Who Says Many In Singapore Are Not Interested In Personal Finance???

Auntie: hey brother, u dont use communicator?

Uncle8888:  How are you?

Auntie: Ok not too bad la….busy… i wanted to ask you what u think of FCL bond, but anyway I went in already. 7 yrs at 3.5% not bad right?  

Uncle8888: Not too bad if you have surplus cash.

Auntie:  What we all sure have surplus cash la…I worked 40+ yrs if u don’t know

Uncle8888: Simulate your number and see whether you need to invest your money harder. (Send her worksheet on retirement planning)

Read? Retirement Income for Life??? (14)

After some time ....

Auntie : I need tuition on this …

 

Baby Boomers in 1950s are going to sell their house for retirement!!!

She is 59 and her hubby is 60. They are not investing anymore. They have enough of stock market volatility. 

These oldies are unlucky lots who were burnt badly in AFC (1997/1998) when Government didn't control CPF Investment Fund. Folks like to think of their CPF money as paper money. Why let paper money rotting in CPF? Hoot ah!

Her plan is to downgrade or sell her HDB flat.

So far quite a number of oldies have been telling Uncle8888 that they are taking this approach to fund their retirement life.

Shale Is ‘Here to Stay’ Conoco Chief Tells OPEC

Read? Shale Is ‘Here to Stay’ Conoco Chief Tells OPEC

When Ryan Lance, chief executive officer of ConocoPhillips, told an OPEC conference in 2012 the industry was under-estimating shale, oil was trading near $100 a barrel and his warning fall on deaf ears.

Two years and a price crash later, Lance returned to the same forum on Thursday and had no problem winning the attention of officials and executives. Shale oil “is here to stay,” Lance said, speaking over a chart showing the almost vertical rise in U.S. shale output.

His message: shale has not only transformed the global energy industry, but has also proved far more resilient to lower oil prices than most had expected. It’s a truth the global oil industry is rapidly taking on board.

In June 2012, when Lance spoke at the last biennial seminar held by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, the U.S. was pumping 6.2 million barrels a day. Now, it produces 9.5 million barrels at day, the highest since 1972.

The increase -- 3.3 million barrels a day over three years -- is largely due to shale producers and is larger than the current output of the United Arab Emirates, OPEC’s third-largest producer behind Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

From Rex Tillerson, CEO of Exxon Mobil Corp, to Ben van Beurden, his counterpart at Royal Dutch Shell Plc, oil captains said in Vienna this week shale was weathering cheap oil far better than expected by cutting costs and focusing on the best drilling areas.

BP Plc CEO Bob Dudley summarized the new view, saying in Vienna: “It has been very resilient -- the industry didn’t know it.”

Resilient Shale

The surge in shale production -- and its immunity to lower prices -- has re-drawn the global energy map, forcing OPEC six months ago into a policy U-turn that sent oil prices from $100 to $60.

For most executives participating at the OPEC seminar, the question is no longer at what price shale producers would go bankrupt, but at what point they start drilling again, boosting output further.

With the support of billions of dollars in fresh debt and equity issuance, companies from Whiting Petroleum Corp. to EOG Resources Inc., have indicated that if oil prices stabilize at around $65 a barrel, they will start growing again.

Lance said that shale break-even costs have dropped 15 percent to 30 percent in recent months while the amount of oil drillers are able to suck out the ground from each well has increased up to 30 percent.

“This business will survive at $100 Brent oil pricing and it will survive at $60-70 Brent pricing,” he said.

Shale Sprinter

Conoco believes that the sweet spots of the U.S. shale industry can generate returns of 10 percent with oil prices as low as $40 a barrel. If true, that puts shale on an equal footing with conventional fields and well above deepwater offshore projects and Canadian tar sands, which require higher prices.

While other industry leaders avoided pinning down the level at which shale is profitable, Claudio Descalzi, the head of Italian oil giant Eni SpA, used an athletic metaphor to explain the strength of shale.

“The shale industry is like a sprinter, very agile. They run, they win, they stop and rest, and they do it again,” he said in an interview in Vienna. “Shale is very resilient.”

Meanwhile, major oil companies are like marathon runners. “And you can’t run one marathon after another one,” he said.

