With Elfin, we want to encourage you to do smart things with your money, like investing. After all, investing can be smart, it’s fun and also much more accessible than you might have thought: even with small amounts, you can already work on your financial future. But where do you start, and how do you build an investment portfolio? That’s why it’s nice to occasionally be inspired by other women who have also started investing. What amounts did they start with and what does their investment portfolio look like? Why do they invest in certain products and what is their goal? Read, get inspired and start investing yourself. This time an interview with Carina, Elfin member from the very beginning!
Tell us, who are you?
I’m Carina Diehl, I’m 30 years old and for several years now I’ve been getting more and more involved in sustainable living. For example, I’ve been eating vegan since 2018, and bit by bit I’m trying to replace all my items with sustainable alternatives as they come to their end of life. I also love my dog (Pepper, rescue pitbull) and my 100+ houseplants. My ultimate dream is a small house with land, for my own vegetable garden and dog care. Maybe I’ll make it a retreat location too, because I love yoga too. Despite my idealistic attitude, I do have both feet on the ground and think practical above all, taking small steps at a time and doing what is feasible.
Why did you start investing?
I started investing because I had always been saving, interest rates were getting lower and lower (halló 0.01%…), and I very much want to partially retire by age 40. For me, that means I only work 2, maximum 3, days and can devote the rest of my time to my dream. About 3 years ago, therefore, I started investing in addition to saving normally because saving alone is now not enough.
Has your mindset about investing and money changed since you started investing?
Good question, by now my mindset has changed somewhat, I think. I grew up with the idea of working hard for your money, not going into debt, and saving money saving money. Investment was (& is) never discussed. By now I think I am more knowledgeable about investing than the average millennial and have individual stocks in addition to my “safe” passive investments, and I never really expected that when I started.
What do you think is important when it comes to investing?
For individual stocks, I very much look to see if I am behind the industry I am investing in, I believe we really need to move away from overconsumption of plastic, (pet) oil and gas etc. But at the same time, I also think constructing solar meadows is a waste of the landscape, rooftops enough I would say.
With ETFs and funds, unfortunately, I’m a little less concerned about it. It’s a dichotomy between wanting returns and choosing the best for the planet, and I haven’t figured out how best to interpret that. Fortunately, most of my investments are with ASN bank and Brand New Day, which are already doing better in terms of sustainability than many others.
I totally understand you! But tell me: what does your investment portfolio currently look like?
Right now I have about 80% in funds and 20% in individual stocks. Of those funds, a small portion is in bonds, about 10% of my total investment assets. The rest of the funds are ETFs and then ASNbank’s funds, there’s also a part in a green fund, there I don’t pay taxes on my investments so that’s nice: good for the planet and good for my return and wallet.
I invest in the beverage sector (AB Inbev & Heineken) and food (Takeaway, Ahold). Also in UnibailRodamcoWestfield for real estate and WoltersKluwer because it pays dividends. In terms of ETFs, I have the Vanguard S&P 500 and the Vanguard All World high dividend, Ishares Asia Pacific dividend, Ishares ETF in the utilities sector and an ETF in robotics.
My underlying strategy is simple: long term, preferably also some dividend stocks because of faster compounding. Plus as few different exchanges as possible (you pay connection fees for each exchange you invest in) and then build up focused. Every month.
Why did you choose these funds and the investment parties?
I actually kind of rolled from one thing into another. I started with ASN, because I already banked there and it was easy to open an account for free: transfer money and go. For a year now, I’ve been more active about it and started looking at diversifying my portfolio. So I started investing in bonds at Brand New Day and opened an account at Degiro to be able to invest purposefully in ETFs and individual stocks. However, I found myself in the queue at Degiro so I quickly enrolled at Saxo. I invest with all 4 parties mentioned, also under the guise of “diversification.
What is your dream portfolio?
I would really like to put more money into really sustainable companies, eventually I would like to have a completely green portfolio. But the most sustainable companies like Patagonia, are not on the stock market. So for now, that’s still a dream. And I would like a vault of gold later, seems like fun to look at it then from time to time 😉
How much money do you currently have invested?
I currently have around €7000 invested, spread across ASNbank, Degiro, Brand New Day and Saxo.
What is your investment goal?
My investment goal is €500,000 on my 50. If I have that in invested assets that I can live in accordance with the financially independent & retire early movement and in accordance with the 4% rule retire every year from the invested assets. Nice idea!
What does your life look like when you have met your investment goal?
My life will be a lot calmer once I reach my investment goal: 1 or 2 more days of work, lots of time for my garden and dog(s), a bit of DIY, painting, teaching courses and workshops. Especially the idea of being able to arrange my time as I wish, and actually having that time: heavenly. Ideally, I would like to have it tomorrow, but then I need a winning lottery ticket for a while. Other than that, I stick to making money, saving and investing.
What advice would you give women who also want to start investing?
My advice to other women is, above all, to start somewhere: open an investment account with a bank or broker, and deposit something monthly, even if it’s only €10. It’s not as hard as you think, and once you start, the rest comes naturally. And especially sign up with Elfin, especially if, like me, you come from a family where investing was not talked about, it’s so nice to be able to spar with like-minded people. Plus. women generally invest with better results than men, so what are you waiting for!
