Worst Investment Ever
• 9 Valuation Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
• Transform Your Business with Dr.Deming’s 14 Points

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• Valuation Master Class
• The Become a Better Investor Community
• How to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock Market
• Finance Made Ridiculously Simple
• FVMR Investing: Quantamental Investing Across the World
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• Transform Your Business with Dr. Deming’s 14 Points
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