End of 2023 Review

~ thepecunia ~ 4 Comments

Looking back on the last six months of 2023, I must admit my blog took a back seat amid the hustle of work commitments and a demanding training course. Now, it’s time to pause and assess my investment journey.

In the latter part of 2023, I dived into some serious research on potential companies, supercharging my dividend investment portfolio. I grabbed shares in Hong Leong Finance, New Toyo, and Multichem. Plus, I strategically beefed up my positions in reliable dividend-paying stocks like SBS Transit, Keppel DC, and Parkway Health REIT. It’s all part of my commitment to growing income and sustainable portfolio growth.

Of course, not every move was a winner. I stumbled with ARKK on the Kristal.ai platform—a mere 1% of my portfolio but a lesson in the pitfalls of investing based on hype. The allure of trends and sensational market buzz led me astray. Facing a loss of $2.5k on the ARKK investment, I made the decision to cut my losses and redirect the funds towards more promising investments. While acknowledging the setback, I view this as a strategic move to minimize losses and optimize my portfolio for better opportunities.

A significant development in my investment landscape was the closure of MoneyOwl, a once stellar low-fee robo-advisory platform. The closure marked the end of an era, and the absence of such a reliable service was truly disheartening. In response, I redirected the funds previously invested in MoneyOwl—amounting to $19,000—towards Singapore Savings Bonds. Despite the circumstances, this move presents a silver lining as Singapore Savings Bonds offer a respectable average yearly return of 3.4% over a 10-year tenure.

With the reallocation of funds from the closure of MoneyOwl, my total bond investment now stands at approximately $40,000. This strategic adjustment not only addresses the challenges posed by the closure but also reinforces a diversified investment portfolio. The increased exposure to bonds provides a stable foundation, balancing the overall risk profile and contributing to a more resilient and well-rounded investment strategy. Good luck to me!

Looking ahead, my investment strategy is set to pivot towards a stronger focus on my dividend portfolio, with a measured pullback on growth stocks. The decision is rooted in a deliberate effort to prioritize stable income streams and long-term sustainability. While growth stocks have their allure, I believe that recalibrating my portfolio to emphasize dividends will provide a more resilient foundation, aligning with my financial goals and risk tolerance. Here’s to a strategic shift in myinvestment journey!

Mid-Year Portfolio Update

~ thepecunia ~ Leave a comment

2023 mid-year cost of investment in Singapore dollars:

1. Handpicked stocks: $218400

2. Syfe Reit: $5500

3. Syfe Core: S6600

4. MoneyOwl: 15900

Total: $246400

Unless something major happens in my life, I’m on track to reach $250000 by August.

By the way, what happened to the much predicted recession that was supposed to take place in 2023? Did it happen, or did it not? Without an outright declaration in major news media that the world is going through a global recession, everything does seem to be fine and dandy by the half-year mark of the year.

It seems like sunny weather is out and the rain coat is due back in the closet as far as the global investment environment goes.

I, however, through tainted pessimistic lens still see a couple of dark clouds in the horizon, although their forms are perpetually altering.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the war between these two countries are still in progress. Other geopolitical and trade tensions are mounting. The USA and China are still in conflict over a host of issues. Potential hot spots in the Taiwan Straits, the Middle East, and the South China Sea region continue to grab the headlines.

The eurozone is technically in a recession, after 2 quarters of -0.1% growth. The Chinese stock market remains lacklustre. Global inflation remains an untameable beast. The banking crises in America, while controlled, is still not averted entirely. The surge in AI stocks could be a bubble and investor sentiment could turn south anytime

There is still a lot of uncertainty around. In spite of global economic unpredictability, I continue to just DCA my investments. Rain or shine, 30% of my paycheck goes to my investment every month.

I have a plan and I am sticking to it!

I don’t know how My Portfolio is Performing

~ thepecunia ~ Leave a comment

It’s true. I do not know just how well or how badly my portfolio is performing. I’ve not logged into my StockCafe account for weeks now, and I’m feeling perfectly fine.

Is the stock market in a deplorable gloomy state? Are the clouds going to be parting soon? Are we in an upturn in the crypto market? I don’t know and I’m feeling perfectly alright not keeping tabs on what is happening in the world stock market.

I rest on the assurance that the equities market will eventually recover and my portfolio will grow as a result. What I am doing now is DCA consistently into my portfolios with MoneyOwl ( Dimensional Global Core Equity & Dimensional Emerging Markets Large Cap Core Equity) and Syfe (100% REITS & Core Equiy 100), while at the same time growing my warchest.

I like this DCA method a lot, and I find that it suits my investment temperament pretty well. I don’t have to waste time and effort to time the market. I don’t have to worry about market conditions and this saves me from many “heart attack” moments. I also do not have to waste time studying trends and reading financial reports, although the latter is a pretty fun thiing to do). My time is freed up to do other things. such as maintaining a side hustle (about 10 hours per week) and catching up on Netflix shows.. I also find myself reading more for pleasure and even have the time to learn to play a new musical instrument, which is absolutely fulfilling. Most importantly, I am able to spend precious moments with the family.

My total cost of stock investment thus far is about S$238, 116.15. At the rate I’m going, I should be able to hit S$250, 000 and go beyond that by the end of 2023.

My wife has since last year returned to the workforce. She works from home 90% of the time and thus she is able to take care of the kids at the same time (we have never ever employed a maid).

So, as a family, with the addition of her income, we are able to live more than comfortably. Nevertheless, we have always been careful with how we spend our money, so that stays and we are able to just put more money away.

She is not as adventurous as I am when it comes to investing in the stock market. She is happy just monitoring our investments in the SSB and T-bills. Our plan is to put in 2k per month into these relatively safe harbours.

Managing finances should not be a hair-pulling experience. Just keep everything simple.