The unexpected staying power of shale production, coupled with surging output from Saudi Arabia and Iraq, could cap the recovery in oil prices, analysts and traders said.

Chris Bake, a senior executive at Vitol Group, the world’s largest independent oil trader, said in an interview in May that shale producers could add up to 500,000 barrels a day of extra output of West Texas Intermediate recovers to $70 a barrel. The U.S. benchmark traded $59.40 a barrel om Thursday.

I haven't done it; but I can teach or show you how???

We have been reading more and more of this ...

I haven't done it; but I can teach or show you how?

Your Investing Strategy? Depending Who You Ask???

When you ask those successful retail investors who have $X,XXX,XXX net worth what are their current investing strategy?

What is the expected answer?


Wealth preservation and passive income as cash flow for liquidity needs and re-invest the leftovers. Right?

When you ask those successful retail investors who have $X,XXX,XXX net worth; but have started off with $XXX,XXX or $XX,XXX what are their past investing strategy?

Still same answer?



For investing strategy and goals, let your Future You thank you for doing it right at the start. For younger ones, there will be few market cycles  ahead of you. So don't waste them. 

Always ask the right questions to come to the right conclusion for yourself. Your future will come from your past and current You. 

DBS gets nod to set up branches in Australia, with first to open this month

By Rupali Karekar

SINGAPORE - DBS, Southeast Asia's largest bank, has received much-awaited regulatory approval to carry out banking activities in Australia, expanding its presence to 18 markets around the world.

The bank will open its first branch in Sydney later this month, which will be headed by DBS Australia Country Head Helen Yap, DBS announced in a filing with the Singapore Exchange on Wednesday. Ms Yap was formerly Australian general manager for OCBC Bank.

DBS is the only Singapore bank which does not have a presence in Australia. Rivals OCBC and United Overseas Bank have had branches in Australia for a while. OCBC has one in Sydney while UOB has a branch in Sydney and offices in Melbourne and Brisbane.

The new branch will provide corporate finance, trade finance, cash management and treasury solutions to Asian and international companies looking to expand Down Under or Australian companies looking for opportunities in Asia.

By Rupali Karekar

SINGAPORE - DBS, Southeast Asia's largest bank, has received much-awaited regulatory approval to carry out banking activities in Australia, expanding its presence to 18 markets around the world.
The bank will open its first branch in Sydney later this month, which will be headed by DBS Australia Country Head Helen Yap, DBS announced in a filing with the Singapore Exchange on Wednesday. Ms Yap was formerly Australian general manager for OCBC Bank.
DBS is the only Singapore bank which does not have a presence in Australia. Rivals OCBC and United Overseas Bank have had branches in Australia for a while. OCBC has one in Sydney while UOB has a branch in Sydney and offices in Melbourne and Brisbane.
The new branch will provide corporate finance, trade finance, cash management and treasury solutions to Asian and international companies looking to expand Down Under or Australian companies looking for opportunities in Asia.

- See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/business/banking/story/dbs-gets-nod-set-branches-australia-20150603#sthash.hIaSqXtv.dpuf

Read? DBS gets nod to set up branches in Australia, with first to open this month

DBS : Straight Down!!!

We Have No Control Over The Market? Really???

We like to make damn excuses with this statement: "I have no control over the Market so I .... blah blah!"

We do have control. 

We can buy, sell, hold or wait. Now who is stopping you? 

You!

Only You!

FIRE. But Can Your FIRE Be Extinguished???

Read? Concluding Post on Early Retirement

So is your FIRE conditional?

Uncle8888 has been researching and reading whatever books he could find from NLB on the topics of retirement for quite sometime.

FIRE is just beginning of retirement and FIRE may be extinguished sooner than expected. As retirees in the Land of Wealth or Assets Decumulation; do we still have the financial means or strength to participate in future massive right issues? We don't! Right?

FIRE just means we have reached the Edge of Financial Independence; but there is some works to be done. We have to move deeper into the Land of Wealth/Assets Decumulation to secure the Last Milestone i.e. Sustainable Retirement Income For Life across future market cycles over the next few decades and at the same time overcoming decades of future inflation!

The key is how can we make it sustainable and FIRE will not extinguish before we expired.

Read more? Retirement Planning Room

New Rules For STI

No Time To Learn Investing (Analyzing Companies). How???

