Experiment #1 – Is Your Fund Beating the Market?

Most investors receive regular updates about their portfolios.

Statements arrive. Reviews take place. Markets are discussed.

Yet a surprisingly simple question is often overlooked:

Is the fund I’m invested in actually beating the market?

This isn’t a criticism of advisers or fund managers. It’s simply a curiosity worth exploring.

Today it’s easier than ever to check.

Try This Small Experiment

Open ChatGPT, Gemini or another language model.

Then paste the prompt below.

I am invested in the following fund: [Insert fund name]

Please tell me:

1. The 5-year annualised return for this fund.

2. The 5-year return of a simple global benchmark (for example a global equity index or a 60/40 portfolio).

3. The difference between the two.

Please present the results clearly.

You may need to paste the fund name from your statement.

It only takes a few seconds.

This experiment isn’t about judging a single fund.

It simply helps answer a basic question:

How does my investment compare with a simple market benchmark?

Sometimes the results confirm everything is working well.

Sometimes they raise interesting questions.

Either outcome is useful.

The purpose of the Financial Curiosity Project is not to give advice.

It is to encourage curiosity about money.

Because better questions often lead to better financial decisions.

If this experiment sparked further curiosity, you may find the following useful:

• Evoa – a structured environment for exploring financial questions independently

• The Wealth Coach – if you prefer to discuss your thinking with someone experienced

You can also subscribe to Letters, where we regularly explore ideas about financial thinking and decision-making.

Financial Curiosity Project | Exploring better questions about money.