Should you be investing in volatile markets?
When the Coronavirus triggered a stock market crash, a lot of investors panicked. Others saw the dip as an opportunity to buy. So, what if you want to invest, but you don’t want to live on an emotional roller coaster? Is there an approach to investing that lends to calm, even when markets are volatile?
Hear Stephanie and Gillian’s tips for investing in volatile markets
How to invest in a volatile market
Stephanie and Gillian are the Canadian expat couple behind Our Freedom Years, a blog that follows their path to financial independence and early retirement. Experts in DIY investing, they gave up their corporate careers in October of 2019 for a life of slow travel. Stephanie and Gillian also share their adventures (and money advice) on the Our Freedom Years YouTube channel.
On this episode of Queer Money®, Stephanie and Gillian join us to explain what inspired them to pursue early retirement and describe the role investing played in achieving financial independence. They discuss the creative ways they saved money (without feeling deprived) and walk us through their four principles of investing. Listen in for insight on developing a strategy that takes the emotion out of investing and learn how to get started on your own journey to financial freedom!
Topics covered on investing in volatile markets
What inspired Stephanie and Gillian to pursue early retirement
- ‘Made it’ by society’s standards but still not fulfilled
- Seeing examples of others living interesting lives
The role investing played in allowing Stephanie and Gillian to retire early
- Already saving for retirement but FIRE inspired more discipline
- Tracking spending led to more saving, investing accelerated process
Stephanie and Gillian’s advice for saving without feeling deprived
- Substitute expensive nights out with alternatives (e.g.: dinner party)
- Conduct one-month experiments to decide what you really value
Stephanie and Gillian’s four principles of investing
- DIY investors, accountable for own financial literacy
- Buy-and-hold approach
- Regular contributions (buy equities every month)
- Diversify via investing in tiny slice of global market
The two types of investments in Stephanie and Gillian’s portfolio
- Equities (limited to one low-cost index fund)
- Fixed-income investments in syndicated mortgages
Stephanie and Gillian’s advice on the first steps to financial independence
- Start investment education with JL Collins’ Stock Series
- Best first step to money management = track spending
Connect with Stephanie & Gillian
Resources for investing
- Improve or Build Your Credit Score Course
- Million Dollar Journey
- Our Next Life
- Go Curry Cracker!
- Millennial Revolution
- Couples Money Guide
- Debt Free Guys Spending Analysis
- Betterment
- Robinhood
- Vanguard
- JL Collins’ Stock Series
- National LGBT Chamber of Commerce New York
- Queer Money Facebook Group
- Queer Money on Instagram
- Queer Money on YouTube
- Email [email protected]