Invest to gain freedom

Like many other things, investing can be as easy or difficult as we want it to be. 

If we want to keep it easy, we can just choose to buy multiple ETFs that allow us to be sufficiently diversified. 

If we want to put in a lot of time and effort into it, we can spend our weekends looking at annual reports, building detailed financial models, or even run complicated algorithms in the hope of generating outsized returns. 

Whatever we choose, we should not lose sight of why we are investing. 

For me, I invest so that I can build the financial resources for me to be able to do what I want to do. 

To some, this may be to set up a company you’ve always dreamed of to combat climate change. To others, this may be to make sure your children are well provided for so that you can retire early. 

However you define financial independence, have the goal clearly in mind as it will be your anchor when things get topsy-turvy. 

What this also mean is that you should not do anything that brings you further away from the freedom you are aiming for. 

Have an investment position that is causing you to lose sleep at night? That’s not freedom.

Feel like you have to constantly check your phone to know how your portfolio is performing? That’s not freedom. 

Freedom is knowing that you have invested properly so that you can do the many other things that are important in your life. 

Take the next step

Use this Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE) calculator to find out how much you'd need to save and invest to reach your early retirement goals.