Read? Uncle Chua's School of Long-term Investing??? (2)


Less Analyzing. More Investing - Createwealth8888

In Investing, your account size really matters - Createwealth8888


No time? 

But, got lots of spare money?


No time but got lots of spare money. OK. You still got some hope!

No time? No money?

Sorry! Can't help much. Fact of life can be cruel!


No time; but got Big War Chest! There is some hope for you.

How come?

Learn from late Uncle Chua.

Now what did you learn from late Uncle Chua?

Our Life. Our Hope. Our Dream. Our Goals. Our Plans. Just Don't Give Up No Matter What Happened To Us!!!

Uncle8888 over his last 30 over years is like this ....

We must not give up no matter what happened to us. For most of us our life is NOT bed of Roses so we must try hard to move on and overcome whatever big obstacles our life may throw at us. 




On his life ...

 

On his serious and fully committed investing journey over his last 15 over years ...

 

Know Your Monthly Family Living Expenses First Before Knowing How Much Is Enough For FIRE???

End of May 15. Here is the update.

The fact is that we don't just spend and spend. It is more like fishing. Some time we pull it tight. Sometime we let it loose. Too tight or too loose is NOT the correct way to do it. 

Our monthly family spending pattern should look more like waves. No? 

If not, we may be heading towards future financial issues if every month our family living expenses maintain at high level. Right? 

Keppel to deliver another three jackup rigs to Mexico

SINGAPORE - Keppel FELS Limited (Keppel FELS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M), is on track to deliver three KFELS B Class jackup rigs to Mexican company, Grupo R, safely, on time and on budget.

A world's first triple rig naming ceremony was held today at Keppel FELS' yard with Mr Chan Chun Sing, Singapore's Minister in Prime Minister's Office and Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress as the Guest of Honour.

The three identical rigs were named CANTARELL I, CANTARELL II and CANTARELL III, after the Cantarell oil field in offshore Mexico. They are the first three of five rigs that Keppel FELS is building for Grupo R.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Chan said, "Keppel's achievement on the naming of these three rigs underscores Singapore's capabilities as a world leader in rig building. To continually sharpen Singapore's competitive edge, the Government will continue to collaborate actively with the industry in R&D, productivity improvements and skills training.

Mr Chow Yew Yuen, CEO of Keppel O&M, added, "We are pleased to name the first three of five rigs for Grupo R with delivery on track in a timely and safe manner. We have reaped synergies from working on five rigs at one time to maximise resources and improve efficiencies in the construction process. This is extremely helpful especially when we will be delivering 15 rigs this year which is the second highest number of deliveries in a year.

"When delivered, the three rigs named today will make it 11 KFELS B Class rigs working in Mexico. It is the dominant rig design in the region, with those already in operation turning out robust, efficient and economical, performances for Mexico. Besides two more rigs for Grupo R, we currently also have another two under construction for Mexican customers."

The KFELS B Class jackup is designed to operate in water depths of up to 400 feet and drill to depths of 30,000 feet.

Developed by Keppel's Offshore Technology Development (OTD), the KFELS B Class jackup is equipped with an advanced and fully-automated high capacity rack and pinion jacking system, and Self-Positioning Fixation System. It has accommodation with full amenities for 150 persons.

Keppel has delivered projects to Mexico since 2004 when it was awarded a contract to build two accommodation modules.

Besides building new jackup rigs for Mexico, Keppel has also repaired and serviced a total of 18 rigs that have been deployed in Mexico.

