If you’ve been on the Gamestop rollercoaster since it began in mid January, you either have nerves of steel or a wonderful therapist. In all seriousness, retail investors--that means people trading at home, like you and me--have piled on to so-called “meme stocks” in an attempt to hit it big. For some, the results have been amazing. If you bought in on Gamestop last year and sold when it was at its height at nearly $350 a share, you’re probably sitting pretty. But what about people who bought in when the stock, or any of the other meme stocks, including AMC, was still climbing? If you’re one of the unlucky ones who has a price point, it’s easy to feel regretful. However, it’s not all bad news. Gamestop has rebounded in recent weeks--although this should be viewed as an aberration, not a norm--and you learned a valuable lesson: don’t believe the hype. There’s a famous saying about investing that, updated to modern times, states that by the time you read about a stock on the internet, it’s too late. The easiest way to combat hype is by not listening to it. Instead, choose companies you believe in, with products you use and expect to be evergreen. Talking heads won’t lead you anywhere but south. You can also invest in general funds, which may be less flashy but will grow steadily with time. Time in market is better than timing the market, as they say. But the best way to avoid meme hype? Listen to experts who actually know what they’re talking about. Generally, this means finding an analytics team that charges a nominal fee, because “free” is never actually free. I use Chaikin Analytics, personally, because of how affordable it is and how easy it makes it to digest investing information. The meme stock rollercoaster was making me nauseous. I knew it was a ride I had to get off. Now I know how to trade on my own terms, supported by experts, instead of chasing the hype.