What I Wish I Knew Before I Started Investing
The first time I ever fell in love was the day I made five thousand dollars in one day on the stock market. I have shared that story before and if you want the full play by play you can find it on my channel. Today I want to zoom out. If I could go back in time and start investing all over again, what would I do differently. Even with great returns and some amazing wins, there are things I would tweak. There are always better ways to do something and I want to unpack those lessons so you can skip a few bumps on your own path.
I still would have started earlier
I started investing pretty young. Early twenties. Most people say I wish I started earlier and honestly that is still true for me. My first job was at sixteen at Tim Hortons here in Canada. At sixteen I did not have big bills or responsibilities. I had income and freedom. What I did not have was intention. I blew a lot of that money on food, makeup, and hair. The usual.
Tax time would roll around and my dad who is an accountant would sit with me to look at how much I had earned. Sixteen thousand. Twenty thousand. Then the question. Where did it go. Saving sounded good in theory, but I did not see it modeled and I did not understand compounding yet.
If I had saved even half each year and started investing small amounts as a teen, I could have entered university with a real portfolio. Ten thousand a year for two years is twenty thousand. Add small top ups. Fifty dollars a month. One hundred dollars a month. By the end of university that could have been twenty five to thirty grand at the low end or forty to fifty grand if I doubled like I did later. That could have covered most of my undergrad and a car without debt. This is what time does. The earlier you start, the more compounding works in your favor.
Start small and start now
You do not need to be rich to invest. That is a myth. I proved that to myself in my first year with a five thousand dollar starting bucket. Five thousand felt huge to me back then, but you can start with fifty. One hundred. Ten. The skill is what matters. If you can double fifty dollars, you can double five thousand when your income grows. The market does not know your net worth. It only responds to price, time, and your behavior.
Get clear on values before you buy a single share
This is the big one I wish I knew sooner. At first I bought ETFs because the metrics looked good. Then I looked inside the funds and saw names I did not align with. Fast food. Sugar water. Fossil fuels. Some funds were labeled sustainable yet still held companies I would never consume in my own life.
When you buy a share you become a shareholder. You own a piece of that business. Your dollars become a vote for the world you want to see. I started asking different questions. Does this company honor people. Does it care about the planet. Is it profitable and well run. That became my three P framework. Profit. People. Planet. If it fails any of the three, I pass.
You can apply this to ETFs too. Read the fact sheet. Check the top holdings. Look for screens that match your values. If a fund conflicts with you, choose a different one or build a portfolio of individual names that fit.
Ignore the hype and protect your nervous system
Let me tell on myself. My five thousand dollar day came from Beyond Meat during its IPO. I got in during the first week and the ride was wild. Up big one day. Down the next. News cycles, celebrity endorsements, and volatility had my nervous system on edge. I watched the chart every morning like it was a slot machine. I exited with a win and the next day the stock dropped by half. That experience taught me a lot. It also taught me what I do not want. I do not want to live in a constant state of fight or flight around my money.
After that I decided to ignore hype and treat IPOs with caution. If I invest early in a company now, it is because I am a real customer, I believe in the mission, and I can hold for years. If you are tempted by hot trends, pause. Ask what problem this company solves. Ask how it makes money. Ask if you can sleep while holding it.
Do not tell yourself investing is not for you
A lot of people count themselves out because they think investing is only for rich people. Most millionaires did not start rich. They became wealthy by owning assets that grew while they slept. Investing is one of the most accessible ways to do that because the barrier to entry is low. You can buy a fractional share. You can automate small amounts. You can learn as you go.
What I actually did right
It was not all mistakes. Here is what I nailed from the start.
• I diversified. I used a blend of ETFs, bonds, mutual funds, and individual stocks. Inside the stock bucket I spread across sectors like tech, plant based foods, and health. That mix helped smooth the ride and boost returns.
• I managed my emotions. I rarely sold in panic. Aside from taking profits on Beyond Meat, I stayed the course and let time do the work. I prepared for volatility by reading and studying before I invested my first dollar.
• I invested in what I used. Apple if I used an iPhone. Microsoft because I grew up on Windows. That rule of thumb made research easier because I understood the products and the customer behavior.
• I kept learning. Podcasts, books, annual letters. Over time my focus expanded from basic personal finance into business models, economics, and the bigger picture. Lately I have been curious about options. I still do not trade them, but I am learning the mechanics so I can decide with knowledge, not FOMO.
A simple path you can copy
If you are starting today, here is a gentle plan that honors both numbers and values.
Open a low fee account that lets you buy ETFs and stocks with no minimums.
Automate a small weekly or monthly transfer. Ten is fine. One hundred is fine.
Pick a broad market ETF you understand. Read the fact sheet and top holdings.
Layer in one or two individual companies you already use and believe in. Research revenue, profit margins, debt, and competitive advantages.
Apply the three P lens. Profit. People. Planet. If it fails your values, skip it.
Reinvest dividends. Add slowly. Do not chase spikes.
Review quarterly. Not daily. Adjust only when your plan or the facts change.
Why values matter for long term wealth
You can make money quickly by chasing shiny objects. I know because I did. But lasting wealth comes from alignment. When your portfolio reflects your values, you are more likely to hold through storms because the why is strong. You are also less likely to fund harm in the name of profit. That integrity tax may feel like you are leaving money on the table. In my experience it creates deeper peace and better decisions over time.
Introducing the Ethical Investor Starter Kit
If you are ready to build wealth with integrity, I created something for you. The Ethical Investor Starter Kit is a free five day email series that helps you invest through my three P framework. You will get simple guides, checklists, reflection prompts, and a few surprise bonuses. I want you to feel supported, not overwhelmed. Engage with the prompts each day and I will send you the bonus tools at the end.
Start early if you can. Start small if you must. Lead with values. Ignore the noise. Keep learning. Your money can grow while you sleep and it can do it in a way that feels good in your body. Where you put your dollars is the world you are voting for. Choose wisely and give yourself time.
If you have questions or want to share what you would do differently if you started over, drop a comment. I am cheering for you.
〰️ RESOURCES AND NEXT STEPS
1. Watch the full video in this post to deepen the practice or listen to the raw, unedited podcast.
2. Want support? Schedule a clarity call to map your next step. [Schedule Here]
〰️ WORK WITH ME
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〰️ CONTACT ME
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