tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80229349194797262052024-03-07T02:17:15.104-08:00Singapore Dividend CollectorUsing dividends to achieve financial freedom
Singapore Dividend Collectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02984990866059977120noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8022934919479726205.post-48524765191277328282021-01-29T15:47:00.007-08:002021-01-29T15:49:12.542-08:00January 2021 Portfolio Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMaodrIVJozQ-ePm3GPB3AE2SpxaO05VVhU1UiieBDwiLLcKRoFKCypU6lZ5pwMnbcAkgDwGe4NfHpZkMCU73LifASQkJ6QGBOwaQyOIJjIdkMKS4xwM9Ngk9vvb2iS4qOr7wraVLihaY/s2048/How-to-Develop-an-Effective-Job-Skills-Portfolio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMaodrIVJozQ-ePm3GPB3AE2SpxaO05VVhU1UiieBDwiLLcKRoFKCypU6lZ5pwMnbcAkgDwGe4NfHpZkMCU73LifASQkJ6QGBOwaQyOIJjIdkMKS4xwM9Ngk9vvb2iS4qOr7wraVLihaY/s320/How-to-Develop-an-Effective-Job-Skills-Portfolio.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>With January 2021 drawing to a close, it's time for a portfolio update.</p><p>I've done a fair bit of restructuring...</p><p>---</p><p>Sold:</p><p>60% of FIRST REIT pre rights issue</p><p>This company has been the thorn in my side for a while. For a number of years it's share price rose and the divided was tasty, but as we all know it has has gone down like the Titanic in recent months. My reasons for off loading just over half of my holdings before the vote are as follows: </p><p>1. Lippo have shafted First once and they could do it again. </p><p>2. I sold 60% and not 100% because the counter was down almost 80% and I wanted to leave some skin in the game for a speculative return to form in the future. Whether this will happen or not is in the hands of the gods.</p><p>3. First Reit's CEO talks straight and took part in the rights issue. Thus, who knows, maybe in the long term he can turn things around. </p><p>This is the greatest paper loss I've encountered in my investment career, and I learned lots from it. Namely, I learned not to get too greedy when chasing REIT yield. Also, I learned to research a REIT's sponsor more carefully. Lippo are shady to say the least and should have been taken to court for their shenanigans, but I understand that FIRST Reit's management had no choice but to call the rights issue and fuck over their share holders. We all know Lippo created this problem and should have shouldered the burden, but they didn't and shamelessly fed a shot sandwich to loyal First Reit share holders. This callous and, quite frankly, ballless move loss me and others a lot of money and eroded all our trust in Lippo. I think based on the financials there will be another rights issues in the future, diluting share holding even further. This I'm ready for - albeit with a massively reduced position. So, with two fingers up to Lippo, I'm out for 60% and praying that somehow fortunes turn around for my remaining (albeit massively diluted 40% stake) However, I feel I might be waiting for some time.</p><p>Sold:</p><p>I took profit on Keppel DC REIT and sold 50% of my stake. I got into the counter two months after the IPO and added heavily to it in the first year, so I was up almost 200%. I've been flirting for a while with reducing my position and taken some delicious paper gains, this month I finally did. Yum yum!</p><p><br /></p><p>Sold:</p><p>I sold off a minor position in Global Investments Ltd. This was and dividend play I felt didn't pay enough for the risk involved, so I sold out at the same price I paid 2 years ago. I still collected a decent yield for my troubles though, so not all in all it worked out OK. I see this investment as a reflection of my more immature self. I'm trimming off these parts off my portfolio and replacing them with more reliable Singapore dividend plays and long term US growth. </p><p><br /></p><p>Buy:</p><p>UOB and OCBC. I like UOB's prospects over the next decade with its exposure to SE Asia. Granted, it's not a bargain, but It's not expensive either, so I loaded up heavily and added to my existing position. Likewise, I dumped a large chunk into OCBC to diversify over the big 3 Singaporean banks. All 3 will go back to normal dividend soon once the government lift the 60% cap. These are long term growth/dividend plays for me with their flawless balance sheets and health yields.</p><p>---</p><p>In conclusion, January has seen me starting to cut out the clutter from my portfolio. I'm still monitoring Berkshire B and Alibaba closely and will add if there are decent pullbacks. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p>Singapore Dividend Collectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02984990866059977120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8022934919479726205.post-54478917491533024552021-01-08T16:30:00.000-08:002021-01-08T16:30:05.821-08:00$71, 145 Dividends in 2020 and General Musings about 2021<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpnLgujnAicuSLirE-YBfnFtRCEzXAGBhb9qrydjfE0eIBnhjgbR_mTT4hSFhBhYoHiTNopauzte4kA2mDtnBV-xVjP5MfbTPBzMvMax2uWgPjUWuRnICYTtDmy5Us7Y5myv3DnVMHT0g/s807/sun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="807" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpnLgujnAicuSLirE-YBfnFtRCEzXAGBhb9qrydjfE0eIBnhjgbR_mTT4hSFhBhYoHiTNopauzte4kA2mDtnBV-xVjP5MfbTPBzMvMax2uWgPjUWuRnICYTtDmy5Us7Y5myv3DnVMHT0g/s320/sun.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Hello there, my lovely investor friends!</div><div><br /></div><div>2021 is well and truly underway, but the dust from last year is yet to settle. </div><div><br /></div><div>Dust? </div><div><br /></div><div>More like radioactive air particles!<div><br /></div><div>As investors, 2020 was like pushing an aging accelerator button. </div><div><br /></div><div>My God, I even found a grey hair! What's all that about, eh?</div><div><br /></div><div>There was much collective glass clinking and deep breathing on New Years Eve, and reading comments online it was clear that most people believed 2021 is going to be this new shiny, hassle free year, one in which the anxieties and fears of the previous twelve months will suddenly evaporate like a steam from a boiling kettle. </div><div><br /></div><div>Alas... I fear this is not to be. </div><div><br /></div><div>We find ourselves living - and investing - in strange times. </div><div><br /></div><div>I won't go through the long list of macro issues that keep us all up and night, but it's fair to say the uncertainty and nail- biting will continue for the foreseeable future.</div><div><br /></div><div>But, this said, show me a period in history when investors have been able to sit back and chill without a care in the world. </div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, indeed. </div><div><br /></div><div>This time has never existed. </div><div><br /></div><div>Fear and news of imminent doom have been etched in the investor brain since forever. However, the difference now is the access to information we all have at our fingertips. </div><div><br /></div><div>Social media, financial blogs, 24 financial news etc. flood out world with a continual deluge of information which leaves even the most avid reader feeling like a deflated party balloon. </div><div><br /></div><div>Just how can we all keep up? </div><div><br /></div><div>Newsflash! We can't. </div><div><br /></div><div>But hey, we can't know everything, can we? </div><div><br /></div><div>No, of course we can't. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm sure we could all make a Youtube video about some topic that would make others think...</div><div><br /></div><div>"This guy's a genius!"</div><div><br /></div><div>But most of us have better things to do than chase the algorithmic dragon on a daily basis.</div><div><br /></div><div>I swear the next person to say, "If you like this video, smash the like button" needs a rabbit punch in the kidneys for being a fucking boring automaton. </div><div><br /></div><div>Massive yawn! </div><div><br /></div><div>So, without risking this status myself, here's some info about my portfolio as it stands on 9-1-21.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Total dividend received in 2020: $71, 145</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Significant buys in 2020: Berkshire Hath B; Alibaba</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>As you can see from the above, I'm primarily a dividend investor - well this is how I started out five years ago. </div><div><br /></div><div>Also, as you can see from my significant buys in 2020, I've started buying what I deem to be long term growth stocks.</div><div><br /></div><div>Why Berkshire Hath B I hear you ask?</div><div><br /></div><div>Well, I'm not one of these folks who chases the next big thing. I want exposure to the Yank market, but I don't want to do this through an ETF, so what's the next best thing to catch the upside of US growth in the long term? </div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, Buffet's baby is where it's at.</div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, I hear some say...</div><div><br /></div><div>"But what about Berkshire after Buffet?" etc. etc.</div><div><br /></div><div>Look, dive a little deeper into the financials of the company and do your own evaluation, and you will find a financial beast, protected my a massive moat with one of the most ethical and trustworthy company cultures on the planet. </div><div><br /></div><div>Also, I made a big bet at $212 which according to my shitty math is well below its intrinsic value.</div><div><br /></div><div>Next, I hear you scream...</div><div><br /></div><div>" Why the hell Alibaba at this time!"</div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, I know Jack Ma might be inside an Iron Maiden somewhere underground in Beijing; also, I'm well ware that he has pissed the Chinese and US governments concurrently. </div><div><br /></div><div>That said, I made a big bet at around $ 213 on the Hing Kong exchange, and like Berkshire B, this is a massive discount to its intrinsic value.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, don't get me wrong here. I'm well aware Alibaba is going to get a few slaps in the near term, and this will lean to price volatility in the short to medium term. </div><div><br /></div><div>However, I see this as offering up more buying opportunities for a great company with, again like Buffet's baby, a moat so big you could sail a cruise liner in it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thus, with these words I'll leave you. If you have any comments leave below, and I'll be more than happy to have a wee chat.</div><div><br /></div><div>All for now party people.</div><div><br /></div><div>SDC </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Singapore Dividend Collectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02984990866059977120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8022934919479726205.post-5035015216183722532020-10-26T19:01:00.002-07:002020-10-26T19:01:31.699-07:00Morning Musings 27-10-20<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiudg5tpfox8LUW1ERyPTwXs_ay_MPAKKHiViZr9sgqei3sQGRBtWznzmCMP1r-lyN-Y4zU8bFtgrbHNBVLknHWyM8Z5Lcu6FBEqy3HvRVGj4rlgxMt8ch2mM2AfkGggr6ZISD4_fP-D3o/s474/sun2dfgegdfgdfgdfgg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiudg5tpfox8LUW1ERyPTwXs_ay_MPAKKHiViZr9sgqei3sQGRBtWznzmCMP1r-lyN-Y4zU8bFtgrbHNBVLknHWyM8Z5Lcu6FBEqy3HvRVGj4rlgxMt8ch2mM2AfkGggr6ZISD4_fP-D3o/s320/sun2dfgegdfgdfgdfgg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Good morning to you all. I trust you are well, where ever you are. Allow me to ramble if you will. </p><p>I've just got back form a run and feel great. Nothing beats exercise in the morning for setting you up for the day. It's a happy drug for sure. All those endorphins swirling around for half the day, energising the mind and body. I'm a big fan. Weekly, I'll run 5k on a Monday and Friday. Then I go trail running on a Saturday for about 6/7k. In the past I ran lots more than this, but I find around 20k per week to be the optimal distance for extracting the maximum benefits, while minimising the chance of injury. Well, this works for me anyway. On top of this, I do a 1 minute plank every day as this keeps the core and lower back in good shape as I march on into my 40s (Yikes!) </p><p>Channel News Asia on Youtube is my go to for 20 minutes live news on all things Singapore and in SE Asia. While watching this, I down two coffees (no sugar) and read the latest articles from The Edge (currently a subscriber) </p><p>Lately, I've also been flirting with the idea of doing some sort of academic course online (under duress from my wife) But I really haven't a clue which one to do. The net is awash with people trying to sell this course and that and most of them look rather generic and cover information I already know. Can any of you recommend an advanced investing course? (paid or free) Usually, I find myself flicking through various Youtube channels procrastinating and getting more and more frustrated. Please let me know any good investing channels you know and use. I need some guidance on this ASAP.</p><p>Once I've exercised, watched the news, read and Youtubed, I'll usually take a look at my portfolio and watchlist to see if there are any opportunities on the day ahead. Being a long term buy and hold dividend and growth investor, I look to see if any of the companies I'm watching are trading at or below there intrinsic value. If so, I'll dig deeper into one and decide if it's time to invest. Presently, opportunities are few and far between for long term growth with US stocks trading at silly highs despite Corona, US/China relations, US election etc. etc. Only a few companies buck this trend that I can see. Namely, Berkshire B and Bank of America. </p><p>Recently, I bought a big whack of Berkshire B at $212, for I feel this is decent value all factors considered. Also, with the conglomerate owning a proportion of BOA you get less over all downside risk. Berkshire offers up a tasty conglomerate discount as well which is attractive. Moreover, certain parts of the Berkshire portfolio look incredible moving forward. I'm thinking here of their railroad which has amazing potential over the long term.</p><p>Please share yours in the comment below as I'm always fascinated to know what my fellow human being are doing to feel good and stay sharp. Also, what's on your watchlist at the moment?</p><p>All the best and have a good one.</p>Singapore Dividend Collectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02984990866059977120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8022934919479726205.post-12379796528560152972020-10-15T18:05:00.003-07:002020-10-15T18:05:20.125-07:00Global Diversification Continues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggXbzsBlYLyT1-ucMMu8xPJuTcgi5N9w83agkkD6mHyrJqom19MsL2MojAt6yXq9SEBEQ36kfaCSGfDEoY8mOdHL7RVDH-VeRPYsKJ17EjJW_O61RUjJU-6oePdjAvvqV9QAl2W87x8fE/s1920/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggXbzsBlYLyT1-ucMMu8xPJuTcgi5N9w83agkkD6mHyrJqom19MsL2MojAt6yXq9SEBEQ36kfaCSGfDEoY8mOdHL7RVDH-VeRPYsKJ17EjJW_O61RUjJU-6oePdjAvvqV9QAl2W87x8fE/s320/download.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>In my last blog post, <a href="https://singaporedividendcollector.blogspot.com/2020/10/birthdays-and-berkshire-b.html" target="_blank">Birthday's and Berkshire B</a>, I wrote about how I recently accumulated a sizeable chunk of Berkshire B at $212 as part of my strategy to diversify my portfolio and garner steady growth over the next 10 years. </p><p>Looking back at the buy, I still believe this was a decent price and that the fair value of the company is closer to $300 per share.</p><p>When I started investing in the stock market back in 2015 or so my plan was to build a dividend machine that would give me a regular income and hopefully facilitate an early retirement. </p><p>So far, this has gone mostly to plan, but in hindsight, I would do things slightly differently. </p><p>Over the years, I have overpaid for some counters in an attempt to get stability and yield, and in doing so, I've made a few glaring errors - chasing yield being one of my main downfalls. </p><p>Of these mistakes, the biggest are buying the following counters: Kingsman, Starhub, Singtel and First REIT. Anyone else in the same boat here? </p><p>I'm still holding on to these 4 counters for dear life, in the hope of a turnaround, but I don't have a ton of hope. </p><p>That said, all 4 companies pay good dividends, but the question is for how long will this continue? </p><p>However, I've also made some excellent purchases including Keppel DC REIT with a weighted average cost of just over $1. Also, Sheng Siong at $0.9 approx. </p><p>There are others good picks in the portfolio as well, but I won't bore you with all the details right now.</p><p><i><b>So why the strategic move to the USA?</b></i></p><p>To be honest, I've become a little bearish on the Singapore economy over the past while. What with the US-China trade war meandering on, Covid, and the STI moving sideways at best, I feel perhaps the good times are over for the foreseeable future. </p><p>This doesn't mean that there are not great companies in Singapore - there are - but it does mean that growth catalysts are few and far between. </p><p>As a result, I want to spread my wings and diversify in the USA with one of the world's best run and diversified companies, Berkshire B. </p><p><b><i>Why not invest in the S & P 500?</i></b></p><p>The answer to this question is easy enough:</p><p>1. I think Berkshire B is better value than the S & P 500.