Before the moment is over again, I would like to take a moment to celebrate my first small milestone: after almost a year of active trading, I have reached €10,000.

Most of the time I was still a student - with small savings rates, a lot of curiosity and learning by doing (and many mistakes). I've now been working as an engineer for a month and can invest properly for the first time. I'm excited to see where the journey will take me.

I am pursuing a long-term growth strategy, but I also like the charm of dividends as a motivator. With half of the bonuses, I will probably buy individual shares or burn a penny or two by gambling.

I know things aren't going perfectly, but I'm prepared to learn from mistakes and constantly question my strategy.

One small fly in the ointment: my Mercedes shares are currently still blocked.

I look forward to your feedback, experiences and tips - on the subject of crypto, I'm still torn as to whether I've missed the party.

Savings plans: 690€

200€ - $IWDA (+0.26%)

60€ - $EIMI (-0.05%)

40€ each - $JEGP (-0.09%)
$MAIN (-0.5%)

25€ each - $NOVO B (-1.98%)
$HTGC (+0.9%)
$GOOGL (-3.03%)
$WMT (+1.45%)
$CRWD (-2.09%)
$AMZN (-0.52%)
$MELI (+0.3%)
$META (-1.93%)
$NET (-0.68%)
$ALV (+2%)
$WM (+0.45%)
$ASML (+0.24%)
$SAP (+0.86%)
$PLTR (-1.77%)

AHEAD: Starting next month, my Instagram monthly recaps will only show the most important facts and figures on the slides of the Instagram post. The detailed text version will appear here on getquin. This makes it easier to absorb the information and makes the Instagram posts clearer.

I will divide the monthly review into a portfolio update and a review for private finances. I could also create a separate review for dividends and reinvestments. My aim is to motivate people to take responsibility for their own finances and to build up their wealth. The whole thing is based on my experience reports from my personal everyday financial life, tailored to the respective target group for each sub-post. Let's see how well I succeed.

Here is the last All-In-One post.

While many have continued to panic about Trump, I think I have understood that the whole tariff issue is only intended to depress the markets so that the USA can refinance itself at much lower interest rates when a good USD 7 trillion of the USD 36 trillion of national debt matures this year. That's why I preferred to keep on hiking, while the portfolio rewarded me with plenty of dividends for the month.

I present the following points for the past month of April 2025:

➡️ SHARES

➡️ ETFS

➡️ DISTRIBUTIONS

➡️ AFTER-PURCHASES

➡️ CASHBACK

➡️ P2P CREDITS

➡️ CRYPTO

➡️ AND OTHER?

➡️ OUTLOOK

➡️ Shares

So the second of April was the aforementioned day of liberation. And it was indeed one, the day of liberation from the excessive overvaluations in US equities. Unfortunately, there was also other collateral damage, but in the end there will be none, as it is all just book losses.

The trap in the US government budget that I would like to briefly point out is the national debt to GDP ratio of 123%, as of March 2025. In Germany, it is around 63%. This is stiflingly high and means that economic output is not enough to keep the national debt in check! Therefore new new "money" has to be printed for refinancing. And this money reaches us through asset price inflation. The illustration is, of course, highly simplified, but that is why we invest.

A look at my portfolio shows me that my individual shares $NFLX (+0.7%) my previous class leader $AVGO (+0.44%) has at least just caught up in terms of performance. Nevertheless, Broadcom remains the largest position in terms of volume. Who knows for how much longer?

Netflix's performance has recovered to +184%, Broadcom's is +182%. I'm watching the spectacle, but I'm letting the savings plans continue. Nothing more will be done here, as Beate Sander once said: the horses stay in the stable. Behind the two draught horses $WMT (+1.45%) 3rd place in terms of volume and $SAP (+0.86%) in 3rd place in terms of performance with +110%. In the last review, I reported that the waste disposal service provider $RSG (+1%) had risen steadily. It is now losing a few places again, but rising $V (-0.16%) and $MA (-1.24%) are rising together and both are already knocking on the door of the top 5 from the outside. The performance of both is similar and decent with +44%/+42%.

As always, the last places in the main stock portfolio are occupied by the same suspects. $NKE (+0.45%) , $TGT (-0.35%) and $HTGC (+0.9%) are the smallest positions. In terms of performance, Nike and Target are the worst performers at -40%.$DHR (+2.69%) as well. But that leaves me cold. In the current macro situation, this is hardly to be expected otherwise. The "neighbor indicator" fits, because most of the shoes on their doorstep (larger family) are Nike shoes. I'm thinking about adjusting my savings plans so that these values receive a higher proportion of my net salary.

