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My Special Account Money (SA) in Central Provident Fund (CPF) – Cornerstone or Last Resort for Retirement?

Posted on by careyourpresent

Central Provident Fund (CPF)

I believe CPF formed a large net worth of most working adults in Singapore, including me. I have talked about my current stage of in my reflection article (Portfolio Update: Feb 2023 and Reflection at half-life (hopefully) mark – 40 Years old). In that article, I have mentioned that “Reach CPF Full Retirement Sum (FRS) in Special Account in Jan 2020 (Current: way exceeded 200k such that will still reach FRS even if not working).” Action and evidence speak louder than word. I shall show screenshot of my CPF in this post at the end of this post.

What is Central Provident Fund (CPF)?

In case for those not aware (especially foreigner) who are reading this post. Let me share some details.

CPF is short for Central Provident Fund in Singapore, which is a savings scheme designed to help Singaporeans save up for their future. It’s a mandatory savings plan that both employers and employees contribute to, and it offers a range of benefits such as retirement savings, medical savings, and insurance coverage.

Contributions to CPF are made on a monthly basis, and the amount you contribute depends on your age and income. The funds in your CPF account are managed by the government, and you’ll earn interest of 2.5% to 4% (with special extra interest, it can go up to 6% for the first 60k) on your savings too.

Overall, CPF is an important safety net for Singaporeans, and it’s designed to make sure that you have enough financial resources to support yourself throughout your life. Whether you’re saving up for retirement, a home, or your education, CPF is there to help you achieve your goals (hopefully).

One key term in CPF that one should know is Full Retirement Sum.

What is Full Retirement Sum?

The Full Retirement Sum (FRS) of CPF is the amount of money you need to save up in your CPF account to receive a basic monthly payout for life after you retire. This is really important because it helps to ensure that you have enough money to cover your living expenses and healthcare needs during your retirement years.

When you turn 55, you can choose to set aside your FRS in a special account called the Retirement Account (RA). The RA is designed to provide you with a monthly payout starting from the age of 65 years old, so you can enjoy your retirement without worrying too much about finances.

As of 2023, the FRS is $198,800, but don’t worry if you don’t have that much saved up yet. You can still receive a lower monthly payout under the CPF Life Scheme if you don’t have enough savings in your CPF account to meet the FRS.

Of course, if you want to receive a higher monthly payout in retirement, you can choose to set aside more than the FRS in your RA. This will help you enjoy a more comfortable retirement and give you greater financial security.

FRS has been increasing steadily over years (see screenshot below) and many people are worried that they can’t achieve it. This is fact and a real worry.

CPF website

How much monthly payout will I get?

The next question is how much I will get monthly at age 65. From the CPF website,

To receive a monthly payout of $1,470 – $1,570, you will need $288,900 in your
Retirement Account (RA) at 65. A much lesser sum of $192,000 is required if you set aside
the amount in your RA at 55.

For example, if I want 2k per month at 65, I need to have around 280k at age 55! Wow that’s a big amount. It’s difficult to achieve it – That’s why most people think.

CPF website

My CPF Special Account (SA) as of Today

Picture speaks a thousand words.

Why do I show SA only? Because I am making use of the compounding effect of CPF SA to achieve Full Retirement. The rest of money in Ordinary Account and Medisave Account to me are just bonus to me.

Assuming, I quit my job immediately, thus no further CPF contribution to work.

This is what I will get at age 65.

Ignoring the extra interest for first 60k and further work contribution, I would have 612k at age 65. Based on the payout table from CPF website earlier, $428,300 will give $2140 to $2300 monthly payout from age 65. I have 612K, thus it means I should have at least 3k per month. Together with my spouse, we would have 6k per month monthly at least. Decent lifestyle for old couple? (Don’t forget that this excludes my investment portfolio)

Power of compounding

Of course, this is a backup plan. My main plan is still my equity, bond, option, & crypto portfolio, which is way larger.

Plan early and build success.

My idea is just to get CPF FRS out of mind, hence I deliberately try to maximize it when I was younger. Hence, today, at 40, I totally don’t bother with how much I have in my CPF – just let it auto-compound.

It’s not difficult to achieve Full Retirement Sum – FRS

Contrary to most beliefs, it is not difficult to achieve Full Retirement Sum. There are few simple methods to achieve based on what I did.

  • Transfer OA to SA as early as possible. I did this after learning from A Singaporean Stocks Investor (ASSI) decades ago. This is my main method to achieve Full Retirement Sum. This is achievable as I didn’t buy expensive HDB and thus minimal amount is taken from OA to pay for my house.
  • Top up with CASH to get tax relief. I did some top-ups over the past decades (but in total less than 5k). Why? Because of the idea of shifting goalpost. It worries many people and of course me. Furthermore, I could get more than 4% outside from stocks etc, why lock my money for 30 years?

However, for the transfer of OA to SA, it is different, since money already trapped in system, why not make full use of it? Let the government interest play the magic of compounding for you.

What about you? Have you achieved your Full Retirement Sum? Do you plan to achieve it? It’s not difficult and I am the living proof of it.

Care Your Present

Lastly, I want to repeat one last thing. please learn to live in the moment, enjoy every single moment of your life.

“Time has no reset button” is what I used to be saying.

But this is not powerful accurate enough.

It SHOULD BE Time is ticking away.

For each passing day,

You have one less day with your spouse, parents, children and most important yourself.

Read: Truly understand Living in the Moment now

Good articles that you should read!

People are drawn to dividend investing.

Why? Firstly, dividends provide a regular stream of income, allowing investors to receive a portion of the company’s profits on a periodic basis. This can be particularly attractive for individuals seeking consistent cash flow or looking to supplement their existing income. Additionally, dividend investing is often viewed as a more stable and predictable investment strategy compared to relying solely on capital appreciation.

I always write and share articles, especially on dividends which many people love them. Do read them!

Alternatively, you can go the right side of my page, there is a search bar where you can simply search “dividend” to see all my articles related to dividends!

Of course, you can search for other things that would interest you such as “Careyourpresent”, “Reits”, “Side Hustles”, “Fixed Incomes”, “Savings” etc.

CAREYOURPRESENT

Money just buy you the chance of freedom.

When you are young and working, you exchange time for money. When you are old, you can have lots of money but you can’t buy time back, especially the things that you have missed while busying striking out in career. Of course, if you love your career, and consciously know that you are missing out the first time your child walk or talk, that’s ok, but if you are the other spectrum, please do something about it.

Your kids grew up and they no longer need you to accompany them. They no longer want to sit on your lap to share/do things with you…all these time you spent in your 9 to 6 or even longer cubicles…can the money that you have earned by you back these?

We always thought we have more time with our old parents, but we are wrong. Time with them is ticking away every day. One day it will suddenly be gone. There is no regret medicine, no reset in time. Gone is gone and cannot come back. No matter you are billionaires or millionaires, you cannot reset this.

We always thought that we have more time with our spouse every day, but we are wrong. One day they will be gone too. When you read this, please go tell your spouse that you love him/her and he or she is the best thing that you ever had in your life.

I have picked out some of the more life reflecting articles of the CAREYOURPRESENT series. Do read them:

You can read more about my articles on Careyourpresent via the Category “Careyourpresent” or simply click “Careyourpresent” via the main menu bar.

REMEMBER:

Love your life daily.

You have one less day with your spouse, parents, children and yourself.

