For years I kept hearing things like “You should invest in stocks!” or “Start planning your retirement!”
But I never actually did it. Why? Because I had no idea how any of it worked.
I didn’t know how to begin, which stocks made sense, or how to even open a brokerage account.
And then – like so many things in my life – I just kind of stumbled into it.
My first contact with stocks
I think it was a YouTube video about neobrokers that caught my attention.
They were talking about Trade Republic, and I thought:
“Alright, let’s give it a shot.”
I signed up and transferred 100 euros to my account – nothing more.
And then?
Well, I did what most beginners probably do: I bought a random stock.
- Nintendo – because I like the brand
- Sega Holdings – because they used to compete with Nintendo
- CD Projekt – because I loved The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077
No strategy, no plan – just experimenting.
I wanted to know how it worked and what it felt like to own a stock.
And then I realized:
It’s actually super easy!
Not rocket science – even later in life
I’m 47 now, and I can tell that technical stuff doesn’t come as easily as it used to.
Back then, everything felt intuitive. Today, I need to spend more time figuring things out.
But buying stocks?
That was surprisingly simple.
After those first purchases, I started to really dive into the topic.
I didn’t want to buy stocks randomly. I wanted to understand how to make money with them in the long run.
So I educated myself, developed a strategy – and went deep into it.
My brother-in-law also invests, but I didn’t want to ask him.
I wanted to figure it out on my own.
And what I’ve learned is this:
It’s never too late to start.
My retirement strategy
Now, after a bit of experience, I know exactly what I want:
- I focus on dividend stocks to build a long-term income stream
- I don’t sell stocks – I keep adding more over time (classic buy-and-hold)
- I invest as much as my budget allows to build a solid portfolio
Sure, I only started at 47 – but that doesn’t matter.
Would it have been better to start at 27? Of course.
But “what if” thinking doesn’t help me.
What matters is: I got started.
For everyone who thinks it’s too late
I know a lot of people my age think:
“It’s too late now.”
But that’s not true.
- Every euro you invest today helps your future
- Every share you buy brings you closer to financial independence
- With a smart strategy, you can start investing at 50 or even 60
Today, I have a clear vision of how to take control of my financial future.
And I’m happy to share the knowledge I’ve gathered.
I even launched a website to help others find answers.
Because I know how hard that first step can be.
I know how many questions you have.
And I know how much a simple, honest answer can help.
So if you’re wondering whether it’s still worth starting with stocks – my answer is: Yes! Get started!
It’s never too late – but you have to take that first step yourself.