By Caity Somers, Marketing and Education Manager, Australian Shareholders’ Association

This month, I caught up with Nathan Hood, a passionate ASA member and the mind behind stocksunderthehood.com. After attending his first ASA meeting in late 2023, Nathan quickly became a familiar face in our community, even stepping up to convene the Double Bay group. With a sharp, research-driven approach to investing and a genuine passion for sharing ideas, Nathan offers a refreshing perspective on what it means to invest with both discipline and curiosity. In this interview, he shares his journey from the early tech boom to building a personal investment platform, the hard lessons learned from the GFC, and the mindset shifts that shaped his trading strategy today.

1.  How long have you been a member of the ASA?

I attended my first ASA meeting in late 2023, thanks to an invitation from my friend Keith Ready, who convenes the Mosman and Warringah investor groups. That meeting made me realise how rare it is to find a room full of people who genuinely love talking about investing. Since then, I’ve become much more involved—I now convene the Double Bay group, and I’ve attended meetings all over Sydney and given a number of presentations. It’s been incredibly rewarding building friendships with so many like-minded investors.

2.  Can you share the story of how you began your investment journey?

I bought my first shares in 1999 after my first boss gave me access to his portfolio and asked me to keep an eye on it. That experience sparked my interest. I did well during the tech boom, but like many, I was wiped out in the GFC, which taught me some humbling lessons about risk. In 2005, I completed a Diploma in Financial Advising, but instead of pursuing that career path, I opened a health food business, which I ran until 2021. Since then, I’ve been a full-time trader and investor, and I’ve found it very fulfilling.

3.  How would you describe your investing style?

Pragmatic, focused, and research-driven. I concentrate exclusively on the ASX because I’d rather know one market in depth than spread my attention too thinly. My approach centres on identifying the companies growing the fastest, backed by solid fundamentals, and trading them when specific technical indicators align. Once I’m in, I aim to hold positions for as long as possible—I think one of the most important disciplines is allowing winners to run. I’ve spent a lot of time researching which metrics truly matter, and I continue refining my process so I can ignore as much of the noise as possible. Distilling an almost infinite amount of information down to what actually moves the needle is, to me, one of the most challenging and rewarding parts of investing.

4.  What resources or events provided by ASA have you found most beneficial?

The member meetings have been invaluable for the discussions and the sense of community. I’ve learned a lot from hearing different perspectives and having my ideas tested by an audience—it helps ensure I’m not just making sense to myself. I also rate the Sydney Investor Forum very highly. It’s held on the third Thursday of every month, and the quality of the speakers has been exceptional. Just as importantly, I really enjoy having lunch with members after the meetings and forums—it’s a chance to connect on a more personal level and build genuine friendships.

5.  If you could go back and give yourself one piece of financial advice when you started, what would it be?

Don’t assume you can outsmart the market. Early on, I held positions in the face of clear selling because I thought I understood something others didn’t—and it cost me dearly, especially during the GFC when I was invested in what turned out to be a fraudulent company. Today, my approach is much simpler: when the trend changes, I get out. I’d tell my younger self that it’s not weakness to be flexible. It’s survival. Be like water—flow to where the conditions are better, and don’t let ego tie you to a losing position.

6.  What’s one lesson investing has taught you that you apply to other areas of life?

It’s taught me the importance of knowing yourself. A big part of investing is recognising your own biases, your tolerance for risk, and how you react under pressure. That kind of self-awareness is just as valuable in everyday life—it helps you respond to challenges more calmly and make decisions that align with your long-term goals. It’s also reinforced the value of patience. You don’t have to act on every impulse; sometimes the most productive thing you can do is wait for the right opportunity.

7.  What do you wish more people knew about investing?

That understanding risk is just as important as understanding returns. A lot of investors I’ve met over the years have been steered into high-yield stocks without fully appreciating how cyclical or volatile those businesses can be—especially in sectors like resources. Chasing yield alone can lead to dramatic drawdowns that aren’t necessary to achieve good long-term results. Often, you can find companies with solid fundamentals and steady growth without the rollercoaster ride. Being clear-eyed about risk, and not just the potential upside, is one of the most valuable disciplines any investor can develop.

8.  Is there a particular company or sector you’re especially excited about right now?

I try not to get too attached to stories because it’s easy to convince yourself of a narrative—you can usually find enough evidence to support either a bullish or bearish case if you look hard enough. That said, I’m genuinely excited about AI, not just from an investing perspective but because I think it will be the single biggest driver of change in my lifetime. Of course, if I come across a company in that space that meets my fundamental and technical criteria, that’s ideal—but I won’t go out of my way to bend my rules just to own something in AI. I’d rather let the setups come to me.

9.  What’s one financial goal you’re currently working towards?

These days, I’m putting a lot of energy into developing my website, stocksunderthehood.com

• Latest Updates 30/6/25 Research Report: SKS Technologies ASX:SKS
• Forensic Analysis: Big River Industries ASX:BRI (based on half year results released in February)
• Insights: Big River
• Forensic Analysis: Catapult ASX:CAT
• Forensic Analysis: SKS Technologies ASX:SKS

It began as a project to help me stay organised and disciplined in my own investing. As it’s evolved, I’ve realised it can also be a way to share what I’m learning and create something useful for others who want to be more self-directed. I hope it encourages people to think more critically about their investments and feel empowered to build their own process. I always appreciate connecting with others who share that mindset.

General disclaimer: This information is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice or a recommendation.