Hedge, Don't Bet

Core Insights - The individual transitioned from a career in commercial construction to full-time investing in the stock market, driven by a growing interest in financial markets and investment opportunities [1] - The launch of The Speculative Investor (TSI) website in 1999 allowed for interaction with a broader audience, evolving from a free service to a subscription-based model due to its popularity [1] - The investment strategy employed is a 'top down' approach, focusing on overall market trends before identifying individual stocks that can benefit from these trends [1] Investment Philosophy - The individual emphasizes the importance of understanding the broader market context, noting that it is significantly easier to select winning stocks in a bullish market compared to a bearish one [1] - A belief in gold as a hedge against fiat currency instability is highlighted, although it is noted that gold is not always a good investment [1] Market Experience - The individual has lived in Asia since 1995, which may provide insights into emerging markets and investment opportunities in the region [1] - The experience in both engineering and project management contributes to a disciplined approach to investment analysis and decision-making [1]