Absolute beginnings

Here are few things I'd like to point out before going further with this Substack:

- I have no formal training in investing. I am an amateur (retail) investor who has been "in the game" for the past 10 years. Nothing on the pages of this Substack should be taken as investment or financial advice. For that, please consult with a appropriately credentialed professional (not your brother-in-law Darren).

- I have no formal training in Buddhism. I am a complete amateur or "absolute beginner" (to steal a line from David Bowie, who might've stolen it from someone else). I've been learning about Buddhism and mindfulness for about as long as I've been invested in the stock market. Buddhism is an enormously diverse religious and philosophical tradition with many different schools/branches. I am particularly drawn to 'secular Buddhism', which strips away some of the metaphysical or mythological aspects of Buddhism while continuing to emphasize the core precepts (which I will explore on this Substack).

- I said this in the first post, and I'll say it again: It is not my goal with this Substack to convert anyone to Buddhism or to a particular way of investing. You are quite welcome to your own beliefs. One thing I've learned about Buddhism (particularly secular Buddhism) is that it is not incompatible with other religious beliefs or faith traditions. For instance, I've encountered devout Christians who have comfortably integrated aspects of Buddhism and mindfulness into their practice. All cards on the table, I have slightly more inflexible opinions when it comes to investing. I invest my money in broad-index-tracking funds because I value diversification and want to hedge my bets. I have dabbled with other investment strategies and will probably talk about this in a future post.

- I am very interested in hearing your thoughts on Buddhism, investing and the intersection between the two. Community or "sangha" is absolutely core to Buddhism. It is one of the "three refuges" or "three jewels" of Buddhism along with the Buddha and his teachings, the Dharma. Integrating more sangha into my life and practice is a driving force in creating this Substack.

- I aim to post on a weekly basis. I will keep the posts short, snappy and (hopefully) relevant. I am keeping an open mind about where this Substack will go, so please feel free to throw some ideas my way.

That's all for now, folks. More soon

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