New Year’s Resolutions and the Investing Goal That Rarely Gets Finished

Every New Year starts the same way. Motivation is high, intentions are clear, and the resolution feels achievable.

But history tells a different story.

Studies consistently show that only about 9–12% of people actually follow through on their New Year’s resolutions, and the average resolution lasts 3.74 months. Investing resolutions are no exception - in fact, they may be even harder to keep than fitness or savings goals.

For many retail investors across Europe, the resolution sounds familiar: “This year, I will finally stop gambling on hype and start investing properly.”

And yet, for many, it never moves beyond intention.

Why Investing Resolutions Fail

The problem isn’t a lack of motivation. It’s friction.

Unlike going to the gym or saving a fixed amount each month, rational investing requires decisions - and decisions require research, confidence, and time.

Across the EU, this creates very real hurdles:

• 33% of European savers say they don’t invest because they lack knowledge about how to invest or where to begin.
• 33% of European savers prefer to keep money in bank deposits opposed to US households, where that figure is 10%.
• 78.7% of European financial advisors say low financial literacy is the main challenge retail investors face.

When January motivation meets this level of complexity, many investors stall. The intention is there, but the effort required to dig through financial statements feels overwhelming.

The "I'll Research It Later" Trap

Contrary to the "buying the hype" stereotype, retail investors are overwhelmingly focused on the long game. A 2025 report by The Investment Association found that 72% of investors are willing to commit capital for the long term to achieve superior growth, signaling a clear shift away from pure speculation. You know you should look at the fundamentals. You know you should calculate the intrinsic value.

But the process is tedious.

1. You open a spreadsheet.
2. You hunt for data across three different websites.
3. You try to remember the formula for Discounted Cash Flow (DCF).
4. You get frustrated, close the tab, and buy an ETF or a hype stock instead.

This cycle is why the resolution fails. You aren't fighting against the market; you are fighting against the process.

To make this resolution stick, you don't need more willpower. You need a better framework.

The Solution: Adopt the CARE Framework

At Value Sages, we built our entire platform around a philosophy designed to break this cycle of paralysis. We call it the CARE Framework.

It isn’t just a feature set; it is a behavioral system designed to turn your investing resolution into a sustainable habit. Here is how it solves the friction points that stop you from investing rationally.

C - Clear the Confusion

The Problem: The modern investor is drowning in noise. 24/7 news cycles and contradicting pundits create anxiety, not clarity.

The Fix: We act as your filter. Before you even look at a balance sheet, our screeners allow you to impose strict, value-based criteria on the market. We silence the noise of thousands of stocks that don't meet your standards, letting you focus only on the signal. You stop wasting time on companies that don't fit your goals.

A - Automate the Work

The Problem: Rigorous valuation (like DCF models) is mathematically demanding and time-consuming.

The Fix: We democratize the labor of the legendary investor. Value Sages automates the drudgery of data entry and calculation, but keeps you in control of the assumptions. You get the sophistication of a hedge fund model with the speed of a modern app. Glass-box automation means you see the math, but you don't have to do it manually.

R - Reveal the Value

The Problem: Prices fluctuate based on sentiment, but true safety is found in fundamentals. Investors often quit because they fear they are just gambling.

The Fix: We help you look past the ticker price. By visualizing the "root system" of a company—its balance sheets, cash flows, and margins—we reveal the intrinsic value of the business. This gives you the confidence to invest based on data, offering you a calculated Margin of Safety rather than a blind bet.

E - Educate as You Go

The Problem: The fear of "doing it wrong" is the single biggest psychological barrier for European investors.

The Fix: We believe a tool shouldn't just calculate; it should teach. You don't need to be a Wall Street expert to start, because every interaction with Value Sages is an opportunity to learn.

• Why did the valuation change?
• What happens if I adjust the growth rate?
• What does this ratio actually mean?

We turn the opaque world of fundamental analysis into a transparent process. We don't just provide a valuation output; we provide the context behind the data, empowering your independent decision-making.

Make This the Year Your Investing Resolution Sticks

If investing has been on your New Year’s resolution list before and quietly slipped away, this year doesn’t have to repeat the pattern.

By adopting the CARE framework, you aren't just relying on hope; you are deploying a disciplined system designed to cut through market noise and reduce the analytical friction that often derails retail investors.

• Clear the noise.
• Automate the work.
• Reveal the value.
• Educate yourself.

Join Value Sages today. Let’s help you follow through on your investing resolution - not just set it.

Because a resolution only matters if it turns in to action.

References: EFPA Financial Advisor Survey, LinkedIn: Why New Year’s Resolutions Fail and What to Do About It, The Investment Association: Going Long, Going Local, World Economic Forum: Global Retail Investor Outlook, RE: ESMA’s call for evidence on the retail investor journey: understanding retail participation in capital markets, How to turn European savings into investment, innovation and growth