</p><p>2. I think Berkshire B can weather the bad times more effectively than the S & P 500.</p><p>3. I like Berkshire B's railroad and insurance businesses</p><p>4. Passive funds buy stocks when they are expensive and sell when they are going down</p><p>5. I don't like passive ETFs. They have done amazingly well over the past 10 plus years because of QE, but what their future holds I'm not so sure.</p><p>6. I believe in paying for the quality business ethos and philosophy that Berkshire has now and which will continue into the future - with Buffet or without Buffet.</p><p>So, I have no doubt this is a quality counter moving forward, and one that will continue to add to when opportunity arise. This is the key cornerstone in my diversification plan.</p><p><b><i>Are you only diversifying in the USA?</i></b></p><p>I've also picked up a chunk of ICBC as I feel China's growth will move in tandem with this banking giant. Of course, I recognize the headwinds of mobile payment and loans etc. but traditional banking isn't going to disappear overnight. Also, ICBC has a history of paying handsome dividends, so it's nice to tap into this wellspring. </p><p>OK, so that's where we are presently. More soon. The beat goes on...</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Singapore Dividend Collectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02984990866059977120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8022934919479726205.post-40920473007578429742020-10-13T19:53:00.006-07:002020-10-13T19:54:35.898-07:00Birthdays and Berkshire B!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIv2v4AnjT6BCt_t3R-DNpsrSLpBNNntFou1UE5c119aHeF__RfIAkmLVxT1fRFHKX92JebEnb2ReEKnF9U6YUOue5arCfktPeCBhZMeZzwdOFSke2Fd8OaeT_FNVBEtaBJcz4CpUYcDY/s1500/cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIv2v4AnjT6BCt_t3R-DNpsrSLpBNNntFou1UE5c119aHeF__RfIAkmLVxT1fRFHKX92JebEnb2ReEKnF9U6YUOue5arCfktPeCBhZMeZzwdOFSke2Fd8OaeT_FNVBEtaBJcz4CpUYcDY/s320/cake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Well, well.... Would you believe it? Singapore Dividend Collector has turned 40! </p><p>It's one of those milestones in life that happens to other people, isn't it? It'll never happen to me, for I'm still too youthful and sprightly. Ha!</p><p>News flash! It has happened. Happy big 40 to me! (a few days ago)</p><p>So, what the heck have I been up to then?</p><p>Well, I recently made a rather large investment into Berkshire Hathaway B. This has been something I've been obsessing over for a long time, and I finally pulled the trigger at $212. According to my calculations, this is a decent price moving forward, considering Buffet, Munger and the rest create about a 10% return for shareholders. As always, this is a stock I intend to hold for a long time, and why not considering the quality of the businesses Berkshire owns, the amazing business culture there and also the potential for the company - with or without WB or CM. I'm not one of those investors who runs after the next big thing (although I might do with ??) I feel paying $212 is still decent value, and obviously so did Buffet as this was the average price he bought shares back over the past year or so. Thus, if it's good enough for the great man, then, my God, it's good enough for me.</p><p>This is my first foray into the US stocks, and presently I'm happy with my decision. Honestly, I researched this purchase in micro-detail to avoid any slip ups. In the past, I've been a little trigger happy and make some mistake, but I've learned from these and have grown as an investor. </p><p>So, my plan moving forward is to use my Singapore portfolio to harvest dividends which I'll continue to reinvest into STI counters when the price is right. Also, Berkshire will be my steady growth engine (slow and steady wins the race etc.) </p><p>I'm comfortable with this approach, so let's see if it works moving forward.</p><p>What do you think out there in internet-land?</p><p><br /></p>Singapore Dividend Collectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02984990866059977120noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8022934919479726205.post-33000061680634524502020-09-16T00:26:00.001-07:002020-09-16T00:26:25.931-07:00Obsession with Money and Things.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zD5sJ0HRdX-ainP-gThP1x-P_WUc8nEZWag6NHvIUB3YxiX3PpDflP9n80yfYRcdhqcNW_bXJL_w1CHO76leDwCD7u92WbiGbX20g2S_MRYE6n7ZGvVeAkSBgwjfyNYoTuh3dJ00Ovg/s400/materialismComic-e1575682901555.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zD5sJ0HRdX-ainP-gThP1x-P_WUc8nEZWag6NHvIUB3YxiX3PpDflP9n80yfYRcdhqcNW_bXJL_w1CHO76leDwCD7u92WbiGbX20g2S_MRYE6n7ZGvVeAkSBgwjfyNYoTuh3dJ00Ovg/s320/materialismComic-e1575682901555.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Seneca's quote on happiness resonates deeply with me:</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #283646; font-family: inherit;"><b><i>True happiness is…to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future. </i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #283646; font-family: inherit;">Thus...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Why are so many people obsessed with money and materialism? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a question that reverberates around my skull for large portions of the day. And the more I think about it, the more it makes sense.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">We've all heard stories about super-rich people involved in corruption, being sent to jail or being crippled with mountain of debt. What is it that drives so many people to such extremes? What is it that they are seeking to discover by accumulating more wealth? Do they even know themselves?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">In physiological terms <i>"minds obsessively fixate on the idea of making money, without considering the consequences of their obsession." </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">This definition reads almost like a definition of addition: <i>"<span style="color: #2c2d30;">A person with an addiction uses a substance, or engages in a behavior, for which the rewarding effects provide a compelling incentive to repeat the activity, despite detrimental consequences.</span><span style="color: #2c2d30;">" <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/basics/addiction">(Psychology Today)</a></span></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, please don't misinterpret my thoughts here. I'm not saying that making money is a bad thing in itself. We all need a certain amount if money to fulfill our basic needs of having food, shelter and a few treats every month. But where do you draw the line? Once our basic needs have been met we are usually happy, but how much happier can someone be if they live in a penthouse surrounded by fawning servants? Honestly, I doubt they would be any happier at all.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">With increased levels of wealth come more responsibilities such as mortgages, staff, cars, stock market crashes etc. which make us more anxious and hyped up than those with less material possessions. So, why do people constantly push for more money and things when we all know it won't make us any happier than just having enough to meet our basic needs?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">As I fast approach forty and have an 8 month year old baby, this question has been bothering me. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">For the past 11 years I have - with some help - built up a successful company with a small, loyal workforce. We are well respected for the service we provide and help many people. However, anyone who owns their own business knows full well the stresses that come with the territory. As I slip over the imaginary horizon of young adult into a fully fledged middle aged fella, my attitude towards work/live balance is shifting rapidly. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the early years, for example, it was head down, struggle and get shit done. Now though, I feel my concentration being pulled in other directions: family, exercise, meditation and poetry. Honestly, I can't see me being motivated to work the same way I have done for another 10 years. At a push, I could stretch to 5 years, for after that I would be more than financially comfortable and able to focus more on the present moment with my family and meditation practice. </span></p><p>I know many people buzz with excitement of making enough for the boat or the vacation penthouse, but, as nice as they are, material trappings, or the thought of them, do little for me. </p><p>Flashy people of the world go forth and do your thing. Buy more gold. Buy more property. Upgrade your BMW to the newest model if this is what makes you happy. For me... I just don't feel the need. I would rather explore the inner regions of my mind and, hopefully, become a more grounded and selfless individual. </p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Singapore Dividend Collectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02984990866059977120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8022934919479726205.post-32857735633148304662020-09-01T18:04:00.000-07:002020-09-01T18:04:01.577-07:00What are the lemons, the keepers and the stars in your Singapore portfolio?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsrYzPiBao_pevaoebG3NdO5SpAoAHjJxsedQoPvEmwk6XvQ9PmA2HsIWdUM82S2kkK5ON-dWnfUhk-vCKgDAfj3_dFDq-BFyzESAGtvmAi1m-EZMdWbhhCHt9tOdLIfqFsfcH2jA4rk/s1200/question.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsrYzPiBao_pevaoebG3NdO5SpAoAHjJxsedQoPvEmwk6XvQ9PmA2HsIWdUM82S2kkK5ON-dWnfUhk-vCKgDAfj3_dFDq-BFyzESAGtvmAi1m-EZMdWbhhCHt9tOdLIfqFsfcH2jA4rk/s640/question.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Right, so here we all are into another new month. Can you believe it's September 2020 already? It's hard to fathom, isn't? Well, take a deep breath folks, it's true. </p><p>What a year it has been so far for investors with some counters blasting into orbit and others sinking down to the dark depths. Let's have a look at this and decide whether I should cut my losses on a few bad performers (lemons) or hold on for dear life and pray for some divine intervention.</p><p><br /></p><p>Here's my portfolio 2-9-20 which I have been building since 2005.</p><p><br /></p><p><google-sheets-html-origin></google-sheets-html-origin></p><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" dir="ltr" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; font-family: arial, sans, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; table-layout: fixed; width: 0px;" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><colgroup><col width="196"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"SATS"}" style="background-color: #ff9900; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">SATS</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Keppel Corp"}" style="background-color: #ff9900; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Keppel Corp</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Singtel"}" style="background-color: #ff9900; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Singtel</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Keppel DC REIT"}" style="background-color: #ff9900; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Keppel DC REIT</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"ThaiBev"}" style="background-color: #ff9900; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">ThaiBev</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"AimAMP Cap REIT"}" style="background-color: #ff9900; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">AimAMP Cap REIT</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"CapitaMall Trust"}" style="background-color: #ff9900; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">CapitaMall Trust</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Capitalcom trust"}" style="background-color: #ff9900; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Capitalcom trust</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Ascenads REIT"}" style="background-color: #ff9900; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Ascenads REIT</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Nikko AM ETF"}" style="background-color: #ff9900; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Nikko AM ETF</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"SGX"}" style="background-color: #ff9900; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">SGX</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Singpost"}" style="background-color: #ff9900; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Singpost</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Starhub"}" style="background-color: #ff9900; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Starhub</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"UOB"}" style="background-color: #ff9900; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">UOB</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Kingsman Creative"}" style="background-color: #ff9900; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Kingsman Creative</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Sheng Siong"}" style="background-color: #ff9900; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Sheng Siong</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"DBS"}" style="background-color: #ff9900; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">DBS</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Accordia Golf Trust"}" style="background-color: #ff9900; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Accordia Golf Trust</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"AscottREIT"}" style="background-color: #ff9900; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">AscottREIT</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Capital land Commercial Trust"}" style="background-color: #ff9900; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Capital land Commercial Trust</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"First Reit"}" style="background-color: #ff9900; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">First Reit</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Global Investments"}" style="background-color: #ff9900; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Global Investments</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Frazer Comm Trust"}" style="background-color: #ff9900; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Frazer Comm Trust</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Wilmar International"}" style="background-color: #ff9900; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Wilmar International</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Ascendas-h-trust"}" style="background-color: #ff9900; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Ascendas-h-trust</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"ICBC (HK)"}" style="background-color: #ff9900; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">ICBC (HK)</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Centurion"}" style="background-color: #ff9900; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Centurion</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>As you can see I invest primarily for dividends which I reinvest back in to the portfolio 3/4 times per year.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Corona pandemic has not been good to us investors, and my portfolio has suffered. Thus, I will divide it into three parts:</div><div><br /></div><div>1. Lemons (stocks I might dump)</div><div>2. Keepers (stocks performing understandably in the current circumstances, but I like it's dividend/future potential)</div><div>3. Stars (stocks shining brightly in the sky)</div><div><br /></div><div>---</div><div><br /></div><div>1. The Lemons</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Singpost</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I bought this back in 2016 when finding stock picks was like pissing in the dark. I hadn't a clue where to aim. My thinking at the time was that Singpost would do well from the emerge online retail markets and than it paid an ok dividend. I saw it as a long term, safe, dividend play. Well, the dividend is still there - currently 3.86% - but the stock has been hammered - currently trading at 0.7. It was 1.97 in Jan 2015. That quite a drop, and with the divided so low, a terrible investment. What the future hold for this stock doesn't look promising.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Starhub</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>I bought this stock again for the long term dividend opportunities, not really digging any deeper. As we all know, its fall from grace has been rather dramatic and its dividend unsustainable. Dam you Starhub!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Kingsman</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>When I bought this back in 2016, I was attracted by its decent balance sheet and dividends. That said, the last few years have not been kind. Presently, it dividend looks a bit silly at over 11%. How much longer can this small cap last in world with restricted travel and cancelled conferences?</div><div><br /></div><div>---</div><div><br /></div><div><b>2. The Keepers</b></div><div><br /></div><div>SATS/Keppel Corp/ThaiBEV/AIMS REIT/CapitalMall/CapitalCOM/Ascendas/NIKKO ETF/UOB/DBS/Accott Trust/Capitalland Comm Trust/First REIT/Global Investments/Frazer Com Trust/ Ascendas H Trust/ICBC</div><div><br /></div><div>A few notes on this lot. </div><div><br /></div><div>SATS has been shafted by Corona for sure, but I'm staying vested for the long term. People will travel when they can.