My July 2025 Portfolio Update: Almost Hit $100K in Stocks & ETFs
Almost at the $100K Milestone
Looking at my Delta portfolio tracker, I'm incredibly close to that magical $100,000 threshold in stocks and ETFs. The widget on my phone keeps this front and center, which I love.
I remember when I started these videos a couple of years ago with significantly less. While my crypto holdings are worth even more and real estate remains my biggest asset class, I'm currently focusing all new investments on stocks and ETFs to build this portion of my portfolio.
I was hoping to cross $100K this week, but the US markets are closed for Independence Day. Next week, I'll add another $500 through my regular weekly investing routine, which should get me very close if the recent market rebound continues.
Interactive Brokers: My Largest Stock Holdings ($55K+)
Interactive Brokers remains my biggest holding at just over $55,000. I'm up almost $5,000 this year without making any new purchases, which shows the power of letting your investments compound.
My entire Interactive Brokers portfolio consists of one holding: the S&P 500 ETF from State Street with a 0.03% expense ratio. It's the cheapest option I could find. You can and you can read more about S&P 500 - Cap-Weighted vs. Equal here.
In total, I'm up almost $6,000 just from letting my money sit and grow. While Interactive Brokers isn't the prettiest platform, it's incredibly reliable and works globally. When I moved from Europe to the UAE, they seamlessly transferred my account to their UAE entity overnight. Many other brokers force you to sell everything and start over.
eToro: My Second Largest Position ($35K)
eToro holds just under $35,000, which is impressive considering I only started investing with them last year. I'm now in the green after being down significantly when I made videos a few months ago.
My eToro holdings include:
S&P 500 ETF (same as Interactive Brokers)
NASDAQ 100 (more tech-heavy exposure)
Amazon stock (up almost $1,000 already)
Google stock (just added this position)
I finally pulled the trigger on Google after considering it for months. Their P/E ratio is incredibly cheap for a tech company of this caliber. While search might be declining, they're investing heavily in AI with Gemini, autonomous vehicles with Waymo, and countless other future-proofing initiatives.
The beauty of eToro for me, living in the UAE, is that I can deposit US dollars fee-free with my UAE card. The money arrives instantly, and I can invest immediately. Plus, as a Platinum tier member (hopefully Platinum Plus soon at $50K), I get additional benefits.
Trading 212: Simple and Commission-Free
Trading 212 is one of my favorite brokers to recommend. It's incredibly simple, beautiful to use, and charges zero commissions on stocks and ETFs.
I haven't added to this account recently because I'm focused on reaching Platinum Plus status with eToro first. Once I achieve that, I'll diversify more into Trading 212. The platform is such a joy to use.
Here I hold the same iShares S&P 500 ETF that I buy across all my brokers. I'm slightly in profit despite not making additions since last year.
If you want to start with Trading 212, use my referral link to get a free share worth up to €100.
Crypto Holdings: Staying Long-Term
My crypto is stored on a Ledger hardware wallet for security. Even though hardware wallets have their own challenges (securing seed phrases, physical storage), I sleep better knowing my funds are off exchanges.
The value has grown nicely and is currently almost twice my stock and ETF holdings. Many people were tempted to sell when Bitcoin hit $100,000, but I'm a long-term investor. I don't even follow the daily price movements.
I expect Bitcoin to eventually reach $200,000 or more, so I'm holding tight. Right now, I'm not buying more crypto because I want to balance my portfolio: real estate first, stocks and ETFs second, Bitcoin third. If Bitcoin keeps growing to $300,000+, I won't complain, but I'm not actively adding to these positions either.
Interest Earned: $75 This Month
I earned around $75 in interest last month, which is lower than previous months. This is partly because I had significant cash expenses settling into our new apartment in Vilnius, Lithuania, and partly because interest rates are declining globally.
I previously earned $300-400 monthly when I had larger cash holdings earning 4-5% on platforms like Nexo. Now I'm rebuilding my cash reserves while maintaining my regular investment contributions.
Best High-Yield Options
For the highest interest rates on cash, check out my updated tables on Match My Broker:
UK residents: Best high-yield accounts in the UK
European residents: Best high-yield accounts in Europe
Currently, Lightyear and Trading 212 offer attractive rates with no lock-up periods. You earn daily interest and can withdraw anytime.
