"A column currently published on Toyo Keizai ONLINE" Investment/Trading isn’t always good times.

Good morning, this is Matsushita.

Including today, there are only three days left in this year.

How has everyone’s year been?

I hope it has been a fruitful and happy year.

Looking back on this year from the market perspective,

the stock market started with a decline,

and from February it remained range-bound with a lack of direction.

In the foreign exchange market, the yen remained strong until June,

and afterward, in step with the stock market,

there was a trading range at low levels,

and a sharp rise toward the end of the year.

This year, for stock investors as well as for FX investors,

it was not an easy market to navigate.

I think it was a tough market to deal with.

In order to increase capital, investors

take risks in the market,

and, honestly, they wish for capital to increase in a straight line.

But in reality, capital does not keep increasing in a single line,

it goes up and down, and goes down and up,

and gradually grows.

The days of investing/trading are not always good.

When money decreases, the heart grows painful,

becomes anxious, and sometimes feels like it will be crushed.

That is the reality.

When you see online ads,

they promise endless growth without any loss of money,

and when you watch them, you feel your own situation

looks even worse, which makes you anxious or depressed.

However, not all of those ads are true, and investing also involves

moments when money decreases and you endure hardship.

That is natural.

Life is the same, isn’t it?

There are good times,

and bad times.

No one wishes for hard days, but

no matter how hard you try, there are days when things do not improve and you cannot see the future clearly.

On those days, grind your teeth and push through,

and eventually you will meet good days.

The same goes for investing.

Even if this year you lose money,

it’s okay.

From the markets of previous years,

there are times when you make solid profits, and this year was a negative year

for you.

That is normal.

However, if this year your capital decreased and you don’t know why,

that is a problem.

If you don’t know what to do next year or the year after,

whether you are on the right path,

that is a concern.

While progressing toward your goals,

you can recover from setbacks and failures, but

if you are not moving in the right direction,

you must think carefully.

If you are such a person,

please come and meet Makoto Matsushita next year.

Join the Makoto Investment School, live or online courses.

Please participate.

I know the correct knowledge, actions, methods, and mindset to achieve profits in investing,

and I will guide you to the right path.

If you stand on the right path,

even a period of hardship will become the necessary time to overcome it.

Investing/trading is not always good.

But if that time leads toward future hope,

please continue walking.

If you are not moving toward future hope,

stop and think carefully, and

try changing your path.

If you do, next year’s results will surely be better.

I hope the results of this year connect to everyone’s hopes for the future.

And I will always be cheering you on.

As the year ends, take a moment to reflect on this past year

and let your thoughts drift toward the coming year.