iDeCo vs NISA Japan | Avoid These 4 Mistakes (Expat Guide 2026)

In 2021, I lost money day trading crypto while working as a software engineer in Tokyo. I was checking prices every 30 minutes, couldn't focus on work, and thought I had an edge because I'd worked on a crypto exchange. I didn't. Today, I'm sharing everything I learned about what DOESN'T work (day trading, forex, gold, scams) and what DOES work (index investing in Japan). 📌 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: ✅ Why 90% of day traders lose money (and why I was one of them) ✅ The 4 factors that matter for investment success (hint: runway is everything) ✅ Why index funds beat 82% of professional fund managers ✅ How to use iDeCo and NISA for tax advantages in Japan ✅ The only 3 investment trusts you need to know ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - My 2021 Day Trading Disaster 0:29 - Overview of Phase 2 0:56 - What to AVOID: Crypto, Day Trading 2:22 - What to AVOID: Forex 2:41 - What to AVOID: Commodities 3:12 - What to AVOID: Scams 3:38 - What Actually Works: Index Investing 8:12 - Japan's Tax Advantages: iDeCo & NISA 8:25 - Why/What is iDeCo 9:28 - Why/What is NISA 10:55 - Why/What is Investment Trust (投資信託) 12:00 - The Only 3 Investment Trusts You Need 14:17 - Next Steps 💰 THE STRATEGY: 1. Max out iDeCo first (¥23K/month - tax deductible) 2. Then NISA Tsumitate (¥50-80K/month - tax-free growth) 3. Pick ONE investment trust: eMAXIS Slim S&P500, All-Country, or QQQ 4. Let compounding do the work for 20-30 years 🎯 KEY TAKEAWAY: ¥30,000/month invested for 30 years at 7% = ¥37 million. You don't need to day trade. You don't need to find the next Bitcoin. You just need time and consistency. 📚 OFFICIAL RESOURCES: iDeCo Official Guide (English): https://www.ideco-koushiki.jp/english/ NISA 2024 Guide (JSDA): https://www.jsda.or.jp/en/activities/... ⚠️ IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: I'm not a financial advisor. I'm just a software engineer sharing my personal experience and research. Do your own due diligence and be responsible with your hard-earned money. 🎬 WHAT'S NEXT: Next week: Phase 4 - We're opening accounts together! I'll walk you through the entire process step-by-step: opening NISA, setting up iDeCo, buying your first investment trust, and automating monthly contributions. 👍 IF THIS HELPED YOU: Like this video if it saved you from expensive mistakes Comment which investment trust you're choosing (S&P500, All-Country, or QQQ) Subscribe so you don't miss Video 4 next week #vlog #japan #日本 #4k #trunksng #trunks nguyen #life in japan #japan vlog #expat life #JapanVlog #lifeinjapan #tokyo #japanwithkids #Japan #ExpatLife #TokyoLife #ExpatParents #LifeInTokyo #LivingInJapan #LocalJapan #InvestingInJapan #NISA #FinancialFreedom #IndexFunds #JapanExpat #PersonalFinance #simple path to wealth #invest in japan #ExpatFinance #EmergencyFund #BudgetingTips #TokyoCostOfLiving #IndexFundInvesting #personal finance #IndexInvesting #JapanInvesting #iDeCo #PassiveIncome #DayTradingFails #cryptolessons Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/simon-folwar/str... License code: 1OM1YYJT30M7GYJZ https://uppbeat.io/t/theo-gerard/adrift License code: MQJO1GENQTXXE45J