The investment fund now has 10 shares of Nike stock on the balance sheet. With current market fluctuations, certain companies are available at a great discount. Kenvue now has 31 shares, with an average cost basis of $21.89.

It’s been an interesting experience so far, watching the market move and seeing solid companies fall into certain price ranges. As I’ve said before, I’m a natural buy-and-hold investor. I dollar-cost average, meaning I buy shares regardless of price (unless it’s so unreasonably high that it wouldn’t make sense).

Building a Defensive Portfolio for the Long Run

As I’m writing this, it finally hit me: I’m building this fund to be defensive, not just for when “an idiot can run a company” as Buffett and my favorite value investors often say, but also for when idiots run the country. I want the fund to hold steady even through that.

I don’t mind building stable positions that don’t always align with or track the S&P 500. Wealth is still being built. I also don’t mind when the market reacts to unpredictable news. Sometimes, that means the fund gains, and that’s fine too.

I’m not chasing short-term profits, and if you’ve been following me, you know that already. I’m also not interested in comparing my returns to someone else’s portfolio or chasing what another fund is doing.

Wealth Should Serve the Life You Want

It dawned on me a long time ago: everything I build should benefit my family and myself. Whether it’s creating an intellectual environment in my household, getting back to peak physical fitness, or building wealth it’s all connected.

This fund is no different. It’s a vehicle toward the life I envision for my family. It’s also a foundation behind our household’s personal portfolios, just like a long-term emergency fund supports a short-term savings account. The foundation of a house, not just the paint on the walls.

Ownership Matters More Than Ever

The further I go in my studies, the more I realize the importance of owning something outside the traditional job economy. Not just because relying on one income is risky, but because the work-life balance has shifted.

Even when the earnings are great, you’re often forced to trade time away from yourself and the people you love. I can’t help but think of my mentor, who passed away just shy of her 65th birthday. She loved her work and might have never stopped, even after retirement, but it’s not lost on me that she didn’t get to enjoy “the after.” That “after” you earn from years of contributing to society.

She had mentioned retirement before, so I know she had at least thought about it.

Gratitude and the Vision That Drives Me

I see people around me getting sick, tired, irritable, burnt out by their jobs, their lives, their homes, their cars, their finances. And that just makes me more grateful for what I do have, what I’m building, and the vision I’m working toward.

I have this ideal in my mind: waking up beside my spouse, walking to the nearest café for fresh bagels, grabbing flowers at a nearby farmer’s market. Taking days to ourselves when we need a break. Mental health days. Rest days. Life days.

And to live that life, I need to keep building: ownership of the investment fund, this website, and every other project I’ll contribute to over the years.

Final Thoughts: Long-Term Wealth Over Short-Term Wins

So with that said, I just wanted to share an update on the fund and what’s been on my mind lately. This isn’t just about stocks, it’s about building something that lasts, something that supports the life I want to live.

Thanks for reading.