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REDDIT

The "Clean Slate" Test: Are you lying to yourself?

R
Jul 11, 2026 · 10:28

Here is a classic financial thought experiment to check if you are lying to yourself about your portfolio:

Imagine a massive glitch hits your broker tomorrow and automatically liquidates all your positions into cash.

If you logged in right now with 100% cash, would you rebuy your exact same stocks at today's prices to rebuild the identical portfolio?

If your answer is 'no', if you’d change even one single position, then you are holding onto your current stocks for psychological reasons (like loss aversion or attachment), not because they fit your current investment thesis.

Be honest. Is your portfolio built on conviction or just habit?