Investor Journeys—AlexInvestor Journeys—Alex

Tell us a bit about yourself. Did you grow up knowing about investing?

I’ve always been interested in exploring new ideas and I confess to being a bit of a risk taker. My parents always encouraged me to use my money well—to make it work for me. They were both real estate agents and each owned an investment property.

When I was about 13 or 14 years old, my dad encouraged me to buy some shares in a health tech company. That gave me a taste of investing at a young age.

Why did you start investing?

About six years ago, I had a job that wasn’t very challenging. I decided to add an extra screen to my desk—one for work and one for investing. I enjoyed the fun of investing, and I still do. I know what I can earn by working full time for a salary. But investing seemed like another way to grow my wealth.

I’ve also invested in property. I made a good profit from renovating and selling my first property, which was enough for me to make a deposit on my next property. The profit from that helped me buy my third, then fourth. 

Why did you start investing with Sharesies?

It was so easy to set up my Sharesies account compared to other platforms. Everything about Sharesies is simple. It shows me the different levels of risk I can take and what’s going on with my portfolio. It also gives me the opportunity to invest in companies outside Australia, like the US and New Zealand—some platforms don’t make that easy or possible.

I like that Sharesies is transparent about their transaction fees. They talk about investing in a fun, accessible, and celebratory way. It makes investing enjoyable and exciting!

How do you choose what to invest in?

I follow tech entrepreneurs and invest in companies exploring ground-breaking ideas. I also invest in sustainable companies and ethical funds because I know that they’re having a positive impact on the world.

What have you learned about investing so far? 

I didn’t know much about investing when I started. I’ve made some expensive mistakes but I’ve had a lot of wins too.

I’ve learnt about entry and exit strategies. I consider how much money I need to spare before making a new investment, and how much money I want to make before I sell. 

About five years ago, I joined Facebook Groups that were set up to support investors interested in the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). Now I prefer to do my own research, and talk to people I know.

I’ve been lucky to be able to talk about investing with some of my tech-savvy colleagues, a few friends, and my neighbour who is a serious trader.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given about investing?

1. Don’t invest everything. Only invest money if you know it’s spare.

2. Do your own research. Learn about the company or fund that you’re investing in. Who’s behind it? What products or services are they selling? Do you believe in them? Are they making a profit?

3. Consider having an entry and exit strategy. Decide how much money you can afford to invest before you start. Work out how much money you want to make before you sell any investment.

4. Think about the level of risk you want to take. Low? Medium? High?

5. Be patient because investing can be a long-term strategy. You might make a return in six months but you might also need to wait five to ten years. Think about your time horizon and consider how long you want to invest for.

What are your investment goals?

My partner and I are building a house. Over the next couple of years, I’d like to use any potential returns on my investments to help us create our new home.

What tips would you give to someone who thinks you need loads of money to invest?

I set up my Sharesies account with $150 but there’s no minimum investment to get started. This makes it an accessible platform for beginners.