At KEEN Capital, we’ve worked with some incredibly smart, successful professionals. People who’ve built businesses, scaled careers, and made sharp financial decisions.
But here’s the truth in humans vs AI investing :
Even the smartest investors are still human. And that’s not a problem. It’s a strength.
In a world where AI can digest market data faster than we ever could, humans still have something algorithms don’t:
Emotional intelligence. Intuition. Empathy. The ability to pause, reflect, and weigh values – not just outcomes.
We’ve all heard the advice to “set emotions aside” when investing. But what if that’s the wrong approach?
At KEEN, we believe your humanness is your edge. And instead of fighting off your biases, we can build around them, using systems, structure, and self-awareness to make smarter, more grounded financial decisions. Let’s explore a few of those biases: not as flaws to fix, but as signals worth paying attention to.
Confirmation Bias: When You Only Hear What You Want to Hear
Confirmation bias shows up when we look for information that confirms our existing beliefs and ignore what doesn’t.
It’s why it feels better to read news that agrees with us, or to focus on glowing headlines about a company we’re already invested in.
Let’s say you’re excited about a particular company. You’ll likely notice every glowing article, every positive earnings report, every upbeat tweet.
Meanwhile, red flags? Competitor news? Regulatory challenges? You might miss those entirely.
But here’s what that bias tells us: You’re hopeful. You’re invested (mentally or emotionally). That’s human. And it’s valuable to notice.
Rather than trying to shut that instinct down, ask yourself:
- What story am I hoping is true?
- What information would challenge that story?
- If I just heard about this today, would I still invest?
That moment of pause – of inviting a broader perspective – isn’t about second-guessing yourself. It’s about staying grounded. Machines can scan data. But only people can interrogate their own thinking.
Recency Bias: When the Latest News Feels Like the Only News
When markets are rising, it’s tempting to believe they’ll keep rising. When they’re dropping, it’s easy to feel like the sky is falling.
That’s recency bias at work.
But that response, feeling momentum and reacting to change, is part of how we’re wired. It’s not a bug. It’s awareness.
Instead of trying to suppress it, we ask:
- Is this a short-term pattern or a long-term shift?
- What does my long-term plan say about this moment?
- How would I feel about this decision five years from now?
Our emotions signal urgency. Our systems help us decide whether that urgency is justified.
What Machines Can’t Do
AI can optimize, analyze, and even give decent investing advice.
But it doesn’t know what it feels like to retire early to spend time with your family. It doesn’t understand the pride of selling your company.
It doesn’t know the weight of supporting aging parents or launching a nonprofit.
Real-life investing is never just math. Its meaning.
And humans are still the best at navigating complexity, values, and uncertainty because we’ve lived it.
So What Do We Do With All This?
You can’t “turn off” being human. But you can build systems that support thoughtful decisions in moments that might otherwise feel reactive.
Here’s how we help clients do that:
1. Set Personal Guardrails
Create your investment framework before you need it. Decide how often you’ll rebalance. Outline your target allocation. Write down your core principles. These rules keep you steady when emotions flare.
2. Invite Diverse Perspectives
Talk through big ideas with someone who’ll challenge your thinking. Not to argue, but to help you see what you might be missing. Sometimes the best investment decision is just a better conversation.
3. Pause Before You Act
Before making a major move, take a beat. Ask:
“Am I reacting to a headline… or honoring a plan?”
“Will I be proud of this decision in five years?”
4. Keep It Human
Sometimes you need more than a spreadsheet; you need a sounding board. Someone to ask the right questions, zoom out with you, and help make the path feel clearer. That’s what we’re here for.
The Bottom Line: Being Human Makes You Better
In 2025 and beyond, success isn’t about avoiding emotion.
It’s about working with it. It’s about awareness, structure, and clarity.
Biases don’t make you weak. They make you real.
And when paired with a thoughtful plan, they can make you better than any machine.
At KEEN Capital, we don’t just build portfolios. We build partnerships that honor how you think, how you feel, and how you want to live.
Sitting with a big decision?
We’re here to help walk you through it. You can head over to our Contact Page to get in touch with us.
Until next time.