Finding the Right Investment Strategy: It Grows Like a Belief

I Don’t Have the Guts

Words by Jeong-Yoon Lee

 

I’ve always been the type to save diligently, putting aside a portion of my paycheck every month. To me, financial planning meant saving as much as possible to protect the money I earned. But as I got older and watched the world change, I realized, “This won’t work anymore.” Preparing for retirement became a pressing concern that occupied my thoughts.

 

To survive, I started posting about finance and business on my blog, and I found myself drawn to intriguing and exciting keywords. Two stood out: “How to Find the Right Investment Strategy for Me” and “Can You Get Rich by Saving Alone?” It seems like every generation, inspired by savvy young people in their 20s, is paying more attention to finance these days. These topics sparked a desire in me to share my own thoughts because, honestly, I’m still in the process of figuring out what works best for me.

 

In my opinion, the best financial strategy is simply earning more money. Of course, that’s easier said than done, which is why I’ve been exploring investment strategies I hadn’t considered before. When you earn well, wealth naturally accumulates. Dreams like owning a home, having spare funds for investment, and preparing for retirement all become achievable. The key is to avoid excessive greed and focus on protecting what you already have.

 

 

 

Discovering My Investment Style

In June of last year, I began investing in U.S. stocks through Toss Securities. The stock market had always felt like a foreign concept to me, so I dove in with zero knowledge. At first, I kept up with financial news, studied charts, and bookmarked stocks I was interested in. As I debated whether to buy or sell, I gradually began to understand my own investment style.

 

 

Imagining a Zero Balance

The first rule I set for myself was to invest only as much as I could bear to lose completely. I made it a habit to deposit any extra money into my stock account—whether it came from side gigs like Naver AdPost, Coupang Partners, or Google AdSense.

 

Another method I practice is converting spending into investment. When I’m tempted to buy something, I put it in my cart but don’t purchase it unless I absolutely can’t stop thinking about it. Instead, I transfer the equivalent amount of money into my stock account and delete the item from my cart. My mindset is, “If I’m going to spend it anyway, I might as well invest it.”

 

 

Your Ideal Investment Strategy Will Find You

I’ve come to realize that just like beliefs, the right investment strategy doesn’t come from wanting it—it grows naturally from your actions and mindset. I’m learning to navigate the world of finance by experimenting cautiously and avoiding significant losses.

 

Sometimes, I daydream about winning the lottery, but I’ve found that the right financial approach for me is one that fits naturally into my life without being overambitious.

 

 

Buying Is a Skill, Selling Is an Art

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned in stock trading is the timing of purchases. For example, I bought Pinterest shares at 60,000 KRW, and they’ve been in the red ever since. On the other hand, I bought Nvidia at 160,000 KRW during the hype and sold at 180,000 KRW, gaining valuable experience along the way.

 

Through these attempts, I’ve developed a sense of the right price ranges for buying and selling. For instance, Pinterest feels fair at around 40,000 KRW, and Nvidia seems reasonable at 170,000–180,000 KRW. My only regret is not buying more Dutch Bros shares when I had the chance—they’re the only stock I own that’s currently profitable.

 

 

Think of It as a Numbers Game

Today, I was surprised to see U.S. tech stocks plunge after the Chinese startup DeepSeek made headlines. In moments like these, I hear people say, “This is the time to buy!” but actually acting on that is easier said than done.

 

For example, Nvidia, which seemed stuck above 200,000 KRW, has now dropped to the 170,000 KRW range. Observing this, I’ve realized once again that massive investments are only for those with nerves of steel.

 

For a beginner like me, the best approach is to only invest an amount that won’t shock me if my account balance drops to zero overnight. These days, even when I have money in my account, it feels intangible—just numbers on a screen. I only invest as much as I can emotionally let go of, and my goal is to grow those numbers steadily.

 

 

The World Thrives on Competition

No matter how dominant a company seems with its innovations, new breakthroughs inevitably emerge to challenge the status quo. That’s why reckless, all-in investments should be left to those who have the courage to take full responsibility for the risks.

 

To those people, I say: “You’re amazing!”

 

 

Credit

Text: Jeong-Yoon Lee

Photos: Jeong-Yoon Lee