Aaron Wee (@Alderique) is an Elite Popular Investor on eToro. As someone who had virtually no investment experience prior to joining eToro, Aaron has not only managed to finish each year in profit, but has also built up a large following on eToro, managing $1-$2 million in funds allocated by eToro users to copy him. In spite of these achievements, he prefers to maintain a low profile, and does not believe in advertising to get more people to copy him. We asked him a few questions about his trading style and strategy. See his answers below.
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- Please introduce yourself briefly: What is your occupation? Where do you come from? What are your hobbies?
I’m Aaron from Singapore. I have been investing professionally under the name “Alderique” on eToro for about 2 years now.
I read a lot. And everywhere too. Books occupy the space beside my pillow, and audiobooks play while I’m in the shower. I try to learn as much as I can from various realms of knowledge, no matter how obscure.
- What investment experience have you had so far?
I have been on eToro since October 2016, so that is 3 years and 4 months at the time of writing. I never had any financial training, and any prior experience I had, came in the form of sporadically dropping a coin into my red tin can.
- How did you hear about eToro?
I heard about eToro from a colleague. I remember deciding to look around for investment avenues in March 2016. I could not find any that appealed to me. Most had charts and numbers that seemed so foreign, intimidating even, to a beginner like myself.
When I was introduced to eToro, what struck me was the cleanliness of its user interface. Information was presented in a precise and concise manner, with a colour scheme that greatly aided this endeavour.
- How long have you been trading on eToro?
I would be most remiss if I neglected to highlight the fine line between “trading” and “investing.” Both terms seem to have become synonymous in recent years.
Technically speaking, I have had zero experience with trading. On the other hand, I have had 3 years and 4 months of investing experience thus far.
- About which industries are you most optimistic for investments in 2020?
Simply put, I avoid giving opinions on subjects where I cannot defend the other side’s opinions better than they can. To say a certain industry is “optimistic” would be making a rather firm statement and present an impression of self-assurance which may just be a façade. Expressing an opinion openly commits one even more into said perspective, which if wrong, distorts one’s mind into a very unfortunate pattern.
I prefer to keep tight-lipped about my opinions and observe carefully. I believe this helps me remain adaptable, and ensures a quick-witted thought process.
- Judging from your past investment performance, your profitability in 2019 has improved significantly as compared to 2018. How did your investment strategy change during that one-year period?
I think my answer would be better summarised in a quote.
“In my whole life, I have known no wise people who didn’t read all the time; none, zero. You’d be amazed at how much Warren (Buffett) reads, at how much I read. My children laugh at me. They think I’m a book with a couple of legs sticking out” – Charles T. Munger.
- What are some of the reasons that eToro users should follow you?
In all honesty, I don’t think about that. At all.
I am of the opinion that people ought to think for themselves, assimilate whatever information they can get, and then make what they know is a well-informed decision.
As someone who handles others’ capital, it would be in bad taste to showcase myself in this regard due to a potential conflict of interests. Which is partly why, apart from a single post I made on a stock, and the various interviews in which I have participated, I adamantly stick to my principle of not advertising.
While this may have slowed the growth rate of my AUM, it has also ensured that said increment is purely organic and most importantly, merit based. My copiers, whom I refer to as my partners, have come to expect this from me.
- What are your goals for this year? What is your plan?
Nothing much, really. Alderique operates according to a standard catechism that rarely changes. We simply take each day as it comes, moving along to the best of our competencies. We prepare, we plan but we remain open to new ideas.
We read, think, adapt and repeat.
And perhaps most importantly, we constantly ask ourselves one question: “Am I being an idiot?”
- How has being a Popular Investor on eToro changed your life?
It certainly has tested my personal principles, as I’m sure it will continue to do for many years to come. Theory sounds good on paper but actually executing a certain idea in dynamic conditions while under pressure is a whole different ball game, both psychologically and emotionally.
- From your investment portfolio, we found that you have restocked BRK.B, Disney, and Apple. Why?
Again, I would opt to plead the fifth on this one.
*62% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.