[Episode 42] I've listed 4 reasons why I, who used to say 'Investing is great!', am now keeping quiet.

Good evening.

I’m Choco, a 57-year-old casual investor.

Wow, it has suddenly become cool, hasn’t it?

This is the most comfortable season of the year.

Is everyone enjoying Silver Week?

I’m working, though…😭

Well, today I’m going to write about ‘talking to people about investing’.

When I first started investing, I didn’t make much profit.

I studied almost entirely on my own, watching books and YouTube.

‘Will this really increase my money?’

With that feeling, I continued investing while still half-doubting.

About two years after I started investing,

‘Was I tricked by books and YouTube into thinking I could increase my money through investing?’

I seriously thought things like that (lol).

However, around the third year of investing, the COVID shock occurred.

After that, as stock prices recovered, my unrealized gains gradually increased.

That was the first time that

“It was true…”

That’s what I thought.

Because of that experience, I started wanting to share the benefits of investing with someone else.

When I started making a profit, I guess I wanted to brag a little.

“Why don’t you start investing?”

“I’ll teach you.”

I had feelings like that, too.

But now, my way of thinking has changed.

I don’t think there’s any need to talk about investing when I haven’t been asked.

I’ll write down 4 reasons for that.

*️⃣1. I try to teach them, but end up being talked down to instead

Sometimes I teach various things to people who are interested in investing.

People who listened and said “I see” at first sometimes start giving me their own opinions once they actually start investing and making a profit.

Of course, that’s not a bad thing.

Once you start investing, anyone will develop their own way of thinking.

However, I’ve come to think that “teaching people is difficult.”

I’ve come to think that.

When I first started investing, I felt like an investor just by making a small profit.

That’s why, lately, I try not to give my opinion on investing unless I’m asked.

*️⃣② Some people make a sour face when you talk about investing

In the first place, not everyone wants to invest.

“Investing is scary”

“I don’t want to lose money”

“I don’t want to think about money”

Everyone has different ways of thinking.

Just because you think investing is good,
it doesn’t mean the other person feels the same way.

Something that is good for you is not necessarily good for others.

This is true not just for investing, but for everything.

*️⃣③ They seem interested, but end up doing nothing

I used to be a little disappointed by this, too.

“I’m interested in investing”

“I want to try NISA”

They said things like that, so I explained various things to them, but

in the end, they did nothing.

“I went to the trouble of teaching them…”

I have thought that before.

But when you think about it, this is also natural.

Whether or not to start investing is something for each person to decide.

Just because I do it doesn’t mean others need to as well.

That is why now, I think,

‘If you are interested, you should start whenever the time is right for you.’

I feel that way.

*️⃣4. Being perceived as having increased assets

This is the point I want to be most careful about.

When I talk about investing,

there is a possibility that people might think,

‘You must have quite a bit of money, right?’

Personally,

‘My assets have grown this much!’

I get happy and end up wanting to talk about it.

However, from the listener’s perspective, that isn’t necessarily a pleasant topic.

Furthermore,

if you are perceived as a ‘person with money,’

there is a possibility that, depending on the situation, you might be asked to lend money or be asked for favors.

Your assets are important personal information.

Perhaps there is no need to go out of your way to inform those around you.

*️⃣ When asked about investing

When I first started investing,

‘Investing is great!’

I couldn’t help but want to tell everyone.

But now, it’s different.

Whether or not to invest is something that person should decide.

If asked, I will share my own experience.

If not asked, I won’t force the conversation.

I think that is enough.

‘It is better not to talk about money with others too much’

is something often said.

Now that I am 57, I have gradually come to understand the meaning of that.

It is a happy thing to see your assets grow through investment.

But there is no need to boast about it to others.

Quietly and steadily building assets.

I would like to continue investing in that way from now on.

Thank you for reading until the end.

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