Time is ticking away.

For each passing day,

Enjoy and Treasure your Life!

For those who are interested in regular updates of my articles, please join the others to sign up for my free newsletter to has my newest blogposts sent to your mailbox for free!

For real time exclusive updates on market news/life (especially Crypto markets where the news move fast, important news will be shared directly via tweets or telegrams), do also join the platforms below and engage with other like-minded people!

You may also contact me via [email protected].

If you’re looking referral codes, do check out my referral and ebook page. Give it a try and who knows? You might end up loving these platforms! To be absolutely fair to all the readers, I am definitely using all these companies and they are useful to me! Likely will be useful to you too!

At the same referral and ebook page, you can also download my free ebooks and other free resources.

For quick references to these resources, you can see below.

  • Ebooks and other useful resources on enhancing productivity (Investment, Excel, Notion etc). Currently most of it are free at this moment (subject to change).
  • WeBull: A powerful brokerage with nice free welcome gift. You can refer to my guide here on how to signup! 4 Simple step only! Click here to register a new account!
  • MoneyOwl: You can use this 6SHU-93MC to get free grab vouchers and highly safe liquid cash fund account.
  • Trust Bank – You will enjoy free FairPrice E-Voucher referral if you sign up via my referral code KNDBPEPT. Simply download the Trust Bank SG App on the App Store or Google Play Store. Tap on “Use referral code” immediately after you start the app and key in: KNDBPEPT
  • FSMOne: P0413007. Good account to keep liquid cash in autosweep and to purchase investment at low fee.
  • Hostinger: You can use this link for hosting your new website. 20% off hosting!
  • Crypto.com: Use my referral link https://crypto.com/app/h92xdfarkq to sign up for Crypto.com and we both get $25 USD 🙂

Portfolio Update: Feb 2023 and Reflection at half-life (hopefully) mark – 40 Years old

Posted on by careyourpresent

Reflection

Most people (consciously/subconsciously) always think that they are immortal (including the past me), thinking that the last day of their life on Earth will never come, especially while they are in their 10s, 20, 30s or even 40s. However, if you really stop and think, this is not the truth of life.

I have just passed my birthday few days ago – officially at the 40 years old mark. If I am lucky, this is my half-life age (assuming 80 years old life span). If I am not lucky, I am already way passed my half-life mark. Many people think that they can live forever, but the sad truth that it is not.

My mum just passed away three weeks ago (Farewell Mum. You are always in my mind). Suddenly I realized that death is so near. When I visited her ashes at Choa Chu Kang Columbarium, you will really realize that life is short. If you look at the crafting of the words at the Columbarium, you can see that actually there are people who died in their 20s, 30, 40s, or even much younger. Life is short and unpredictable.

We should always stop a while, reflect and be grateful with what life have given us. Treasure what we have now, living in the moment (which I didn’t in the past). I didn’t know how to Let It Go and focus on more important things in life – example, I was always bothered by what other people said (like Friends, Colleagues etc) and reacted negatively sometimes, especially when there are the typical Office Politics involved. Looking back now, does it really matter what they said? Lifespan of human is so short and limited, we should live a fulfilling life full of experiences that we love to have instead.

Anyway, time flies, I am now 40 years old. Half-way mark of life (hopefully) and my mum just passed away. Let me stop to take stock of what I have in life and from now on aim to live to the best of my life EVERY SINGLE DAY, not wasting any time. For the reader of my blogs, I am sharing this personal reflection is because I hoped that you can stop and reflect too, live the best of your life so that you will not regret on your death bed (which might come sooner than you think).

These are the areas that I will cover in this article:

  • 1. Career
  • 2. Money – Portfolio update
  • 3. Family
  • 4. Own Life

1. Career

Times really files, from my graduation from the University in 2008 until today 2023, it has been 15 years with a blink of an eyes. Have I grown in my career?

Career is something very important to most important, especially it make up of almost 8-10 hours of your awake time, given that one is only awake for typically 16 hours out of 24 hours. That mean 1/3 of your time, your time is spent on career. That’s why it is good to be in a career/job that one love. But sadly, most people cannot get a job/career you love right? In the end, it is just a tool to make end meets. If one doesn’t need to drag their feets to work, it is already a big blessing in disguise.

Similar to most other people, I am stuck with the typical 9 to 5 schedule currently. It is not a glamourous job, nor it is high paying, but it is enough to let me have a decent lifestyle with some spare money every month for investment and growing my wealth. 9 to 5 job is still the main income followed by my investment in this wealth generation process. My 15 years of jobs/careers helped me to reach CPF Full Retirement Sum, with decent amount of savings/investment/emergency funds etc while providing a relatively decent lifestyle for my loved one. I am not the lucky one to find a job that I love. But at least I don’t really drag my feets to work. For me, the most negative part of my job is giving up the opportunity time to be with my kids while they need me and is still growing up. Well, that’s life, isn’t it? Life isn’t perfect!

2. Money – Portfolio update

When I first graduated from the University, I knew nothing about personal finance. Like many other people, I went to buy investment-linked policies from friends that are also recent graduates like me (now I know that quite likely they also don’t know anything about personal finances) that promises you great investment returns + protection. What happened few years later? I am so glad that I cut loss and incurred at 4 digits losses early instead of only cut loss today. If you also experienced this before, do feel free to share your experiences in the comments below.

Slowly as years goes by in my 1st job, I realized that I should take care of my own finances. I decided that I should start my own learning about personal finance. Time flies and I am here today (You can read about me to find out my investment journey). Do also read Financial Literacy 101 – Art of Managing your Wealth if you are new to Financial Literacy.

As of today, these are my achievements in term of wealth. Not filthy rich but good enough survive in this ever-increasing inflation world.

  • Me: Reach CPF Full Retirement Sum (FRS) in Special Account in Jan 2020 (Current: way exceeded 200k such that will still reach FRS even if not working).
  • Me: Reach CPF Basic Health Sum (BHS) in Medisave Account in Jan 2020 (Current: at BHS).
  • Spouse: Reach CPF Full Retirement Sum (FRS) in Special Account in Jan 2021 (Current: way exceeded 200k such that will still reach FRS even if not working).
  • Spouse: Reach CPF Basic Health Sum (BHS) in Medisave Account in Jan 2021 (Current: at full BHS).
  • House: Still have outstanding HDB debt of below 80k (But OA from me and my spouse account can cover this easily). 2nd Bto coming soon, both our OAs and the return from selling current flat should be able to cover all loans. I am not rich enough to buy condo but I am debt free forever. Rising interest rate will benefit my idling cash via FSM, FD, Moneyowl etc.
  • Insurance: Purchased all kind all insurances (except ILP) including whole life for child and have paid off everything (except 1 whole life plan for spouse + our individual term plans + hospital plan)
  • Emergency Funds: 40 months of emergency funds that cover household expenses for 40 months all locked up in SSB. This gives me at least $500 per month via SSB Bond Ladders.
  • Daily Funds: 2 months of liquid cash that can cover our monthly expenses for 2 months. This is constantly replenished from monthly cashflow from various income sources.

