Cory Diary: 2014 Interim Review

Interim Financial Report

My Investment Portfolio is made up of Equities, Fixed Deposit, Preference Shares, Bonds and Gold. Spread across various currencies according to their risks/returns which helps me ride over market turbulence with peace of mind.

Equity ~ over 20 counters of Blue, Reits, SME and PS of various weightage. Currently this year returns are to better Equity Dividends. FDs help some.

Cash level is relatively high for opportunities and because as i am still working which afford me to have lower investment returns. Pension, Property, Insurance and CPF are Bonus.


AUD and GOLD
AUD$ weakened 2-3% roughly. After higher interests, return is flat. Lower GOLD price on the back of stronger US$ that my GOLD denominated. Acquire more RMB$ few months ago to put into higher FD as i do not like to hold too much NT$. If i have them it will be converted to other currencies or lock away in FD which are about 1.4% now. Yes is still miserable.

DIVIDENDS
Glad to break last year record before Dec ~(updated for privacy)

EQUITY
Positive but slightly below STI index return due to more low caps. Took a few risky positions which are not delivering as hoped. Net net including dividends, annualized returns around 10% for the past 10 years

CURRENCIES
This are exposure not just cash. Example Gold invested in US$ Denomination, i will have it paper translated to S$ in percentage term for exposure in US$.

Net Worth
Back on track to new highs after recent months turbulence. I expect this to continue to go on till i retire.


thanks
Cory
22 Nov '14

Cory Diary: My Home

Something strikes me today after reading AK's comment in his post on singapore property.

If I am to buy a home say S$1M, and a year later the price comes down by S$100K. Will I be sad ? Ofcourse i will, silly ! But sad due to what is the critical issue here. Well i am sad because my home value drops 100k. But why should i when is a place to stay other than being sad for paying 100K more. Someone will pay more someone will pay less in any trade. If i am to sell it 100k lesser 5 years later, i will be getting cheaper price from others of another property anyway. 

If i got my home and price shoot up say 100K in a year, should i be happy then ? Why not, 100k take someone years to save ! But i cannot realise it since is a place to stay so what so big deal about it then ?

Well, i can sell it 5 years later and if price holds 100k up, i will be good. But then i will be buying another property from others at higher price too aren't we ?

And here comes the fundamental question if you haven't realise it yet. Higher property price only make the rat race course larger for your children and you. And a lot of paper work at your expense.

thanks

Cory

14th Nov 2014

Cory Diary: How much is considered too much cash for rotting?

A friend pose this interesting question to me over my concern with inflation eating into our hard earn money. To point out how serious the problem is, i have it structured below.

Let's think of a scenario. I have idle cash of $1M. Considering inflation of 3%, that's 30K loss annually. We know how rich we are is how much we save. Using this basis, if I save 30K annually from my monthly earning, i am just working my arse off just to level up my networth. The curse of being a millionaire ?

Let's go further. For those who are more financially awakened, potential returns may average 5% annually. $1M sitting idle is 50K loss. Has risk adversity reached a new height in stupidity ?

Not surprising for those Savvy Investor who hits 10% return. That's 100K average. If you have this money and they are not working because you are so busy with work, do yourself a favor, sit down and do some Maths. What the hell am I talking ? A Savvy Investor will not have this problem.

Now where am I ...

Cory

9th Sept 2015