After Losing Money in Stocks, Don’t Give Up. Start by Setting Investment Rules

For novice investors who lost money during the KOSPI’s rally in the first half of the year, Son Hee-ae has a blunt message: a loss should be a reason to learn, not to quit.

“After suffering a loss, it is time to learn the right way to invest, not to give up on investing,” said Son, the head of Don’t Worry Be Rich. She also runs the YouTube channel “Conceptual Hee-ae,” where she shares personal-finance advice with people ranging from young workers to those nearing retirement.

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After suffering a loss, it is time to learn the right way to invest, not to give up on investing.

Son told Dong-A Ilbo that investing should begin with a review of one’s finances. “Many people do not know how much they spend each month,” she said. During periods of rising interest rates, she advised investors to check monthly debt repayments and spending before deciding how much they can save and invest.

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Many people do not know how much they spend each month.

She said some people invested money intended for next month’s rent, an overseas trip six months away or a wedding planned for the following year. Beginners should first determine how much money they can afford to lose without disrupting daily life, she said.

For young workers discouraged by their first losses, Son recommended a recovery process built around investment principles. “The biggest difference between making a profit and suffering a loss in this year’s volatile market was whether investors had rules,” she said. A rule such as selling mechanically when returns fall to minus 10% could prevent losses from becoming larger. Son will speak at the 2026 Dong-A Financial Technology Expo in Seoul on the theme “Diet starts tomorrow, practical investing starts today.”

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The biggest difference between making a profit and suffering a loss in this year’s volatile market was whether investors had rules.