Fast forward to today, I am more of a dividend/index investor with some dabbling into Crypto/US/Options. Why? I can’t afford the time to do very in-depth research for more active investing/trading. I love crypto but the crypto space is developing too much while I dont have so much time to research. My 24 hours are divided into sleep, kids, spouse, parents, work etc with very little time left for myself (you can refer to the screenshot below that I have taken from my post written early on 25 July 2022).

https://careyourpresent.com/careyourpresent-frozen-let-it-go/

2.1 Portfolio Allocation

A picture speaks a thousand words. The amount stated in this section exclude Emergency funds and Daily funds as of 13 February 2023.

Cash/Cash Equivalents59.75%
Investment40.25%

2.2 Transaction for the month

Bought Keppel Reit and then sold for a quick trade with trading profit of $XXX.
Sold half of CLCT that I have owned at $1.27 before xD (Look at the price now =p)
Pending Dividend collection $3999.89 for Mit Mlog Keppel Reit MPac KDC Areit CLCT (already xD so money will be coming in Feb/March).
Traded ETH in Arbitrium and Matic for some kopi money.

2.3 Fixed Income

SSB Bond Ladder as Emergency Funds completed. Currently about S$1600 per month from my idling funds (Investment idling funds + Emergency Funds in Singapore Saving Bonds).

https://www.mas.gov.sg/bonds-and-bills/singapore-savings-bonds

This month Singapore Saving Bonds’ yield is only 2.9% (SBMAR23 GX23030A). I am not going to buy SSB anymore. Instead, I have bought some DBS Fixed Deposit at 3.9% for my idling cash the promotion that I have mentioned earlier (SAVERs – Best Options to maximise your interests). However, this promotion has ended, the lastest by DBS is “5FRS” at 3.58% p.a. for 5 months with minimum placement of 20k.

For those who don’t like your idling funds to be locked up. I would recommend the following:

  1. FSM Autosweep. Current rate is 2.71%. I am using this to buy/sell my stocks. Hence it is very convenient to just park my funds here for 2.71%. I have multiple accounts with FSM with my kids/wife as beneficiary members and put in at least 6 digits in these accounts (must have estate planning think out fully). If you do not have an account, you can sign up here. Do consider using my FSMOne referral code: P0413007.
  2. MoneyOwl WiseIncome. Latest rate is 4.01%. This is liquid and you can take out anytime. MoneyOwl Wisesaver is investing in Fullerton SGD Cash Fund – Class A (SGD) which invested mainly in SGD Fixed Deposit and backed by Temasek. MoneyOwl itself is under NTUC income. It is as safe as you can get! Do consider to use my referral link (or key in 6SHU-93MC) to get free $20-$60 Grab Vouchers when you invest with them.
https://www.moneyowl.com.sg/wisesaver/

2.4 Investment Plans

Recession risk is getting higher. Fed is not pivoting. If you look at the recent treasury yield, it is going up. I am still holding to close to 60% cash. I will wait for the best time to strike and will not be stuck into the FOMO mode now. Meanwhile, I will do fast trade to earn some kopi money.

from CNBC

3. Family

This is the most precious things that I have.

Although I have a recent loss, but I would still like to treasure what I have remaining now, especially for my young kids while they still need me. Once you missed this golden period where the kids need you, you can never have it back. There will always be a last time where they hold your hands and walk to school together. There will always be a last time they bug you to play with them. Treasure them because once it is gone it is gone.

Your old parents. I have already lost one parent. The other one I will also lose one day. Hence treasure time to be with them. You will never know when it is the last day.

Your spouse. Many do not treasure their spouse but I am grateful and have it. Spouse walked with you for most part of your life. If you don’t treasure your spouse, one day you will regret. To be very blunt, spouse will leave you one day, hopefully it will be during the period where he or she is very old, but like is unpredictable. Who know?

4. Own Life

Times really flies. I always thought I am very far from death. Yet I just experienced my mum death recently (Farewell Mum. You are always in my mind). But life still has to goes on (Do you know what will happen few hours after you die?). Through this experience, I realized my mistake now and Truly understand Living in the Moment now – my objective in life now is to lead a fulfilling life that is true to myself and generate the best experiences that I will have for the remaining of my life.

Coincidentally, I am at the half point mark life – 40 years old (hopefully this is at least halfway). Time really flies and there is no reset button.

Days seems long but years are really short. With a blind of an eye, I am already 40 years old. Do you really need to care what other people or other society say about you? I used to be like that but now I don’t. I like to listen to advice, good one I will listen, bad one we should learn to let go and don’t keep to your heart. Don’t waste your precious time/life on unimportant thing.

Final Thoughts

I am grateful and happy to what I have in life now and I hope that you are too. I will strive to make every day meaningful and living in the moment. I hope my readers will do so that we won’t regret in future.

Life and time have no reset button and is the most important commodity in life. Care Your Present, Live in the Moment, don’t regret past or worry too much about the future, be happy and build a meaning life. Love money, but it is a tool to the end not the end itself.

You don’t need a lot of money to be happy but you need the mindset and time to be happy.

Hope that you will truly understand the above.

Good articles that you should read!

People are drawn to dividend investing.

Why? Firstly, dividends provide a regular stream of income, allowing investors to receive a portion of the company’s profits on a periodic basis. This can be particularly attractive for individuals seeking consistent cash flow or looking to supplement their existing income. Additionally, dividend investing is often viewed as a more stable and predictable investment strategy compared to relying solely on capital appreciation.

I always write and share articles, especially on dividends which many people love them. Do read them!

Alternatively, you can go the right side of my page, there is a search bar where you can simply search “dividend” to see all my articles related to dividends!

Of course, you can search for other things that would interest you such as “Careyourpresent”, “Reits”, “Side Hustles”, “Fixed Incomes”, “Savings” etc.

CAREYOURPRESENT

Money just buy you the chance of freedom.

When you are young and working, you exchange time for money. When you are old, you can have lots of money but you can’t buy time back, especially the things that you have missed while busying striking out in career. Of course, if you love your career, and consciously know that you are missing out the first time your child walk or talk, that’s ok, but if you are the other spectrum, please do something about it.

Your kids grew up and they no longer need you to accompany them. They no longer want to sit on your lap to share/do things with you…all these time you spent in your 9 to 6 or even longer cubicles…can the money that you have earned by you back these?

We always thought we have more time with our old parents, but we are wrong. Time with them is ticking away every day. One day it will suddenly be gone. There is no regret medicine, no reset in time. Gone is gone and cannot come back. No matter you are billionaires or millionaires, you cannot reset this.

We always thought that we have more time with our spouse every day, but we are wrong. One day they will be gone too. When you read this, please go tell your spouse that you love him/her and he or she is the best thing that you ever had in your life.

I have picked out some of the more life reflecting articles of the CAREYOURPRESENT series. Do read them:

You can read more about my articles on Careyourpresent via the Category “Careyourpresent” or simply click “Careyourpresent” via the main menu bar.

REMEMBER:

Love your life daily.

You have one less day with your spouse, parents, children and yourself.

Time is ticking away.

For each passing day,

Enjoy and Treasure your Life!

For those who are interested in regular updates of my articles, please join the others to sign up for my free newsletter to has my newest blogposts sent to your mailbox for free!

For real time exclusive updates on market news/life (especially Crypto markets where the news move fast, important news will be shared directly via tweets or telegrams), do also join the platforms below and engage with other like-minded people!

You may also contact me via [email protected].

If you’re looking referral codes, do check out my referral and ebook page. Give it a try and who knows? You might end up loving these platforms! To be absolutely fair to all the readers, I am definitely using all these companies and they are useful to me! Likely will be useful to you too!