➡️ ETFs

The impact of Trump's tariff policy was also clearly felt in the prices of my ETFs in April, leading to significant losses. It is important to remain calm in such volatile times and continue to invest strategically. Such phases are part and parcel of long-term asset accumulation.

➡️ Distributions

In April, I was pleased to receive 19 distributions on 8 payout days. This additional income stream is a valuable addition to my normal earned income, for which I am very grateful. I recommend everyone to build up this kind of additional income in order to become more financially independent from their traditional main job.

Traditionally, April is not a low-distribution month for me. This time, however, the distributions from my three large ETFs were not paid out at the end of March but in April, which distorted the distributions for both months. This effect made April the second-highest distribution month since I started investing. Otherwise, April is always slightly below the distributions of March.

➡️ Additional purchases

From the refunds below, I bought two one-off savings plans on the $GGRP (-0.2%) and $JEGP (-0.09%) executed. I would have liked to buy more, but I still don't want to touch the nest egg or reserves.

➡️ Cashback

In April, I received a cashback on my electricity bill and a travel allowance from my employer. Part of this was used to pre-finance future expenses and to top up sinking funds, while the other part was invested in an old portfolio via the aforementioned one-off savings plans.

➡️ P2P loans

With Mintos, there were no interest or redemption payments. I always withdraw incoming funds with availability. How are you doing with P2P? Are you also withdrawing from the investment?

➡️ Crypto

April was also a very volatile month for crypto investors. The unrest caused by Trump's tariff policy depressed crypto prices, similar to March. However, prices gradually recovered, indicating that the money supply is already increasing again. This is happening through new debt being purchased in the form of government bonds by the FED, which is essentially the equivalent of 'printing' money. Historically, the $BTC (-0.85%) usually follows this development with a delay of just over 10 weeks, as it is strongly correlated to the money supply at 90%.

I am following the whole thing with interest. My preferred theory of cryptocycles still fits in with the current trend. We are moving back towards 100K and I expect a bullish crossover in Bitcoin. The limit orders are still in the market, even if it will be a long time before they trigger. Of course, I hope that the "normal" bear market will then resume. In a few months' time, we will know whether we will have seen another clear double top in the current bull market.

Here are two key figures from my crypto wallets: monthly performance: +5.5%, performance since the beginning: +56%.

➡️ And what else?

I'm continuing to delve deeper into the use of LLMs and am currently working on my prompting technique. The posts on my Instagram channel that I have published since March have been created with the help of AI, I have used AI to give me ideas for image generation, to have them created naturally and many of the quotes are also AI-generated. I use several LLMs and see significant differences in the outputs. This makes it more diverse and even allows me to merge multiple results. The models are also learning my writing style better and better, with longer generated texts you can still clearly read the generic, but I myself understand better and better how I can use the new technology to improve my productivity instead of letting it replace me. This also applies to my job.

As in the previous month, I am also focusing much more intensively on the topic of nutrition. I avoid added sugar as much as possible. So there was no chocolate bunny for me at Easter and I'm not hungry for chocolate or other sweets. That's a real miracle.

I've also increased my weekly exercise routine once again and am paying close attention to how my body is coping. Instead of two weight training sessions at home, I now do three, instead of three running sessions a week I do a lot and every morning I do some general fitness/cardio and core exercises for my stomach to warm up. The clear aim is to continue building muscle and strengthening my heart health. And I enjoy it, even though the temperature in my apartment has already risen towards 25° Celsius on some days.

I've been hiking twice in Saxon Switzerland, once just under and once over 30 km. On hiking days, I like to leave at 4 a.m. on the first Saxonia Express train. In the fall and early spring, this is even the perfect time to enjoy the sunrise on the sandstone cliffs. For me personally, this is pure healing for the soul and a real quality of life. I can enjoy it without depressing thoughts in my head because I know that my finances are in order and running on autopilot.

➡️ Outlook

May will be a no-spend month for me, simply because I feel like taking on the next challenge. Later in the year, I want to start a Hartz IV/citizen's allowance experiment. I should be able to do this most of the time, as my expenses in March and April were both under €1,000. I'm already looking forward to the evaluation at the end of the challenge.

Links:

Social media links can be found in my profile, also feel free to check out the Instagram version of my review.

