Investor Journeys—Seanie HamiltonInvestor Journeys—Seanie Hamilton

Tell us about your first investment!

I started with Sharesies when I was still a student midwife. I’d already read a few books on investing like ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad’, and wanted to gain some experience using a small amount of money. I love that Sharesies gives you the opportunity to start small and dip your toes in the water! 

When I first started investing, I had no idea what to do. For my first investment, I looked at the description of the investment to see if it aligned with my values and interests. I also looked at fees, dividends, and price history over the past 5 years to see any trends.

The first funds I invested in were the Smartshares NZ Property Fund, Smartshares Australian Resources Fund and Smartshares NZ Bond Fund. I saw how crazy the property market had skyrocketed here in Auckland, so I thought investing in the NZ Property Fund would be a good idea. I’d also heard of people moving to Australia to work in the mines and getting quite a bit of money from it, so I thought the Australian Resources Fund would be a great chance to hop on that bandwagon. In addition, I invested in the NZ Bond Fund for a little less volatility.

What do you like about having an investment? 

After making my first investment, I felt happy that I was finally putting into practice what I’d been reading in books. It’s cool to be doing something similar to the likes of Charlie Munger and Tony Robbins, who are quite wealthy lads. It’s like “hey, I can be like you”. Although they deal with a lot more money then I do, I’m at least learning and growing my knowledge—hopefully one day I can make enough money to live off and be comfortable! I also like the idea that your money is working for you, instead of you working for your money. 

How has your attitude towards money changed since you became an investor?

I definitely think I’ve grown confident and more conscious of handling my money. I’m learning how to buy within my means and not to spend spontaneously, which I feel are really valuable lessons to learn. I feel like I still have lots to learn about investing, but at least I’ve started and it’s a learning process along the way. 

I’m currently working towards saving for a house, and Sharesies is really helping me be conscious of where my money is going. If my money was sitting in my bank, it would’ve been gone the next day because I love spending money. With Sharesies, I’m saving money and I’m still able to access it, but there's an element of not wanting to touch it until the time is right. 

Where are you currently going to learn more about investing?

I’m still getting used to investing in companies, so I want to read more on how to go about it all. I like this YouTube channel called ‘Phil Town’s Rule #1 Investing’—he talks a lot about Warren Buffet and his investing advice. In addition, I’m currently reading ‘The Intelligent Investor’ by Benjamin Graham which is helping me a lot with my decision making on investing. I want to read more so I can learn how to invest more confidently!

People often think you need loads of money to invest. What tips would you give to everyday New Zealanders who might not think it’s possible?

When I first started investing, I was a poor student. Now I’ve managed to accumulate a small stash of money and I’m becoming more confident as I invest more. 

Investing is not a ‘get rich quick’ scheme. There’s patience involved as well as trust. Also, read, read, READ! The only way to make sure your money is actually working for you is to continue to read, not necessarily about investing but about what's happening in the world. So just give it a go! See how $5 per week for a year gets you. You never know, you might actually enjoy the process.