Suddenly...

Arigato, dear investor,

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about whether I should have kids.

I started asking around, talking to friends who have built their own families. And every single one of them told me the same thing—once kids arrive, life takes a complete 180-degree turn.

Mothers, especially, sacrifice the most. Even the most ambitious women often choose to slow down their careers, taking a step back from promotions to spend more time with their little ones.

Fathers, too, have a lot less freedom, working tirelessly to provide for their families. And the financial commitment? I have friends sending their kids to private kindergartens costing $2,000 per month—per child! That’s basically a second mortgage just for preschool! 😱

But despite all these challenges, not a single one of them regrets having kids.

They tell me, “The joy of seeing your child grow up is priceless.” And I can see it in their eyes—it’s a different kind of fulfillment, one that no money can buy.

So it got me thinking… should I freeze my eggs as an insurance policy for my future self? 🤔

I actually made a TikTok video about my thought process on this—check it out.

@arigatoinvestor

🚨 Would you freeze your eggs? YES or NO? No one talks about this… I’m turning 35, love my career & freedom, but fertility declines fast af... See more

But then, I have a friend in Canada who is my age, and she feels zero pressure to settle down. None of her friends are married or have kids, so to her, staying single and focusing on herself is perfectly normal.

And that’s when it hit me—
The Power of Environment.

The reason I suddenly feel this sense of urgency about family planning is because, in Singapore, so many of my friends are either married, getting married, or already raising kids.

In contrast, my Canadian friend? In her world, having kids late—or not at all—is normal.

Your Environment Shapes Your Investing Behavior Too 📈

This realization made me think… the same thing happens with investing.

If you surround yourself with long-term investors who practice patience and emotional stability through different market cycles, you’ll naturally be more attuned to long-term investing. You’ll develop the ability to ride out market fluctuations, stay calm, and compound your wealth over time. 💰

But if you’re in an environment where everyone is a short-term trader, always chasing quick wins and timing the market, you’ll feel pressure to do the same.

Now, I’m not saying long-term investing is better than trading.

At the end of the day, it depends on your personality and what strategy brings you more consistent results over time. If you’re still in the exploration phase, be open to testing both. Find what works best for you.

And once you find your sweet spot—
Double down. Put more money in. Let it work for you. 😉

My Investing Approach: The Arigato Way

For myself, I love growing my wealth passively—that’s why ETFs combined with options work best for me. More than 50% of my net worth is invested in the stock and options market, and I’m willing to ride through volatility because my Arigato Investing Strategy is built to last.

That said, I don’t mind experimenting with trading on the side. I know it’s riskier, and I might not be naturally suited for it, but I enjoy learning new things. And I can’t wait to share my trading insights with you in my upcoming Trading Challenge—stay tuned for that!

At the end of the day, your environment matters—whether it’s your family, your career, or your investing approach.

So take a moment to reflect on the people around you—
Are they pushing you toward the life you want? Or are they unconsciously shaping your future in ways you haven’t even realized?

Would love to hear your thoughts. Hit reply and let’s chat. 😊

Chloe
Arigato Investor