Journey of Investing : From 0 to almost 80k floating profit to 20k after the drop

It all started back in early 2025, right after I'd wrapped up a grueling year as an average employee in Kuala Lumpur. I'd been grinding away at my job, saving every spare ringgit from my salary. By mid-2025, I'd amassed about RM130,000 in capital—roughly $28,000 USD at the time—sitting pretty in a high-yield savings account that was barely keeping up with inflation. But I knew I couldn't let that money rot. Investing felt like the natural next step—putting my tech background to work on something bigger than code commits.
That's where $Tempus AI (TEM.US)$ entered the picture. I'd been tracking the company since its post-IPO volatility in 2024, when it dipped to lows around $23 after pricing at $37. By 2025, Tempus had proven its mettle with accelerating revenue from its AI-driven oncology platforms, but the stock was still a rollercoaster.
I didn't chase the highs; I waited for my moment. August 2025 was that moment—a sharp drop triggered by a combo of macroeconomic noise (Fed rate hike fears) and sector rotation out of tech after a scorching rally earlier in the year. TEM plummeted over 15% in early August, trading as low as $60 per share amid broader market jitters. Panic sellers flooded the market, but I saw opportunity. My strategy was simple but disciplined: dollar-cost averaging (DCA) into dips with a value overlay. I scanned for technical support levels—$60 aligned with the 200-day moving average and a Fibonacci retracement from the mid-year high around $91.
On August , I pulled the trigger with majority my play money—about RM120,000 at $60.50, averaging down from a smaller test position I'd taken in July at $68. No emotions, just math: If their AI platform hit mainstream adoption (as hinted in their Pathos AI collab expansion), 2x-3x upside in 18 months was realistic.
Fast-forward to the last month, and holy volatility. From that August low, TEM started climbing in Septe

mber on whispers of expanded FDA approvals for their algorithmic tests and a blowout Q3 earnings report in early October. Momentum traders piled in, and by early October, it was off to the races—hitting an all-time high of $104.32 on October 9, 2025.

By that time, I have almost 80-90k of floating profit. But here's the thing—I didn't sell. Not a single share. Sure, the greed demon whispered about locking in gains, especially with my total portfolio up 50% YTD. But my strategy had baked-in discipline: I wasn't flipping for quick bucks; this was a multi-year hold on a company revolutionizing healthcare.
Cue the correction. Markets being markets, October's euphoria gave way to November's reality check. My floating profit drop significantly from 80-90K to around 10k+. However, the drop did not spark fear in me to do panic sell, opposite I added more position into it on its red day.
Looking back, that 130k was the spark that turned saving into building. It's not about the numbers (though 80k floating felt like winning the lottery); it's the thrill of conviction paying off. If you're starting out like I did, remember: Invest in what you understand, average into strength, and let fundamentals be your direction.