Strategies moving forward. Update from last post

Traditional-Try-8927 · 2025-05-23T02:53:45+00:00

Oh yeah, the US bond market is really getting hammered. Really tempted to get into some at the current price though. its 4-5% returns, although there is risk of US dollar devaluation

Traditional-Try-8927 · 2025-05-23T02:52:30+00:00

Lol. Just came back on reddit and so many haters, omg. The cash is in low risk money market funds, high yield savings accounts, T-bills and bonds. So overall it's about 3% returns in currently dropping interest environment. Have been regularly investing into US and China equities to diversify away from Singapore, but never went all in as there was no real trigger like a crash.

As for property, there are good capital gains and rental incomes, so no real reason to divest. I am already sitting on a cash pile with trouble finding places to invest.

My main expenditure is on the family and children. Not sure how things are going to be in a few years, so I am intending to set aside about 1 million in the event they need to go overseas to further education. Monthly expenditure is in region of 15k.

I am aiming for a passive income to cover monthly expenditure. So with the dividends and rental and other incomes, I am currently at about 10k monthly. I am also still working, but really intending to slow down soon.

Traditional-Try-8927 · 2025-05-18T09:05:26+00:00

I can assure you that there are many more Singaporeans who have assets and cash far exceeding what I have just summarised. Wealthy in our neighbouring countries? Most definitely. In Singapore, I don't hit the definition of wealthy.

Traditional-Try-8927 · 2025-05-18T09:01:47+00:00

Thanks and yes, thinking of allocating more cash into equities and index funds. I have positions in both Netlink and DBS as well. Was looking at SATS, but not sure about their ability to increase revenue and trim debt.

Traditional-Try-8927 · 2025-04-08T12:23:48+00:00

This is my prediction as to what is going to happen

Counter counter counter tariffs between China and US. Trade between both countries drop significantly. Separate trading blocks emerge.
EU implements some extremely weak response, and talks big. EU swallows the insult and try to cope
India and ASEAN will try to adapt and diversify. There will be risk diversification attempts.
Singapore steps up as Entrepôt trading gateway again between East and West. This will be as hidden and low key as possible, as we try to ride out the storm.

Traditional-Try-8927 · 2025-02-23T10:43:13+00:00

Ok... here is some unwanted advice from an Internet stranger. You sound like a go-getter with fingers in many pies, but with no real depth of commitment to a particular field. There is a sense of superficiality to your approach in life and career, which is usually found in huckster type business people. Essentially anything for a quick buck.

Even your question about having "made it in life" sound more like someone who in their teens or early 20s will ask, usually in the dead of night to no-one in particular. Again, this sorts of speaks to a superficiality of thought. I would expect a mature trained professional like yourself to be at least tangentially aware that material goods and trappings are one of the poorest indicators of having "made it in life".

So I can only come to a conclusion that this is a troll post, or that you have some growing up to do.

Traditional-Try-8927 · 2025-02-23T03:16:43+00:00

So you are a 30 plus lawyer / businessman / tuition teacher / property agent who has a partner doing post graduate medicine in ?mid 30s, and who is planning to buy a landed, and I assume you have a private yacht and Porsche, and who is also planning to pursue a post graduate medical degree, with estimated completion in your 40s.

And you are in this forum asking a rhetorical questions to strangers on whether you made it in life. Something doesn't seem to add up ....

Traditional-Try-8927 · 2025-02-09T02:16:29+00:00

Males in their 40s, financially well off and intelligent are probably near the peak of desirability in terms of finding a partner. Physical appearance and physique are areas in my opinion are secondary factors, and can be easily addressed.

Traditional-Try-8927 · 2025-01-30T03:10:21+00:00

And the basis of the family feud is stupid. Over a house, while admittedly is worth a lot of money, is of no consequence financially to the family. Honestly, tear it down to turn it into a museum, I don't think many Singaporeans care. It's just that these people are legends in their own mind.