At the same referral and ebook page, you can also download my free ebooks and other free resources.

For quick references to these resources, you can see below.

  • Ebooks and other useful resources on enhancing productivity (Investment, Excel, Notion etc). Currently most of it are free at this moment (subject to change).
  • WeBull: A powerful brokerage with nice free welcome gift. You can refer to my guide here on how to signup! 4 Simple step only! Click here to register a new account!
  • MoneyOwl: You can use this 6SHU-93MC to get free grab vouchers and highly safe liquid cash fund account.
  • Trust Bank – You will enjoy free FairPrice E-Voucher referral if you sign up via my referral code KNDBPEPT. Simply download the Trust Bank SG App on the App Store or Google Play Store. Tap on “Use referral code” immediately after you start the app and key in: KNDBPEPT
  • FSMOne: P0413007. Good account to keep liquid cash in autosweep and to purchase investment at low fee.
  • Hostinger: You can use this link for hosting your new website. 20% off hosting!
  • Crypto.com: Use my referral link https://crypto.com/app/h92xdfarkq to sign up for Crypto.com and we both get $25 USD 🙂

A real life case of Financial Independent but don’t dare to retire early

Posted on by careyourpresent

Financial Independent and Retire Early – The dream of many people

This is the topic that many people like to think and dream about. Work hard, earn high income, save more, spend less, grow your passive income in order to become Financial independent. After that you can retire early and have all the free time you have to do whatever you like – This is the daunting DREAM of many people including myself. However, how many people can really achieve this? Is it really that easy to FIRE (Financial Independent and Retire Early)?

Do you believe? Financial Independent is easy but Retire early IS NOT EASY

I can tell you that this is not easy! It is not easy. The not easy part is not the – Work hard, earn high income, save more, spend less, grow your passive income in order to become Financial independent. This is difficult but achievable. It’s the RETIRE EARLY part that is difficult. Too much time on hand is not easy. Regardless you are financial independent or not – Routine schedule, steady salary with a job is so much easier for most people. Don’t believe me? Really? Let me share a story.

Story of Financial Independent and Retire Early

Beginning of Story

Let me share with you a story that I have learnt from somewhere.

Ten, twenty years ago in a country, there lived a young chap who just started work after university. Similar to many young chaps, he is also disillusioned by the 9-6pm routine, working until you are very old in the 60s+ before retiring, then enjoy your last 20 years (if lucky) of retirement life.

How to achieve Financial Independent and Retire Early

Similar to many others, one of the most common ways to achieve this is studying for decades for a good degree, find a good job, climb corporate ladder, grow high income then Work hard, earn high income, save more, spend less, grow your passive income in order to become Financial independent. After Financial Independent, he can retire early and enjoy life, in SHORT FIRE!

He read books, study, learn investment, work hard to grow his income, reduce expenses. Like many others, he understands that Time is a more valuable asset than money. Most people are just exchanging your life energy for money. Hence, since entrepreneurship may not be easy, with higher risk of failure, he gets a decent job with good salary. Then he lives below means, save 50-80% of income, the actively read books, articles, learn from others in order to invest well and grow his investment income.

Overall, he is actively building his network over time.

Image of these books are from https://www.amazon.sg/

After slightly more than a decade of hard work…

Time flies, after slightly more than a decade of hard work. He got married, got 2 kids (one in preschool and one in primary one in year 2022) and live a life envy of many. In term of employment, although he didn’t get super high salary, but it’s decent enough for his family to live based on his income alone. Together with his spouse income and their family habits of living way below means, this family saved a lot, and achieved the following:

  • Exceeded CPF Full Retirement in Special Account only for both him and his spouse. This means that even both of them stopped work immediately, they should get at least 2.5k each (total 5k) from 65 years old onwards
  • A house that is not fully paid but can be paid off easily with CPF Ordinary account anytime. In fact, they balloted successfully for a new BTO which will be ready in 2024 which they should be able to pay off with CPF Ordinary account easily – they bought new house so that can refresh the lease to 99 years. In the worst case where they run out of money when they are old, they can downgrade the house.
  • Full Basic Health Sum for both of them
  • Medical and Life Insurance fully covered
  • Decent amount of Networth with dividend cashflow that should be able to cover their monthly expenses with a little buffer
  • Keeping to low expenses with no car (they rather save the money to invest although they can afford it)
  • War chest to invest into the markets should there be crash
  • Emergency Funds for 2 years put in Singapore Saving Bonds that can be redeem with few days to longest a month
  • Keep daily cashflow of around 1-2 months for usual spendings

Given the above and after procrastinating for at least 1 year, they decided to activate a plan that they had planned long ago since they got their first child.

Their Problem

Many would be asking what is their plan? If it the Financial Independent and Retire Early? FIRE?

The answer is no.

The main objective behind this plan is to solve a problem that is causing headache to many people – childcare when the child reaches primary one.

How to solve childcare problem? They are 4 main common options in this society:

  1. After School Care – many people took up this option! This is great. There are teachers to take care of them, help to do homework, fed them, many activities etc…
  2. Hire a helper – This option is much cheaper compared to the salaries that they are drawing now. They also get to be freer with more me time.
  3. Grandparents helping to take care – this option is great for many people.
  4. Latch key kid – Give money and keys to kid and ask kid to go home after school at 1.30pm. Most kid at Primary One should be able to do that.

Which option did they choose?

None of the above.

Their Plans and Beliefs

Let me go one step backward to share their beliefs first. They believe that a child should have someone to accompany when they are growing up so that the child feel that home is safe and can share theirs thought. Home will be their safe Habor. The question is who is that someone? They have analyzed the 4 options above:

  1. After School Care – they don’t want to put their kid into this. Their primary one kid was put in infant care since the kid was 3-4 months old because they need to work to get income. They have missed so much time with the kid already – kid is only young once. Once the time missed, it will never come back.
  2. Hire a helper – this is possible, but they have to get a good helper. But on second thoughts, even with a very good helper, they don’t want a scenario such that when the kid needs help, need someone to talk to/share feelings with (example fall down, feel sad/emo/happy due to whatever things happen in school) etc, to find helper instead of parents. Worse case, helper become the kid’s “Mom” instead of the real “Mom” (this is true, if you observe surrounding carefully).
  3. Grandparents helping to take care – this option is great for many people but not for them. Their parents are too old to be able to take care of young children and different parental beliefs.
  4. Latch key kid – They feel sad to create another latch key kid. It’s sad to go home and see empty nest. Most of the time, the kid just hangs out with other kids or something else which might lead them astray?

Oh No! All the 4 options don’t work. What can they do?

The Decision

They decided to give up one of the high salaries and has one of them stay home for 5 years (until the kids can manage on their own independently which is around 5 years). This mean a change from dual income to single income. However, with inflation, ever rising cost of living, this is a very tough option. It is a big risk that they are taking. Moreover, who is the one to stay home?

Who?

After much deliberation, the answer is the young chap. Why? Isn’t usually the wife who stay home to take care of kid? It is out of society norm to has husband stayed home. He will be laughed at! After finding out more from them, these are the reasons that they have given me.

