My relationship with money is a peculiar one.
I wasn’t born rich, nor was I born poor. I really was raised as middle-class as it gets.
Both of my parents always worked. My father was a union laborer in the cement business. My mother was a secretary in the automotive industry.
They worked long hours. After school, my grandparents took care of me and my brother until my parents came home in the evenings.
Gramps drove me to soccer practice until I got my license.
It wasn’t an easy life. But we made it work.
My family emigrated to the U.S. before I was born. Back in Italy, my grandfather raised cattle.
We never wanted for anything, but never took what we had for granted.
Seeing my parents dedication to building a life here in the U.S., listening to the stories of my family back in Italy all helped shape my character.
Money, is a means to an end.
I use it to buy time…time to spend with my family…time to enjoy life.
As I was saying to my editor the other day, my portfolio was up some 500%-600% since 2020.
But you won’t find me cruising the Michigan landscape in a Maserratti.
I love hunting and nature.
I love spending time with my family.
We recently spent a few wonderful weeks in Italy.
I’m not as frugal as Warren Buffett, but I am as consciously aware of what’s important.
It’s incredibly easy to get lost in trading. You get tunnel vision staring at charts, watching every tick. There have been times I sat frozen from the open until the close without blinking.
It sucks.
Trading psychology is more than just self-control. It’s about understanding what matters.
And quite honestly, you can’t do that in a vacuum.
When I’m dead and gone, my money only has value to my kids and the people left behind. I don’t get to bring it with me.
So, ask yourself why you’re trading. Why are you on this journey?
It’s certainly possible to pass an enjoyable trading career seeing how much money you can accumulate.
I’m just not built that way.
I respect money and what it can do for me.
I have goals. They aren’t grandiose. They’re grounded.
That’s who I am. That’s how I trade.
Until next time,
Gianni Di Poce