At The Motley Fool, we've spent more than two decades helping Australians build long-term wealth. We've published thousands of articles, issued hundreds of share recommendations, hosted podcasts, answered emails, taken your calls… and even begged you (nicely) not to check your portfolio five (ten? twenty?) times a day.
But still… many investors can't help themselves.
And we get it. You're human. The urge to check your portfolio again is real.
But the data is clear: the more frequently you 'check' your investments, the more likely you are to make impulsive decisions… and the worse your long-term returns.
So, in our ongoing mission to help Australians become smarter, happier, and richer… we've decided to add a little pain to the process.
Today, we're announcing FoolFit™ – a first-of-its-kind wearable device that helps investors develop better financial habits through real-time feedback.
That's right. If you open your brokerage app to see if your portfolio is still green (it probably is), or whether your favourite tech stock is down 1.3% since lunch (it definitely is), FoolFit™ will gently(ish) remind you to stop sabotaging your long-term goals.
Because let's face it: the biggest threat to your portfolio isn't inflation, interest rates, or short sellers – it's you.
And we're inviting you – our community – to become early backers of this exciting new venture.
The Problem We're Solving
Investor behaviour is the #1 reason portfolios underperform.
Even with sound financial advice and access to quality recommendations, many investors still fall victim to:
– Panic selling during volatility
– Checking share prices dozens of times a day
– Reacting to headlines instead of business fundamentals
– FOMO-driven buying during market rallies
FoolFit™ aims to interrupt these destructive habits by pairing behavioural science with wearable technology.
How It Works
FoolFit™ is a wristband that pairs seamlessly with your brokerage app and tracks your phone usage. When it registers unhealthy investing behaviour, FoolFit™ does its thing.
Here's what you get:
Level 1 Zap (Slightly Uncomfortable Tingle): For opening your brokerage account more than once a day.
Level 2 Zap (Sharp Jolt): For refreshing individual share prices.
Level 3 Zap (We Warned You): For panic selling or rage-buying the latest crypto craze after 11pm.
Bonus: Dividend Buzz Mode – A pleasant hum every time one of your holdings pays a dividend. Because good behaviour should be rewarded.
All zap levels are calibrated to be (relatively) harmless, just enough to make you think twice before checking CommSec (again) on the toilet.
But Wait, There's More!
We've packed FoolFit™ with even more features to help you stay the course:
Buffett Mode: Automatically plays a calming Warren Buffett quote through the wristband speaker whenever markets drop more than 1.4%.
Panic Button Lockout: Blocks trading apps during market hours unless you pass a 5-question quiz on long-term investing principles.
Leaderboard Integration: Compete with friends to see who hasn't checked their portfolio the longest.
Designed for Long-Term Investors (and Their Families)
Worried about your partner's financial habits? FoolFit™ includes a discreet "Partner Monitor Mode," which sends a gentle zap to their wrist if they start talking about switching from quality companies to speculative miners after watching one too many TikTok finfluencers.
It's also waterproof, sand-proof, and market-proof – because your investing discipline shouldn't disappear every time the ASX falls or the US President tweets.
Coming Soon: FoolFit Premium
We're already hard at work on FoolFit Premium – which includes built-in ECG tracking (for those extra-scary market days), an integrated dividend calendar, and a tiny sprayer that releases a calming scent (that can be chosen by the wearer) every time the RBA meets.
Because nothing says "stay the course" like a nice zap and a whiff of serenity.
Why We're Opening the Door to Investors
As a company, we've always looked for ways to think differently – and to partner with our community when it matters most.
That's why we're opening an early-stage investment round for FoolFit™.
This is a rare opportunity for individual investors to get in at the ground floor of a purpose-driven tech product that aligns directly with The Motley Fool's mission: making the world smarter, happier, and richer.
Minimum Investment:
$1420.25
Preferred Investors:
– Believe in long-term investing
– Have checked their portfolio fewer than 10 times this week
– Own a wrist
Use of Funds:
– Prototype development ('proof of concept' has already been completed by wearing a FitBit and touching an electric fence, so we know it works.)
– Hiring a behavioural economist with 'relaxed' views on the Milgram experiment
– Recruiting willing product testers (good constitutions required)
– Lawyers to write watertight risk warnings and disclaimers
– Branding, marketing, and development of shockproof packaging
Expressions of Interest
If you'd like to be part of this next chapter in investor behaviour innovation, we'd love to hear from you.
Please email us using this link to submit your expression of interest and receive early access to the project deck, concept demo, and Q&A materials.
Let's build something together that helps investors do what's right – even when it's hard. And hurts… a little.
The market will keep doing what it does.
FoolFit™ helps you stay calm, stay rational… and stay the course.
(Or, at the very least, capitalises on the popularity of wearables and will make us rich.)
Fool on!
Olaf R. Pilo
Head of Innovation, Wearables and Office Supplies
Motley Fool Australia