</div><div><br /></div><div>Keppel has been in the news as </div><div>Temasek bottled the deal at the last minute. I still think this beast will bounce back and is still an OK long term hold. </div><div>Aims REIT has been going sideways, but pays a solid divided and has good management.</div><div>CapitalMall will be grand long term as its malls are great locations. And let's face it, what else is there to do in Singapore?</div><div>Capital Com will be fine long term.</div><div>Ascendas has not been hot too badly and is a quality company. Long term hold.</div><div>NIKKO EFL was a silly investment for me after reading a Boogle book. Singapore continues to go sideways without innovative tech companies.</div><div>UOB/DBS/ICBC will be fine in the long term and pay good dividends.</div><div>Ascott has great locations and will be fine as the super rich need somewhere to stay in big cities.</div><div>Global Investments pays a good dividend and is steady enough. No debt as well. Hold long term.</div><div>Frazer Comm trust is solid, pays a good dividend and is backed by a strong sponsor.</div><div>Ascendas H Trust is fine in the long run.</div><div>ICBC is getting hammered at the moment, but will continue to grow as China does.</div><div>Centurian should cash in on the new government rules for Corona housing for workers and students. They are the main player and have a dam fine management team. Long term hold with a tasty dividend.</div><div><br /></div><div>Note: I am holding on to FIRST REIT as it's down too much to let go at this stage. The sponsor is a joke and I don't have high hopes, but let's call this a white knuckle hold. Perhaps they will prove everyone wrong.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>3. Stars</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Keppel DC</div><div><br /></div><div>What can I say...? Amazing</div><div><br /></div><div>Wilmar</div><div><br /></div><div>On fire and with investments in the company in place, this looks set to continue long into the future. They should raise the dividend in the future as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sheng Siong</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you Corona...Thank you so much. People gotta eat etc etc.</div><div><br /></div><div>Accodia Golf Trust</div><div><br /></div><div>With the big meeting on the 16th Sept and the new deal, it looks like the deal will go though. This will be a big payout for us investors. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>---</div><div><br /></div><div>OK, so that's about it. I could waffle on more but I won't. Let me know your thoughts below if you have an opinion.</div><div><br /></div><div>Have a great day ahead.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Singapore Dividend Collectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02984990866059977120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8022934919479726205.post-59613206227122971562020-07-09T19:38:00.003-07:002020-07-09T19:38:56.684-07:00Invest in Thai Farm land or Keep Things Simple with Olam/Wilmar?<br />
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My wife and I have been thinking about buying land in rural Thailand and growing palm as a cash crop. Thus, we made a few inquiries and make a trip to the depths of Phang Nga province in Southern Thailand to investigate.<br />
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For those of you unfamiliar with the Geography of Thailand, Phang Nga province is about a 90 minute drive from Phuket, nestled deep in lush hilly jungles of the south.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://content.phuket101.net/wp-content/uploads/20180504220930/sarasin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sarasin Bridge in Phuket" border="0" height="266" src="https://content.phuket101.net/wp-content/uploads/20180504220930/sarasin.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarasin Bridge</td></tr>
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Here's a map for your info. You can see Phuket at the extreme south of the map which links to Phang Nha via a bridge (see pic below)<br />
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<img alt="Phang Nga Province - Wikipedia" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/Amphoe_Phang_Nga.svg/280px-Amphoe_Phang_Nga.svg.png" width="224" /><br />
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By the way, as most foreigners making this trip are coming from Phuket, I'll let you into some local knowledge. While crossing Sarasin Bridge from the Phuket into Phang Nha, make a you turn as soon as you get off off the bridge and make your way to the water front. Here you'll stumble upon <a href="https://www.phuket101.net/rimpan-seafood-restaurant-phuket/">Rimpan Restaurant</a> which serves amazing, authentic southern Thai cuisine. I've been stopping here for years, and it never disappoints. I hope you like spicy food as this part of Thailand has the best spicy food in the world!<br />
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<img height="426" src="https://content.phuket101.net/wp-content/uploads/20171031234002/rimpan-seafood-1024x682.jpg" width="640" /><br />
<img height="426" src="https://content.phuket101.net/wp-content/uploads/20171031234007/rimpan-seafood-3-1024x682.jpg" width="640" /><br />
<img height="426" src="https://content.phuket101.net/wp-content/uploads/20171031233955/rimpan-seafood-restaurant-1024x682.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="The Sarasin Bridge" height="425" src="https://content.phuket101.net/wp-content/uploads/20171101010214/sarasin-bridge-phuket-1024x682.jpg" width="640" /><br />
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Anyway, don't get me sidetracked with gastronomy, especially of the Thai nature. This is an investing blog post remember?<br />
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After feeding and watering we drove north on the upgraded road. Years ago, this drive was for the intrepid adventurer with a near-death experience every few 100 meters, but now it's a smooth drive all the way to <a href="https://www.google.com/search?gs_ssp=eJzj4tTP1TcwKamMTzdg9OLIzkjMV8hJzAYAREAGdA&q=khao+lak&oq=khao&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j46j0l2j46l2j0.5100j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8">Khao Lak</a>.<br />
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We stayed for a night in Khao Lak. If you never been here before, it has an old-school charm when compared to Phuket and feels like you have just exited a time machine twenty five years ago. Yes, it's set up for tourists, but it's is still oozing with southern Thai charm.<br />
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The beaches are world class, and with international airports still closed at the time of writing, I had the place all to myself. I joke you not... My wife and I were the only people in our hotel and on the sand.<br />
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<img alt="Khao Lak Beaches - Discover Khao Lak and Phang Nga Province Beaches" height="360" src="https://static.asiawebdirect.com/m/phuket/portals/khaolak-hotels-com/homepage/attractions/khao-lak-beaches/pagePropertiesImage/khao-lak-beaches.jpg.jpg" width="640" /><br />
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After some phone calls we drove to the north east of Phang Nha provice to<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapong_District"> Kapong district</a> to view land. Our contact was a retired policeman who was more than happy to show us various plots of land and share some of the local gossip at the same time.<br />
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Kapong feels like the end of the earth with its verdant hills and scantly clad residents. A feeling of calm washed over me as we drove off-road down bumpy tracks surrounded by the music of the jungle. Families huddled close together inside metal huts to our left as we ventured deeper into the dense greenery. A young boy dressed in his boxers smiled the biggest, toothiest smile I have ever seen when he saw me through the window. This place is unseen Thailand, real Thailand, a place steeped in centuries old tradition and superstition.<br />
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My wife and my interest in all this lies in cultivating palm which, if done right can generate a tidy profit. We looked at three pots and it's still cheap here.<br />
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The first plot was 12 rai (about 5 acres) of flat, mature palm plantation with a family of workers already living on the land. It was priced at 2 million THB or about $89,000 Singaporean. After a few quick calculations, I worked our that you could make about 15,000THB per month ($700 Singaporean)<br />
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Here's a pic of plot 1:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvPqPERF4qEsqjAmkNIzVaGqrUodeUwWIWMAVEEhtQr4MT1GzGCeM-tyGlOR6NYLJWfDTLKDBhNN_4MaZecfQsyHBbjQu9CHLhksVQF9Z5RZIqltNQ55rb3SeLnizvmkyLQo3HsEJtx4/s1600/land+first.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvPqPERF4qEsqjAmkNIzVaGqrUodeUwWIWMAVEEhtQr4MT1GzGCeM-tyGlOR6NYLJWfDTLKDBhNN_4MaZecfQsyHBbjQu9CHLhksVQF9Z5RZIqltNQ55rb3SeLnizvmkyLQo3HsEJtx4/s320/land+first.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The second plot was was thick jungle and had a lovely view, but I passed on this one immediately because of the Sisyphean task of clearing and planting etc.<br />
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Here's a pic of the second plot:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFatGeUh0WI1-LSrjRSVNt9Vbo8HqWMYa_GsV_aK6OtGKqlDoa8_orPekaQ0m6ZvVoCn9On627dwqvnfygnJj8MwxcaF0GSjOIzW4CZap9q5VLRVOSeiBCuFlXmhddAeKp_PeP6HKdmT8/s1600/land+second.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFatGeUh0WI1-LSrjRSVNt9Vbo8HqWMYa_GsV_aK6OtGKqlDoa8_orPekaQ0m6ZvVoCn9On627dwqvnfygnJj8MwxcaF0GSjOIzW4CZap9q5VLRVOSeiBCuFlXmhddAeKp_PeP6HKdmT8/s320/land+second.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The third plot was sloped and commanded a wonderful view from the top of it 35 rai (about 14 acres)<br />
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Here's some pics of the third plot:<br />
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What beautiful countryside, don't you agree? </div>
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Imagine yourself spending a few days their a week breathing in the fresh air and listening to the sounds all around. Perfect eh?</div>
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This plot was price at about 4 million THB or $170,000 Singaporean. The land was cultivated the year before and contained about 500 new palm trees. The fruit from these will be ready to sell in another 12 months time and the land could potentially yield about 35,000THB or 40,000THB per month ($17000 Singaporean)<br />
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I'm sure you'll agree the returns look great on paper, don't they. But they don't come without considerable risk.<br />
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Risk 1: Fake documents<br />
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All the plots of land are in the middle of nowhere and if the land deeds are fake, then what are you going to do? After all, your agent is a retired local policemen, so whose door are you going to knock if the deal is a bluff? Good luck!<br />
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Risk 2: Bad workers<br />
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You will need a family of workers you can trust, and locals informed me that the going rate is 60/40 on profit in favor of the landowner. This is easy to consider in an idea world with squeaky clean mindsets, but you're not in Singapore now. Real poverty exists in every direction and many could try to take advantage of an absentee landlord before they disappear into the jungle. This is a tricky problem to solve and some mutually-beneficial relationship building is required .<br />
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Risk 3: The price of palm<br />
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Palm is not going to make you rich over night, but can provide a decent side income if done right.<br />
That said, the price does fluctuate - as the locals will tell you immediately. So, this is a real worry.<br />
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Risk 4: Theft<br />
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Remember your plot is in the middle of the jungle without mains electricity or water supply. It'll be dark at night and don't expect your workers to brandish arms and fight any intruders. The best you could expect is a phone call the following morning once you land has been stripped of palm. The risk of losing a few kgs is high, but losing to lot is low. It might be an idea to employ an armed guard for a fixed monthly rate, but tell him not to be to trigger happy to avoid a war with the locals.<br />
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So there you have it. These are the main risks I see after examining the land.<br />
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After surveying the three plots, we made our way make to Khao Lak and had some beers on the beach to mull the trip over.<br />
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When thinking about this investment the big question is the following? Is it worth the risk and effort when you could invest in a company that does something similar but on a larger scale such as Olam or Wilmar?<br />
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The more my wife and I though about this the more we start gravitating towards the latter.<br />
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<a href="https://www.olamgroup.com/">Olam </a>has a proven track record internationally, is Temasek backed and has a juicy yield of almost 6% at the time of writing. Its drawbacks are its burdened by a heavy debt.<br />
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Wilmar, we already own a healthy chunk of. It's a well run company with decent growth potential both for capital gains and dividend.<br />
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Final thoughts...<br />
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My wife and I drove back to Phuket convinced that we could make the land work, but unsure if we would be any better of in the long run when we could invest in stocks instead. Yes, of course, the land would diversify our portfolio further, but at what cost to our passive income? Also, the land is so deep in the jungle that it's unlike to go up in value anytime soon, and would be difficult to sell.<br />
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Thus, as we stood watching the sunset from Sarasin Bridge once again, we clinked or beers with our minds' made up.<br />
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The land can wait for another time. Wilmar or Olam it will be.<br />
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SDI<br />
