Investor Journeys—StellaInvestor Journeys—Stella

Sharesies is proud to be a past sponsor of the Tokomanawa Queens, a basketball team backed by a brand new league placing women’s pay on par with men’s. They’re the living (and leaping and jumping! 🏀) embodiment of our shared belief in financial empowerment for everyone.

Stella Beck, Captain of the Tokomanawa Queens, shares how investing is helping her reach her short and long-term goals.

Tell us about yourself!

I’m 26 and live in Wellington. I work full-time at Parliament in the administration team that supports two government ministers. 

As a professional basketballer, I spend some of my evening's training and many weekends playing in the women's Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa League. I’m also a member of the Tall Ferns. My goal is for basketball to be part of my life, but not my sole occupation.

What’s your money story?

Growing up, I knew that my family was financially comfortable because I was able to play in basketball competitions around New Zealand. I was aware that not everyone’s family could afford to fund those kinds of trips. I was fortunate to be awarded a university scholarship to study science and psychology in the US, without the burden of a student loan. 

Being a professional female athlete isn’t the most lucrative career, but I love it. When I was playing basketball full-time, I was living from season to season, so I always had extra jobs to support myself. 

Why did you start investing?

My grandfather used to talk about his investments in the share market. When my family inherited some of his shares, we kept them. 

I started my Sharesies account after a friend mentioned that they were investing with Sharesies—I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to get ahead financially. 

Investing helps me manage the money I need for everyday life and travel in the short term. In the long term, I'd like to have an income from investing that allows me to live more spontaneously.

How do you manage your investments now?

I auto-invest the same amount every week because it’s an easy way for me to invest regularly. 

My investments tend to be higher risk because I’m investing for the long term. I invest in things I’m curious about or that I’ve heard of—it also means I’m more likely to follow my investment. 

People might think that athletes work 24/7, but we often have three to four hours free between games. It’s a good time to learn about things like investing!

I like that I can review my Sharesies Portfolio at any time. I also like being able to search for investments by type (e.g. companies, ETFs, managed funds) or category (e.g. healthcare or technology).

What are the most important things you’ve learnt as an investor so far? 

Don’t worry if the share market takes a dip. Ups and downs are inevitable.

Start small and learn as you go. Personally, I like learning by doing. I talk and listen to trusted friends and family, especially my dad. I read The Barefoot Investor and I’ve learnt a lot from Sharesies’ simple explanations of investing jargon.

Don’t miss the boat. The sooner you start investing, the better. Just give it a go and have fun!