I started investing in January, 2020.

One month before the world shut down and the stock market fell 35% is when I finally decided to give it a try. By "give it a try", I mean go all in. I started with a lump sum instead of averaging my way in... excellent timing. That being said, what I’m most proud of this year (besides dipping and ducking covid, knock on wood) is staying the course. I could have easily been scared off after seeing my portfolio nearly cut in half just days after starting my journey, but I stayed 100% invested and kept contributing week after week as planned.

As we all know, the market came roaring back in a way I would have never thought possible with much of the economy still under heavy stress. If you told me in March that I’d end the year positive I would have called you crazy. I was fully expecting a multi-year recovery - and here we are at new all time highs just about every week. Please excuse this sentence if the bubble pops next week.

Getting my start during one of the more volatile years in history taught me many lessons, but none greater than patience. I’ve changed strategies, brokers, and made my fair share of mistakes; but I remained calm and witnessed the turnaround first-hand. I fully believe this experience will help me navigate volatility and market corrections for years to come, knowing just how valuable staying invested is.

I’m not boy wonder, not even close. I didn’t see 500% returns and I’m not riding the current crypto wave; but I invested through the worst market downturn since the financial crisis without panic selling and I’ll take that for year one. Like many, I had a lot of extra time on my hands this year and used much of that time to dive into books and podcasts to help expand my financial knowledge. I contribute much of my early success to the great minds I’ve read and listened to this year and will share my favorite books & podcasts in future memos!

Happy Trading & Happy Holidays!