How one investor’s switch from stocks to ETFs paid off

Rodolfo Ottobrini spent years researching individual stocks. He took courses, studied company financials and followed markets closely. He even managed to deliver a 20% return over four years.

But the journey wasn’t smooth.

He sold Netflix too early at a loss, dabbled in micro-cap stocks and invested in a 120-year-old engineering firm that later collapsed entirely. While the education helped, it couldn’t eliminate the stress.

After selling his portfolio to help buy a property, Rodolfo and his partner decided to try something different: ETFs.

“I saw how easy and manageable it was to invest in ETFs,” he says.

Rodolfo (right). (Source: Supplied)

Since then, Rodolfo has switched his approach entirely. His ETF portfolio, which has now been running for more than two years, is up 34% – delivering better results than his stock-picking years, in less time and with far less stress. For him, that extra growth has brought his goal of a second property deposit months closer.

“For some people it can take years to reach a savings goal,” he says. “With ETFs, the growth can be so good it puts you maybe one or two years ahead of your goal.”

Investing is helping him save for property number two

15 years ago, investing wasn’t on Rodolfo’s radar. “I was young and broke,” he laughed.

Now 40 and working as a real estate leasing consultant, his goal is clear: save for a second property deposit. “This extra money is bringing me closer to having enough for a deposit,” he says.

His long term plan combines both worlds.

“The plan is to accumulate wealth with ETFs, invest in property and have a mix of both,” he says. “It doesn’t need to be a million – I just need to be financially stable.”

Rodolfo’s portfolio reflects a philosophy born from his stock picking years: invest only in companies “that are producing something that grows”. It’s why he holds NDQ Nasdaq 100 ETF and Betashares Nasdaq Next Gen 100 ETF (ASX: JNDQ) as well as Betashares Global Defense and Security ETF (ASX: ARMR) as a diversification play. Of course, Rodolfo’s portfolio picks are based on his particular preferences and circumstances. They are not a recommendation to adopt any investment strategy.

He’s also happy to adjust. Earlier this year, he sold his holdings in a robotics ETF that wasn’t performing as well as he expected and switched into an AI-focused fund instead.

Technology remains his clear preference.

“I like technology stocks because I feel they’re the ones with the most potential. In the future, I’ll probably pivot to focus more on investing in dividend ETFs,” he says.

Source: Supplied

From Pokémon cards to ETFs

Rodolfo’s not just an investor – he’s become an investing evangelist. At a recent New Year’s Eve party, his brother’s friend mentioned he was investing in Pokémon cards to build wealth. When Rodolfo suggested ETFs instead, the friend dismissed the idea, saying they don’t grow much.

So, Rodolfo opened his Betashares Direct app and showed him his portfolio.

But what really landed was the mindset.

“You put in maybe $200, $300 and you see it going up maybe 5%. Rather than buying an extra video game or pair of shoes, you think: do I need that instant gratification, or would I invest it in something that’s going to grow?”

His friend downloaded it that night and since then more of Rodolfo’s friends have started their own ETF portfolios. For Rodolfo, the contrast with his stock-picking days couldn’t be clearer.

“With ETFs, if one company goes bust, you still have many other holdings,” he says. “It’s more manageable and far less stressful.”

Sometimes the smartest move isn’t picking better stocks – it’s choosing a better way to invest.

Always keep in mind that all investments carry risks and investment values can go down as well as up.