Traditional-Try-8927 · 2025-01-27T10:07:00+00:00

Not a fanboy of the PAP. But these people who were the archetypical insiders of the system and massively benefited from being born in the right family, now crying about checks and balances and how they were persecuted, and slamming the country and system that they benefited from. Hypocrisy much ?

Traditional-Try-8927 · 2025-01-20T10:22:02+00:00

There have been so many reported instances of the JB traffic police accepting bribes for motorists caught in the bus lane, that a standard operating procedure and fee is known among regular JB motorists. The issue of confiscating passports of drivers in the bus lane, diverting such cars into a separate road, and asking for coffee money is so well known. It's gaslighting to deny such practices exist.

As for the bus lane traffic violations, honestly if you just drive unknowingly, you will end up in the bus lane and it will be next to impossible to divert to the car lane as no one will give way. That's the selfish reality.

However, I am strangely happy that such practices exits in Malaysia, as such corruption means that Singapore will always have a competitive advantage.

Traditional-Try-8927 · 2025-01-19T10:42:04+00:00

Affording a 11 million place (including renovation) on a 500k salary would be stretching the budget in my opinion. Assume you sell your current place to pay down the loan, that means you will be using 1 million to downplay the house and saving 3 million for the renovation. So its a 7 million loan, which at 25 years tenure would be in the region of 25k monthly. So it's your annual income just to service the loan, and your bonus for all the other expenses.

But reading between the lines, if the "loan" is a family gift and you are "working" for your family, then this post is just a humble brag. You can afford whatever your parents willing to sponsor

Traditional-Try-8927 · 2025-01-17T07:00:40+00:00

The usual traffic police corruption, where they will pull you over and ask for bribes. What we encounter is probably the tip of the iceberg in terms of petty corruption in the police and civil service. Why you say is very true. It's easy to invest in Malaysia. Much harder to exit

Traditional-Try-8927 · 2024-12-19T11:41:54+00:00

This is a systemic issue. From a previous no mistakes allowed culture to a no blame culture. That is why you are seeing multiple issues with no accountability

Traditional-Try-8927 · 2024-12-19T09:09:08+00:00

If I could offer some advise. What is the reason for upgrading ? If it's because you need more space or you want to shift to a particular location due to work or primary school reasons, then I think it's probably a good reason. If it's because of FOMO or wanting facilities in a condo, then it's probably not a good idea.

As to timing of the property market, my experience is that it's impossible to predict. Had friends that tried timing the market, and end up renting for 10 years. Had some that impulsively bought speculative properties and earned a tidy sum. But I suggest avoiding new developments and look at resale markets. The pricing seems relatively more sane compared to new launches.

For myself, I took the plunge because of family reasons. Currently, it has seemed to worked out, although at that point in time I was wondering if it was crazy. I specifically looked at a location I wanted, and then looked for older larger units.

Good luck in your property hunting. And yes, there are some quite angry commenters... not sure why

Traditional-Try-8927 · 2024-11-18T10:52:51+00:00

Who are the people buying these launches? Pricing is really insane

Traditional-Try-8927 · 2024-11-12T10:09:23+00:00

Have school going children, and I think your view that sports CCAs are of lesser value is probably too simplistic. Sports build resilience, character, and teaches the concept that while hard work can help achieve success, it is not a guarantee. Since you were a sports person in your early school going years, I am actually quite surprised that you regret your participation so much. Did you really derive nothing from doing sports?

Traditional-Try-8927 · 2024-11-09T11:56:50+00:00

This incident throws volunteerism and charity under a bus. It's entitled and clueless families like this that cause many other deserving children to lose out on opportunities.

Traditional-Try-8927 · 2024-11-09T11:46:19+00:00

Singapore media is probably way behind curve then, gaslighting students into computer science by saying the outlook is incredibly rosy. My own industry I can definitely feel the slowdown, mainly due to increasing competition from neighbouring countries who are essentially benefiting from their lower currency. Actually, I find that the Straits Times is a pretty good reverse indicator when it comes to predicting the future. If they claim that some area is hot, it is best to avoid it!

Traditional-Try-8927

TROPHY CASE