SoFi Member Investor Profiles: ‘Two Years to Financial Independence!’

SoFi Member Donna Ippolito, a technical product manager in Seattle, WA, has been investing for decades. Her passion: strategies that can help her investments grow. Though Donna admits she’s developed some expertise after all these years, her secret is that she’s still in constant learning mode, she says.

Donna’s Investing Story

Donna definitely enjoys some wins, but also takes lessons from the missed opportunities, she says. With a growth mindset and a learner’s spirit, Donna’s progress is impressive. Keep reading to learn how she got within striking distance of financial independence.

I started investing with my 401(k)…

Then I branched out. I don’t like leaving my money in savings or money market accounts. I aim to see my money grow.

I’m always open to what’s new.

That’s why SoFi appealed to me. It’s also easy to use. I have a regular investment account, because I like to pick stocks.

I try to be optimistic — but also strategic.

I’m a long-term investor, but I also like to play the market. If I get a nice return I don’t mind harvesting the gains so I can enjoy some of the money now. That said, there are things I don’t like: Besides losing money, I hate when I miss great deals in the market because I didn’t catch some time-sensitive event. I need to set more limit orders.

I try to learn from my mistakes.

I thought crypto might be a scam or a fad, but I was wrong.

My mantra: Be humble, work hard.

I didn’t expect the steady progress and success I’ve had over the years. There’s still so much I don’t know. But here I am — approaching financial independence. In two more years, I will have reached my target number!

What everyone should know…

I wish more people weren’t afraid of investing. Sure, there are ups and downs, but that’s why it’s important to be diligent and careful.

The Takeaway

Donna may be approaching financial independence, but she started investing as many of us do: on square one, learning and making mistakes while gaining experience and seeing some success over time.

Donna’s investing style tilts toward growth, so she’s comfortable taking some risks and trying new strategies in her trading portfolio. When you open an account with SoFi Invest®, you, too, can embrace that learning curve, decide what your investing style looks like, and gain the skills and perspective that will propel you toward your goals. Why wait?

SoFi Member responses are from the SoFi Ambassador survey conducted in July 2021. All responses are published with the permission of the SoFi Member, and have been edited for grammar and clarity by SoFi editors. SoFi Ambassadors earn rewards for participating in the Ambassador Program.