Have you ever found yourself wondering, “What have I actually accomplished since I first started working?”
Time has passed, and you’ve been at your company so long that fewer and fewer people there started before you did. Yet, your bank balance never seems to rise much, and the word “investing” feels like something you only hear about in the news, never something you personally engage in.
After 25 years of working and investing, I’ve realized a key truth: being a beginner at investing isn’t just about being new to the workforce. It applies to anyone who’s never really started investing at all. It doesn’t matter if you’ve worked for 1 year or 25 years—if you have no investment experience, you’re still at the “tiny snowball” stage.
Why do so many of us hesitate at the doorstep of investing? Why does each month’s paycheck vanish into everyday expenses and bills, leaving no meaningful savings behind? Why, even after so many years, does building real wealth feel so distant?
This is where the “Snowman Investment Method” comes in. This idea isn’t just a fancy theory from a seminar or a book. It’s a method I’ve developed through hands-on experience—starting small, enduring setbacks, and gradually growing my assets over 25 years.
Think back to your childhood, playing in a snowy field. Remember making that first tiny snowball? It was so small, it was hard to roll forward and just a little too much pressure could break it. Early on, when you first set aside a small amount of seed money—maybe 100 dollars, 1,000 dollars, or even 10,000 dollars—it feels the same way. You try to grow it, but it doesn’t seem to move, and it rarely produces the results you dream of.
But once your snowball reaches a certain size, it becomes easier to roll, and it quickly gathers more snow as it moves. The same goes for investing. Once you have a decent amount of seed money built up, compound interest—the “magic” of investing—starts to work in your favor. As time passes, interest and gains pile on top of your original amount, making your money grow even faster.
The key is to start as soon as possible. The first person to begin rolling their small snowball will, after a few months or years, have a much larger snowman than the person who waited. Compound interest thrives on time. The earlier you begin and the longer you invest, the greater the rewards. Even starting a year, a month, or a week earlier can make a huge difference in the long run.
Of course, building that initial seed money isn’t always easy. Maybe you’ve been working for 25 years and still don’t have much saved. But that’s okay—there’s no deadline on starting fresh. Set a savings goal (for example, aiming for your first hundred thousand dollars, depending on your personal target). Cut unnecessary spending, save regularly, and approach it with the determination of making that first, tiny snowball. Age and time spent working don’t make it inherently easier or harder—it’s all about taking that first step.
As you gather your seed money, you should also explore the market. Try out small investments in stocks, ETFs, Bitcoin, or even more volatile assets like altcoins or futures—whatever sparks your interest. You might lose some money along the way, but trust me: in my 25 years of learning, the biggest truth is that failure and trial-and-error are the real “fertilizer” for investment growth. Over time, you’ll develop a sense of where to look, when to buy, and when to sell.
Once your seed money is big enough, you don’t need to chase after high-risk assets anymore. You can choose more stable yet promising investments—like strong U.S. stocks, real estate, bonds, or Bitcoin—whatever feels reliable to you. Add a small margin on top, and let it roll slowly forward. At this point, your snowball is large enough that even gentle pushes lead to noticeable growth. It’s like having a snowman that keeps expanding on its own as you lightly nudge it along.
Let’s break down the Snowman Investment Method into three steps:
- Build Your Seed: Reduce unnecessary spending, save diligently, and set a clear initial goal (like 100 thousand dollars). Start today, not tomorrow, to give yourself more time for growth.
- Gain Market Experience: Use small amounts to invest in various products and learn how the market moves. Embrace mistakes—they’re essential lessons.
- Focus on Steady Growth and Compound Interest: Once your seed has grown, lean toward stable assets and enjoy the magic of compounding without taking reckless risks.
It can feel daunting to start at the very bottom. But the person who begins a day, a month, or a year sooner is the one who ends up with the bigger snowman. I hope that these 25 years of experiences I’ve shared will give you the courage and direction you need to start fresh. Someday, when you look back, you’ll see that this very moment—this “first step”—was the starting point of your journey toward financial freedom and a richer future.
Here’s to dreaming of economic freedom for all of us.
— MangoMate