  • In term of monthly salary and yearly bonus, the wife earns much more.
  • In term of flexibility in terms of hours/working from home etc, the wife’s work gives better flexibility.
  • In term of career progression, the wife’s job has higher salary/corporate ladder progression
  • The wife loves her job as she feels it is contributing to society.
  • The husband doesn’t like his job, treat it as something that generate money paycheck.
  • The husband is the one the spent more time with the kids whenever he is free after work. The wife preferred more free personal time. The husband is the one managing all the finances/investment, doing side hustles to earn more income for family etc. All these takes up time. If the husband quits, he will free up time for all these MORE IMPORTANT things.
  • Mentally the wife is stronger, the husband has childhood trauma with his parents, this might be a good time for him to take a career break to heal.

Additionally, since their cashflow from investments cover their expenses (as mentioned above), changing from dual income to single income should work.

Advantages of this option

Exercising this option have numerous advantages.

  • The kid has an adult (his own beloved parent) to grow up with them.
  • Someone will be there anytime rather than physically is there but mind is not there during work from home days. Those unexpected moments when the kids what to share things with them happen usually after they are at home in the afternoon after school. He challenged me that if I don’t believe this point, I can go ask my kid to share what had happened to the child in school today at around 7pm when I am back home from work.
  • Don’t need to worry who take leave when child sick/no school due to any special event etc.
  • Don’t need to worry about childcare arrangement for Jun/Dec school holidays.
  • The husband will have more free time to think through his life.

Risks of this option

After careful analysis, of course there are risks to this option. Below is what they have told me:

  • Although their cashflow from investments cover their expenses, but innately most FIRE people still have the fear of running out of money. What if there are sudden medical expenses? What is inflation/eve rising cost of living raised the expenses so high that their investment cashflow cannto cover the expense?
  • What if financial crisis strikes? Can their portfolio take the hit and maintain enough cashflow to cover the expenses? Of course, the wife’s salary can cover but this is still a risk.
  • What if the wife loses the job and at the same time investment cashflow turns into issue?
  • Both of them are late thirties, it is a big risk to retire early/career break early. What if they run out of money and want to go back work but no one want to hire back the husband? Resume with career break usually will be questioned by the employers.
  • Husband stayed home is against society norms. Can he take it?
  • Identity Crisis – what should he call himself? Stay at home dad (SAHD), Someone taking Career break? Unemployed? Someone Financially Independent and retire early? Penguin Daddy?

Benefits outweigh the Risks

After considering the pros and cons of the above method, they decided to still go ahead with this option. The husband tendered his resignation with last day at the end of January 2023. On the day where he broke the news to his boss, he was nervous and scared.

Nightmares begin

Few days after he tendered; the nightmare began.

Too much free time

He suddenly felt very loss. He was given less roles in his current jobs as he prepared for the handover. Suddenly he has so much free time. He suddenly realized that he might have made a big mistake. Too much free time is scary. How can he fill those voids of empty time?

Let’s say he identified himself as the Dream status of many people – FIRE! Now he achieved it. Remembered my first paragraph above (copied and highlight in yellow below for easy reference)? However, he suddenly realized what I meant by

Routine schedule, steady salary with a job is so much easier for most people.

Loss of identity is real

Although this was one of the risk items that he has already identified earlier but He suddenly realized that this becomes real. He really dont know what to call himself now, he doesn’t know how to cope now. He was a manager. Now what is he? Stay at home dad (SAHD), Someone taking Career break? Unemployed? Someone Financially Independent and retire early? Penguin Daddy?

Something really felt wrong when he called himself all these. Until today, he still doesn’t know what to call himself.

Loss of Purpose

He suddenly felt a loss of purpose. This wasn’t one of the risk items that he has listed earlier but it just came out. Everyone in this world is always seeking for the purpose of life. What is his purpose of life now? Just to take care of young kids which they might not even remembered/understand the sacrified that their dad made when they grow up? Stay home dad? FIRE and enjoy life while his wife still working?

Childhood Trauma

From what I know about him, he was suffering from childhood trauma. His parents never believe him, even when he is late thirties now. He once shared a story with me – One day when he cycled with his kids on bicycle to visit his parents to their houses, the first thing they told him is “You can cycle the kids safely meh?” Then they would nag and “teach” him that he must go on pavement instead of roadside, must go this route that route etc, then end with the line to tell him better he doesn’t cycle as he cannot. Whatever he wanted to do, shared with him parents what he wanted to try and do, is always ended with “You cannot do it”.

Hence, he grew up with a void, with no confidence in anything he does. He felt that he is useless although in fact his achievements are decent (met FRS, house no issue, emergency funds no issue, insurance no issue, decent cashflow from investments, nice family with supportive spouse and kid etc). Anyway, this is one of the key reasons(s) why he wants to grow up with his kid (to relive his childhood and be a supportive parent).

Worries Worries and more Worries

Back to the story, this weakness of him suddenly reality struck after he resigned. He became more and more worries every day. What if he can’t find a job after 5 years? What if his investment fail? What if his wife also falls sick and cannot work (hence no buffer should investment fail)? What if he got too much free time after Jan 2023 and really don’t know how to fill the time? What if he can’t be a good parent at home with kid? What if he really loses his sense of identities and sunk into depression? What if he can’t find his purpose of life? What if he really become useless? He Might sunk into depression…

What I have advised him

This is what I have advised him.

Will you regret missing out the time spent with your kids or regretting not working for another 5 years to earn more income on your death bed? Do what is important NOW that will not make you regret. But ultimate decisions belong to him as I am not him.

Conclusion: Do what is important NOW that will not make you Regret

Until today, he is still worrying, wonder if he did make the right decision. Everyday emoing, feeling worries… I can’t help him much, but I told him:

Do what is important NOW that will not make you Regret!

To whoever is reading this story out there, trust me.

Regardless of many Financial Independent Retire Early (FIRE) stories/articles that you have heard/dream of achieving, Financial Independent difficult but achievable. It’s the RETIRE EARLY part that is difficult.

Lastly, I want to end this article with my banner to remind everyone to CAREYOURPRESENT!

Anyway, this story will be continued again later. Those interested to know the update, please come back to read again. Please leave your comments if you have any advice to teach this young chap.

Good articles that you should read!

People are drawn to dividend investing.

Why? Firstly, dividends provide a regular stream of income, allowing investors to receive a portion of the company’s profits on a periodic basis. This can be particularly attractive for individuals seeking consistent cash flow or looking to supplement their existing income. Additionally, dividend investing is often viewed as a more stable and predictable investment strategy compared to relying solely on capital appreciation.

I always write and share articles, especially on dividends which many people love them. Do read them!

Alternatively, you can go the right side of my page, there is a search bar where you can simply search “dividend” to see all my articles related to dividends!

Of course, you can search for other things that would interest you such as “Careyourpresent”, “Reits”, “Side Hustles”, “Fixed Incomes”, “Savings” etc.

CAREYOURPRESENT

Money just buy you the chance of freedom.

When you are young and working, you exchange time for money. When you are old, you can have lots of money but you can’t buy time back, especially the things that you have missed while busying striking out in career. Of course, if you love your career, and consciously know that you are missing out the first time your child walk or talk, that’s ok, but if you are the other spectrum, please do something about it.

Your kids grew up and they no longer need you to accompany them. They no longer want to sit on your lap to share/do things with you…all these time you spent in your 9 to 6 or even longer cubicles…can the money that you have earned by you back these?

