Do Stocks Offer Profit Potential? Insights from Professional Traders

Yogyakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Investing in stocks indeed offers attractive profit potential for investors. However, as stocks are a high-risk instrument, investors must have strong mental resilience.

Professional Investor and Trader Michael Yeoh said that one of the first things beginners entering the stock market must address is making peace with themselves.

In this regard, every investor or trader must strengthen their mental fortitude first. Avoid traits such as seeking revenge, unwillingness to lose, and selfishness. The dynamics of the stock market can either humble investors or shatter their mental strength.

“If you become humble, it means you will grow, because humble people are willing to learn. If your mental strength is broken, you end up like me—starting with a capital of Rp10 million and over five years,” he said during an Edu Class session titled ‘If You Have Rp10-100 Million Today, Where Would You Put It?’, published Sunday (24/5/2026).

Michael has extensive experience in stock investment and trading. However, not all experiences were pleasant. He admitted to seeing his portfolio surge from an initial Rp10 million to Rp100 million in three years, only to drop back to Rp10 million by the fifth year.

The failure was due to Michael’s excessive confidence during a bullish market, leading to incorrect strategies. He even considered quitting as an investor after realising the stock market is hard to conquer.

However, Michael decided to evaluate his mistakes, particularly regarding his mental approach to managing finances and investment portfolios.

“I finally realised I was selling too quickly. I revised my approach, understanding that the issue wasn’t the exchange, the stocks, or the analysis—it was my own fear,” he concluded.

Michael is now a successful stock investor and trader with an estimated portfolio value of Rp58 billion.