Investing, at its core, is all about catching the right trends at the right time. Nail just a few of those key moments, and your financial future can shift dramatically. It’s tempting to imagine: What if I could go back in time and invest, relying solely on memory? There are definitely some moves I wish I had made—or held on to longer.
The Power of Hindsight
Let’s be honest: we’ve all had those “I should have bought more” or “why did I sell so early?” moments. But investing isn’t about getting every single move right. It’s about learning, growing, and doing better with each decision. That said, there are definitely some tickers I still think about from time to time.
1. SOXS – Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bear 3X Shares
SOXS is one of those plays that I’ve entered and exited numerous times, usually with a small profit. I remember buying it when it was under $20—several times, actually. The thing is, I never went all in, and I rarely held it long enough.
Just last week, SOXS closed at $45.52, up 23.66% from the previous trading day. It even saw further gains today in the overnight market, surging more than 10%. Its 52-week range was between $16.35 and $47.40, meaning I caught it near the low but exited way before the high.
Direxion Daily Semiconductors Bear 3x Shares (SOXS)
Could I have made significantly more by holding? Absolutely. But I don’t regret it. Every profit is still a win. SOXS is volatile—it’s a leveraged ETF, after all—and the risk is real. I played it safe, and while that meant smaller gains, it also meant fewer sleepless nights. Sometimes, peace of mind is underrated.
2. TLT – iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF
Then there’s TLT. I’ve been holding onto this one for a while now, and it’s actually my largest position. With all the talk of tariffs and market uncertainty lately, bonds have started to look a lot more appealing to investors again. TLT, being a long-duration bond ETF, tends to benefit from that flight to safety.
I’ve thought about buying more recently, but I’ve held back—not because I don’t believe in it, but because I already have a sizable position. Diversification matters, and I don’t want to be overly concentrated in a single asset, even one I believe in.
iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT)
3. TMF – Direxion Daily 20+ Year Treasury Bull 3X Shares
Ah, TMF. Another one of those "almost great" plays. I still hold TMF in my Webull and uSMARTS accounts, but I recently sold my Tiger Brokers position at $43.82, locking in a modest gain. That was just before it climbed to $47.18, up 3.24% from the previous trading day. For context, TMF’s 52-week range spans from $36.51 to $64.98.
Direxion Daily 20 Year Plus Treasury Bull 3x Shares (TMF)
Looking back, I kind of wish I’d held onto that Tiger position a bit longer. But again, I already had exposure to TMF through my other accounts, and I didn’t want to be overly loaded. I was trying to be prudent—and I still made a profit. Win-win, right?
Final Thoughts: No Regrets, Just Lessons
In hindsight, sure—I could have made more. I could have held longer, bought more, or timed my exits better. But the market isn’t about perfection. No one gets every call right. What matters is learning from each decision and continuously refining your strategy.
Profits, no matter how small, are wins. Losses? They’re tuition in the school of investing.
If time-travel investing ever becomes real, I might make different choices. But for now, I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I’ll keep aiming for smarter, more informed moves with every trade.
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