Key insights
- The post describes an individual's regret over selling Corning (GLW) shares in the past, which, if held, would have significantly improved their current financial situation. While relatable, this personal anecdote has minimal direct influence on the broader US equity market. It highlights the emotional challenges of long-term investing but doesn't provide actionable market signals.
Backstory:
When I was in college I worked p/t where my dad did, for a small industrial electronics manufacturer. The VP there was chill and ate lunch in the break room with everyone else. He mentored me on investing and I started my first account at age 19, with $1500. Over the course of about 2.5 years, he gave me advice, tips, and told me equities he was investing in. In the summer of 2002 he suggested I buy Corning Glass as they were absolutely beat up, undervalued, and would bounce back in the future, he was sure of it. He had nearly 50K invested in them, so I bought 500 shares around $1.95 and added another 300 shortly thereafter, bringing me to 800 shares at an average of around $2.95 each. I sold some after college to pay off debt, but still held around 500 shares until I was strapped for cash after my divorce, and sold the remaining, keeping only 2 shares and applying DRIP, so now I have like three.
I say all this because I am having deep remorse and regret, and it's causing me severe stress and anguish, knowing that I could be debt-free with no mortgage if I just held those 800 shares. I know that's a lot of what ifs, but how do others deal with feelings like this?
Thank you for listening