Hello everyone,

For some time now I have been wavering a bit about my dividend portfolio, whether I should use the 6 ETF savings plans (always staggered distributions for monthly cash flow) are not too complicated. About me: I'm in my mid-thirties and the aim is to build up more and more net monthly salaries through dividends over time. I enjoy looking at my bar charts in Portfolio Performance over the years and seeing how they get bigger and bigger every year compared to the previous year. For this year, I expect to earn around €3,700 in dividends with my current portfolio.

----- ----- -----

The Morningstar X-Ray already shows a lot of stock overlaps. The aim was always to combine 2 ETFs per interval with 1 each with high distributions + and 1 each with growth and to have good diversification:

January, April, July, October

$ISPA (+1.12%) + $EXX5 (+0.57%)

February, May, August, November

$FGEQ (-0.08%) + $IMEU (-0.2%)

March, June, September, December

$TDIV (+1.23%) + $VHYL (+1.36%)

+ $O (-1.04%) + $MAIN (-0.5%) + $ARCC (+0.32%) + $VICI (+1.85%) + $HTGC (+0.9%) + $BATS (-0.58%)

----- ----- -----

The ETFs have a value of approx. 15,500€ per interval, the REITs + BDCs below together approx. 31,000€. I would also like to invest in savings plans with dividend growth shares, whereby I want to proceed according to certain criteria: https://aktienkoenig.de/starke-dividendenaktien-mit-dem-dividenden-check-finden/#elementor-toc__heading-anchor-3

Would you simplify the dividend ETFs and reduce them from 6 to 3 or replace them if necessary, because that is overdiversified anyway, or should I rather "shut down" some of them and continue to save only 3 of them increased? I am basically undecided at the moment as to whether I should focus on higher dividend payouts or rather higher dividend growth. At the moment, I think it's all mixed up.

Today I would like to hear your opinion :)

First of all, a brief introduction to myself:

I am 35 years old, married and have 2 children.

We live in a house and almost 10 years ago I bought my mother an apartment in which I support her financially.

Accordingly, I am paying for almost 2 properties.

My portfolio is a good mix (for me) of BTC/dividends & growth.

I buy the Mercedes shares annually as an employee package; the performance is strongly positive in real terms, but I have included them here as they also arrive in my portfolio.

$BTC (-0.85%) I have been saving €100/month for years.

my other current savings plans:

$MSFT (-0.07%) 200€/month

$GOOGL (-3.03%) 100€/month

$HTGC (+0.9%) 50€/month

The savings plans are not set in stone and will be adjusted from time to time,

The target value for shares is €3000-3500 for the time being.

the kids are now in daycare for another year + one 3 years, after which the savings rate will be adjusted upwards again (daycare fees currently ~500€/mth).

$MBG (+0.25%)
$BLK (+0.82%)
$MO (-0.06%)
$ULVR (-1.08%)
$P (-0.1%)$MCD (-0.76%)
$JPM (+1.29%)

Good entry opportunity at $HTGC (+0.9%) ?

Hello dear GQ community,

almost a month ago I already presented my portfolio and my investment case. (those interested can take another quick look at it)

I have now experienced the first correction of my investment career and can say that, yes, it hurts to look at the portfolio with all the red figures, but holding on to the fact that I am convinced of the companies in the long term has kept me strong up to this point. Only time will tell whether this correction was particularly strong or weak. True to the motto "red means supply", I have tried to use my uninvested budget for additional purchases and new positions.

I may have too many different positions for some people's taste and still have too large a stake in the US, tech and financial sectors. Overall, I am simply a fan of picking companies that fulfill three conditions:

- consistent dividend growth over the last 10 years

- long-term share price growth (depending on how long the company has been on the stock market, but if I don't have green figures over the maximum period, I leave you out)

- preferably a P/E ratio of less than 20 (with exceptions)

And generally in line with my case, a 3+% dividend.

In the unknown future, I will continue to hold my small positions of $PLTR (-1.77%) , $BLK (+0.82%) , $NVDA (-1.17%) and $TGT (-0.35%) (these were my first 4 purchases of 25€ each without any idea, Palantir compensates the losses of the other 3 quite nicely). From $AAPL (+2.59%) in the long term, but it does not yet play a major role in my immediate savings.

By the end of the year, I will be saving a further €750 a month via a savings plan, split evenly between $PETR3 (-1.35%) , $MUV2 (+1.68%) , $7203 (-0.88%) , $ENEL (-0.38%) , $HTGC (+0.9%) and $ALV (+2%). With the aim of balancing out the inequality somewhat.

In general, I am very happy to have discovered this platform, as I have gathered many useful tips and experiences, so thank you for that.

I am always grateful for your opinions, tips and suggestions. Thanks for reading.