Episode 16: My Story with the High-Return Category
The Day I Found My Investment Compass
When I opened Rakuten Securities on my laptop, the survey page for the 9th Fund Awards appeared on the screen.
“A survey, huh? Looks interesting.”
I had opened it casually, but my finger stopped.
"High-Return Category".
Normally, I would have closed the page right away.
I'm an investor who quietly builds wealth through low-cost index funds. I'm not the type to chase rankings.
Even so, that day, I couldn't bring myself to close the page.
Looking at those familiar names, I felt something quietly shift inside me.
Familiar Names, Unexpected Hesitation
As I looked through the nominees, two funds I had been watching for quite some time appeared side by side.
- iFreeNEXT FANG+ Index Fund
- Tracers S&500 Gold Plus
I couldn't help but smile.
"I knew it."
It meant that what I had been paying attention to wasn't completely off the mark.
That realization made me quietly happy.
But then, an unexpected hesitation appeared.
What Is My Compass?
The iFreeNEXT FANG+ Index Fund focuses on high-growth companies through a straightforward index strategy.
Tracers S&P 500 Gold Plus, on the other hand, combines equities with gold in a much bolder design.
Both had their own appeal.
Before I knew it, I wasn't comparing the funds anymore.
I was questioning myself.
What do I actually use as my compass when I choose?
Do I look at the investment philosophy?
Do I look at the numbers?
Or do I trust the results I see?
I sat there in front of the submit button much longer than I expected.
In the end, I chose Tracers S&P 500 Gold Plus.
The reason was surprisingly simple.
At that moment, its returns were higher.
It wasn't a perfectly rational explanation.
But it was the most honest answer I could give myself.
What the Results Revealed
Later, the Fund Awards results were announced.
- Grand Prize: iFreeNEXT FANG+ Index Fund
- Second Place: Tracers S&500 Gold Plus
The outcome was the opposite of my vote.
Strangely, I didn't feel disappointed.
Instead, I quietly realized something.
My Investment Compass
Some readers might be wondering:
“So which one do you actually invest in?”
The honest answer is simple.
Both.
Looking back, I never wanted to become the kind of investor who had to choose only one path.
If each choice has a reason I can believe in, I'm comfortable letting both grow at my own pace.
A garden doesn't have to grow only one kind of plant.
Different plants thrive in different seasons and under different conditions.
Accepting those differences—and continuing to nurture them—is simply my investment style.
What the High-Return Category Showed Me
That day, the High-Return Category didn't teach me which fund was the best.
It showed me how I make decisions.
I look at investment philosophy.
I look at the numbers.
Sometimes, instead of forcing myself to find one perfect answer, I choose the path that feels honest enough to keep walking.
Living with that contradiction—and quietly continuing anyway—is what shapes me as an investor.
Sitting in front of that submit button, I understood myself a little better.
There is no absolute right answer in investing. What matters most is understanding the values and criteria that guide your decisions. Even the time spent wrestling with uncertainty becomes part of your growth as an investor. Today, once again, I'll quietly water my garden.
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