An Illinois teenager is speaking out about the importance of investing early, saying smart financial choices helped her buy her first car, a Tesla, at just 17 years old.
Sofia Castiblanco, currently a high school senior, has been making money as a social media influencer since she was 14 years old, primarily creating lifestyle content such as self-care tutorials showcasing her favorite products and purchases.
“I derive my income primarily from TikTok brand deals and YouTube ad revenue,” Castiblanco told USA TODAY this week.
After witnessing her success, Castiblanco's parents encouraged her to invest in Vanguard and Berkshire Hathaway index funds to begin building long-term wealth. The teen also picked some of her favorite companies to buy stock in. My first choices were Tesla and Apple. “I also invest in Amazon and NU,” Castiblanco said.
The investment really paid off, Castiblanco said, with a profit of more than six figures.
Her advice for teens looking to invest:
investment advice for teens
“My content area revolves around lifestyle, with an emphasis on sharing insights into my daily life as a home-schooled teenage creative,” Castiblanco said. told USA TODAY.
Although most of her vlogs center around beauty and shopping, Castiblanco also creates content for teens who want to learn about investing.
“There's no minimum age to start investing,” she said, adding that investing a little at a time will lead to long-term success.
Castiblanco advises teens to open a custodial account in their parent's name. Her TikTok videos also explain things like which index fund to start with, choosing a broker, and which stocks to buy.
As for where to start, “investing in index funds diversifies your risk and gives you a more balanced portfolio,” she shared with her more than 383,000 followers.
What about buying stocks? “This is a long game,” Castiblanco said.
“You're investing in your future. Remember to be patient and let your investment grow over time.”
You're never too young to save for retirement.Why a Custodial Roth IRA makes sense.
Future plans for young investors
Asked about his future plans, Castiblanco said he is focused on creating content in the lifestyle space and will continue to invest as soon as he receives income.
“My goals include trying real estate investing this year and starting my own business,” she said.
Castiblanco said the publicity surrounding her success was a “positive experience.” Although there are privacy concerns as she continues to grow, the teen is “grateful for a supportive community,” she said. [she’s] Built online.
“I really enjoyed being able to encourage other teens to invest and pursue their dreams.”
