Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of diversification in investment to mitigate risks associated with overconfidence and uncertainty in predicting outcomes [2][9]. Group 1: Importance of Diversification - Diversification is crucial because human nature often leads to overconfidence, which can result in significant financial losses when investors misjudge their ability to predict outcomes [3][4]. - A behavioral finance experiment demonstrated that as confidence increases, the actual success rate does not correspondingly rise, highlighting the dangers of overconfidence in investment decisions [3][4]. - The "overconfidence curve" illustrates that higher confidence does not equate to better judgment, with individuals often overestimating their accuracy by 20%-30% [4]. Group 2: Risks of Using Kelly Criterion - The Kelly Criterion, while a popular method for determining optimal bet sizes, can lead to overestimation of success probabilities, increasing the risk of bankruptcy when positions exceed recommended levels [5]. - Edward Thorp's research indicates that using more than double the Kelly suggested position significantly raises the probability of losing all capital [5]. - The assumption that success probabilities and odds are known is often flawed in real-world investments, making the Kelly Criterion a less reliable tool [5][6]. Group 3: Black Swan Events and Investment Strategy - The concept of "black swan" events illustrates that even statistically favorable investments can lead to catastrophic losses if not managed properly [6][7]. - Concentrated bets can result in significant losses from unexpected events, reinforcing the need for diversification to withstand such shocks [8]. - Diversification allows investors to endure adverse events without being forced out of the market, thereby respecting the inherent uncertainties in investment [9]. Group 4: Snowball Investment Philosophy - The Snowball investment philosophy advocates for a three-pronged approach to diversification: asset diversification, market diversification, and timing diversification, aimed at achieving long-term investment success [10].