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<br />Singapore Dividend Collectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02984990866059977120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8022934919479726205.post-61405700292395828882020-04-04T22:15:00.002-07:002020-04-04T22:15:17.819-07:00How are you reacting to the craziness?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dAOy97k31p4wz4Zn_b8nWu93ewQpxkC784QbWxZ5sXBZQi1mtBb7vbR9Jh9e-OtdwTN5gwdv-zR7UqAgpHYO_meNsDFaGZhoOxKhsm84r3zNIHwKA-4f4ZbZo9O7VbIXv-5shSxfbLI/s1600/red+sky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="512" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dAOy97k31p4wz4Zn_b8nWu93ewQpxkC784QbWxZ5sXBZQi1mtBb7vbR9Jh9e-OtdwTN5gwdv-zR7UqAgpHYO_meNsDFaGZhoOxKhsm84r3zNIHwKA-4f4ZbZo9O7VbIXv-5shSxfbLI/s320/red+sky.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lane Dean, Jr., felt sun on one arm as he pictured in his mind an image of himself on a train, waving mechanically to something that got smaller and smaller as the train pulled away. </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">This quote comes from David Foster Wallace's short story entitles 'Good People' which I've had the pleasure of discovering this week.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Let's come back to this wonderful quote in a bit as it made me think about the current Corona situation.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Stay with me.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2007/02/05/good-people">Good People by David Foster Wallace</a> is a re-working of Hemmingway's 1927 classic Hills Like White Elephants, a story in which two young adults discuss getting an abortion. Wallace's story shares many elements; namely a</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> young couple and lots of talk </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">about abortion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">What makes Good People different though is the majority of the story consists of internal dialogue in Lake Dean's head, whereas in Hemingway's story the drama unfolds via external dialogue only. Lake wrestles with his own conscience and perception of his girlfriend, Sheri, who is pregnant and confused. As they sit on a picnic bench contemplating aborting their unborn child, Sheri sighs. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">These are Lake's thoughts:</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1f1f1f;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The whole thing felt balanced on a knife or wire; if he moved to put his arm up or touch her the whole thing could tip over. </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1f1f1f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Sheri sits meditatively seemingly lost in the moment while Lake's head is torn apart with ambiguous thought running this way and that. He feels 'frozen' torn between what he perceives to be the right thing to do and what his racing mind is urging him to do, namely force Sheri to abort their child. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #1f1f1f;">He pretended it had no name. He pretended that not saying aloud what he knew to be right and true was...</span><span style="color: #1f1f1f;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1f1f1f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Lake's mind flitted from how life would be if they got married and have the kid, to how life would be if Sheri has the abortion.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1f1f1f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Selfishly, Lake feels that his life will be less impacted should Sheri go ahead and have the operation, letting him off the hook. Once again, he would be a free man, a player, able to party and experience more of life. He doesn't want to be a father at his age. Fatherhood's for old people, people who are ready, and he is most definitely</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1f1f1f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> not ready.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #1f1f1f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">This has to be one of most difficult decisions anyone has to make in their life, and especially if you are in your early twenties or late teens and not yet emotionally mature. One wrong move and you could spend the rest of your life thinking 'what if...?'</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1f1f1f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">This leads me back to our initial quote:</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lane Dean, Jr., felt sun on one arm as he pictured in his mind an image of himself on a train, waving mechanically to something that got smaller and smaller as the train pulled away. </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">The image Lake presents here is powerful: standing on the platform and waving goodbye to your biggest fear and glowing with excitement as it slowly disappears into the distance. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What a feeling that would be especially if you were an young man not yet mature enough to rationalize the impact of your decision on not only your own head but that of Sheri's. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">This image made me think of the current situation the world finds itself in. Life is now very different than two months ago. It's like everything we trusted and knew to be true has been turned upside down and shaken violently - like Lake's world. Old patterns of thought and movement, ones that we valued and cherished and held close for so long, have evaporated in front of our faces. One minute life was good, the next minute we're staring down the barrel of a existential crisis. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">How do you feel? Do you feel like Lake watching your career, your plans, your friends, your portfolio gradually get further and further from your reach? How much long can this go on until we lose sight of all the things that made our life what it once was?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Most people, presently, feel just like Lake, torn between confusing, paralysing and dejecting thoughts. Round and round they go like a machine in a laundromat, endlessly and tirelessly spinning, spinning, spinning. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">It's a tricky one, isn't it? A Depression era decade of poverty, uncertainty, unemployment, anxiety and despair lies just ahead for many people, and there's little most can do about it. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">That said, I think we all, like Lake, have options. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Lake could either persuade his girl to go through with the abortion, or he could take responsibility and raise his child. Likewise, we can either sit at home and allow of head to fry in our skull or we can balance ourselves and think.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">If we do think, what are our options? </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">What I'm doing is trying to take back some head space through meditation and not watching the news. This I have been doing now for the past two weeks, and it words for me. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I refuse to watch images of bodies being loaded into cold storage units and armed security personal lining the streets. These are images I can do without and add no value to my life, and in fact increase my fear and anxiety. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">So, while trying to breathe, be calm and upbeat I'm trying to come up with new online revenue steams. There's money to be made online if you have the right ideas and execute properly. Of course, it's not going to be easy with millions of people trying the same gig, but who knows? Getting creative and giving your all is better than sitting watching Netflix all day don't know think? This a shit time for all, but why not use it to explore new avenues and try to get income from another source? We all have a skill so why mot try and monetize it when we need it most.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">So, I refuse to let my head pickle like Lake in the story. I refuse to procrastinate and try and block out the obvious mess glaring up at me. This is not a time to fester in self-pity reminiscing about the good times. Shit happens and the times have changed. It's time to stay focused, calm and see where creativity and hard work can take you.</span></span><br />
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Singapore Dividend Collectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02984990866059977120noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8022934919479726205.post-25753661342723151482020-03-21T19:20:00.001-07:002020-03-21T20:05:58.313-07:00Navigating the Pandemic Craziness - What to do?<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well well...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Can you feel the tension? Can you feel the fear? Jesus... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How can we sum this all up, eh? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm a massive fan of Hunter S Thompson, and he used the phrase 'atavistic freak-out' in his writings to refer to the frantic, anxious, perplexing, uncivilized and boozed up culture of The 1970 Kentucky Derby. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">'Atavistic' means "<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">relating to or characterized by reversion to something ancient or ancestral' (Google Dictionary) </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I think the term might be applicable in this fucked up times we find ourselves in. It's like some elemental force is forcing people to catastrophize and lose the power of rational thought. People are swarming together with their tribe, battening down the hatches and peeping out through a crack in the door at the world outside. Everyone outside their tribe is a suspect; everyone outside their tribe is a threat. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And you know what? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I don't blame anyone. Based on the situation and the fear ratcheted up my the media, how can people think differently. If all your neighbours are panic buying rice, then what you going to do? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">24 hours news channels show nothing else than bodies on stretchers being tended to my doctors in Fukushima suits; Social media is saturated with news of the stock market plunge and imminent financial meltdown. So what else can people react when this is pumped into their brain from dusk till dawn? I don't know about you, but I'm rationing my news intake to once a day now. As it's enough to send a man over the edge. Where does it all end?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last night in the super market, queues snaked back from the cash registers with masked people looking twitchy. Families huddled together in silence with multiple shopping carts beside them. Mini-skyscrapers of food - eggs, rice, breakfast cereal etc. towered upward. One man stood with his back to his cart and swayed defensively from one foot to the other, his arms folded and head pivoting rapidly from right to left. It was as if he was on guard, alert and ready to punch anyone who got too close. I looked around the packed meat section and saw at least 100 people skittering around avoiding each other. It was like the scene from a movie in which some sick weirdo released a leper into a supermarket and announced it over the intercom. Frenetic movement; no eye contact; go, go go! Let's stock up and fuck off! Surgical masks everywhere. When people wear a surgical mask, you try to suss them out by their eyes, poker-style. The eyes I saw yesterday looked different. For those who dared look up from their device (an all too rare event these days) their eyes told me a story. I saw cold, dilated pupils and either frenetic eye movement or long stares into the distance. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So what is this story? Why are people so afraid? Should they be? Is this pandemic really an existential crisis? Is this global tsunami of anxiety warranted or have people lost their marbles? Is what is going on worth destroying the global economy?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Undoubtedly, it's a shit situation. Countries around the world have had, and continue to have deaths caused by the virus, with China and Italy leading the pack. But, the question is - where will be next? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lock-downs, self-isolation, social distancing are the now the norm in many places around the world. Citizens are staying indoors and scratching their heads. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What has just happened? Where the fuck did this come from? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here we were a month ago patting ourselves on the back with 10 plus years of a bull market under our belts and then... WHAM! SMACK! BOOM! Before anyone had the chance to look up the Earth shook beneath us and a black, toxic mist enveloped the globe. This mist has descended and now covers communities like a suffocating, wet blanket. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One minute there wasn't a bargain to be had in the stock market and now there are so many it's overwhelming. What's a man to do? One the one hand, this could be the buying opportunity of a lifetime, but I worry more about the future, economic ramifications all this will cause. Seismic shock waves are being sent out throughout our interconnected world, and the extent of the destruction they will cause in the near to medium term is too frighting to behold. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Could we be on track for a 1930s style depression with families in rags wandering the roads looking for work? Who knows? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some nations are in a better position to deal with the economic fallout than others that's for sure. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Look at other countries in SE Asia, Thailand for instance. A large percentage of its population operates within the middle income trap doing basic office/factory/restaurant/bar/massage work that pays (under normal circumstances) a wage barely above subsistence. With most of Thailand now shut down, or in the process of doing so, millions of people find themselves out of work with few saving and high levels of household debt. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What are these folk going to do? Get help from the government? Forget about it. They will have to fend for themselves. What they will do is anyone's guess, but as each lockdown days passes, peoples' options get narrower and narrower.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This pandemic needs to be taken seriously, but it's important not to get too caught up in the craziness. We all need to maintain composure and the power of rational thought. Meditation is an invaluable tool at this time, for it gives us the opportunity to breathe, gather our thoughts and come back to the centre. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My thought are fizzing about in a million directions at the best of times, and the current situation had multiplied this 100 fold. Thus, we all need to take deep breaths and calm the fuck down. If we don't we run the risk of destroying the our mental health and that of those around us. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, during these challenging times please try to do the following:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. Limit your time on news websites and social media</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. Practice mindful breathing throughout the day</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. Get your fear and anxiety to yourself</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4. Remember that this isn't forever (although it may seem that way)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5. Be positive </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">6. Use humor</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anyway, who am I to give advise? I'm just a blogger jacked up on caffeine and in need of an outlet for my own anxiety before I have my own 'atavistic freak out'.</span><br />
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Singapore Dividend Collectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02984990866059977120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8022934919479726205.post-4614772733367371612020-03-13T22:03:00.002-07:002020-03-13T22:03:54.776-07:00Corona MusingsWell, well, well...<br />
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I always get up early on Saturday to work a half day and then go run in the mountains. And today is no different. What can be better than sitting in a quiet kitchen sipping hot coffee and catching up on current affairs? Well usually this is the case, but after reading a few articles on the BBC site and scrolling through Facebook, I don't feel so well.<br />
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<b><i>Fear, Corona, crash, recession, depression, sell off, panic, shut down, 1929, pandemic, lies, lock down, decimated. </i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
These are just a few of the words jumping out at me as the birds are tweeting outside my window oblivious to how weird the world has got over the past few weeks.<br />
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Not long ago people marched the streets, chests puffed out, dreaming about what they would do in their retirement. Minds drifted away to a velvety, warm place, a cruise ship perhaps; an all inclusive package. Yes, a lovely 33 night cruise from Singapore to Europe, stopping off in Phuket, Yangon, Mumbai and then on to Athens, sipping a Pina Colada on the upper desk. How does this little fantasy feel on the 14th of March 2020? Are you still getting those tingles of excitement down your spine?<br />
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I think not.<br />
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So, anyway, here we are. The Singapore market has bombed and many have either sold the lot or are sitting nervously in the dark wondering what happen to their paper gains. What both these groups have in common is they haven't got a clue what to do next. The options are as follows as I see it and I will divide them into two groups:<br />
<br />
<b>Group 1: Government will get Corona under control and then the global economy will start to recover.</b><br />
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1. If you sold out, try to buy in on a V shaped recovery once governments get Corona under control.<br />
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2. If you didn't sell out, wait for the V shaped recovery once once governments get Corona under control.<br />
<br />
3. If you have cash and you didn't sell out, pump it in once once governments get Corona under control.<br />
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4. If you have cash because you sold out, pump it in once once governments get Corona under control.<br />
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<b>Group 2: Governments eventually get Corona under control (albeit much later than previously thought) and their is a massive global recession.</b><br />
<br />
1. If you sold out, you'll want to wait and see what the global recession looks like before you buy. Things should go even lower.<br />
