Jan 15, 2018

Cory Diary : You don't have to Swing


Just watched one of Warran Buffett video. Buffett says, is that you don't have to swing at every pitch.

"The trick in investing is just to sit there and watch pitch after pitch go by and wait for the one right in your sweet spot. And if people are yelling, 'Swing, you bum!,' ignore them. "

He make it so easy to understand. Indeed I should ignore. Missed opportunity is ok. Just don't lose my pant. Every bullet counts ! If the market has nothing worthy to buy, just watch.

I did cut a "Medical Cancer" today which I should not have swinged. Thanks Goodness. I feel so mentally healthy after.  One thing I learned from a Guru is that Clinic Business is dependent on Skilled Doctor. Without them, you get a shell company.

Have a wonderful Monday !


Cory

20180115

Jan 6, 2018

Cory Diary : Year 2018 Planning





What will Year 2018 be for Investor like me ?

Let's start with STI index. If we remembered an earlier article I wrote on crisis, NK crisis likely will not affects economic activity as it is not a financial originated one ( see link). That's turn out to be good so far for 2017, and that we should continue to stay invested. People who try to time on such events and get out of investment will be out-of-luck !

Based on last year div, the current STI price yield is roughly 2.8x% (DYODD). This may implied potential STI upside to hit 3800 range I think. Will it be ? No one can guarantee but I do feel the probability is higher if is to be based on my own Yield and Chart support levels.


Driving for returns

One thing I learn from 2017 is that I am a little conservative. Therefore, I hope to be able to re-balance some of my bonds to higher yield direction. And to move more cash to more dividend play. Yes, is tough to find more counters to manage. Alternatively, is to expand each counter proportionally at the right time and it requires more due diligence. 


Every bullet counts

In 2017 I have been quite trigger happy. One of the reason is I am over-zealous in trying to stay invested every time funds are available from profit taking. With stronger cash flow in 2018, I need to watch my equity entry more carefully and allows my war chest to build-up if needed. 


Optimizing my cash and lower yield segments

With strong 2017 and Fresh Funds, Investable will increase. This is the result of better bonus, higher salary and dividends. One of my challenge is how to ensure a sum long enough to sustain for my housing loan in case the equity market took a turn, personal spending increases and out-of-job. However, a large sum of money idling in the bank account is a sore eye.

Possible options I can think of is maximising my SSB, larger FD and topping up my CPF OA.


Asset Management

CPF, I have been a little slow in actively managing this area for my retirement. So maximizing my SA will be one of my goals. Transferred more funds to CPF SA account for higher basic retirement return assurance this week. Yes ! I know is one-way street.

A little CPF OA fund was used in my property purchase. This is a mistake. I hope to return them when I can. If is not done this year, will be next. 

Will plan to surrender one of my insurance policy when times are good so that the bonus portion will be nice i thought.  I could be wrong but I should be ok.



Happy 2018

Cory
20180106

Jan 3, 2018

Cory Diary : Financial Well-being Ending 2017



Year 2017 has been awesome for many investors. Based on many financial bloggers so far, double digits gain are a norm. And this keeps me thinking about how unfair to saver is where some will die for $1000 while those who are more adventurous makes $100K extra just sitting in his living room tweeting with his spare time.

Even when one step out of his comfort domain, a double digits gain of 10K in absolute returns are no where near to one with 100K portfolio for example. And here come the chicken and egg things. We need to achieve a good size portfolio to benefit from scale and returns but we can't jump the gun as we need to fall and learn when small, and grow them. This takes time for most people probably.


Saving and Net Worth

In 2017, I have achieved 45% in saving from salary and bonus. This is a nice surprise since I do not track them deliberately to save. It just occurs naturally to me what is worth to buy and value to enjoy however I knew spending were up given that I have been giving regular treats to friends and colleagues. Total Net worth is probably up 10%, and that's quite significant for me on the last decade of my working lifespan.


Anxiety Freak

One of the blessings I had is not having dividend target in my early years. I only have few K dividend then and they just happens to receive it. They just grew slowly over the years with portfolio size. I did a re-balance in 2013 and never look back. However if I am to start with a dividend target on current size that time it can be a bit demoralising. There won't be target for 2018 on Net worth as usual as there aren't a robust plan and specific needs to start. I will leave this for the future. Liquid net worth portion increased by almost 12% and this do allows me to project a higher SG equity dividend target of 45k-50k. A situation where money grow money.


One step at a time

One last thing for today into my diary. The road to prosperity for people without inheritance or financially strong family are not that straight forward. We need to find our way to get the best education within financial limit. And then get a good job and save to grow our Net Worth. To learn financial literacy from scratch is something oneself has to fix. One is handicapped if we are not optimally invested. Is even harder when we do not have a regular job to save the required to build. Even when we overcome all this problems, able to invest and win enough is another challenge investors have to beat.  But this is not impossible to start doing something today in baby step that I have went through. And the bottom lies with Passion I feel. Once we open our minds to it and have a plan that can overcome the risk adversity.


Happy 2018

Cory
20180103