Meeting and presenting the Australian Investment Education Trader of the Year is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do each year.
It gives us the opportunity to step back and reflect on what real success actually looks like, not just in terms of numbers, but in terms of mindset, discipline, and lifestyle change.
This year’s recipients are a powerful example of what can happen when commitment meets consistency.
Stuart and Jill Garrard made an early decision to take control of their financial future and commit to building a structured approach to investing. What stands out most about their journey is not just the results, but how they achieved them together as a team.
They operate as a seamless partnership, supporting each other through challenges and staying accountable to their process. Like many successful traders, they did not have a smooth path. They faced obstacles that would have caused most people to step away. Instead, they stayed focused and kept refining their approach.
A key part of their success has been accountability. They are part of a group that consistently reports and reviews their performance, ensuring they stay aligned with their strategy and process.
They also demonstrated something very powerful. They built a system that required only a few hours of work per week. This highlights a key lesson in trading and investing. It is not about time spent in the market, but the quality of decisions made.
Even more impressive is the lifestyle they have built around their trading. They have managed their investments while travelling extensively, trading from some of the most remote and unique locations in the world. From the South Atlantic en route to Antarctica, to the Gobi Desert, to a tent in the Serengeti, they have shown that modern investing can be truly flexible when done correctly.
What sort of results are we talking about?
In 2023, Stuart and Jill achieved:
- $266,000 profit, representing a 12% return, compared to the market’s 8%
They also demonstrated exceptional shorter-term performance:
- A Santa Rally gain of $518,000, from an initial market value of $2.744 million over six months, delivering a 38% annualised return
- A year-to-date profit of $230,000, from an initial value of $2.728 million over four months, equating to a 25% annualised return
These results highlight not only consistency, but also the ability to perform across different market conditions.
Please join me in sincerely congratulating Stuart and Jill Garrard on being named the Australian Investment Education Traders of the Year 2023.
A truly outstanding achievement and a strong example of what is possible when you commit early, stay disciplined, and follow a proven process.