We always thought we have more time with our old parents, but we are wrong. Time with them is ticking away every day. One day it will suddenly be gone. There is no regret medicine, no reset in time. Gone is gone and cannot come back. No matter you are billionaires or millionaires, you cannot reset this.

We always thought that we have more time with our spouse every day, but we are wrong. One day they will be gone too. When you read this, please go tell your spouse that you love him/her and he or she is the best thing that you ever had in your life.

I have picked out some of the more life reflecting articles of the CAREYOURPRESENT series. Do read them:

You can read more about my articles on Careyourpresent via the Category “Careyourpresent” or simply click “Careyourpresent” via the main menu bar.

REMEMBER:

Love your life daily.

You have one less day with your spouse, parents, children and yourself.

Time is ticking away.

For each passing day,

Enjoy and Treasure your Life!

For those who are interested in regular updates of my articles, please join the others to sign up for my free newsletter to has my newest blogposts sent to your mailbox for free!

For real time exclusive updates on market news/life (especially Crypto markets where the news move fast, important news will be shared directly via tweets or telegrams), do also join the platforms below and engage with other like-minded people!

You may also contact me via [email protected].

If you’re looking referral codes, do check out my referral and ebook page. Give it a try and who knows? You might end up loving these platforms! To be absolutely fair to all the readers, I am definitely using all these companies and they are useful to me! Likely will be useful to you too!

At the same referral and ebook page, you can also download my free ebooks and other free resources.

For quick references to these resources, you can see below.

  • Ebooks and other useful resources on enhancing productivity (Investment, Excel, Notion etc). Currently most of it are free at this moment (subject to change).
  • WeBull: A powerful brokerage with nice free welcome gift. You can refer to my guide here on how to signup! 4 Simple step only! Click here to register a new account!
  • MoneyOwl: You can use this 6SHU-93MC to get free grab vouchers and highly safe liquid cash fund account.
  • Trust Bank – You will enjoy free FairPrice E-Voucher referral if you sign up via my referral code KNDBPEPT. Simply download the Trust Bank SG App on the App Store or Google Play Store. Tap on “Use referral code” immediately after you start the app and key in: KNDBPEPT
  • FSMOne: P0413007. Good account to keep liquid cash in autosweep and to purchase investment at low fee.
  • Hostinger: You can use this link for hosting your new website. 20% off hosting!
  • Crypto.com: Use my referral link https://crypto.com/app/h92xdfarkq to sign up for Crypto.com and we both get $25 USD 🙂

Portfolio Update: 1 Jan 2023

Posted on by careyourpresent

Some brief introductions of my site

First of all, Happy new year 2023!

Let me start this post to share my journey for the past year 2022.

I have started this site using wordpress.com on 5 April 2022 with the main objective to share about cryptocurrency (you can refer to my first post). I was thinking hard to come up with a meaningful name related to Cryptocurrency and eventually came out with Careyourpresent. One may ask how does Careyourpresent link to Crypto?

If I take the first letter of CaReYourPresenT with an extra o, I will get the word Crypto.

However, as I start to write more and more blog posts, with increasing clarity of thoughts coming into my clearer mind. I realized that my niche and focus should remain to be Careyourpresent. 

Slowly as my site grows further, I have moved from wordpress.com to wordpress.org on 28 November 2022.

Main site objective

Everyone wants to improve their lives. That’s the ultimate goal.

Hence my main site objective is:

Focusing Careyourpresent & living a fulfilling life by supercharging your mind & investment/online income.

There will be two main themes for this site.

Theme 1: Careyourpresent – sharing how to Careyourpresent & living a fulfilling life

Theme 2: Tools to achieve good financial standing – Crypto, TradFi, Passive Income, Online Income and lastly tools to enhance productivity

You may wish to read more details about this site via about me.

Portfolio Update: 1 Jan 2023

I realized that many bloggers like to update their monthly portfolio and include an annual final post. Let me try for my site too.

I will put these regular updates in my portfolio update menu bar.

Current status

  • Me: Reach CPF Full Retirement Sum (FRS) in Special Account in Jan 2020 (Current: way exceeded 200k such that will still reach FRS even if not working)
  • Me: Reach CPF Basic Health Sum (BHS) in Medisave Account in Jan 2020 (Current: at BHS)
  • Spouse: Reach CPF Full Retirement Sum (FRS) in Special Account in Jan 2021 (Current: way exceeded 200k such that will still reach FRS even if not working)
  • Spouse: Reach CPF Basic Health Sum (BHS) in Medisave Account in Jan 2021 (Current: at full BHS)
  • House: Still have outstanding HDB debt of below 100k (But OA from me and my spouse account can cover this easily). 2nd Bto coming soon, both our OAs and the return from selling current flat should be able to cover all loans
  • Insurance: Purchased all kind all insurances (except ILP) including whole life for child and have paid off everything (except 1 whole life plan for spouse + our individual term plans + hospital plan)
  • Emergency Funds: 36 months of emergency funds that cover household expenses for 36 months all locked up in SSB. This gives me at least $400-$500 per month. That’s why I been saying in my fixed income posts that SSB is good for emergency funds with maximum of 1 month to take out.
  • Daily Funds: 2 months of liquid cash that can cover our monthly expenses for 2 months. Will replenish this with monthly cashflow.

Allocation

A picture speaks a thousand words. The amount stated in this section exclude Emergency funds and Daily funds.

Yearly Passive Income

Include Crypto income, Dividend Income etc but exclude interests from Emergency Funds and Saving accounts.

Not showing the actual amount as it wouldn’t be meaningful to anyone, but I just want to show that consistency and hard work will pay off.

Annual passive income remains quite static for 2020, 2021, 2022, (fluctuate up and down as I sold some stocks). I was making deadly mistakes to dabble in growth stocks in US and HK.

This year I am down 5.47% if I only include realized losses but down 17.39% if I included unrealized losses.

Average Monthly Passive Income

Include Crypto income, Dividend Income etc but exclude interests from Emergency Funds and Saving accounts.

Not showing the actual amount as it wouldn’t be meaningful to anyone, but I just want to show that consistency and hard work will pay off.

Average monthly passive income remains quite static for 2020, 2021, 2022, (fluctuate up and down as I sold some stocks). I was making deadly mistakes to dabble in growth stocks in US and HK.

Anyway, going forward, I will continue to build my monthly income and learnt from my mistakes.

Transaction for the month

Bought: Mit, Kdc, Mlog, ETH, Matic

Sell: None

Notes

As I have mentioned in my market update page, I am very wary of 2023 and currently keeping the highest amount of cash allocation ever since the start of my investment journey. I am waiting for the best chance to create generational wealth. Frankly, sg market might only dip slightly but hope it will drop more. US likely will drop.

My strategies for 2023:

  • 1. Focus to build dividend income for Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong Markets.
  • 2. Growth portfolio will mainly be Eth and Index/World ETFs.

Additional updates – live data spreadsheet

Many investors in Singapore wanted a page where we can pull out the live data for listed stocks immediately with current yields, targeted price, book value etc.

Previously many of us were pulling the data from Google Finance but unfortunately the data feed was stopped for SGX stock.

I have actually created a google spreadsheet that will pull live data from Yahoo Finance which will give real time data, which is important to investor especially during time of volatility where speed is crucial. I have included the common stocks that most people will wish to check for now.

