The Stoic Manual

The Stoic Manual

How to Invest + Portfolio Ideas (Stocks, Bonds & Cash)

Strip investing down to its essentials, portfolio strategy included.

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Stoic Philosophy
Sep 06, 2025
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Welcome! The ‘Wealth Playbook’ section is a companion for The Stoic Manual to help you build wealth and enjoy the freedom, tranquility and power it affords- by Dr. Antonius Veritas. Start here.

P.S: I also teach artists and entrepreneurs how to build, scale and earn a living from the internet, through their work, here.


From Pinterest

“All things that Fortune looks upon become productive and pleasant, only if he who possesses them is in possession also of himself, and is not in the power of that which belongs to him.”- Seneca

I used to think investing was a slog meant for people with the patience to pore over company brochures, comb balance sheets, and pretend they were Warren Buffett at a kitchen table. I tried to play that game. I stayed up late reading reports I didn’t understand, underlining words like “operating margins” as if they meant more wealth. It felt like homework assigned by a cruel teacher, one that you can’t fake your way through. Boredom blended with shame, and instead of building wealth, I stumbled into every common mistake. I listened to the so-called wisdom about hot stocks and “can’t lose” funds, but each decision pulled me further away from freedom.

What I felt most was dread. Every time money came up in conversation, my chest tightened. I avoided bank statements, delayed decisions, and joked about how “I wasn’t good with numbers.” In truth, I was terrified- terrified of getting it wrong, of being exposed as the amateur I was. I knew the stakes were high- my peace and freedom were at stake, but the whole world of investing looked like a locked room with no window in.

What changed was exhaustion. I realized I couldn’t live forever in avoidance. I didn’t need another stack of prospectuses or a course in financial jargon- my time was of the essence. I needed a way to make the path simple enough to follow and strong enough to trust. That discovery opened doors I thought were shut for good. It turned wealth creation from drudgery into something easy, playful and fun.

And here’s the best thing. Once I learned how to strip investing down to its essentials, everything else- my energy, my focus, even my peace of mind- began to recover. The strategy I’m about to share with you, dear reader, is how I stopped losing to complexity and started building a portfolio that works for me, not against me.


I. The Principle of Simplicity in Money

The first truth of investing is almost offensive in how plain it is: your best results will come from…


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