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 Personal financial management, V2

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neo-spider
post Feb 3 2012, 03:11 PM

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This post has been edited by neo-spider: Feb 6 2012, 09:06 AM
neo-spider
post Feb 3 2012, 11:03 PM

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Thank Mr. WongMunKeong rclxms.gif .

Yes, the mutual funds are not via EPF cause I don't think they are a good deal. I mean typical EPF interest is about 5%, plus the 3% service charge when you buy the fund, means you need the fund to at least increase by 8% before you break even. Correct me if I'm wrong.

The fact is I'm not a crazy money saver guy, I don't spend much money socially (drinks, clubbing etc) but I have all those recent gadgets (HTC sensation, Ipad 2, xbox360, ps3, computer, big TV etc). It just that bonus from my current company is quite good to cover all those crazy expenses these few years.

I was not doing so well in the investment last year due to massive drop in Public Mutual Equities, manage to switch to bond before I was bled to death but still lose some money there. Luckily the bond was performing quite well last year (about 8%) to cover the lost in Public Mutual Equities. So currently looking for alternative place to invest the money. What do you think about buying properties in 2012? Or Foreign FD? Just to diversify a little bit.

Thank you.


QUOTE(wongmunkeong @ Feb 3 2012, 10:06 PM)
[attachmentid=2667061]
Whoa bro - you're saving 42%+ of your net salary? If that's true, congrats - very good head you've got on U.

In addition, if your mutual funds are NOT via EPF (ie. your EPF isnt in your data shared) and all those investments are in cash...  notworthy.gif

IMHO - you're doing well for a "normal salary earner".
Just one thing U might want to "watch out" for - your Asset Allocation is severely lopsided towards Fixed Income class, low on Biz Equities (Biz, normal Stocks, Equity Funds) and no REIT stocks / Properties, though U have Alternate class of Gold.

Another possible "watch out" - if you're not in a serious relationship yet and if U get into one AND/OR if U get married, don't ignore your financials though U may only save less. Speaking from my own younger and stupider days yar, please ignore if you're more "well adjusted"  laugh.gif

Definitely a future MULTI-millionaire.  thumbup.gif

Excel in ZIP file for your simulation
[attachmentid=2667060]
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neo-spider
post Feb 4 2012, 09:53 AM

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Hi Wong,

Thank you for your time and patient to explain to me rclxms.gif Really appreciate it notworthy.gif

I understand your point of that 8% only for the 1st year and should be okay for long term. However, I'm still noobie in investing, I wouldn't risk the confirmed 4%-5% by EPF with something that's I'm not sure will even make it 8% to break even with the EPF interest. Anyway, I still have a healthy amount of saving which I can pump into investment every month (equity and gold) without the need to go into my EPF fund.

REITs does sound suitable to me as I'm too lazy to go around search for good properties or doing the whole land-lord thing. Definitely interested in REITs, however will do some more fact-finding before diving into it. Any good recommended REITs that I can keep an eye for drool.gif ? I don't even have an account for stock trading...... rclxub.gif

Thanks again rclxms.gif





QUOTE(wongmunkeong @ Feb 3 2012, 11:32 PM)
Eh, no Mr Mr here to me pls. Surname = Wong, not Mr. tongue.gif

Ah - these savings / fun spending are inclusive of your bonus? Still good leh - it's near my own personal level of cash savings inclusive of bonus and you've got age/time & growth on your side. I'm a geezer comparatively  notworthy.gif

Well, your logic of EPF --> Mutual Funds needing 8%pa to break even isnt too right.
Note that that's just for the 1st year, U should take long term into consideration. Please note i'm NOT advocating U should move yr EPF into mutual funds k, just going to share some return i myself managed to eek out.
Below are snapshots of Equity funds i hold in Prudential SmallCaps + Public Sector Select Fund (PSSF)
& Bond fund Public Select Bond Fund. Please note i'm my own agent for Public Mutual, thus take the PSSF returns with a pinch of salt due to lowered cost of entry. For PSBF, agents dont get any of the 0.25% commissions (if i'm not mistaken).

Take a look see - worthwhile?
It's not ALL profits yar as U can see from the "untouched-up", other than amount and units lar, snapshots.
Take special note of Prudential's SmallCap which i paid FULL service charges. In those days, i think it was about 6%++.
Worthwhile? It depends on your own selection and methodology i guess. Heck, if U can handle gold's wild runs, this is sup sup water for U i think

[attachmentid=2667236]
[attachmentid=2667238]
[attachmentid=2667239]

U've just got introduced to Asset Allocation indirectly by your bond funds saving the day due to their exceptional returns these 1+ year biggrin.gif.

Properties? It's always a good time OR bad time to buy - it depends on your expertise in the area + target market. This is where specialization can eek out some great deals even in a high market. Personally, i'm not an expert in properties though i do have investment real estate. Just bought based on cost VS rental yield returns + location for easier land-lording.

I'd suggest U look into REITs as a start for diversifying into Real Estate asset class since REITs throws out dividends regularly and has upside potential due to its underlying properties going up in value and/or people chasing the REIT's stocks up. No issues of landlording nor lump sum locked-in BUT not much leverage (which can be a good or bad thing).

Foreign FD? not my cuppa unless my daughter identifies which country's Uni she's targeting - she's a wee bit too young to do that yet though hheheh. Reason = i'd rather own the assets generating the $, than just the $.

Phew - just a (many?) thought.  notworthy.gif
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This post has been edited by neo-spider: Feb 4 2012, 09:54 AM
neo-spider
post Feb 4 2012, 06:26 PM

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Hi Wong,

stock investing, not stock trading flex.gif

Stock Investing, Not Stock Trading flex.gif

STOCK INVESTING, NOT STOCK TRADING flex.gif

STOCK INVESTING, NOT STOCK TRADING thumbup.gif

Thanks Man rclxms.gif

Well, got a lot of reading to do, the more I google, the more things I realize I don't know about shocking.gif

Gotta start somewhere right, good thing its a long weekend icon_rolleyes.gif

Thanks for the help again rclxms.gif


QUOTE(wongmunkeong @ Feb 4 2012, 10:05 AM)
You're welcome Neo-Spider - hope it helps.

Er.. i wouldnt say "confirm 4%-5%" for EPF. Guaranteed is only 2.5%
If you're the risk mgt type, U might want to consider whether U can take out from your all your EPF when 55 given that Gov usually taps EPF's funds (ie. our money) for all sorts of stuff, even tak logical ones, without our say. Thus, there may be some hazzards to EPF's "real $ available for withdrawal" and the Gov may just push that age further OR change the withdrawal to some annuity thinggy rather than lump sum when U reach retirement.

Personally, 1/3 of my net worth is tied to EPF, thus i'm taking out as much and as fast as possible to sorok into Properties (a/c2) and Mutual Funds (a/c1). The $ sorok-ed into Mutual Funds is not 100% safe from EPF's hands in my opinion, as it may just REVOKE all investments into mutual funds from tapping EPF and force a "recall".

REITs? Try here:
http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1993103/+102
http://mreit.reitdata.com/

BTW, pls repeat after me - Stock INVESTING, not TRADING tongue.gif
Just a thought  notworthy.gif
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