If many readers are keen (do let me know via comments below), maybe someday I will put this as a template for people to download. This is Google spreadsheet so one can simply duplicate the file into Google drive and edit the columns as needed to your own preferences.

https://careyourpresent.com/live-data-for-listed-stock/

Moneyowl

Since I have shared MoneyOwl previously on my site and some users have used my referral (6SHU-93MC), it is my responsibility to update that the 5-day moving average of the WiserSaver has dropped below 4% to 3.92% p.a. It is still very decent and safe since it is basically investing in SGD Fixed Deposits and is backed by Temasek and NTUC.

Hence, I am still using it to keep my spare cash. In fact, I just got my spouse to sign up WiseSaver using my referral quote so that both of us get $20 grab vouchers each. She just needs to transfer in $10 whereas we both get $20 grab vouchers each. Worth it for free money with little efforts!

For those who haven’t sign up, do consider using my referral link (or key in 6SHU-93MC) to get free $20-$60 Grab Vouchers when you invest with them. Simply purchase $10 worth of WiseSaver and you will get the first $20 of Grab Voucher.

For those already have sign up, do consider getting your close friends/spouse to sign up using your own referral link (don’t need to use mine so that you will benefit the most) and put in $10 to try first since it is free money. Why not?

Good articles that you should read!

People are drawn to dividend investing.

Why? Firstly, dividends provide a regular stream of income, allowing investors to receive a portion of the company’s profits on a periodic basis. This can be particularly attractive for individuals seeking consistent cash flow or looking to supplement their existing income. Additionally, dividend investing is often viewed as a more stable and predictable investment strategy compared to relying solely on capital appreciation.

I always write and share articles, especially on dividends which many people love them. Do read them!

Alternatively, you can go the right side of my page, there is a search bar where you can simply search “dividend” to see all my articles related to dividends!

Of course, you can search for other things that would interest you such as “Careyourpresent”, “Reits”, “Side Hustles”, “Fixed Incomes”, “Savings” etc.

CAREYOURPRESENT

Money just buy you the chance of freedom.

When you are young and working, you exchange time for money. When you are old, you can have lots of money but you can’t buy time back, especially the things that you have missed while busying striking out in career. Of course, if you love your career, and consciously know that you are missing out the first time your child walk or talk, that’s ok, but if you are the other spectrum, please do something about it.

Your kids grew up and they no longer need you to accompany them. They no longer want to sit on your lap to share/do things with you…all these time you spent in your 9 to 6 or even longer cubicles…can the money that you have earned by you back these?

We always thought we have more time with our old parents, but we are wrong. Time with them is ticking away every day. One day it will suddenly be gone. There is no regret medicine, no reset in time. Gone is gone and cannot come back. No matter you are billionaires or millionaires, you cannot reset this.

We always thought that we have more time with our spouse every day, but we are wrong. One day they will be gone too. When you read this, please go tell your spouse that you love him/her and he or she is the best thing that you ever had in your life.

I have picked out some of the more life reflecting articles of the CAREYOURPRESENT series. Do read them:

You can read more about my articles on Careyourpresent via the Category “Careyourpresent” or simply click “Careyourpresent” via the main menu bar.

REMEMBER:

Love your life daily.

You have one less day with your spouse, parents, children and yourself.

Time is ticking away.

For each passing day,

Enjoy and Treasure your Life!

For those who are interested in regular updates of my articles, please join the others to sign up for my free newsletter to has my newest blogposts sent to your mailbox for free!

For real time exclusive updates on market news/life (especially Crypto markets where the news move fast, important news will be shared directly via tweets or telegrams), do also join the platforms below and engage with other like-minded people!

You may also contact me via [email protected].

If you’re looking referral codes, do check out my referral and ebook page. Give it a try and who knows? You might end up loving these platforms! To be absolutely fair to all the readers, I am definitely using all these companies and they are useful to me! Likely will be useful to you too!

At the same referral and ebook page, you can also download my free ebooks and other free resources.

For quick references to these resources, you can see below.

  • Ebooks and other useful resources on enhancing productivity (Investment, Excel, Notion etc). Currently most of it are free at this moment (subject to change).
  • WeBull: A powerful brokerage with nice free welcome gift. You can refer to my guide here on how to signup! 4 Simple step only! Click here to register a new account!
  • MoneyOwl: You can use this 6SHU-93MC to get free grab vouchers and highly safe liquid cash fund account.
  • Trust Bank – You will enjoy free FairPrice E-Voucher referral if you sign up via my referral code KNDBPEPT. Simply download the Trust Bank SG App on the App Store or Google Play Store. Tap on “Use referral code” immediately after you start the app and key in: KNDBPEPT
  • FSMOne: P0413007. Good account to keep liquid cash in autosweep and to purchase investment at low fee.
  • Hostinger: You can use this link for hosting your new website. 20% off hosting!
  • Crypto.com: Use my referral link https://crypto.com/app/h92xdfarkq to sign up for Crypto.com and we both get $25 USD 🙂

Market Update – RED! and How much would the yield be for the next BS22125T 6-Month T-bill?

Posted on by careyourpresent

BS22125T 6-Month T-bill

In case for people who are not following the latest T-bill news,

The latest T-bill is out for application with the deadline of 20 December 2022 and the Auction Date 21 December 2022. Please remember to apply latest via internet banking (Cash and SRS) or in person (CPF) by 20 December 2022. For those who want to apply using CPF-OA and CPF-SA funds, please go down in person to our local banks (DBS, OCBC or UOB).

https://www.mas.gov.sg/bonds-and-bills/auctions-and-issuance-calendar/auction-t-bill?issue_code=BS22125T&issue_date=2022-12-27

What would the yield be?

The last 6-Month cut off yield was at 4.4% (historical high). What would the upcoming yield be? Given that there was a rate hike yesterday and the FOMO due to last 4.4% and the data in the MAS website, quite likely, it will be around 4 to 4.3% for the upcoming T-bill (very likely is less than 4.4%). If you would like to have some risk-free assets, do consider it.

Would I submit a bid for the auction?

Personally, I won’t.

This is because I have enough emergency funds with SSB (I prefer to lock 2.5%-3%+ for 10 years, with the flexibility of being able to take out the funds within the maximum of 1 months).

My other funds are kept with UOB, OCBC, FSM and Money Owl which I have shared in my earlier post on Best places to put Liquid Cash now, especially with Money Owl which also give 4.2% with full liquidity. I need these cash to take advantage of the following…

You can use my referral link (or key in 6SHU-93MC) to get free $20-$60 Grab Vouchers when you invest with them.

Moreover, there is a promotion until 31 Dec 2022 now where you can get $20 worth of WiseSaver units by 31 January 2023 if you open WiseSaver Account.

Take advantage of what?

I am indeed feeling some FOMO (see my post this morning), hence I took advantage of tonight to buy some small amount of VT. I am prepared to buy more as it goes down. (Of course, there are some other shares/cryptos I may buy later as the market goes down further, but likely I won’t mentioned in my site as those are riskier and not suitable for everyone.)

Screenshot from Webull App

Market Update

Quite likely the market will go down further for the next few days (at least).

Remember what we have posted last? Today is the mid of Month!

Please refer to this post https://careyourpresent.com/market-updates-be-careful-with-the-weeks-ahead/

Anyway, for those who are keen, can refer to the menu on my main page. For market related, I will put in this menu bar call “Market Updates” (see screenshot below).

Good articles that you should read!

People are drawn to dividend investing.