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2. If you didn't sell out, you better get yourself strapped in for a bumpy ride, or even better, lose the password to your investment account and stop reading the news for 5 years.<br />
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3. If you have cash and didn't sell out, things could be worse. There'll be bargains to be had.<br />
<br />
<br />
Which group do you belong to? I'm in group 2 no.3. I have cash to play with and I sold nothing in the sell off. I plan to stay invested for at least another 20 years, so I selling and paying tons of fees doesn't appeal to me right now. <br />
<br />
What about you?Singapore Dividend Collectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02984990866059977120noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8022934919479726205.post-76774601327847596912019-11-02T23:38:00.000-07:002019-11-02T23:38:12.495-07:00FIRE and my Discontents (part 1)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZE_2JKQrgyH6TjByMqYa36M_Xq15hJL-2X5lQMC_t9XokNu06pxIgEsB9bG77syWRQ3at1tT2YGoVOVeQpNnzqnkgWKf6wB8qkr4JyAweErvbqneqOIhdNQD0wUXc5PEKSHfrIv6jrc/s1600/fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZE_2JKQrgyH6TjByMqYa36M_Xq15hJL-2X5lQMC_t9XokNu06pxIgEsB9bG77syWRQ3at1tT2YGoVOVeQpNnzqnkgWKf6wB8qkr4JyAweErvbqneqOIhdNQD0wUXc5PEKSHfrIv6jrc/s320/fire.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Growing up in the 1980s and 1990s, I was told the way life should be lived by my parents: go to school, get a good education; find a job and then get a job and work your way up. For the vast majority of folk this makes sense. That said, over the past decade bloggers (mostly from the US) have been mapping out alternative ways to live life, ones in which good old Victorian ideas of thrift combined with savvy investing, have culminated in people retiring in their 30s and 40s. This post looks at some of the ideas and if they are all they're cracked up to be.<br />
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Something I notice when reading random FIRE blogs is how easy it appears to be to achieve financial independence. All you have to do is save, tighten your belt and dump your money into index funds. Done. Life for me hasn't been so clear cut. How many of you reading this have had times when your bank balance took and unexpected battering: there could have been a health emergency, a family issue that required a lot of travel, redundancy, a car accident, bad investments etc. etc. The list goes on. As I rapidly approach forty years of age, I know never to underestimate the unpredictability of life. Shit happens when you least expect it - as a wise man once said - and these are words to live by.<br />
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Many FIRE bloggers that I've read seem to be content with getting by on a thousand dollars or so a month of passive income, but life is a slippery fish to hold on to and I wouldn't be so confident that this cash is enough (4% Rule or not) You never know what's round the corner. I suppose it's fine when you are in your twenties, glowing with confidence and health, but as the decades roll past, fate may have an expensive surprise lying in wait. And, when it rears it ugly head, you better be ready to delve deep into your savings.<br />
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Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that FIRE fails to prepare for future emergencies, but I do think as the sands of time continue to fall, a person's idea of what constitutes the good life changes too.<br />
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In your twenties and thirties, investing in bog standard healthcare probably seems like a good idea. You know, you eat well, you exercise, you feel great, so why shell out a fortune on fully comp insurance. All this extra money saved should be invested in your value dividend portfolio after all. But as a person begins to approach forty years of age, life no longer feels like a endless game.<br />
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How quickly does a decade slip past with with barely a care? Fast eh? For sure, and a man approaching this age begins to look towards the horizon and think 'In another decade I'll be fifty, and then again 60 and...then what.'<br />
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When I was a kid, my family used to drive to my cousins' house in a town an hour and a half from our hometown. About halfway through the journey we passed a large clock tower which has an inscription in large black letters just below the clock. It said 'Time is Short'. I'll never forgot that tower and the impact those words had on me. Time is indeed short and for the unlucky among us shorter still. Thus, faced with life's uncertainties is it a good idea to live so close to the poverty line as some of FIRE exponents appear to do? Of course, the counter argument to this point is why take life so seriously when it is so short? If we're here one minute and gone the next, surely we should leave the job we dislike and live a little.<br />
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I understand this point 100% but how many FIRE proponents live the dream lifestyle they like to display on Instagram? I'm sure there are quite a number of them who live on the breadline with drastically reduced options as a result of their tightly pulled purse strings. Again, I'm not saying all members of the FIRE community as this way, but when so much idealism and optimism froths up around an idea, I start to get cynical. It's one thing painting a beautiful picture of life on social media, with pool side snapshots and vlogs on the way to the gym, and then coping with the financial reality of a terminal illness or tragic accident. Life isn't all sweetness and light, but after reading various bloggers work you might be left wondering why all the good stuff is happening to them and not you.<br />
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Comparing yourself with other people and their idealised lives on social media is a wider problem, and we have seen depression rates among teens (especially girls) sky rocket over the past decade as they compare their body with app enhanced photos of their friends. I feel the same way about some bloggers within the FIRE movement as they propagate online the version of themselves most gratifying to their fevered egos.<br />
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I'm sure you'll agree this type of shameless ego massaging is not only undignified but also corrosive to the mental well being of all involved. Having enough passive income to live on is one thing, but gratuitous displays of what other people don't have (time, happiness etc) are bilious to say the least.<br />
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If your a FIRE blogger and you've achieved your goal of financial independence (which is about as nebulous a phrase as you can get) then fair play to you. Well done. But I'd leave matters there and get on with life rather than writing about it and making others feel inadequate with plastic smiles and self-congratulatory posts about the good life.<br />
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I want to add a caveat at this point in case some people feel I'm anti-FIRE, I'm not. If a person can earn enough money passively and live well, that's amazing. Some even use their new found free time to do more charitable work etc. and this I admire. But what's shitty is when this is broadcast to the world as if the heavens have opened and divine gifts have fallen into their lap. This in turn causes many people to feel even worse in their jobs and lives that inevitably last the same spark. <br />
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FIRE is amazing for many, for sure, but how many of its proponents are bluffing themselves about its infallibility?<br />
<br />Singapore Dividend Collectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02984990866059977120noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8022934919479726205.post-65707910580453873652019-09-28T22:17:00.000-07:002019-09-30T17:49:13.902-07:00Singapore Dividends for Financial Freedom - Portfolio Over $1,000,000 with the help of Trusts and REITS<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbmKF6RxMBgb2fB0emscfrnnUATrTt7Mbdp2LLmetOGze4bPW5JmxwrPYqMuxdIN1xNgix5BN1K7s8Jo2Qa7J4VRjwZTQ-GSLO8GvP6Zs29uxC51FCK9TEUHHk3Tmx_Wxo_O6c5s_tiQ/s1600/money.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="700" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbmKF6RxMBgb2fB0emscfrnnUATrTt7Mbdp2LLmetOGze4bPW5JmxwrPYqMuxdIN1xNgix5BN1K7s8Jo2Qa7J4VRjwZTQ-GSLO8GvP6Zs29uxC51FCK9TEUHHk3Tmx_Wxo_O6c5s_tiQ/s320/money.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Yahoo Finance</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The market has been kind to the Trusts and REITs in my portfolio this year with all of them doing nicely. Here's a breakdown:<br />
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AIMS APAC = up 8%<br />
Ascendas = up 24%<br />
Ascendas H Trust = up 27%<br />
Ascott = up 20%<br />
Cap Com = up 26%<br />
Cap Mall = up 33%<br />
Fraser Com = up 16%<br />
Keppel DC = up 98%<br />
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Here are the Trusts and REITs in my portfolio not doing do well...<br />
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Accordia Golf Trust = down 18%<br />
First REIT = down 6%<br />
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<b>Overall, the portfolio now stands at $1.084.121.15 </b>with the help of the above counters.<br />
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Other counters are doing OK too. Here are some notable mentions:<br />
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SATS = up 43%<br />
SGX = up 26%<br />
Sheng Shong = up 24%<br />
Thaibev = up 10%<br />
Wilmar = up 15%<br />
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And here are the counters not doing so well...<br />
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Keppel - down 30%<br />
Global Investments = down 6%<br />
Kingsman = down 20%<br />
Singpost = down 34%<br />
Singtel = down 20%<br />
Starhub = down 63%!!!!<br />
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So as you can see, the portfolio is a mixed bad really. Overall, though as an income investor I'm happy enough. Should be generating close to $40,000 in dividends in 2019.<br />
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With the long awaiting crash not a million miles away, I'm going to sit tight and keep reinventing my dividends and let compounding do its thing.<br />
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All for now. Have a good day.<br />
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<br />Singapore Dividend Collectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02984990866059977120noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8022934919479726205.post-44930317681311033932019-09-21T21:51:00.004-07:002019-09-30T17:48:36.305-07:00Singapore Dividends for Financial Freedom - Can Meditation Make us Better Investors?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVr9ixJaZT0Pfn5y9XkavDBQmGeOw1km1LjXp0uf4a6Hk1AUpNhM-9QPJfDcQfEPuucppKy4i1qQxDgZfxh2mE35PFikiz9Jwy6SM1HzqDE-qHQf4RFiEbzdi2JoR2ZenZmWh4BQ4KHLY/s1600/mindful.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVr9ixJaZT0Pfn5y9XkavDBQmGeOw1km1LjXp0uf4a6Hk1AUpNhM-9QPJfDcQfEPuucppKy4i1qQxDgZfxh2mE35PFikiz9Jwy6SM1HzqDE-qHQf4RFiEbzdi2JoR2ZenZmWh4BQ4KHLY/s400/mindful.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from mindful.org</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Can meditation help us invest better? </span><a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/16/bridgewater-associates-ray-dalio-meditation-is-key-to-my-success.html" style="font-family: inherit;">Many including titans like Ray Dalio say it can.</a><br />
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So what are we all to do, just drop the financial pages and adopt the full lotus position? How many of you have thought the following words?:<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"Look, I simply don't have the time to sit and do nothing"</b></span></i><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"I feel guilty when I try - I could be doing something else!"</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"I know many people say it's good for the head, but I could be exercising instead."</span></i></b><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Have you ever uttered any of the above when asked about meditation? It's weird isn't it? Most of us have time for some form of exercise, but when it comes to mental health care, we drown ourselves in excuses. Why is this I wonder? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Buddha said, <i><b>"We become our thoughts; we become what we think."</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Swami Vivekananda said, <i><b>"We are what our thoughts have made us: so take care about what you think."</b></i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">These are wise words. So why do we neglect our minds in favor of work, social media, chit chat and the millions of other deflection techniques that prevent us looking inwardly? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a question that has been on my mind of late; in fact, it's been one that has been bothering me sporadically since I was in my early 20s. Let's jump into a time machine for a minute and travel back to the heady days of the early 2000s.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I look back at myself, I barely recognize what I see. My behavior was reactive and wild. I lived to read, drink and dance to strange grooves. Travel and mind altering substances excited me as did pushing the boundaries of what was socially acceptable. I had no time for tradition, rules or custom and convention (I still don't actually) I saw myself as a rebel, an outlier, someone who had something to say both politically and socially, and after a few beers I would tell you my theories (and my goodness they were nonsense) I would sit with friends discussing political theory and philosophy until the blue light of a new day pierced the tightly drawn curtains of the living room. Nothing was of bounds: Marxism vs Capitalism, Anarcho-syndicalism, Temporary-</span>Autonomous Zones, the Stoics, the pre-Socratics, Schopenhauer, Hegal, Wichenstein and this list went on and on... My God, flashbacks of 4am conversations flash thorough in my mind, conversations so full of inconsistency and plastic intellectualism it makes me glow with embarrassment now.<br />
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But, hey, isn't this what life is all about? Don't we all look back on our behaviors in the decades past with an uncomfortable smile? Sure we all do, for there are few of us who have found our true voice by the time we're in our 20s. Life is about discovery, uncovering new aspects of ourselves that are shaped as the sands of time run their course.<br />
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How many of us would say we are the same person as we were a decade ago? Think about when you get an email from an old school friend saying he'll be in town in a few weeks and would love to meet for chat. Of course, initially, waves of positive emotions flood your system:<br />
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<i><b>"This is going to be amazing! I haven't seen this guy in 15 years.'</b></i><br />
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Then, when the day comes, you're on the way to meet him and ripples of anxiety start lapping against the core of your being.<br />
<br />
<i><b>"Should I bother? What if we have nothing in common, for it was a long time ago. I wonder if if people still call him 'Haze' or if he calls himself Richard now... or Rick or Rich...I wouldn't like to piss him off! Maybe this is a bad idea after all; I might just text him and tell him I'm Ill."</b></i><br />
<br />
This indeterminable chatter, this continuous, monotonous interior dialogue - and how to counter it - is the true purpose of this post. We all suffer from it, and, it makes us behave frantically, irrationally, reactionary, and, above all, it makes us miserable. The weird thing is that most don't ever realize this internal mumbling shapes how we live our lives. These conditioned ways of thinking, picked up largely in childhood, added to in our teenage years and compounded in adulthood, form the basis of how we identify with ourselves.<br />
<br />
<i><b>"Sorry, for shouting. I've a bad temper. It's what I do when I'm stressed.'</b></i><br />
<b><i><br /></i>
<i>"I always get anxious at this time of year."</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i>
<i>"I'm conservative at heart; I don't like to take risks."</i></b><br />
<i><br /></i>
We all fall into the trap of identifying who we are with the thought we have, don't we? Well, what makes meditation so dam interesting, and important for that matter, is that quickly you begin to notice that that thoughts are transitory, they come and go like the smell of coffee as you walk past a coffee shop. One moment they are here and the next...gone. Nothing persists except the noise in our heads. Nothing is permanent including happiness, wealth, relationships, fitness etc etc no matter how much we fret and struggle to make them so.<br />
<br />
