USP student accused of embezzling money is an example of how not to invest; see errors

The case of the USP medical student accused of embezzling almost BRL 1 million from her class’s graduation party fund, in addition to warning about the importance of protecting graduation money, also serves as an “anti-example” when making investments .

Alicia Dudy Muller Veiga, 25, is being investigated after being suspected of having appropriated R$920,000 reserved for the party. In testimony, she said she was not happy with the fund’s income from the company hired for graduation and, therefore, decided to take the amount and apply it on her own.

With financial knowledge limited to “internet searches”, as the student admitted to the police, the investments began to lose money, and she started playing the lottery to try to recover the amount, according to the investigation.

According to Guilherme Azevedo, assistant delegate of the 16th Precinct, the student made applications without the slightest technical knowledge. Extracts presented by the defense point to investments in products such as CDBs and shares.

After losing around BRL 50,000, Alicia started playing lottery games, spending at least BRL 397,290 on bets at the same place, according to the investigation.

For Marcia Dessen, a certified financial planner, the essence of the mistake made by the student when investing was taking risks with money that did not allow for this type of vulnerability.

“People cannot decide the investment they are going to make by looking only at their profile. It is necessary to understand the risk profile of the capital being invested”, he says.

According to her, the money that goes into applications of this nature —whether cryptocurrencies, derivatives or the Stock Exchange— has to be separated from other personal and family commitments.

Dessen points out that the main risk assumed by the USP student was with the financial market, since investments like CDB are safe. Still, she says, only a very wrong choice explains such a loss.

The planner recalls that, on the Stock Exchange, the investor only actually suffers a loss when he sells the share cheaper than he bought it.

“If someone bought a share for R$10 and today it is worth R$8, that person has not lost. He has suffered a devaluation of the capital he invested. It is not a loss until the decision to sell is taken”, he says. “Risk investment has to have a long time horizon. You cannot put capital that has a date to be used.”

Dessen also indicates that investors are wary of easy promises, remembering that there are no miracles in the financial sector. “If it’s too good to be true, it’s not true.”

That’s what financial planner Eliane Tiburski also thinks. For her, apart from the discussion on dishonesty, the case of the USP student illustrates some common mistakes that people make when making investment decisions.

The rush to make quick money, for example, can increase the investor’s self-confidence, leading him to make quick and often wrong choices.

“Opportunity not to be missed is a deadly phrase in finance,” he says. “When making investment decisions, the best thing to do is breathe, wait and rationally take care of it”, he adds.

About the student admitting that she learned about finance from content on the internet, Tiburski considers the importance of always seeking a second opinion.

According to her, there is reliable content about investments on the internet, but it is essential to confirm the information on official websites, such as those of the Central Bank, B3 and CVM (Securities and Exchange Commission), which have educational materials.

“Every time an influencer shows you opportunities, find out about the risks elsewhere.”

She also points out that, although there are simpler investment methods, the world of finance is complex. “The Brazilian investment market, the macroeconomic scenario, is not for amateurs. It is not possible for someone alone, in a short period of time, to have all the capacity to make risky decisions.”

How to avoid risks in the financial market

Tiburski recalls that one of the best strategies for not taking too many risks on the Stock Exchange is to diversify your investments. One way to do this is to search for stock funds, which include stocks from several companies.

Dessen also highlights this point. The planner suggests giving preference to indices that follow a certain portfolio, the Ibovespa, for example. “On average, you have a diluted risk.”

According to her, it is possible to be risky without being inconsequential. For this, it is essential to put at risk a small slice of the capital available to invest.

Reinaldo Domingos, president of Abefin ​​(Brazilian Association of Financial Education Professionals) and DSOP Financial Education, says that investing a maximum of 10% in the financial market is a good formula.

“Never go to the Stock Exchange with money you can depend on at any time.”

According to him, an investor needs to keep some points in mind to know if he is making the right choice. The first is the purpose, that is, the reason why he is accumulating resources. The second aspect is the accumulation time, which is directly related to risk.

“That was the cardinal sin [da aluna da USP]. It does not apply to the Stock Exchange if there is no certainty that losing money will not be missed.”