Everyone must invest part of their money in order to achieve financial freedom and ensure a comfortable retirement, and one of the most popular and expert-recommended ways of investment is the stock market.

Learn more: Suze Orman: 3 Biggest Mistakes You Can Make as an Investor

Discover: 5 low-risk ways to build your savings in 2025

Whether you haven’t started investing in stocks yet or are very experienced in this area, you may be curious to know which stocks seasoned, long-term investors hold on to year after year, in good times and bad times.

GOBankingRates spoke to a handful of investors to find out which stock they invested in first – and why they always have it in their wallet.

Apple

Chunyang Shen, founder of Jarsy inc.began his investing career by purchasing Apple stock in December 2015 at $23.87 per share (after split).

“As a technology fan, I knew that Apple was always going to change the way we interact with technology because of its innovative projects, powered by the iPhone and iPad and their release around that time,” said Shen. “Apple was a pioneer in consumer electronics and its innovation captivated me. I chose Apple as my first stock because of its track record in successful product launches and the loyalty it has inspired in its user base.

Shen has held on to his Apple shares for the past nine years because of his strength and versatility. Additionally, it provided him with an “excellent” returns.

“I’ve seen Apple share consistent dividend growth and stock buybacks,” Shen said. “With their efforts in AI and wearable devices, I think it is a wise decision to maintain this position for the long term.”

Shen added that he will hold Apple shares forever because of not only its strong current performance and future prospects, but also because he doesn’t see the company being sold in the near future.

Apple was also the first stock purchase by JJ Maxwell, CEO of Double Financingwhich acquired shares in the early 2000s, for around $15 per share.

“I bought Apple because I was really excited about the future of its innovation pipeline and how the company would transform technology with its then current flagshipthe iPod and the soon-to-be-released iPhone,” Maxwell said. “The reason I was so determined to keep Apple is my faith in the long term in the company to continue to innovate and (kill) its industry. I’ve seen Apple stock split several times over the years and the dividends have made me like the stock even more. Apple is a stock I plan to hold forever.

For you: Financial influencer Delyanne Barros: Why boredom might be best for investing

Berkshire Hathaway

Inspired by Warren Buffett’s legacy as a lead investor, Mabel Oza, founder of FatFIRE Social Mediafirst bought shares of Berkshire Hathaway.

“Buffett chooses companies that answer the question: ‘Would the world be devastated if they didn’t exist?’ “, Oza said. “For me, yes to all. Millions of people would be grumpy if Diet Coke ceased to exist; we would be hungry if we didn’t have Kroger or Heinz ketchup; we couldn’t pay anything if we didn’t have Visa or Mastercard, and if Apple disappeared tomorrow, it would be chaos.”

Caterpillar

The first title Tracie Crites, the marketing director of Heavy Equipment Assessmentand Caterpillar Inc., an investor for nearly 15 years never bought, in 2008, just after the stock market crash.

“This may seem appropriate for someone in the heavy equipment industry, but the decision was more than that,” Crites said. “At the time, Caterpillar stock was around $30, which was a huge investment for me at the time. I chose Caterpillar because I’ve seen their equipment everywhere, such as in large construction projects, large-scale infrastructure, or the type of machines that support entire communities.

Crites believed that if a company could withstand economic downturns, it would be “a company built on meeting basic needs like construction and infrastructure” – like Caterpillar. “The market was fragile, but I was confident that a company located in the heart of such important industries would not only endure, but also continue to grow.

“Honestly, I see myself sticking with Caterpillar for the long term,” Crites continued. “As long as they stay true to the consistent growth and reliable products that attracted me in the first place, I’ll be there.” Caterpillar isn’t just a stock in my portfolio. It represents the fundamental industries that build and sustain our communities.

More from GOBankingRates

This article was originally published on GOBankingRates.com: I’m an Investor: My Very First Stock – and Why I Still Have It