That's a very dangerous way to feel as an investor, dangerous because it might mean you don't have the staying power necessary to succeed. Regret plays a powerful role in investment decisions. Lots of studies have been done on regret. We know, for instance, how people regret near misses. Meir Statman, a professor at Santa Clara University, talks about a case where two travelers miss their planes, one by a matter of minutes, one by an hour.
Studies also show that people regret losing money more than they regret missing an opportunity.
That often means they decide not to take a risk and not to invest in stocks. As investors, we have to recognize regret for what it is and put it aside. No looking over your shoulder and second guessing your decisions. The goal of a beginning investor should be to get a good return and learn how to deal with the market's volatility. The other choice is to put your money in the bank.