For Europeans, Bondora Go & Grow stands out at 6% APY with daily payouts. I'm earning €1.61 per day just from having money sit there, and I can withdraw same-day if needed. While it carries slightly higher risk than traditional banks, I'm comfortable with it for a portion of my cash.
The rest of my interest comes from:
Revolut: 2% on instant savings (down from 2.5% after downgrading from Ultra to Metal)
Wio Bank: 6% on personal account, 4% on USD holdings
Cashback: €40 from Revolut
I earned €40 in cashback using my Revolut Metal card while spending time in Europe this summer. I switched from my Wio card because Revolut's foreign exchange rates are better here, despite Wio offering 2% cashback.
Since downgrading from Ultra to Metal, my cashback dropped from 1% to 0.8%, but it's still money I wouldn't have earned otherwise.
The Power of Compound Growth
Hopefully, next month I'll finally hit and surpass the $100K milestone. This milestone represents the beauty of long-term investing and compound growth.
Imagine having $100K earning 10% annually without adding new money. Next year, you'd have $110,000. Fast forward to when I eventually reach $1 million in stocks and ETFs (and I will get there by continuing what I'm doing), that same 10% return becomes $100,000 in annual growth from portfolio appreciation alone.
Of course, returns aren't linear. Some years you'll lose money, others you'll gain 20%+. But averaged over time, this is where compounding becomes exciting. A 10% return on a €1,000 portfolio is only €100. But on larger portfolios, those percentage gains become life-changing amounts.
Once you hit six figures, the path to seven figures accelerates because the growth compounds on itself.
| Platform/Broker | Primary Holdings | Current Value | % of Total | Key Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interactive Brokers | S&P 500 ETF (0.03% ER) | $55,000+ | 55% | Global access, ultra-reliable |
| eToro | S&P 500, NASDAQ, AMZN, GOOGL | $35,000 | 35% | USD deposits, Platinum benefits |
| Trading 212 | S&P 500 ETF | $10,000 | 10% | Zero fees, beautiful UI |
| TOTAL STOCKS & ETFs | Diversified Portfolio | ~$100,000 | 100% | Risk-distributed growth |
Key Takeaways from This Update
Diversification across brokers protects against platform risk while maximizing benefits
Consistency beats timing - regular investing without trying to time the market works
Low-cost ETFs like the 0.03% S&P 500 option maximize long-term returns
Hardware wallets provide peace of mind for crypto holdings
High-yield savings help cash reserves work harder while maintaining liquidity
What's Next
I'll continue my weekly $500 investments until I reach the $100K milestone, then reassess my allocation strategy. My goal remains building a balanced portfolio across real estate, stocks/ETFs, and crypto.
The journey to financial independence isn't always linear, but consistency and patience pay off. Every month brings me closer to the point where my investments work harder than I do.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do you use multiple brokers instead of just one? Diversification across platforms reduces risk, maximizes benefits (like eToro's tier system), and provides backup options. Each broker has unique advantages.
What's your target allocation between asset classes? I'm aiming for real estate as my largest holding, followed by stocks/ETFs, then crypto. Currently working to balance the latter two.
How do you choose which stocks to buy? I focus on companies I understand and use daily (Amazon, Google) with strong fundamentals and reasonable valuations. Most of my equity exposure comes through broad market ETFs.
Why Bondora over traditional banks for cash? The 6% return with daily compounding and same-day withdrawals offers significantly better returns than traditional savings accounts, though with slightly higher risk.
Do you ever plan to sell your crypto? Not currently. I believe we're still early in the crypto cycle, and Bitcoin has room for significant growth. I'm holding for the long term.
What's the biggest lesson from your investing journey? Consistency beats everything. Regular investing in low-cost, diversified investments compounds into wealth over time without needing to be an investing genius.
DISCLAIMERS. I am not a financial advisor. This video, and the ideas presented in it, are for entertainment/educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or legal advice. You, and only you, are responsible for your investment decisions. This video, post & article should not be construed as investment advice. Capital at risk. Affiliate Disclosure: This description contains some affiliate links, meaning that I may earn a small commission if you click through and use these links, at no additional cost to you. IBKR disclosure: https://go.smartmoneywithkai.com/ibkr-disclaimer.
July Portfolio Update: Stocks, Crypto & Passive Income
GET MY FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Crisp, actionable tips on investing & all things money delivered straight to your inbox. No fluff, just the good stuff to fuel your financial growth.