As an investor, it's easy to get caught up in the madness. The advent of the internet has given us endless amounts of information about the companies in our portfolios (and those on our watch-list) Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms spit out a continuous flow of investor data from rumors to updates from conferences to financial report analysis to whatever. The list goes on and on, a never ending deluge of data, some useful some not. As humans we crave this data and try to make sense of it into an digestible narrative. It's these narratives that inform our investment decisions. This constant flow of information is simultaneously liberating and imprisoning.<br />
<br />
You don't believe me? Look a Twitter for example. Let's say you follow all the companies in your portfolio as well as some of their CEOs etc., this amounts to tsunami of data popping up in your account everyday. Now, of course, you don't have to read every article and watch every video recommended to you via the feed, but it's difficult not to. What if you miss something important? What if not reading the latest projection or bit of gossip could result in your financial downfall? The temptation is always there, isn't it?<br />
<br />
Never before have humans been so addicted to the intravenous drip drip drip of dopamine, the naturally occurring brain chemical so manipulated online these days. We know the second we sit down on the train or stand in a queue, there'll be information of interest just a click away. Thus, our brains are flooded with dopamine and we click and let the good times roll. The question is, as investors, how does all this flicking and scanning do to our heads? It is helping us become better investors or is it blurring the line between knowledge acquisition and procrastination? From what I witness daily I would lean more towards the latter. Yes, people have more access to more quality information than any point in our species history, but is it more than we can handle? Also, are we processing this information in a deep and meaningful way, leading to enhanced analysis and evaluation, or does this frenetic need to scan (as opposed to read) as many articles per day muddy our overworked minds? Again, I gravitate towards the latter, and this is what got me thinking recently about meditation and investing.<br />
<br />
In order to pull the investment trigger (as the Yanks say) we need to be thinking rationally. The more we are driven by fear or excitement, the greater danger there is of making a decision we'll regret later. This, of course, doesn't mean we have to be cold as steel, emotionless investing robots, void of spontaneity and humor. Far from it. But we do need to be able to pause before we invest and re-consider if we are indeed doing the right thing. This, in my opinion, is were mediation plays a role for the investor.<br />
<br />
The problem with social media news feeds for the investor is that is clutters our mind and means we never get a break from investing news. Of course, it's important to read about the companies we are invested in, but many people become obsessive. I'm sure you all know people like this, or perhaps you are one of them yourself. Can you go without reading financial news for one train journey? Do you read financial news on the toilet? What I'm saying is that we need to take a step back and reassess our relationships with our devices - especially us investors. What's the worst that could happen if we didn't read the news while eating dinner with our friends? I believe it's high time for us all to ask these questions and take back control of out time and the information we digest.<br />
<br />
I'm a big fan of the <a href="https://www.tenpercent.com/podcast">10% Happier Podcast</a> presented my Dan Harris. For those of you unacquainted with the show it's about meditation, self-help and generally becoming a better person. Dan Harris is an NBC news anchor in the US and comes from a background a far cry from the usual soft voiced, bead-wearing mediator. For me, this is one of the show's big appeals. As a listener, you get candid advice from a man who has - on the surface - no business in the hippy-dippy world of meditation. Anyway, Dan Harris states that "if we all do a few minutes of meditation almost every day" the world would become a better place. This may to some sound ludicrous, but those within this camp are usually people with little to no meditation experience.<br />
<br />
I've been practicing a few minutes almost every day now for quite some time, and I feel the benefits: I'm less likely to fly off the handle at people; I think more before I act; I breathe more deliberately and try to stay in the moment more; I sleep better... and the list goes on. And I feel these positives help me as an investor, too. What investor wants to fly off the handle with clients? What investor wants to think less before they act? What investor wants to breathe without thinking and be riddled with anxiety? What investor wants to sleep less? None is the answer to all the above.<br />
<br />
Thus, to wrap up this post before it morphs into a mini-novel what I'm trying to say is that mediation's benefits can help us all as investors. It only takes a couple of minutes per day, time that we probably spend scrolling down out Facebook feed and clicking thumbs up for reasons we can't explain. So why not give it a go folks and see what it can do for you?<br />
<br />
By the way, I recommend a free app called <a href="https://insighttimer.com/">Insight Timer </a> to get started.<br />
<br />
If you have any comments of questions, please leave them in the comment box below, and I'll be happy to further the conversation.<br />
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Singapore Dividend Collectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02984990866059977120noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8022934919479726205.post-42445328476633102632019-07-18T22:09:00.001-07:002019-09-30T17:49:29.013-07:00Singapore Dividends for Financial Freedom - Keppel DC REIT - To Sell or Not to Sell?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRuXvPzF4gmpgTa0uLX7cABgtaSbZ0LXeYtnEGvP-5BIf5dVWO-FlE5ExejqDJxkUJW2kgZ5BLoa0yD4V7Qjalpu1xVlC__vyAgHpZK1WEVi6qL9J_ZEmKo76PBef5j9N-d4UBpinQfM/s1600/bigger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="247" data-original-width="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRuXvPzF4gmpgTa0uLX7cABgtaSbZ0LXeYtnEGvP-5BIf5dVWO-FlE5ExejqDJxkUJW2kgZ5BLoa0yD4V7Qjalpu1xVlC__vyAgHpZK1WEVi6qL9J_ZEmKo76PBef5j9N-d4UBpinQfM/s1600/bigger.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I've been invested in Keppel DC for some time now.<br />
<br />
It's IPO is December 2014 was a first for data center REITs in Asia, and from the off I liked it. Since 2015, I've picked up shares in bundles and at the moment I hold around 52,000 of them.<br />
<br />
To date this counter has been good to me. Currently, it's up about 80% and for the first time I'm feeling that perhaps the time is right to take the cash. As I've blogged about before, I try not to let emotions influence my investment decisions, but in this case I am wavering...<br />
<br />
I should be! It's 80% up in the port. and this is a ton of cash that could be thrown somewhere else for a hell of a lot more yield that DC is currently offering (3.1%) That said, everything does seem to be stored on cloud these days, and I can't see this changing soon.<br />
<br />
So what's a man to do when there's a recession on the horizon?<br />
<br />
In cases like this I like to follow what I will call for the sake of chit chat and sounding smart: 'The Emotive/Rational Approach'.<br />
<br />
What the living bejesus is this I hear you ask?<br />
<br />
Well, as investors, unless we have the mind of Buffet. Lynch or any of the other investing greats we're pretty much doomed to let emotions rear their ugly heads and reek havoc sporadically in our portfolios.<br />
<br />
This has happened to me a couple of times.<br />
<br />
For example, late in 2018 I was reading tons of stuff about block chain technology etc. and got a bit freaked out. I had lots of DBS shares, and, of course (in my freaked head), they would be doomed once this new technology took over. I've still no idea why I acted as I did but I sold 90% of my DBS shares in a whirlwind of speculation and brow knitting.<br />
<br />
<i>'The big banks are fucked, I tell you' my mind screamed this at me, urging me to take action there and then.</i><br />
<br />
And that's what I did. I sold almost all of my DBS, and you know what... I got lucky. This was in Oct 2018 when it was trading at $106. Thus, I exited with a large paper gain, but screwed up my long term plans to use DBS as a key blue-chip dividend player over 20 years.<br />
<br />
So there you go... Probably the most stupid thing I have have done investment wise, but thanks to positive market sentiment I got away with it.<br />
<br />
So anyway back to 'The Emotive/Rational Approach'. As you can seen from my horror story, acting on emotion is ridiculous and dangerous in investing. I learned an important lesson from this blunder and will not ever again allow myself to act like a man who take investing advise from a 14 year old.<br />
<br />
<i>'So son... This is the deal. Listen a minute. Blockchain is going to take over soon and banks will be made irrelevant in our current economic system, what do you think?'</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>'What...? Eh...? What's... Yeah, dad whatever, sell them and relax. All will be sweet.'</i><br />
<br />
What I find works better is allowing emotion to guide me towards certain sector/area. For when there's hype and emotional charge around something, it acts as an impetus for me to be bothered reading about it.<br />
<br />
As I've blogged about numerous times, I don't find investing particularly interesting, especially reading annual reports and other heavy waffle. My interests lie more in literature, meditation, music, art and the history of ideas... Forgive me if investing isn't my first love; it's merely a means to an end - a comfortable retirement.<br />
<br />
That said, once emotion guides us towards something (as it has with me and gold recently) it's important to take a step back and think clearly and rationally. This involves reading loads of boring stuff, watching suits on Youtube throw their hat into the investing ring and, of course, breathing in the goodness of <a href="http://www.sginvestbloggers.com/">http://www.sginvestbloggers.com/</a> which is, if I'm honest, the best place to spend your time in blogsphere. Big up to the sginvestbloggers!<br />
<br />
Reading and digesting various opinions about a stock allows the emotional fizz to dissipate. Then and only then are you in a position to think about buying - or selling - a stock.<br />
<br />
This bring me back to the big question... Should I sell DC REIT when it's up 80%<br />
<br />
Emotion whispers into one ear, <i>'Yeah, why not.' </i><br />
<br />
Rationality whispers into the other, <i>'What! Sell! Are you crazy? Think about the future of cloud over the next 5-10 years; think of the tailwinds my friend.'</i><br />
<br />
Anyway, what will be will be...<br />
<br />
What do you all think? To sell or not to sell?Singapore Dividend Collectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02984990866059977120noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8022934919479726205.post-4860746333083840802019-07-17T17:10:00.001-07:002019-07-17T17:10:46.039-07:00Singapore Dividends for Financial Freedom - Dividends for June 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5jsiMvJOaQG4qQxIR3PGEmWqrW2pppzGS6SYEQlJ_fzsUQcEY9x7xhHjA_0Xh9Kmi-kNxYAgIUwxyuZzfT6zXCZsTMDY19sX4nCNb0cpqzV5d7pIaGzDfsf_OKv2BPkmxvaI_t721Jg/s1600/harvest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5jsiMvJOaQG4qQxIR3PGEmWqrW2pppzGS6SYEQlJ_fzsUQcEY9x7xhHjA_0Xh9Kmi-kNxYAgIUwxyuZzfT6zXCZsTMDY19sX4nCNb0cpqzV5d7pIaGzDfsf_OKv2BPkmxvaI_t721Jg/s1600/harvest.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
June was a bumper month for dividends that's for sure. Being a blog that circumnavigates the area of all things dividend, I though I'd share a few details with you:<br />
<br />
Total dividends collected in June = <b>$12,226 </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
My biggest contributing counters were as follows:<br />
<br />
-Ascendas<br />
-Ascendas H Trust<br />
-Accordia Golf Trust<br />
-Capital Mall<br />
-First REIT<br />
-Kingsman<br />
-Starhub<br />
-Thaibev<br />
<br />
I'm confident in all these counters moving forward bar one - Starhub. I really don't think it can sustain their dividend at the current rate, but as things stand, I'm in too deep to let go of the counter. Thus, I'm just going to ride the waves and see if the CEO can wave his magic wand and make wonders happen. I'm well aware this is not sound investment chat; however, Starhub is the only share I have which I speak about in this way, so forgive me.<br />
<br />
Overall, I'm happy with June's harvest and <b>it goes along way to pushing me towards beating 2018 dividend total of almost $40,000.</b> Read about it <a href="https://singaporedividendcollector.blogspot.com/2018/12/singapore-dividends-for-financial_28.html">here</a> and <a href="https://singaporedividendcollector.blogspot.com/2018/12/singapore-dividends-for-financial_29.html">here</a> if you have a moment.<br />
<br />
A<b>fter the first 2 quarters of 2019 my dividend grand total stands at $22, 522 </b>meaning that I'm on track to beat last years total as things stand. By how much requires a mathematical calculation that is beyond me at this un-Godly hour of the morning. In this spirit, let's sit back and let time do its thing. Let's wait and see if this compounding gig, aided by mother time, will caress my nest egg in the the right spots. I sure hope she does.<br />
<br />
Until then, have a delicious day folks.<br />
<br />
<b>PS: Would anyone else in this community of folks be interested in starting a monthly podcast of all things investment etc.? I've been looking for podcasting opportunities for some time now. If any of you would like to give it a crack, please leave a comment below and perhaps we can get the ball rolling.</b>Singapore Dividend Collectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02984990866059977120noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8022934919479726205.post-900235411729132182019-07-13T17:03:00.002-07:002019-07-13T17:03:31.535-07:00Happy 1st Birthday to the Singapore Dividend Collector!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Aha! It's 05:50 in the morning here in 'X' and I'm typing like a man possessed. I don't now what it is about early mornings, maybe it's a combination of a clear head and the cool air, but whatever it is my finger don't half go tippity tap.<br />
<br />
I just noticed it has been a year now since I first started this blog as an experiment. So happy birthday to me!<br />
<br />
What kind of experiment is this blog and why did I start it?<br />
<br />
This is a good question. The reason is I need something to force me to read about finance.<br />
<br />
You see, not only am I a lazy man at heart, my natural reading inclinations, if left to their own devices, drift towards fiction. Fiction, in fact, is my first love, and if I'm honest, reading about stocks etc. comes way down the list. Thus, I thought it would be a good idea to write a blog from the prospective of an investor who doesn't enjoy investing. From the perspective of a person who needs coaxing to pick up the finance section of the newspaper. In the past, the finance section was what I used to clean the windows and to wrap fragile objects. The thought of reading it sent numbing chills through my entire being.<br />
<br />
This is my position.<br />
<br />
This may shock some of you out there who are new to my blog, but for those of you who read it every week, this will come as no surprise.<br />
<br />
I force myself every Sunday to blast out a post whether I've got sometime to say or not as I find writing to be a meditative exercise, one which after a few minutes of grappling my thoughts, I usually follow through on.<br />
<br />
Getting into the flow like this feels good and calms me down. Now, this is not to say that the words themselves are worth reading - far from it. I once heard the late, great Christopher Hitchens talking about his latest book at the time 'God is not Great'. In the interview the journalist said 'Everyone has a book inside them, don't they?' Hitchens, in his own smooth and wry way replied, 'Yes, perhaps they do. But for most this is where it should stay.' This is true of this blog for sure, but fuck it. Blogging is a self-indulgent practice, so if you think it's crap, that's okay by me. If, on the other hand, it makes you giggle or - God forbid - you get something from it - then that's okay, too.<br />
<br />
The words I see on the screen in front of me are not really for anyone else. This could, in fact, be a personal diary, for I act anonymously and have no purpose to achieve recognition or fame. My motives are pure. I type because I like to type. I need a reason to read financial articles, otherwise my dosing rods will point me in the direction of Charles Dickens or David Foster Wallace (I joke you not) So without this blog I would have little or no interest in investing, and actually I need to keep one eye on finance. My portfolio is worth about $1,000,000 Singaporean, so it's safe to say - like the Yanks do - that I've got some skin in the game.<br />
<br />
I wonder if I'm the only blogger in the <a href="http://www.sginvestbloggers.com/">http://www.sginvestbloggers.com/</a> community who writes for this reason? Probably... Anyway, who cares? I write because I write and what more is there to say?<br />
