In an opinion piece for CFA Institute, Joachim Klement writes that creativity is an important skill to cultivate for investors.

While grit and a passion for markets are also important traits to have, Klement sees cognitive skills as vitally important for investors. Analysts must make sense of mountains of data concerning everything from the economy and the market as a whole to individual stocks and bonds, and the ability to weed through that data with analytical and logical thinking is a necessary part of investing.

But plenty of investors are good critical thinkers, and while cognitive skills provide a solid foundation, it’s creativity that can separate the good investors from the great ones. The ability to navigate a volatile environment with flexibility and determination, as well as thinking outside the usual existing investing approaches, can bring an investor additional performance.

The article refers to a study by David Gill and Victoria L. Prowse, which shows a distinct advantage for creative thinkers, who are more likely to end up in the C-suite and in well-regarded positions. So while critical thinking can build a strong foundation for success, it’s creativity that can give investors the extra edge.