What I Learned After 3 Years of Monthly ETF Investing
I set up an automatic transfer of 500,000 won a month starting in 2021 and completed three years. The returns aren't spectacular, but here's what I took away.
- The biggest gain came from "not selling." If I had sold when it dipped -15% midway, I'd still be sitting on losses today.
- Two or three holdings were enough. I bought seven at first, couldn't manage them, and just left them alone.
- Automatic transfers are truly the best invention. They have to be out of human hands.
- To save on fees, I went with overseas ETFs listed domestically, and I'm satisfied.
On the other hand, what I regret is reading too much news. Every time I looked, I got shaken and changed my purchase amounts. Just doing it mechanically was the answer.
Conclusion: After three years, I've found that investing is more about habits than brains.
10 answers
Agreed—automatic transfers are really the answer. If I have to do it manually, I’ll never do it.
I agree that watching too much news is the problem. I can’t count how many times I’ve been watching YouTube trying to time my buy and just missed it lol
Isn't three years a bit short? It feels a little early to be talking about habits at that point. The fact that there was only one -15% stretch was also down to luck, and people who weathered the 2022 market for two more years would tell a different story. Also, the idea that overseas ETFs listed in Korea are always better on fees shouldn't be judged by the total expense ratio alone—you need to look at the premium/discount rate and trading volume. It's a good article, but the conclusion feels too neatly wrapped up, which is a bit of a shame.