Investor Journeys—BrookeInvestor Journeys—Brooke

Tell us about yourself!

Since completing a nursing degree, I’ve chosen to work in a hospital’s reception rather than practise as a nurse. I live in Melbourne and love playing the guitar, writing music, and staying active. I enjoy learning and focusing on the things that matter to me the most—my health, friends, and investing for my future.

What’s your money story?

Growing up, money was seen as important, but my parents had different financial goals—they seemed to conflict with each other. This tension impacted my financial mindset.

I knew my parents had some investments and property, but I didn’t know the details. When my parents divorced, they had to sell some of their assets, but the lack of conversation about investing made understanding the share market seem untouchable.

When I left home, I had to think about how much money I needed for daily life or if I got sick. Now that I’m living on my own, and knowing that I can’t fall back on my family, the amount of money coming in and going out is up to me. Just as I’ve had to learn how to stand on my own two feet, I had to teach myself how to invest.

Tell us about your investment journey so far.

At school, I wasn’t very good at maths, so I thought investing would be hard—but it doesn’t have to be. I started by investing an amount I could afford in an exchange-traded fund (ETF). ETFs are made up of lots of different companies, so my Portfolio gets some diversity without me needing to invest in individual companies. I also try to invest in funds that follow an ESG strategy.

The Sharesies platform is so accessible and has so many options to choose from. I use auto-invest to benefit from dollar-cost averaging. I’m still young, so I'm investing for the long term. I like doing my own research on a fund or company—their reputation, how long they’ve been operating, how they treat their staff. I use Yahoo Finance to check an investment’s recent performance.

How have you learnt about investing?

I learnt about the Sharesies platform through Girls That Invest. Being a woman of colour, their podcast really resonated with me. I also did their masterclass to learn the fundamentals of investing. 

I listen to the podcast She’s on the Money and keep up to date with social media to look out for companies and investing tips. I also read books like Girls that Invest by Simran Kaur and Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter. The Sharesies Learn articles make it easy for me to learn as I go.  

I talk to my friends about investing. They’re all at different stages in their investing journey, so it’s a good way to learn. Some friends earn less or more than I do, some are single or married, some own a house, some are travelling, and some are pursuing their careers. Everyone’s on their own path.

What do you like about investing?

The Sharesies platform feels like more than just a company. It’s grounded and fun, rather than daunting. It helps me feel informed and valued as an investor.

Having my own investments feels like a safety blanket, and quite grown-up. I like sharing my journey and knowledge of investing with my younger sibling too. 

For my personal growth and future, I’d like to keep expanding my investing knowledge. I’d like to be financially independent so I have enough money to buy a house, travel, and retire.

What are the most important things you’ve learnt as an investor so far? 

• Any time in the market is better than no time in the market. Most young people don’t have big incomes or savings, but even a small amount is a great start.

• Ask questions, understand risk, and be patient.

• Mind your emotions. Don’t check your Portfolio every day and don’t react if a market goes up or down. Markets can fluctuate from day to day and hour to hour.

• Budget for investing like you budget for saving.

• Invest in what you know.

• Give it a go and empower others to do the same. The earlier you start investing, the sooner you’ll learn and be able to pass on your knowledge to others.