Richard Golian

Richard Golian

a Charles University alum, Head of Performance at Mixit s.r.o., and advocate of EU reform.

#myjourney #myfamily #digital #darkness #security #finance #politics #cognition #health

Castellano Slovenčina

Investment Beginnings: The First €50,000 Was the Most Difficult

By Richard Golian6 July 2024 Castellano Slovenčina

Richard Golian Investment Beginnings

I often wonder if sharing my financial journey and investment strategies publicly is worthwhile. After all, my experiences are unique, and my methods might be challenging for many to replicate. But I'll try anyway.

Investing 50% of My Income: Seven Years of Low-Cost Living in Prague

Since 2016, the year I started college and relocated to Prague, until 2023, I've managed to invest 50% of my income in the stock market. This might lead to assumptions of a high salary, but that wasn't the reality. My working hours were constrained by my academic commitments, typically between 40 and 80 hours monthly. I only started crossing the 100-hour mark after 2021. My hourly rate was above average for Prague university students, but it wasn't extreme. The main reason for my high investment rate was maintaining a modest lifestyle while gradually increasing my work hours over seven years.

I resided in a university dormitory, cooking basic meals and rarely purchasing new clothes. My schedule was dominated by academics, work, and self-education, leaving minimal time and inclination to spend money.

Charles University: Kolej Švehlova
Year 2016. My identification card in the university dormitory.
Charles University: Kolej Švehlova
My desk in the university dormitory in 2016.
Charles University: Kolej Švehlova
View from my room in 2016. Prague 3.

After university, I lived for a while in my hometown in Slovakia, which did not represent any additional costs for me, and for a while in company accommodation, until the fall of 2023.

A Mistake: Delaying Investments Until 2022

If I could go back to 2016, I would tell my younger self one thing: start investing immediately. I saved money for years but only began investing in 2022.

Read more about: How to start investing in an index ETF

A New Phase: Investing 30% of My Income Since Autumn 2023

In the fall of 2023, I moved to a new place, which increased my living expenses. As a result, I now invest only 30% of my income. Despite this, I believe it was the right decision as it provides me with the space and environment to focus on further self-development and education, which I consider an investment in myself.

Richard Golian in Prague
View from my room in 2023. Prague 3.

In the following articles, I discuss investing in more detail. By sharing my journey, I hope to offer valuable insights and inspiration.

I’m Surprised by the Confident Use of Words Like Certainty and Causality

23 March 2025 He used words like “certainty” as if statistics were part of Newtonian physics... 204

I Became the Recordman Without Even Trying

23 March 2025 There was silence in the meeting room. We were discussing a mistake, but... 207

European Sales Under the Microscope – The Impact of the Boycott on American Brands

22 March 2025 Preliminary signals already suggested the impact might not be just symbolic... 294

What Is So-Called Artificial Intelligence? How Is It Different from Human Intelligence?

22 March 2025 It applies math. If we simplify it: it’s still just a calculator... 135

I Changed My Daily Rhythm. Early Morning Silence Is When I’m Most Productive

21 March 2025 This change has made a huge difference for me... 165

AI-Powered Investigations: The Future of Exposing Crime

16 March 2025 The more I think about it, the more I realize what a fundamental issue this is... 305

Fear is Useful: AI and Robotics as a Threat to Our Security

15 March 2025 You might say I’m being too fearmongering. Fear is useful. 504

We Don't Think, We Just Consume.

8 March 2025 More and more, I feel like real thinking is fading away... 303

What Is Performance Marketing?

6 March 2025 Performance marketing isn’t just about ads, data, and analytics... 330

Uncertain Future, Unanswered Questions

25 February 2025 No matter how I look at the future, I see very few answers and far too many... 496

Richard Golian: Problem-solving in Marketing and Operations

Main activities • Business Intelligence • Data • Performance 5744