The value investor John Neff

Who is John Neff? – History of the trader and investor

John Neff was a successful American trader. He also excelled in his career as a mutual fund manager. In addition to this, John was also a great philanthropist.

John’s trading style usually revolves around value investing. He headed Vanguard’s Windsor Fund. Because of his trading expertise, this company became the largest mutual fund company. Besides, it also made the highest returns of the time.

As we can see, John Neff had a great trading career. Any trader would want to have John Neff’s trading knowledge to excel in the field. So, let’s look at John Neff’s personal information before we discuss his trading strategies.

About John Neff

The value investor John Neff
source https://www.valueresearchonline.com/stories/46985/the-legacy-of-value-investor-john-neff/
The value investor John Neff. Source: valueresearchonline.com
Date of birth:
19.09.1931
Wealth:
Around 20 million USD
Strategies:
– low price-to-earning method
– a contrarian investor
– dig for historical information about the company
– relied on the return-to-equity ratio
– a great risk-taker
– a trader must carefully assess the company’s situation before buying the stocks
Website:
no information
Interesting facts:
– got his degree from the University of Toledo
– wrote his autobiography John Neff’s “On Investing”
– headed Vanguard’s Windsor Fund
  • John Neff was an American mutual fund manager with a bright trading career. John Neff worked for several companies, including the Wellington management company
  • He even excelled at being the portfolio manager of Windsor and Germany
  • While trading, John Neff followed a low price-to-earning method. Usually, if you ask any experienced trader, he would suggest that John’s method was only a variation of the usual value investor method
  • The trader was also known as a contrarian investor. His tactical skills usually revolved around low-technology security analysis
  • Before investing in any company or stock, John would dig for historical information about that company. He always looked at the company’s management
  • Also, analyzing the company’s books was something that John Neff indulged in.
  • John was also considered similar to Warren Buffett. Both traders relied on the return-to-equity ratio to measure the effectiveness of any company’s stock

Let us know some biographical facts about John Neff.

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Biography of John Neff

John Neff shows how the low P/E strategy works
source https://acquirersmultiple.com/2016/12/john-neff-why-the-low-pe-strategy-works/
John Neff shows how the low P/E strategy works. Source: acquirersmultiple.com
  • John Neff was from Ohio
  • The trader got his degree from the University of Toledo. He graduated in 1955
  • Before attending a business school, John Neff worked at the national city Bank of Cleveland
  • Finally, he attended a business school and graduated in 1958
  • John Neff started his investment career by joining a position at Wellington management company. After successfully serving three years at this company, John got an offer to act as the portfolio manager
  • John Neff also wrote his autobiography. He compiled all facts about his life in John Neff’s “On Investing”
  • John’s trading journey was highly inspired by value investing
  • He was also known as the professional’s professional
  • John Neff was also in some great philanthropic activities
  • Besides, he was a trader with a curious mind and great self-discipline
  • He believed in stock market investment in such assets that were available for a low price
  • John Neff also stressed that a trader should try to become his boss when an opportunity presents itself
  • The trader was himself a great risk-taker. He had an open mind when it came to trading

The net worth of John Neff

Interestingly, John accumulated a very high net worth by trading. He made at least $18.5 million by the year 2004. In addition, he possesses 100,000 units of Crown Stock. These units have a very high worth.

Trading and investment strategies of John Neff

John Neff had trading strategies that offered him a much-needed roadmap to trading. These trading strategies helped him make profits in the stock market.

Good to know!

John’s trading strategies can come in handy for any trader. If implemented correctly, the strategies can help a trader reap profits in the long run.

Fundamental analysis

Since John believed in value investing, he emphasized fundamental analysis. Usually, any trader would want to make profits in the short term by conducting a technical analysis. 

However, technical analysis can help you predict the rise or fall in the stock in the upcoming two or three weeks or even a month. But a fundamental analysis will allow a trader to look deeply into a stock’s value

So, fundamental analysis can help you stay in the stock market trading game for the long term.

