The Best Howitt Investor

"Even your Grandad had shares... not many, he was very careful with money."

My dad told me that.

It's not as if my dad spends a lot of money on himself either. He's always worked hard but never felt the need to buy anything flashy.

I asked him when he first bought shares. I think he said 15 or 16... I don't even know he managed to buy them at that age back then.

I was 15 years old. I didn't even really think about money really but I was careful with it. My dad said I had too much money in cash and should buy some shares. He gave me a share magazine to look at.

I didn't know anything about shares but started reading the mag. I chose Manchester United. "They will make money."

My dad looked at it and agreed. He bought some himself.

He had to basically open a share account in my name but I bought the shares with my own money.

I didn't even really look at the price but sold them for about a 200% profit.

I was 21 before I actually started to read about shares and learn about them. Started with a Fool book. Underlined a lot of that shit.

There is this concept called the wheel of life and money was part of it. I was still writing my novel at this time and really not into consumerism. Yet I started to accumulate money like a score in a computer game.

My dad never pushed me into being a share investor, not unless you count when I was 15. And that wasn't really a push, more a suggestion.

But now I do have a goal to be the best Howitt share investor. I know how hard my dad had worked for his money. And he has always given a lot away to charity.

I am my favourite charity. I don't give anything to beggars.

Also my dad will not buy any 'sin' shares. I will buy anything.

I hope that my lifelong dedication to shares and these edges will make me a better share investor than him. We will see.