SINGAPORE - Keppel FELS Limited (Keppel FELS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M), is on track to deliver three KFELS B Class jackup rigs to Mexican company, Grupo R, safely, on time and on budget.
A world's first triple rig naming ceremony was held today at Keppel FELS' yard with Mr Chan Chun Sing, Singapore's Minister in Prime Minister's Office and Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress as the Guest of Honour.
The three identical rigs were named CANTARELL I, CANTARELL II and CANTARELL III, after the Cantarell oil field in offshore Mexico. They are the first three of five rigs that Keppel FELS is building for Grupo R.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Chan said, "Keppel's achievement on the naming of these three rigs underscores Singapore's capabilities as a world leader in rig building. To continually sharpen Singapore's competitive edge, the Government will continue to collaborate actively with the industry in R&D, productivity improvements and skills training.
Mr Chow Yew Yuen, CEO of Keppel O&M, added, "We are pleased to name the first three of five rigs for Grupo R with delivery on track in a timely and safe manner. We have reaped synergies from working on five rigs at one time to maximise resources and improve efficiencies in the construction process. This is extremely helpful especially when we will be delivering 15 rigs this year which is the second highest number of deliveries in a year.
"When delivered, the three rigs named today will make it 11 KFELS B Class rigs working in Mexico. It is the dominant rig design in the region, with those already in operation turning out robust, efficient and economical, performances for Mexico. Besides two more rigs for Grupo R, we currently also have another two under construction for Mexican customers."
The KFELS B Class jackup is designed to operate in water depths of up to 400 feet and drill to depths of 30,000 feet.
Developed by Keppel's Offshore Technology Development (OTD), the KFELS B Class jackup is equipped with an advanced and fully-automated high capacity rack and pinion jacking system, and Self-Positioning Fixation System. It has accommodation with full amenities for 150 persons.
Keppel has delivered projects to Mexico since 2004 when it was awarded a contract to build two accommodation modules.
Besides building new jackup rigs for Mexico, Keppel has also repaired and serviced a total of 18 rigs that have been deployed in Mexico.
- See more at: http://business.asiaone.com//news/keppel-deliver-another-three-jackup-rigs-mexico#sthash.f9lH5cU4.dpuf

Up The Pyramid of Data and Information Into Your Wisdom???

After more than 15 years, he is still reading finance and investment books from NLB's book shelves; but hardly can find anything interesting or new to him. 

Bo pian! No read. How to know there is nothing new or interesting to discover? The Paradox of reading?

Most of us are likely to have read the same set of data or process the same data to form your information. But, why so few retail investors have lifted themselves high up enough to able to tell their investment success stories after decades of investing in the stock market? 

But, do help yourself to differentiate investment success stories coming out from those who have vested interests (Cannot always use the word Snake Oil. Must learn fast from SMOL who chooses his word carefully)

Only one page worth remembering from reading this book.

Oh shit! I must get out. Wow! $XXX in XX days. So Shen!

That is knowledge?


Oh dear! These things keep happening; anyway still surviving. X,XXX% in XX years! Hardly anyone hearing it will get excited. Right?

That is wisdom?

DBS : Love To Buy Back! Coming Soon or Tan Ku Ku???

Ya. Many will love to buy it back. It made us feel so Shen!

How about you?

FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) : Unorthodox Way of Passive Income???

What is passive income?

E.g. Dividends from stocks, interests from FDs, coupons from bonds, rentals from properties, etc


How about draw-down from fixed assets that is non-market volalite?

Not passive income?

Probably, this is Uncle8888's Unorthodox Way of Passive Income.


Letting it go.

Read? Who is really financially savvy???

Sell In May and Go Away???

Dumb Luck or Damn Hard work, Damn Patience and Damn Discipline???

Over decades of market cycles of Bulls and Bears'; and even many more countless waves of UPs and DOWNs in the market; after every decade of actions in the market when you look at your bank account; you are smiling or even better you are laughing!

OMG! I have arrived. FIRE!


When someone asked you; how you did over these decades of actions in the market.


Now you start thinking back ....


Dumb Luck 

or 

Damn Hard work, Damn Patience and Damn Discipline?


Give Win-Win answer.

It is dumb luck!

Lucky never sell my winners. 
Lucky got take profits before market crashes. 
Lucky got cut losses before market crashes. 
Lucky got big war chest. 
Lucky this. Luck that.



This type of answer will NOT trigger any defensive reply or response.


You happy! I am happy!

Keep your Goals on hand and close to your ear and face???

A goal is a dream with a deadline — Napoleon Hill

How does Think And Grow Rich address goal setting?

Read? How To Set Goals – Lessons From Napolean Hill & Tim Ferriss


1. Determine exactly how much money you desire – don’t be vague.

2. Determine exactly what you intend to do in order to earn the money you desire. What value are you going to offer? Remember, there is no free lunch.

3. Establish an exact date for when you plan to possess the amount of money you desire.

4. Establish a definite plan for achieving your desire, and start right this moment, whether or not you feel you’re ready.

