Stock Series by JL Collins - Introduction

Last updated: December 9, 2024

“What if I could actually understand the stock market?”

At the time, I was in my late twenties and I had just embarked on my journey towards financial independence.

I had read everything I could get my hands on, including the well-known blog by Mr. Money Mustache (aka MMM).

I knew that I needed to invest my savings in the stock market if I wanted to be able to stop working for money by the age of 40.

But although MMM simplified things a lot, I was still missing a few basics in order to feel confident…

I therefore made a few rookie mistakes (like taking a hedged ETF then realizing that hedging is pointless) due to a lack of knowledge about the subject. But at least I had actually started investing in the stock market!

This then led onto other things (via MMM, from memory) and I came across another good blog, this time by JL Collins.

And, in particular, his well-known series of articles called “Stock Series”.

JL had himself made the mistake of taking a gamble and believing that he could beat the market. It took him a few decades until he finalized his ultimate strategy in 2011, which he calls “The simple path to wealth”. Not wanting his daughter to make the same mistakes as him, he tried to teach her about the stock market from the age of … 4 ^^

Needless to say, his little girl was instead put off by the subject!

So much so that JL said to himself: “If that’s the way it is, I’ll write her letters to teach her everything I’ve learned about making good investments in the stock market, but in a simple way. And I’ll give her these letters when she turns 18.”

In order to ensure that these letters didn’t end up getting lost at the back of the attic, he decided to publish them online.

That’s how his blog and “Stock series” came into being.

His content popularizes really well for the average man in the street how the stock market works (including stocks and bonds)… it should be pointed out that he studied literature, so that helps with story telling…

My interview with JL Collins

Then, in 2024, I was lucky enough to be able to interview JL (full article here).

And at the end of the interview, I had the idea of translating his “Stock Series” into German and French for the non-English-speaking readers of my blog. So I asked JL for his permission, which he was happy to give me as long as I mentioned his blog as the original source, obviously.

So I’m pleased (and honored!) to be able to present to you below the “Stock Series” by JL Collins in your own language. I hope it will bring you as much value as it did me when I began investing in the stock market!

In keeping with this being primarily a Swiss blog for Swiss people, I’ve added some annotations at the end of each article to detail those characteristics that are specific to Switzerland (JL and his series are American).

Note for those of you reading this in English: I’ll just put the link to JL’s original article in English, and below I’ll add my comments about specific Swiss characteristics.

Stock Series, by JL Collins

Part 1: There’s a major market crash coming!!!! and Dr. Lo can’t save you

Part 1.1: Time Machine and the Future Return for Stocks

Part 2: The Market Always Goes Up

Part 3: Most people lose money in the market

Part 4: The Big Ugly Event

Content in translation in French and German

The sections below are currently being translated into French and German. I’ll be adding the English links at the same time as I publish in these two other languages. Subscribe to my newsletter (at the bottom of ⬇️) to receive alerts of new publications.

Part 5: Keeping it simple, considerations and tools

Part 6: Portfolio ideas to build and keep your wealth

Part 7: Can everyone really retire a millionaire?

Part 8: The 401(k), 403(b), TSP, IRA & Roth Buckets

Part 8.1: Should you avoid your company’s 401k?

Part 9: Why I don’t like investment advisors

Part 10: What if Vanguard gets Nuked?

Part 11: International Funds

Part 12: Bonds

Part 12.1: Bond experiment: Return to VBTLX

Part 12.2: Are bonds done?

Part 13: The 4% Rule, withdrawal rates, and how much can I spend anyway?

Part 14: Deflation, the ugly escort of Depressions

Part 15: Target Retirement Funds, the simplest path to wealth of all

Part 16: Index Funds are really just for lazy people, right?

Part 17: What if you can’t buy VTSAX? Or even Vanguard?

Part 17.1: ETF vs. Mutual Fund — What’s the Difference?

Part 18: Investing in a raging bull

Part 19: How to think about money

Part 20: Early Retirement Withdrawal Strategies and Roth Conversion Ladders from a Mad Fientist

Part 21: Investing with Vanguard for Europeans

Part 21.1: Investing with Vanguard for Europeans: 2020 Update

Part 22: Stepping away from REITS

Part 23: Selecting your asset allocation

Part 24: RMDs, the ugly surprise at the end of the tax-deferred rainbow

Part 25: HSAs, more than just a way to pay your medical bills

Part 26: Pulling the 4%

Part 27: Why I don’t like Dollar Cost Averaging

Part 28: Debt –The Unacceptable Burden

Part 29: How to save for college. Or not

Part 30: jlcollinsnh vs. Vanguard

Part 31: Too Hot. Too Cold. Not Pure Enough.

Part 32: Why you should not be in the stock market

Part 33: Optimism

Part 34: How to unload your unwanted stocks and funds

Part 35: Investing for Seven Generations

Part 36: Estate Planning 101 — The Simple Path to an Estate Plan