AI has been the craze for a while now, and it's disrupting how we view investing. Some may be tempted to use it to replace their own investing process, but the road to that point is filled with uncertainty. Our argument: Do it yourself first.

One of the main points Vassant is emphasizing in our entry into the market is the need to fill the educational gap most investors have, we've written about it before. But how do you actually apply that into your investing workflow?

It starts by setting some parameters:

• Develop the mindset.
• Choose a company.
• Set an investing checklist based on key industry standard driving principles.
• Determine the alignment to the company.
• Analyze the competition.
• Understand the nuances.
• Be OK with the risk.

This is the obvious first step before making any investment, of course after you have set your budget and map out how you're going to allocate your cash flow, is to develop the Vassant Mindset.

Emotionless. Contemplative. Confidence. Patience.

Be stoic.

Now we know how that may sound… perhaps extreme. Or perhaps that's exactly the type of mentality that will shift the paradigm between investing for the meme or hype to investing for the knowledge, passion, and success.

Marcus Aurelius once said "You have power over your mind — not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength." Those timeless words are more relevant than ever.

Choose a Company

Choosing a company can be as simple as selecting a company already in your portfolio, or using our spotlight profiles as a starting place. This is usually everyone's favorite step, but what you do next is more important.

Setting a Checklist

At Vassant, we analyze 20 different facets of a company. It ranges from your standard indicators like economic moat and profitability to a company's long term prospects, capital allocation, and share count to more qualitative aspects like their company culture. With our platform, you can use our template, add to it, or have your own set of indicators. Whatever works for you!

Determine the Alignment

As you are making your checklist, you'll want to see if the company you're developing the parameters for aligns to the items you've outlined. Yes, we have simple features for that. But on a broader scale, doing that research will give you more confidence, and the process of going through that strict research protocol helps you stay organized. We won't promise returns, but we do think you'll be more organized.

Analyze the Competition

Within our platform, we show how we analyze competition. We believe it's important to develop an informed approach.

Here's a quick tip: Look at the industry your company sits in. Ask yourself: What is the core business? How are things shifting competitively? Who are the major players?

This informs analysis on where your chosen company sits and if they can rise above the heap.

Understand the Nuances

Other factors play an important role too. Look at their business model. Is it unique like a universal subscription? Are there big innovative initiatives you can point to? Or perhaps the company hit on a niche. These are all relevant questions and considerations.

Be OK With Risk

Finally the most obvious part of the process is to be OK with risk. This is the nature of capital markets, and it's oftentimes the part that scares people away from giving themselves more autonomy. It makes sense, the average investor underperforms. But we truly believe at Vassant that there is nothing to worry about when you're strategic and thorough. When you're curious. When you're playing your cards smartly.

Yeah, But What About AI?!

We get it, some will be tempted to just plug everything into AI – we're not naive (and no, that em dash is not AI in action). Studies have shown the effectiveness of AI as it navigates the markets. A study released recently by the Stanford School of Business found that an AI analyst outperformed a fund manager by 600% when actioning upon data between 1990 and 2020. And companies like Robinhood are begging to fold them into their product suite.

So why us and not them, or, it? We know that users still want control. And people still want to learn on their own. Those 600% returns are not guaranteed when applied to the modern, daily market, and that's why it's more important than ever to learn principles and standard processes of investing so you can be prepared for what rears around the corner.

Using AI shifts the thinking to a secondary source rather than your own and it can hurt conviction. By doing it yourself, you understand the business more and are more likely to hold it long-term through droughts which can lead to bigger gains.

AI can be helpful, but our platform is positioned to give you the tools out of the box so that you don't have to hunt for them. So that you don't have to endlessly prompt to become a better investor.