Lately, I've been reading up on articles about people new to investing. It reminded me of the start of my financial journey when I was researching which stock or mutual fund to buy. Playing it safe, I found a little-covered electric utility, that offered a measure of relative safety compared to others in the industry.

Steady returns

The steady returns made it a welcome addition to a dividend reinvestment plan. Quarter after quarter, I watched my shares grow and compound, until one day, a few years later, they were acquired by a larger entity. This new company didn't quite share the same philosophy as the original. The time had come to take my final profits, and move on from this investment.

By this time, I'd added other stocks to my portfolio, but this one was special, as I'd spent six months doing my due diligence. Since this was my first investment, it held a special place with me, but I realized holding on to it too long carried greater risk. So I cut the cord, and never looked back.

That brings me to the present, and the fact that some people fall in love with a new crypto project, and fail to take note of the warning signs until it is too late. Emotion enters into the calculus, and they ride the token down to the bitter end.

No FUD allowed

This ends up being yet another story to be used as FUD when discussing the future of crypto. This all could have been avoided if we'd stayed on top of developments in the project, while reminding ourselves to take profits, and having the courage to sell.

From time to time, I take a look at where I stand with my token holdings, and decide what to accumulate, and where to cull. At times, a better opportunity presents itself with improved returns, and a chance to get in early.

This is the time to change course and stock up while the time is right. Our crypto stash is like a trusty vehicle. Every once i awhile, it need an oil change, or just a general tune-up. Staying on top of our investments can provide healthy returns for years to come.