ETFs Are Way Easier—So Why Do I Still Pick Stocks?
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One of the questions I get asked all the time is: Why in the world would you buy individual stocks when you can just buy ETFs and call it a day? Wouldn’t that be way less work?
While that’s true—it would be way less work—the honest answer is that I don’t see it as “work.”
Spending time looking into and learning about new companies, listening to earnings calls, thinking about what makes these businesses tick—this is fun for me.
I think part of that just comes from my personality. At my core, I’m a collector. And stocks aren’t the only thing I collect.
Outside of my portfolio, I’m also into collecting watches (although I’m a very disciplined collector—it can be an expensive hobby so I mainly stick to affordable, yet still high-quality brands like Seiko).
My entire watch collection
To me, watch collecting isn’t just about buying something that tells time. You definitely don’t need a watch for that these days.
I get a kick out of learning the history behind the brand, the craftsmanship that went into creating the watch, and most importantly, I get a lot of joy out of buying and holding onto something that lasts (and can be passed down).
A great watch tends to get better with time, and businesses are the same way. Each one in my portfolio is something I’ve stumbled upon, studied, and developed an affinity for (for one reason or another).
But investing isn’t just about collecting for me. I’m also really into things where you can make incremental progress.
That’s what I get out of some of my other hobbies like running, lifting weights, or even building a YouTube channel or newsletter. These are all infinite games where there’s no finish line. And at the end of the day, these are all about discipline and consistency, which lead to small improvements that compound over time.
And those same principles perfectly translate into investing. Every contribution you make in your portfolio, every dividend reinvested, and every bit of growth at the individual business level all add up over time.
Not to mention, picking stocks is its own kind of craft that you can get better at and improve on. Spending time with all these different companies over the years has taught me so much about business, accounting, human psychology, and many other useful subjects that I might not have explored if I had just owned ETFs.
So that’s another thing. For me, investing is about the love of the craft.
I definitely don’t have to spend all this time thinking and learning about businesses or tinkering with my portfolio—and I think we’re fortunate to have so many other options. I do it because I get so much out of it.
While the returns are great, and reaching financial freedom someday will be incredible, the process itself is also a big part of the reward. And I think when you do something because you love the process just as much as the outcome, you’ll be able to go a lot farther with it.
So with all of that said, yes, it is work in a sense. But it’s work that brings me a sense of purpose. It’s work that I get to share and talk about with all of you. And it’s work that, over time, makes me a better person.
Anyway, enough about me. Now I want to hear from you: Do you own more individual stocks, ETFs, or a combination of both? Write to me here and let me know.
P.S. — If you’re curious about the top 5 largest positions in my portfolio, I break them all down in this video here.
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ICYMI 🎥
Investing Your Way to a Rich Life | Ep. 36
In this episode of The Deep End, we dive into what it really means to live a rich life — and how investing paves the way to get there.
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SINCE YOU ASKED 💬
"I'm a fan of the Roth IRA, but I'm curious how much better it is than a 401k. What do you think?"
- SirDudeBroMan | YouTube
This is a great question! Both accounts have their pros and cons, and which one is “better” really depends on your situation.
With a Roth IRA, you’re investing money you’ve already paid taxes on. The big benefit is that your invested dollars can grow tax-free in a Roth, so you won't owe a penny when you take out any profits or dividends in retirement.
That’s a big win if you’re younger and expect to earn more over time, or if you just like the idea of knowing your retirement money is completely yours. Taxes will be one less thing you'll have to worry about.
With that said, it's important to mention that you can also withdraw your contributions (just what you put in, not the profits or dividends) at any time without penalty, which gives you extra flexibility.
The catch is that you can’t contribute as much per year ($7,000 in 2025 if you’re under 50). And if your income is too high, you might not qualify to contribute to a Roth IRA at all.
On the other hand, a 401k lets you put away a lot more ($23,500 in 2025 if you’re under 50). And if your employer offers any sort of match, that’s free money you can take advantage of.
The downside is that, unlike the Roth IRA, you will owe taxes when you withdraw in retirement. But the silver lining is that your 401k contributions are excluded from your taxable income, which helps lower your annual tax bill.
At the end of the day, I think there's room to have both accounts since they serve different purposes. A Roth IRA is a great way to build tax-free income for the future and a 401(k), especially with a match, is a great way to save more money faster while reducing your tax burden today.
Have a question? Ask me here to see it featured in an upcoming newsletter.
LAST WORD 👋
If you haven’t already, you should check out my FREE Discord group. Think of it as one big group chat with nearly 4,000 dividend investors who are just as obsessed with this stuff as you are.
It’s a positive, no-drama community where people share their buys, sells, and dividend income, and talk stocks 24/7. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been at it for years, you’ll find people ready to answer questions, celebrate wins, and help you grow as an investor.
It’s totally free to join — and I think you’ll get a ton of value out of being part of the community.
