Before You Buy the Next Hot Stock: What My Share Portfolio Taught Me 📉📈

#WealthWednesday #FinanceInsight

TL;DR: I bought shares with high hopes and learned some hard truths. Some went up, others down, and a few just sat there like confused potatoes. This post reflects on what worked (and what didn’t) and offers a checklist to help you invest more wisely, without losing your peace or your purpose.

---

“Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.”
— Proverbs 13:11 (ESV)

The markets may promise overnight gains, but God’s wisdom points us toward diligence, patience, and discernment. Investing in stocks isn’t wrong, but chasing hype without knowledge can lead to regret. As stewards of what God has entrusted to us, we’re called to grow what we’ve been given wisely, not recklessly.

A Share of My Story

Let’s just say: I’ve bought the dream and the dip.

I opened a brokerage account after hearing stories of people who turned pocket change into power moves. I heard, “The richest people hold millions in shares!” So I jumped in, picked some winners (I thought), and began my journey.

Some shares made money.
Some… quietly lost value.
Others are still sitting in my account like, “One day, boss… one day.”

In some cases, buy-and-hold has paid off. In others, it's been more like buy-and-hope. I even bought I-REIT shares thinking it was my backdoor into real estate. But low dividends and falling prices taught me a lesson in humility—and loss realization.

I’ve also:

• Sold too early and watched prices soar afterward 😩

• Held too long and watched them go nowhere 🤷

• Bought based on brand love, good PR, and optimistic analysts. Sometimes it worked, sometimes not.

What I’ve learned? Stock picking as a passive investor is part research, part market sentiment, part timing—and part “school fees.”

A Deeper Realization

Yes, some millionaires hold millions in public shares. But here’s the nuance: they often have a closer relationship with the business—as founders, board members, insiders, institutional investors, or visionary fund managers. They have visibility into operations, trends, or long-term strategy that the general public simply doesn’t. Some may even have the agency to influence decisions or shape public perception, creating value by design—not just by hope.

That doesn’t mean you’re locked out of investing in shares. But it does mean you shouldn’t assume you're playing the same game with the same tools.

If active stock investing isn’t your lane, you’re not out of options. You can still participate through a reliable fund manager or index fund; one you’ve vetted and whose long-term strategy aligns with your values and financial goals. The goal isn’t “outperforming everyone.” It’s stewarding well—within your risk level, bandwidth, and purpose.

Checklist: Before You Buy (or Sell) Shares

If you’re thinking about investing, or wondering whether to stay in or get out, here’s a simple wisdom-first checklist:

✅ Do I understand what the company actually does and how it makes money?

✅ Am I buying because of hype—or because of sound fundamentals?

✅ Do I have a time horizon in mind—or is this just “I hope it goes up”?

✅ If the price drops 30%, would I regret buying—or double down?

✅ Is this part of a larger financial plan—or a “get rich if lucky” side quest?

✅ Have I prayed about it or sought counsel from a wise financial steward?

✅ Do I have the time, skill, and desire to manage active stock positions—or should I consider a fund instead?

---

Action Step

This week, take 15 minutes to review your current or intended investments with this prayerful mindset:

“Lord, help me steward what You’ve given me—not for greed or gain alone, but for impact, responsibility, and peace.”

If you’ve bought shares before, reflect: What strategy worked for you and what didn’t?
Reply or comment. Your story might be the wisdom someone else needs this week.