First Things First

None of the content anywhere on this site constitutes financial advice. Read my Hello! to know what you're in for. This site is purely for your entertainment.

Still reading? Ok then, let's go.

My YouTube feed is full of people who are full of themselves. Many of them lucked out on the greatest bull run in their lifetime – heck, over the last decade or so even I made money with my foolish investment ideas. My Vanguard account currently shows a 16.2% return for the last 5 years (Even SPY didn't do a too shabby 14.44% over the same period). I keep getting drawn into the magnetic personality and oh-so-convincing philosophies of these YouTubers, and the algorithm keeps generating more of the same feed for me. I neither have their personality nor their conviction, but that's not going to stop me from having fun with this now, would it?

The Basics

Before we dive into the constraints that will guide (or misguide) this experiment, let's establish some basics:

• All amounts will be in US dollars (USD)
• All positions and results will be posted after they're executed (no hypotheticals)
• I'll share screenshots of my actual trades (with account numbers redacted, of course)

My (Pseudo)-Scientific Constraints

1. Never assume I know the future
   • This sounds obvious, but watch me struggle with this one
   • Will document both my predictions and how hilariously wrong they turn out
2. Position Sizing Limits
   • Starting with a maximum of 50% of the portfolio for any single position
   • Yes, this sounds insanely high
   • Yes, this might change when I inevitably panic
   • Will track how this constraint affects my decision-making
3. No Day Trading
   • I have a day job that funds this experiment
   • Minimum holding period: 24 hours
   • This gives the market plenty of time to prove me wrong

Additional Constraints I'm Adding

1. Documentation Requirements
   • Most trades should have a written rationale before/around execution
   • Should include what would prove my thesis wrong
   • Will track and report most fees and costs
2. Risk Management (Sort Of)
   • Should set stop losses (but reserve the right to ignore them)
   • Will define maximum drawdown limits for the entire portfolio
   • These limits are also subject to change based on my emotional state
3. Transparency Rules
   • Will post updates at least weekly
   • Failed trades get their own detailed post-mortem
   • Successful trades get scrutinized to separate luck from skill (spoiler: it's probably luck)

The Fine Print

• This portfolio starts with nearly 11K USD (you'll see the exact amount in my next post).
• No borrowed money or margin trading (yet). I mean I have margin, but have lucked out so far on never having been called on it.
• All trades will be posted within 24 hours of execution.
• Comments and suggestions welcome, but remember: we're here to document foolishness, not prevent it.

Next post will detail my first position. Until then, remember: this is what NOT to do with your money.

Reminder: This is still not financial advice. If anything, this is financial entertainment – the kind that makes you feel better about your own decisions.