🪞 A Reflection on Compound Interest

Compound interest is often called the “eighth wonder of the world.” At first, it seems like a throwaway phrase, something to stick in a finance textbook. But when I think about it deeply, I realize that compounding is less about money and more about time.

The principle is simple: today’s growth becomes tomorrow’s foundation. A dollar earns a penny, and next year both the dollar and the penny are at work. Repeat that cycle for long enough, and the results stop being linear—they start becoming extraordinary. What once felt slow and dull accelerates into something almost unstoppable.

What strikes me is how this mirrors so much of life beyond investing. Habits compound. Knowledge compounds. Relationships compound. Small, steady deposits of effort or kindness can grow into something profound if you let time do the heavy lifting.

Compound interest also demands patience, and that’s where most of us stumble. We crave quick wins, instant results. But compounding only reveals its magic after years—even decades—of quiet persistence. It asks for faith in the unseen, a willingness to let the clock work in your favor.

When I reflect on it, I don’t just see an investing strategy. I see a philosophy: that the little things matter, that consistency outpaces brilliance, and that time, given enough space, turns the ordinary into the remarkable.

📘 Recient Posts

📝 Why Dollar-Cost Averaging Beats Market Timing

📝 Starting to Invest After Retirement

❓ This Week’s Quiz

Investing Quiz

1. What is the main benefit of dollar-cost averaging (DCA)?

• A) It guarantees the highest return
• B) It removes the need for diversification
• C) It reduces the impact of market timing by investing regularly
• D) It eliminates all investment risk

2. Which asset class is typically considered the best hedge against inflation?

• A) Long-term government bonds
• B) Cash in a savings account
• C) Gold and Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS)
• D) Growth stocks

3. In a diversified portfolio, why include international equities?

• A) They are risk-free
• B) They provide exposure to different economies and reduce home-country bias
• C) They always outperform U.S. equities
• D) They pay higher dividends

4. What does the term “rebalancing” mean?

• A) Selling all investments once a year and starting over
• B) Adjusting the portfolio back to target percentages by selling winners and buying laggards
• C) Only investing in bonds when markets are volatile
• D) Timing the market to maximize returns

5. Over long periods, which factor contributes most to portfolio growth?

• A) Market timing
• B) Compounding returns
• C) Frequent trading
• D) Avoiding diversification

✨ Quote of the Week

“He who lives by the crystal ball will eat shattered glass.”
— Ray Dalio

🔮 Coming Soon

Topic: Risk Management