<br />
Since this is my blog's birthday, I thought I'd get back on track and talk a little about the stocks on my radar etc. because otherwise I'll have no readers at all. In fact, if you have read this far already, hats off to you. You're an avid reader, one with patience outstripping your peers in this frantic world of skimming and scanning we inhabit.<br />
<br />
I'm currently looking at Wilmar, ITV (UK), Tracker Fund of Hong Kong and Accordia Golf Trust.<br />
<br />
Why?<br />
<br />
Wilmar is defensive and solid. Is a growth and dividend play in the long run.<br />
<br />
ITV (UK) this stock pays a good dividend and would diversify my portfolio. Also, I think market sentiment is overly pessimistic on it considering the good things it's currently doing.<br />
<br />
Tracker fund of Hing Kong as I would quite like to get some exposure to China over the next 5 to 10 years.<br />
<br />
Accordia Golf Trust because of it's dividend and I think it's a good long term play.<br />
<br />
Okay, now that's all from me this week. I want to once again say happy birthday to me and this strange blog.<br />
<br />
All the best, party people.<br />
<br />
<br />Singapore Dividend Collectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02984990866059977120noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8022934919479726205.post-86059344319243357332019-07-07T17:36:00.002-07:002019-07-07T17:36:55.602-07:00What are you investing in right now?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUEvnwcW_R31ObXyioJpQAEevfBCH-qhl6M0a1bvhKHRBBN6S0UEL9OTCGLTWl5hUFkIITKl27kutHo_YB3WP1D4fqT4-a32khX8wu651i9G4A7dH3apohtmjlWw_zOzutGPHCyE-LGY/s1600/confused.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="800" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUEvnwcW_R31ObXyioJpQAEevfBCH-qhl6M0a1bvhKHRBBN6S0UEL9OTCGLTWl5hUFkIITKl27kutHo_YB3WP1D4fqT4-a32khX8wu651i9G4A7dH3apohtmjlWw_zOzutGPHCyE-LGY/s320/confused.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
As my regular reader know, I have a dividend portfolio made up of mainly SGX listed stocks and REITs that generated almost $40,000 last year.<br />
<br />
When my account has $15,000, I deploy this back into the portfolio rain or shine. I feel that by not trying to time the market over a minimum 20 year period I should have a big enough pot to retire.<br />
<br />
Presently, I'm having trouble decided where to allocate the latest bunch of juicy dividends. These are strange times in the markets with blue chip REITS overvalued, blue chip stock largely the same, gold is pricey and, to top it all off, a global recession is on the horizon. So, what to do in this situation?<br />
<br />
I don't want to sit on he sideline holding cash, for this goes against my investment plan. I<br />
d rather be in the game than out no matter what happens and collect dividends. But at this particular juncture, I'm really stuck.<br />
<br />
The best I can come up with is defensive stocks such as Sheng Siong or Thaibev. That said, I'm already heavily invested in both.<br />
<br />
Any thoughts people?Singapore Dividend Collectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02984990866059977120noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8022934919479726205.post-85915419369914224352019-06-22T19:37:00.001-07:002019-06-22T19:37:45.026-07:00Singapore Dividends for Financial Freedom - Will Starhub and Singpost ever recover?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
Years ago I bought into Starhub and Singpost with a buy to hold strategy believing they would be good counters to rely on come rain or shine.<br />
<br />
Now I know I was wrong.<br />
<br />
Presently, Star hub is down almost 58% and Singpost 35%. Luckily, I took relatively small positions in these companies at the time, so the damage isn't too bad, but still their presence in my portfolio does give me cause for concern.<br />
<br />
Sure, I should have had a stop loss on the counters, but this is easy to say in hindsight. There are massive black clouds hanging over both companies and more unease brooding on the horizon, so what's a man to do? Sell and take the hit or hang on with crossed fingers and see if they can turn things around?<br />
<br />
I've been deliberating this for months now and still I'm undecided. One moment, I'm ready to hit the sell button and then a voice tells me never to sell on emotion. However, the longer I think about the situation and the future, the less I feel emotion is the causal factor. The fact is that both companies are in the shit.<br />
<br />
Starhub's price has taken a nosedive and to prevent an outright investor stampede they have hiked up their dividend to unsustainable levels. We all know what's going to happen when they have to cut this dividend. So, is there any way for the company to Houdini their way out of this hole? With the new (albeit smaller than previously expected) 4th telco joining the party how are Starhub going to reverse the trend?<br />
<br />
The same applies to Singpost. They are in a tight spot, but are at least trying to diversify, but will it be enough?<br />
<br />
Let me know your thoughts people.<br />
<br />
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Singapore Dividend Collectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02984990866059977120noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8022934919479726205.post-37100913047741965022019-06-15T18:45:00.000-07:002019-06-15T18:45:06.581-07:00Preparing for market crash - gold and Bitcoin?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHZVR1J_XQRlQFU7ma7qszhGMxmj9ViBjOnBDfkJugP3OIqILlR67Yl3LlGw_zGRgj_Hwe7AbRI9PA2qIdSLsQMCIb_-ds1S5IzRvbLjyXynHKGUThOelCJi4QEmp2uVRvOKuoV3Lf4c/s1600/boom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHZVR1J_XQRlQFU7ma7qszhGMxmj9ViBjOnBDfkJugP3OIqILlR67Yl3LlGw_zGRgj_Hwe7AbRI9PA2qIdSLsQMCIb_-ds1S5IzRvbLjyXynHKGUThOelCJi4QEmp2uVRvOKuoV3Lf4c/s320/boom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Hands up if you think global markets are going to crash in the next 12 months?<br />
<br />
If been trying to keep my emotions in check with regard to this, but I can't help noticing an ever darkening cloud overhead.<br />
<br />
What's one to do then? Sell and run to the hills? Load up on gold? Admit yourself to a mental hospital and ride the wave?<br />
<br />
Who the hell knows eh?<br />
<br />
To be honest, I've been deliberating making 10% of my portfolio gold. I joke you not. For me, it's more about hedging and protecting my cash which is in a currency I'd rather not reveal.<br />
<br />
I know gold doesn't pay a dividend and you have to pay for storage etc. but I still feel that when the shit hits the fan and there's blood in the alleyways, it'll be the gold holders smiling and sleeping comfortably, while everyone else goes grey and drinks vodka by the pint glass.<br />
<br />
What do you think then folks? To gold or not to gold - that is the question.<br />
<br />
I've even been thinking of putting about 1% of my portfolio in Bitcoin as well.<br />
<br />
Here's why...<br />
<br />
OK, so right now the majority of the world's wealth is in the hands of the Baby-Boomers, and all the way through their investing careers they heard the same thesis: when the markets crash - hold gold. Agreed? Yes, it's true. That said, think ahead...<br />
<br />
Once all the wealth begins to transfer from the Baby-Boomers to Gen X and eventually the Millennials, we are going to see something new. The Millennial especially have grown up with Cryptos being the norm, and for many of them Cryptos are the true alternative to cash. Thus, where to you think these newly cashed up people will turn in 15 years time when a crash threatens the markets? Gold? No way! Gold will be for old folk!<br />
<br />
So, I think there's a clear case for buying up a small proportion of Bitcoin and holding it for a couple of decades.<br />
<br />
As for now though, I think 10% of the portfolio in gold is the way to go.<br />
<br />
What do you all think?<br />
<br />
<br />
Singapore Dividend Collectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02984990866059977120noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8022934919479726205.post-76170235128971235132019-06-01T22:10:00.000-07:002019-09-30T17:50:37.654-07:00Singapore Dividends for Financial Freedom - Dividend Portfolio Update 2-5-19<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_25hiXztmJwUZZaiYKC5t3QxgQSICyHM-zHoSH8PEyyMr52L_znqTT7sTz9ny_4HzLHcDUQUczHGto_vXrBn5sT6vvX8Cz460c29rBZ5QXGNB4rbXJkcC-kMch3kuEm0atm33jz36rvk/s1600/mona-lisa-convertible.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="583" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_25hiXztmJwUZZaiYKC5t3QxgQSICyHM-zHoSH8PEyyMr52L_znqTT7sTz9ny_4HzLHcDUQUczHGto_vXrBn5sT6vvX8Cz460c29rBZ5QXGNB4rbXJkcC-kMch3kuEm0atm33jz36rvk/s320/mona-lisa-convertible.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Just like Mona, I, too, have a half smile on my face.<br />
<br />
Alright folks, how have you been? It's been a busy few months at work and hence my absence from the blogging scene. But, now I'm back with a vengeance and ready for action.<br />
<br />
The total value of my portfolio now stands at <b>$986,000</b><br />
<br />
This is with a total of <b>$959,000 </b>invested.<br />
<br />
Thus, there's a paper gain of almost <b>$30,000</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Those of you who have read my blog before know my main portfolio focus is income, but that's not to say I don't have growth stocks as well. I do.<br />
<br />
My growth stocks include the following:<br />
<br />
SAT <b>currently up 59%</b><br />
SGX <b>currently up 9%</b><br />
Sheng Siong <b>currently up 18%</b><br />
Thai Bev <b>currently down -1%</b><br />
Wilmar Inter <b>currently up 2%</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I'm presently happy enough with the performance of these shares. Thai Bev is down slightly, yes, but I don't think this is a lot to worry about in the long run. Their purchases in Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam will hold them in good stead for the years to come.<br />
<br />
Also, most of the REIT/Trusts in my portfolio are doing well also.<br />
<br />
Aims <b>currently up 5%</b><br />
Ascendas <b>currently up 16%</b><br />
Ascendas H Trust <b>currently up 6%</b><br />
Ascott <b>currently up 13%</b><br />
Capital Com <b>currently up 16%</b><br />
Capital Mall <b>currently up 22%</b><br />
Fraser Com T <b>currently up 9%</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
That said, it's not all good in the portfolio, for their are a few counters severely holding back the overall performance. Namely...<br />
<br />
Accordia Golf Trust <b>currently down</b> <b>9%</b><br />
First REIT <b>currently down</b> <b>9%</b><br />
Global Investments <b>currently down</b> <b>11%</b><br />
Singpost <b>currently down</b> <b>37%</b><br />
<div>
Singtel <b>currently down</b> <b>18%</b></div>
<div>
Starhub<b> </b><b>currently down</b> <b>59%</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I feel Accordia will be OK in the long run and it's big dividend offsets paper lossed.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
First REIT is an unknown. I'm thinking about reducing my stake in it next week. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I feel Global Investments will be OK in the long run.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Singpost is a smaller holding so I'm not overly concerned.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Singtel will be fine in the long run and, as we all know, it pays a handsome dividend.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Starhub is again a small holding (thank goodness) but it's painful all the same. Can they pull things around? I honestly don't think they can. Thus, I'm biding my time and waiting for some positive news to bump the share price up before I sell. Of course, this day night never come especially if they cut their current unsustainable dividend. I'm suitably nervous about this counter.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>In 2018 I earned almost $40,000 in dividends, and I'm expected more from 2019.</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You can read about this <a href="https://singaporedividendcollector.blogspot.com/2018/12/singapore-dividends-for-financial_28.html">here</a> and <a href="https://singaporedividendcollector.blogspot.com/2018/12/singapore-dividends-for-financial_29.html">here</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Therefore, my portfolio is a mixed bag at the moment with the Telcos inflicting more pain than is necessary. REITS are still doing nicely as are the growth stocks. </div>
<div>
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<br />Singapore Dividend Collectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02984990866059977120noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8022934919479726205.post-50512182099718735002019-04-06T22:54:00.001-07:002019-09-30T17:49:51.432-07:00Singapore Dividends for Financial Freedom - My Singapore Dividend Portfolio 7-4-19<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAA88OclkicCKmruYVk9Gw4SzRBTSVtT4ICl4BxKgGiWhIdiT5bJkuvnC0vuml3CncCysoXbJG77OQA46MQ7zzIfXPlaJxZA0J969xwxUwPqUCwwoM8FxKTWaYspUSYHjDhPCx0w-vpwY/s1600/smile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAA88OclkicCKmruYVk9Gw4SzRBTSVtT4ICl4BxKgGiWhIdiT5bJkuvnC0vuml3CncCysoXbJG77OQA46MQ7zzIfXPlaJxZA0J969xwxUwPqUCwwoM8FxKTWaYspUSYHjDhPCx0w-vpwY/s1600/smile.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Morning folks. How are you all doing?<br />
<br />
As a break from the usual ramblings, here's a look at my latest portfolio size:<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4udRhNv_Ngj304po9HuQueHTHZFNpfmT2ErkxvxYV-zD4Sb5doc28gPRTHz2h9kFzl_WdUFzQ8ZAoOhzVjxZ0pB6ey4JD_LqUlbixrP0pFc0ZkVqqpvQLtBoJbO3W5ZM4Co4y86OL3Q/s1600/port+10.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="78" data-original-width="1340" height="36" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4udRhNv_Ngj304po9HuQueHTHZFNpfmT2ErkxvxYV-zD4Sb5doc28gPRTHz2h9kFzl_WdUFzQ8ZAoOhzVjxZ0pB6ey4JD_LqUlbixrP0pFc0ZkVqqpvQLtBoJbO3W5ZM4Co4y86OL3Q/s640/port+10.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
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My top 5 holdings are...<br />
<br />
1. FIRST REIT at $171,000<br />
<br />
2. Fraser Com Trust at $122,000<br />
<br />
3. Ascendas at $113,000<br />
<br />
4. ThaiBev at $97,000<br />
<br />
5. Keppel DC REIT at 53,000 THB<br />
<br />
So, with the market moving upwards in the first quarter, my portfolio is edging ever closer to the 1 million dollar mark.<br />
<br />
I'm in two minds what to do with FIRST. Thinking of selling of some, but then again I've a feeling it'll weather the storm.<br />
<br />
All for now. Have a great day.Singapore Dividend Collectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02984990866059977120noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8022934919479726205.post-31987728917192852192019-03-23T22:07:00.000-07:002019-03-23T22:07:20.755-07:00An Ode to Life<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHOovaXczTgVv4SByRpn-25koeSnpGcGIc_X2bFOSD4r34DQIzbtn1hRxGEgIP51zQAwuIsQKqNMsL7iFSct6BlKiT9lLDJ4Epq8652ebtSZVJYNlTZ-QEbc5RnST7mx_Z4K4ff2i9BI/s1600/life.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="167" data-original-width="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHOovaXczTgVv4SByRpn-25koeSnpGcGIc_X2bFOSD4r34DQIzbtn1hRxGEgIP51zQAwuIsQKqNMsL7iFSct6BlKiT9lLDJ4Epq8652ebtSZVJYNlTZ-QEbc5RnST7mx_Z4K4ff2i9BI/s1600/life.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Morning folks. How's life treating you?<br />
<br />
Life is weird isn't it. We're here for a short time with no discernible purpose and many of us spend most of our time in a state of unease, anxiety and unhappiness.<br />
<br />
Why is our species prone to such negativity and has it always been this way?<br />
<br />
Who knows eh?<br />
<br />
Evolutionary Biologists like Richard Dawkins tell us Homo-Sapiens have been roaming the Earth for around 100,000 years.<br />
<br />
Seems like a long time right?<br />
<br />
Well, the figure pales into insignificance when we we consider how other forms of human walked the deserts and savannas millions of years before.<br />
<br />
Dawkins asks us to think about a piano keyboard's length representing human existence. If we consider where Homo-Sapiens sit on this keyboard, we'd have to go all the way to the right and a small sliver of the very last key.<br />
<br />
It's a humbling thought, isn't it?<br />
<br />
Us, humans, existing for such a short time, historically speaking, and yet here we are rulers of the Earth and masters of the food chain!<br />
<br />
Here we are unraveling the human genome and experimenting with DMT to edge ever closer to revealing the meaning of existence!<br />
<br />
My goodness, we've come a long way as a species since we start our journey. It's a cool thought, isn't it?<br />
<br />
I want you to imagine Dawkin's keyboard again if you will, and this time focus on the amount of space between humans first appearing on the scene and then us Homo-Sapiens taking over. Imagine the amount of time. Imagine how long a century takes to pass and then think of time in terms of millennia. Add to that millions of years and your head begins to fizz.<br />
<br />
What the hell were we doing for all that time?<br />
<br />