Why? Firstly, dividends provide a regular stream of income, allowing investors to receive a portion of the company’s profits on a periodic basis. This can be particularly attractive for individuals seeking consistent cash flow or looking to supplement their existing income. Additionally, dividend investing is often viewed as a more stable and predictable investment strategy compared to relying solely on capital appreciation.

I always write and share articles, especially on dividends which many people love them. Do read them!

Alternatively, you can go the right side of my page, there is a search bar where you can simply search “dividend” to see all my articles related to dividends!

Of course, you can search for other things that would interest you such as “Careyourpresent”, “Reits”, “Side Hustles”, “Fixed Incomes”, “Savings” etc.

CAREYOURPRESENT

Money just buy you the chance of freedom.

When you are young and working, you exchange time for money. When you are old, you can have lots of money but you can’t buy time back, especially the things that you have missed while busying striking out in career. Of course, if you love your career, and consciously know that you are missing out the first time your child walk or talk, that’s ok, but if you are the other spectrum, please do something about it.

Your kids grew up and they no longer need you to accompany them. They no longer want to sit on your lap to share/do things with you…all these time you spent in your 9 to 6 or even longer cubicles…can the money that you have earned by you back these?

We always thought we have more time with our old parents, but we are wrong. Time with them is ticking away every day. One day it will suddenly be gone. There is no regret medicine, no reset in time. Gone is gone and cannot come back. No matter you are billionaires or millionaires, you cannot reset this.

We always thought that we have more time with our spouse every day, but we are wrong. One day they will be gone too. When you read this, please go tell your spouse that you love him/her and he or she is the best thing that you ever had in your life.

I have picked out some of the more life reflecting articles of the CAREYOURPRESENT series. Do read them:

You can read more about my articles on Careyourpresent via the Category “Careyourpresent” or simply click “Careyourpresent” via the main menu bar.

REMEMBER:

Love your life daily.

You have one less day with your spouse, parents, children and yourself.

Time is ticking away.

For each passing day,

Enjoy and Treasure your Life!

For those who are interested in regular updates of my articles, please join the others to sign up for my free newsletter to has my newest blogposts sent to your mailbox for free!

For real time exclusive updates on market news/life (especially Crypto markets where the news move fast, important news will be shared directly via tweets or telegrams), do also join the platforms below and engage with other like-minded people!

You may also contact me via [email protected].

If you’re looking referral codes, do check out my referral and ebook page. Give it a try and who knows? You might end up loving these platforms! To be absolutely fair to all the readers, I am definitely using all these companies and they are useful to me! Likely will be useful to you too!

At the same referral and ebook page, you can also download my free ebooks and other free resources.

For quick references to these resources, you can see below.

  • Ebooks and other useful resources on enhancing productivity (Investment, Excel, Notion etc). Currently most of it are free at this moment (subject to change).
  • WeBull: A powerful brokerage with nice free welcome gift. You can refer to my guide here on how to signup! 4 Simple step only! Click here to register a new account!
  • MoneyOwl: You can use this 6SHU-93MC to get free grab vouchers and highly safe liquid cash fund account.
  • Trust Bank – You will enjoy free FairPrice E-Voucher referral if you sign up via my referral code KNDBPEPT. Simply download the Trust Bank SG App on the App Store or Google Play Store. Tap on “Use referral code” immediately after you start the app and key in: KNDBPEPT
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Market updates: Are you feeling FOMO now?

Posted on by careyourpresent

FOMC Update

There was a minor red last night after FOMC meeting – no crash yet but FED still raise rate by 50 basis points, taking the borrowing rate to a targeted range between 4.25% and 4.5%, the highest level in 15 years. 2023 Terminal rate = 5.1% (5.0%-5.25%)

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/14/the-fed-projects-raising-rates-as-high-as-5point1percent-before-ending-inflation-battle.html
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/14/fed-rate-decision-december-2022.html

Higher Debts Instruments

Those holding higher Debts instruments such as Reits or company that is highly geared should still be careful. Now is the market bear rally thinking FED will pivot. CPI now is 7.1% but the terminal rate is 2%, very far from now.

I think the real picture will come during the next report seasons – we will see how far the interest affects the earnings of the companies. As saying goes, its only when the tide goes out, then we will see who swimming is naked.

Quite likely the rate hikes etc won’t affect the market much as of now, but the earnings or any sudden black swan (collapse of big companies due to poor earnings in recessions etc or any unexpected events) might. Do be careful and plan well.

Technical Points of view

From Webull – Chart for 14 Dec 2022

From TA point of view, S&P 500 possible upside to test 4300 first or sell off to break below 3500. Daily chart shows higher highs and higher low whereas weekly charts show lower highs and lower lows.

Crypto Updates

There are lots of FUDs information about Binance for the past few days. Quite likely this will make Binance stronger, showing that they can make it through the current stress test. However, for those who are concern/worry, do consider putting your coins in hard wallet. Ultimately, not your wallet, not your coins.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/binance-see-withdrawals-us19-billion-last-24-hours-data-firm-nansen-3141331

Conclusion

In my view, market will come down, but the question is when. My sense is that it will be soon. Plan and pace your buy, keep your job, lock up your emergency funds somewhere in high yielding accounts, SSB, treasury yields, MMF etc.

Remember to only buy companies/cryptos that pass your sleep test. Stay safe everyone!

Good articles that you should read!

People are drawn to dividend investing.

Why? Firstly, dividends provide a regular stream of income, allowing investors to receive a portion of the company’s profits on a periodic basis. This can be particularly attractive for individuals seeking consistent cash flow or looking to supplement their existing income. Additionally, dividend investing is often viewed as a more stable and predictable investment strategy compared to relying solely on capital appreciation.

I always write and share articles, especially on dividends which many people love them. Do read them!

Alternatively, you can go the right side of my page, there is a search bar where you can simply search “dividend” to see all my articles related to dividends!

Of course, you can search for other things that would interest you such as “Careyourpresent”, “Reits”, “Side Hustles”, “Fixed Incomes”, “Savings” etc.

CAREYOURPRESENT

Money just buy you the chance of freedom.

When you are young and working, you exchange time for money. When you are old, you can have lots of money but you can’t buy time back, especially the things that you have missed while busying striking out in career. Of course, if you love your career, and consciously know that you are missing out the first time your child walk or talk, that’s ok, but if you are the other spectrum, please do something about it.

Your kids grew up and they no longer need you to accompany them. They no longer want to sit on your lap to share/do things with you…all these time you spent in your 9 to 6 or even longer cubicles…can the money that you have earned by you back these?

We always thought we have more time with our old parents, but we are wrong. Time with them is ticking away every day. One day it will suddenly be gone. There is no regret medicine, no reset in time. Gone is gone and cannot come back. No matter you are billionaires or millionaires, you cannot reset this.

We always thought that we have more time with our spouse every day, but we are wrong. One day they will be gone too. When you read this, please go tell your spouse that you love him/her and he or she is the best thing that you ever had in your life.

I have picked out some of the more life reflecting articles of the CAREYOURPRESENT series. Do read them:

You can read more about my articles on Careyourpresent via the Category “Careyourpresent” or simply click “Careyourpresent” via the main menu bar.

REMEMBER:

Love your life daily.

You have one less day with your spouse, parents, children and yourself.

Time is ticking away.

For each passing day,

Enjoy and Treasure your Life!

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