5. Write out a clear statement of how much money you are going to acquire (the amount from step 1), what you intend to do in exchange for the money (the value from step 2), the date you’ll acquire it by (the date from step 3), and your specific, actionable plan for reaching the desired monetary goal (the plan from step 4).

6. Twice daily, read your written statement out loud to yourself. Do it once in the morning, and once at night. While you read the statement, visualize yourself executing on your plan and visualize the money in your possession.

The goal setting principles above fit into a larger framework of what Hill calls creating “burning desire to win”, but it is essential to the framework presented in Think And Grow Rich. While Hill focuses on goal setting as it applies to financial success (the book is called Think and Grow Rich after all), the same principles can be applied to anything you want to achieve.

CW8888:

Do you set your goals like talking in the coffee-shop? 

Talk talk only and do very little follow up to visualize and realize your goals. 

Ya!You may not arrive on time as planned. So what!  But, you finally arrive at your goals. This is what it should be for all who have goals and plans! 

Most importantly we KNOW that we have ARRIVED!

Uncle8888 keeps his goal on hand and closely to his ear and face!

This is the way how he visualizes his goals. His mobile phone's wallpaper.

 

FIRE!!!

The latest buzzword in personal finance is FIRE!


Financial Independence, Retire Early


Currently, Singapore's statutory minimum retirement age is 62, but employers have to offer re-employment to those eligible up to age 65. 

The reason why Uncle8888 is ready to FIRE!

His money works for him!

He worked 15.4 years from Jan 2000 to 27 May 2015 for his earned income. His money works the equivalent of 6.2 years for him. He is 59 soon. So it is 59 + 6 = 65. It is exactly the official retirement age at 65 so there is no need to worry about not getting re-employment.

Sell In May and Go Away???

May 2015 is not over yet.

Dumb Luck With Heavenly Trigger!!!

Someone in Uncle8888's office tio 4D second prize, $100K+ on his "new" car number which is coming to about one year old.

On that day, somehow, Heavenly Trigger hit him. Both he and wife hoot tua tua separately.

He is 59 this year. He said he can relax and idle through the next three years to 62 and retire. Soon his supervisor will be sianz.

Can supervisor fire someone who doesn't have motivation to work hard?

He said normally hoot much smaller after a few months. Not sure; why on that weekend, he and his wife hoot tua tua.

Dumb luck with Heavenly Trigger!!!

No Goals. No Plans. Only Execution???

Are you still human being?

Only robots have no goals, no plans and only have software program for execution.

Some human being just doesn't communicate or talk loudly in the public domains about their unconscious goals and plans.

Even for children, once children know that they are enjoying themselves so much last weekends; they will be planning for their next weekend goals for their daddy and mummy where to go and what to do.

You are single?

But, you got nephews or nieces?

19 Secrets Your Millionaire Neighbor Won’t Tell You

Read? 19 Secrets Your Millionaire Neighbor Won’t Tell You

5. He realized early on that money does not buy happiness. If you’re looking for nirvana, you need to focus on attaining financial freedom.

6. He never forgets that financial freedom is a state of mind that comes from being debt free. Best of all, it can be attained regardless of your income level.


Next line, Grasshoppers can skip reading 


11. He knows that failing to plan is the same as planning to fail. He also knows that the few millionaires that reached that milestone without a plan got there only because of dumb luck. It’s not enough to simply declare that you want to be financially free.

What I Have In My Stock Portfolio???

Right ones: Still holding

Wrong ones: Waiting to sell

Cash:  Waiting to buy.

That about all!

Nothing fanciful. Right?

Chinese Stock Market Irrational Exuberance???

Revised and expanded. Third Edition.

SuperFriends Get-Together @ Beng Hiang. That was history!

Last Sunday, Uncle8888 was there for his family dinner before it closes down and shifts to Jurong East.

This is the restaurant where his group of SuperFriends (his investing kakis but many of them have quietly disappeared) had their gathering so it is something worth his last visit.

He also saw many families bringing their old folks there for their dinner. Probably, these old folks are saying good-bye too.

Note that it was started in 1978, Beng Hiang Restaurant has since established itself as one of the best Hokkien restaurants in Singapore.