Fundamental analysis will allow a trader to look deeply into a stock's value
Fundamental analysis will allow a trader to look deeply into a stock’s value. Photo by Unsplash

Buy cheap

Once a trader conducts a fundamental analysis, he can easily know whether an asset can grow in value in the coming years. So, a trader can buy stocks at a low price. Once years pass and a company reaches its fair value, a trader makes a lot of profit.

Value Investing

Buying cheap does not mean traders should invest in any asset available at a low price. A trader must carefully assess the company’s situation before buying the stocks. If a trader judges that the company might rise in value later, it’s profitable to buy such stocks.

Risk management

John Neff was an ultimate risk-taker. However, he also managed his risk by suggesting traders take risks whenever possible. 

In addition, to manage the risk Well, traders should look to invest in different stocks. So, if one stock goes downhill, another can fetch you profit.

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What can you learn from John Neff?

John offers several investing tips in his book to traders. Traders can follow his investing tips to have a more successful trading career. Here are four important tips from John Neff that helps improvise any trader’s trading journey.

A trader should try to keep a curious mind and be self-disciplined
A trader should try to keep a curious mind and be self-disciplined. Photo by Unsplash

Self-discipline

Self-discipline is the key to having the best success in the trading world. Also, a trader should try to keep a curious mind like John. It doesn’t matter which market a trader trades.

Good to know!

Discipline is of utmost importance. If a trader is not self-disciplined, he can expect nothing but failure in making profits. Having discipline gives a trader the much-needed dedication and focus. 

Also, self-discipline makes a trader hard-working. Discipline will help a trader align with his trading goals and offer him the best profits.

Take risks

A trader must spend time assessing the risk in the underlying market in which he is trading. Taking on risky investments will allow a trader to keep an open mind. If a trader skips taking a risk on profitable ventures, he suffers losses. 

However, trading risks that a trader undertakes should never be out of emotional decisions. Besides, a trader should also avoid making any irrational decisions.

Good to know!

Researching before taking risks is as important as researching before placing any trade.
According to John Neff, taking risks makes traders step out of their comfort zone.

Analyze the industry

A trader always purchases the stocks of a company. A company operates within an industry. So, a trader must make an effort to study the industry. The product that industry sales and manufacturers also require a brief study. It helps a trader stay active and look for opportunities that might offer them the best trading deals. 

John Neff - a trader must make an effort to study the industry of the company
source https://www.worldtopinvestors.com/john-neff-investor-profile/
John Neff – a trader must make an effort to study the industry of the company. Source: worldtopinvestors.com

In addition, traders should also focus on studying the industry’s economic structure. John Neff believed that traders who did not study the industry lost much money. According to John, following the crowd is not something that traders should do.

Conclusion about the investing experience of John Neff

John’s remarkable trading journey has a lot in store for traders. The trader always believed in not following the crowd and doing his research. John Neff always stayed on foot, which helped him make the right investments.

According to John Neff, a good trader should avoid following the trending news. The activity of following trends is for those traders who are into stock trading for the short term.

In addition, a trader should also pay attention to unloved stocks. These stocks might help you make a fortune in the long run.

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FAQs – frequently asked questions about John Neff

How much wealth did John Neff make through trading?

John Neff made an immeasurable amount of wealth during his trading career. He succeeded in accumulating a net worth of about $18.5 million. John also donated his accumulated profits to various charitable ventures because he was a great philanthropist.

Is trading like John Neff possible?

Yes, a trader can trade like John Neff if he builds the ability to see the potential of undervalued stocks. John placed his bets on such stocks that people did not demand. Interestingly, his fundamental research helped him invest in the stocks that later made him great profits.

How can a trader explore John Neff’s trading plans?

John has jotted down all his trading tips and advisors for traders in his book John Neff On Investing. A trader can go through his book to learn how John invested.

Last Updated on February 26, 2023 by Yuriy Kunets