As the vast majority of this period is what's known as 'pre-history' meaning it's before writing and art, we'll simply never know how us humans whiled away our days. What can infer though is that we hunted and gathered and moved around. We would have been fit and healthy. Our diets would have consisted mainly of nuts, fruits, berries and plants with the occasional bit of meat. We would have been focused on the here and now and cared little about the future.<br />
<br />
With this heightened momentary awareness, I wonder if ancient man was happier than today's man.<br />
<br />
Today's man with his property and portfolio. Today' man with his self-development and exercise regimes. Today's man with his cars and gadgets. All of these come at a cost, not only financially but also socially. Today's man must exchange his finite time in exchange for money which he uses to buy products and services that promise to make him happier and more fulfilled.<br />
<br />
The question is do these products and services do the business? Do they make us live happier lives?<br />
<br />
I think the jury is out of this one, folks.<br />
<br />
Pre-historic man would have had lots more free time to sit around breathing in fresh air and admiring the view. If we forget about the small matter of defending his family from the ravages of wild animals, his life seems pretty sweet: Get up a dawn, amble into the forest, collect some berries for breakfast and then hang out with the family.<br />
<br />
Today's man, in contrast, wakes up worrying about his unfinished project, fights his way through rush hour traffic, arrives at the office to face people he doesn't like, works like a mad man for 10 hours and returns home shattered while the evening invades the avenue (cheers JJ).<br />
<br />
I hope you'll excuse my crass oversimplifications, but for the sake of my blog post I hope you'll look the other way.<br />
<br />
So, do I have a point after all this rambling? Do I have a golden nugget of wisdom to leave you with so you can continue your day enriched and energized? Probably not.<br />
<br />
However... I want us all ponder upon how incredibly lucky we all are to be alive. Think about the odds of being alive in the first place, think about the statistical probability of being born on planet Earth. Think about all the living species of animals and here we are as conscious beings philosophizing about metaphysics! It's crazy, isn't it?<br />
<br />
Once we learn to appreciate how incredibly unlikely a conscious existence is then we can enjoy life more. Minor irritations will simply melt away when we look to the sky, breathe deeply and meditate on the chances of being here in the first place.<br />
<br />
So, folks, at some point today, I want you all to do just that. Walk outside to a quiet place and think about how amazing, unusual and short life is. Spend time with those you love and tell them they are special. We are all special. We are all freaks of existence, so let's enjoy ourselves while we can and make the world a more positive and fun place to be.<br />
<br />
<br />
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Singapore Dividend Collectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02984990866059977120noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8022934919479726205.post-16446812343897573392019-03-16T19:42:00.003-07:002019-03-16T20:28:24.831-07:00The Crash is Coming | What should you do?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75FnrdGkY7ZIsRZNv-7xMcr_NeuG3qb3eC9g6NKXrADh6nPM-lfa6GRiktkaeNcJ1nUAQOuKm0dBuK4G5xamGBbP9MscvEmCIbvK98XSrj07OpUiuF8lmsUKT8e1yaz5EQe6hFmpnOCM/s1600/fog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="176" data-original-width="286" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75FnrdGkY7ZIsRZNv-7xMcr_NeuG3qb3eC9g6NKXrADh6nPM-lfa6GRiktkaeNcJ1nUAQOuKm0dBuK4G5xamGBbP9MscvEmCIbvK98XSrj07OpUiuF8lmsUKT8e1yaz5EQe6hFmpnOCM/s400/fog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fog and the monster are on the way</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
There's been so much chat about the forthcoming financial meltdown it made me think of the fog and the sea monster in Ray Bradbury's The Fog Horn'.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Out there in the cold water, far from land, we waited every night for the coming of the fog,
and it came, and we oiled the brass machinery and lit the fog light up in the stone tower.
Feeling like two birds in the grey sky, McDunn and I sent the light touching out, red, then
white, then red again, to eye the lonely ships. And if they did not see our light, then there was
always our Voice, the great deep cry of our Fog Horn shuddering through the rags of mist to
startle the gulls away like decks of scattered cards and make the waves turn high and foam. </i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
So what do you all think? Is the financial future as bleak for us all as it is for McDunn and his compadre, or is there simply too much paranoia self-replicating and reinforcing itself via social media algorithms?<br />
<br />
Who the heck knows eh?<br />
<br />
Ray Dalio, thought the next big crash was imminent here:<br />
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But recently, he has revised his prediction, lowering his odds of a US recession before the 2020 US presidential election to 35%:<br />
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<br />
Ray Dalio is a man who knows his stuff. You don't search too far on Youtube before you come across his historical analysis of the global economy. I like the man. His talks straight and despite his intellectual prowess, breaks down complex economics ideas for stupid people just like me.<br />
<br />
We needs more public intellectuals like Dalio, ones who cut through the waffle and make investing and economics more accessible from people without a Masters degree in the field.<br />
<br />
One thing is for sure, the US is ten years into a bull market that simply won't go on for much longer. Thus, it's just a matter of 'when' not 'if' the crash will come.<br />
<br />
So, folks, we better get ourselves strapped in for a bumpy ride. The fog and the monster are on their way.<br />
<br />
<b><i>'Out there in the cold water, far from land, we waited every night for the coming of the fog, and it came.'</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
What does all this mean? Should we freak out, sell all our stocks, stock pile canned food and barricade ourselves in a safe room until the fog clears?<br />
<br />
As a divided investor, I say no.<br />
<br />
As divided investors, we have to put things into perspective. Yes, the fog is coming, we know this. But, most probably, when it comes, the majority of our defensive blue chips/REITs will continue to distribute their dividend harvests regardless.<br />
<br />
So, instead of getting all ghoulish and twitchy, us divided investors should instead see the forthcoming fog and the monster as a natural byproduct of the evolution of the market. It's a bad flu that's long over due and one that will clear the system of unwanted and unneeded bacteria. Once banished, the financial system will be stronger and better for it.<br />
<br />
Thus, you dividend investors out there should not be loosing your hair when you see the slow death march of the fog on the horizon... no no.<br />
<br />
We have to belt up, hold on tight, be emotionally strong and repeat like a mantra...<br />
<br />
<b><i>'Everything is fine. I will not sell. This is normal. Let's scoop up come bargains.'</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>'Everything is fine. I will not sell. This is normal. Let's scoop up come bargains.'</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
Say is with me guys...<br />
<br />
<b><i>'Everything is fine. I will not sell. This is normal. Let's scoop up come bargains.'</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>'Everything is fine. I will not sell. This is normal. Let's scoop up come bargains.'</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
Breath deeply in between each sentence. Luxuriate in the moment. Everything is going to be just grand in the long run.<br />
<br />
In Ray Bradbury's story, the fog and monster do indeed some and destroy in the lighthouse McDunn and his coworker live in. Their world is decimated. So, too, will the markets be in the not too distant future. However, in times like this we must let history be our teacher; we must let rationality rule over impulse; fear must not be let lose to run amok and people must think with clear precision.<br />
<br />
The monster is on the way.<br />
<br />
<b><i>'We waited a moment. And then I began to hear it. First a great vacuumed sucking of air, and
then the lament, the bewilderment, the loneliness of the great monster, folded over upon us,
above us, so that the sickening reek of its body filled the air, a stone's thickness away from our
cellar. The monster gasped and cried. The tower was gone. The light was gone. The thing that
had called it across a million years was gone. And the monster was opening its mouth and
sending out great sounds.' </i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
But both the fog and the beast will leave as quickly as they come. OK, we'll need to rebuild somewhat, just like the lighthouse needed to be rebuilt in the story. But, have not fear people, we will rise again.<br />
<br />
<b><i>'There was nothing to see. The ocean was calm, the sky blue. The only thing was a great algaic
stink from the green matter that covered the fallen tower stones and the shore rocks. Flies
buzzed about. The ocean washed empty on the shore.'</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
And, perhaps, we, too, can be a little more careful building our portfolios next time we're nearing the end of a bull market. Maybe we, too, like McDunn become a little more defensive in nature.<br />
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<b><i>'The next year they built a new lighthouse, but by that time I had a job in the little town and a
wife and a good small warm house that glowed yellow on autumn nights, the doors locked, the
chimney puffing smoke. As for McDunn. he was master of the new lighthouse, built to his own
specifications, out of steel-reinforced concrete. "Just in case," he said.'</i></b><br />
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So, there we have it folks. This is the end of another ramble. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed typing it. For, as I've said before, writing this posted on Sunday mornings is a form of therapy for me. Up at dawn, with the multicolored sky outside and the sound of morning birds going about their business, I sip coffee and think. It's a reflective way to start the day. Now, with the post complete, I can march into the unknown with the confidence of an artist, knowing that I have contributed something of worth before breakfast.<br />
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<br />Singapore Dividend Collectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02984990866059977120noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8022934919479726205.post-52725084748559353852019-03-14T09:12:00.000-07:002019-03-14T09:12:01.368-07:00Retiring Before 40 | A Corporate Matter<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZDZLxB8rrZ7S6Oa3BcWnWQsOg41NEftXcf_bUSQ4IbQil-naT1O0zx4t6AjPfLXOCZFKcJpqpfAZqpoXorlWNEj1deyHxUUVTiKxjaO629afYfiYcGrQjqvWe7IPMFPN6818o_FEEUE/s1600/22469427-funny-cartoon-man-is-on-fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="1300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZDZLxB8rrZ7S6Oa3BcWnWQsOg41NEftXcf_bUSQ4IbQil-naT1O0zx4t6AjPfLXOCZFKcJpqpfAZqpoXorlWNEj1deyHxUUVTiKxjaO629afYfiYcGrQjqvWe7IPMFPN6818o_FEEUE/s320/22469427-funny-cartoon-man-is-on-fire.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Catch on fire and people will come for miles to see you burn' (John Wesley)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I want you to visualize the day your retire from your corporate career.</div>
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You work in a flashy office block, a place in which for decades of your life you laughed at the right jokes, held doors open for the right people and offered yourself up for sacrifice for the good of the company. </div>
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Well, today is your retirement day and you will make the ultimate sacrifice.</div>
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Your boss has invited you to a 'Retire before 40.' ceremony, You've never heard about it and it's no where to be found in the company' personnel manual.</div>
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When the boss spoke these words on the phone, he sounded uncomfortable and odd.</div>
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Regardless, like a good corporate drone, you obey your bosses command and arrive at the agreed time. Your whole department are sitting behind their desks wearing black masks with small slits for eyes. Their mouths and noses lay hidden behind the dark cloth. They are typing, click clicking away, heads still and staring at their glaring screens.</div>
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I can see it now, you in your black suit, shoes reflecting the goodness of the day, traipsing, limply, towards the company's dark alter, a wooden pyre, set up the corner of the office. </div>
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You feel irresistibly drawn to it as if by an invisible force.</div>
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Draped across your body, a decorative sash adorned with frivolous motivational quotes flaps noiselessly as you pass though a cold blast of air conditioning. </div>
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<i><b>'Don't stop when you are tired. Stop when you are done!'</b></i></div>
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<i><b>'Expect problems and eat them for breakfast!'</b></i></div>
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Your boss used to make you stand up and chant these during 'Motivational Sessions' every week.</div>
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As you make your way down the thin blue carpet, you notice standing on either side of the sacrificial pyre Steve and Nick. </div>
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These are the two bastards you hate the most. </div>
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Steve has been stealing your clients for years and somehow getting away with it; while Nick tried it on with your wife in the reception area of the Candlenut during the department's 'Business with Pleasure' evening. And here they both are now banging ornate wooden drums as you approach. </div>
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They leer disgustingly at you, their eyes flashing and ghastly. Boom, boom, boom goes their rhythm, and a deep death wheeze ushers from their dry lips as they exhale in unison. </div>
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<b><i>'Can this really be the end of my corporate life? Am I really going to lie down on the alter and strike the match?'</i></b></div>
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You reach the pyre, eardrums popping, head pounding. It towers over you menacing and imperious. You look up and at the edifice, and, tied securely, is a life-sized portrait photo of you the day you started with the company.</div>
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Innocent eyes, watery, like those of a child, peer down. A smile as wide as an Amazon confluence stretches each side of your mouth to snapping point. </div>
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You remember the day this picture was taken. </div>
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Your first day in the corporate battlefield, and you glowed with pride.</div>
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Fresh out of university and into the 'Real World' as your father called it.</div>
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<b><i>'Work separates the men from the boys son. Get in there. Show them what you are made of and remember... always please your boss!'</i></b></div>
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Your father spoke these very words, his glasses balancing on the tip of his pink, veiny snout. He uttered them with such sincerity as if announcing some maxim that would change the course of history.</div>
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That was then and this is now. </div>
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The drums continue their monotony and sky turns scarlet and blue outside the window. </div>
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The air reeks of gasoline.</div>
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It is time. </div>
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You take one last glance up at the picture of your former self, sit down on some dry kindling in between Steve and Nick and flick a match high into the air. It seems to take an eternity to come back down, but when it lands, you are engulfed in a inferno of corporate hell fire.</div>
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This is the end of your corporate self. </div>
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Now you may begin afresh. </div>
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The time for living has come.</div>
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Singapore Dividend Collectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02984990866059977120noreply@blogger.com1