Are You a Captain Kirk or a Spock? Discover Your Star Trek Investing Personality

Star Trek began as a brainy sci-fi TV series in 1966 and is still "boldly" going strong today, with more Trek television shows and feature films in the works, including one that will be directed by S.J. Clarkson. She'll be the first woman to helm a Star Trek motion picture.

One reason Star Trek has endured is thanks to its cast of colourful characters, and in some cases, the actors who played them. William Shatner, famous for his role as Captain James T. Kirk in the original Star Trek TV series, was even part of this year's guest lineup at Toronto's Fan Expo Canada — touted as the third-largest pop-culture event in North America.

Each character in the franchise represents a different element of the human condition. Let's explore some of their best-known personality traits to determine just what type of investor they might be. Is there one Star Trek character you identify with more than another?

Doctor Leonard "Bones" McCoy...the Aggressive Growth Investor

Aggressive investors are generally quite comfortable with higher levels of risk as far as their investments are concerned, in the hopes of course that higher risk means a higher payoff. Some aggressive investors are in it for the longer term, which means they're usually able to manage portfolio fluctuations year-to-year.

Dr. McCoy isn't just the ship's doctor, he's a trusted advisor to the Captain. He's a man who follows his heart and makes his feelings known — loudly and proudly. 

It's easy to see McCoy taking an aggressive-growth approach to investing. With nerves of steel and intelligence to match, he wouldn't be one to park his money somewhere and forget about it. Volatility is an important and expected part of his life, which is perhaps why his character so easily absorbs life's ups and downs.

Mr. Spock...the Conservative Investor

What are the hallmarks of a conservative investor? Someone who likes stability, wants to preserve capital, is fine with a modest return and can tolerate some market fluctuation, to name a few.

What's that look like in the world of Star Trek?

Well, Science Officer Spock is the antithesis of McCoy — he contains emotion and adopts a purely logical way of life. As an investor, Spock would undoubtedly conduct painstaking research. A believer of Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations, he would very likely insist on a fully diversified portfolio that leans toward that of a conservative investor, to match those cool "Vulcan" nerves. (For the non-Trekkie's out there, Spock's mother was human, but his father was Vulcan — the fictional extraterrestrial humanoid species.)

Captain James T. Kirk...the Growth Investor

Growth investors generally have a long-term investment horizon and are willing to stay the course even if there's some (market) turbulence along the way. Over the long-term, growth investors aim for overall portfolio growth, but understand there will be both highs and lows on the journey.

The third member of Star Trek's iconic triumvirate, Captain Kirk, has dreamed big since he was a boy in Iowa. With a strong sense of duty to his ship, he disobeys orders at times, but not without careful contemplation. During a dangerous mission, he once reminded his shipmates: "Risk is our business. That's what this starship is all about."

Kirk's investment style would land somewhere between the two extremes of Spock and McCoy, likely leaning a bit toward the growth approach. He clearly has an appetite for risk, is passionate about everything he does, and he explores every option and tool available to him. He makes decisions with confidence, and always with an eye on the future.

Lieutenant Nyota Uhura...the Balanced Investor

So what does a balanced investor look like? Generally, it's an investor who's after a mix of some income and some capital growth, can handle some ups and downs in the value of a portfolio, is okay with moderate risks and has a long enough timeframe to weather some market volatility.

Star Trek's Uhura is the chief communications officer whose smarts and skills have saved the ship on multiple occasions. She also has an artistic side; a singer and a dancer, she's multi-talented.

With her balanced approach to life, Uhura would no doubt be considered a balanced investor. As someone who is in touch with her emotions, she understands her goals and what needs to be done to achieve them. Uhura isn't one to change her plans at the first sign of trouble, but is willing to stay the course. She avoids undue risks, but is known to also stretch outside her comfort zone at times.

A key to successful investing is knowing yourself. Are you like one of these Star Trekcharacters, or perhaps a little bit of each? Leave a comment and let us know which character you best identify with.

Read more about investing styles so you too can live long and prosper:

What Type of Investor Are You?

Your Investor Profile: Where do you fit?

Being a Great Investor in All Types of Markets

Style is Personal, Whether Travelling or Investing