The Need to Invest

Ya lor i do agree with your part on getting bored to death, sometimes value investing is like watching paint dry. Boring but good results, as compared to active trading.

Ya, it's boring. Luckily, I have another job at home to take care of the kids. They can never be bored. And also all the housework and cooking.

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(06-06-2013, 11:46 AM)Ben Wrote: I have plan to do stock investing FT, but honestly, it wasn't in my plan to do it now. In fact I wanted to work for another 3 to 5 years before quitting my FT job, but things don't turn out right in my workplace and so I have to bring forward my plan. I did a detailed calculation and am comfortable that the earnings from my portfolio of investments is able to meet my basic needs, though of course if I could work for another 3 years it would be even better. Anyway, even though I would spend considerable more time in stock investing, I do have other plans as well. My priority now is not so much on how much money I can earn, but more to do what I enjoy doing.

Not forgetting that other than meeting your current needs, it must be still growing to beat inflation.

Thanks for all the sound advices from fellow buddies. My main considerations before I took the big leap were (1) what am I going to do with all the spare times, and (2) is the money going to be enough? For the money part it should not be too much of a concern though money is always not enough. I have been investing diligently for past many years and build up an investment portfolio that produces sufficient income to sustain my current lifestyle. And for info, I live simple, and am careful with money.

As for how to spend my time, I envisage from now on, I will attend all the AGMs and EGMs of the companies I invested in, and maybe be the proxy for others if they don’t have time to attend. I will selectively attend talks and seminars if it is not too expensive. I will also spend some time doing scuttlebutt activities if it is within my means. On top of all these usual investing related activities, I intend to do some freelance stuff. I have acquired a skill over the course of my work which some companies may need. I am not sure how much money I can make (and I don’t think it will be more than what I am earning now from my FT job), but since it is my passion, I guess I will enjoy it and keep myself relevant.

I have always believed in 'more money, more choices, less money less choices, and no money no choice'.
It's good to hear that Ben has a choice at this stage of his life.
Well, you are where you are today because of some long term careful planning long ago.
Happy for you!
Keep us posted of your new life journey!

(06-06-2013, 01:37 PM)Ben Wrote: Thanks for all the sound advices from fellow buddies. My main considerations before I took the big leap were (1) what am I going to do with all the spare times, and (2) is the money going to be enough? For the money part it should not be too much of a concern though money is always not enough. I have been investing diligently for past many years and build up an investment portfolio that produces sufficient income to sustain my current lifestyle. And for info, I live simple, and am careful with money.

As for how to spend my time, I envisage from now on, I will attend all the AGMs and EGMs of the companies I invested in, and maybe be the proxy for others if they don’t have time to attend. I will selectively attend talks and seminars if it is not too expensive. I will also spend some time doing scuttlebutt activities if it is within my means. On top of all these usual investing related activities, I intend to do some freelance stuff. I have acquired a skill over the course of my work which some companies may need. I am not sure how much money I can make (and I don’t think it will be more than what I am earning now from my FT job), but since it is my passion, I guess I will enjoy it and keep myself relevant.

Work hard and good luck!

(06-06-2013, 11:45 AM)kevlee Wrote:

(06-06-2013, 11:22 AM)sgd Wrote: Managing stocks for a living in your 30's is actually quite gamble. When you are young and still energetic and still able you should work. It's all about youth and time, people want your youth and energy and how much money you make from them when you still have it.

What if after 40 or after 50 while managing your stock you lose a chunk of that money? Stock crashes all the time it's not impossible look at europe government crash and take depositors money by force, unfair Sh** can happen anywhere in the world.

Do you think at 40yo or 50yo people still want to hire someone who gone out of the loop for so long especially in singapore context when employers are spoilt for choice when it comes to hiring, you think they rather hire a new blood fresh and full of energy for cheap or pay higher premium for someone who looks like they burn out already.

Life is about living ones dream and being passionate, if its guided by fear then might as well be buried right now
Life is one daring adventure or nothing ( I think from Helen Keller)

If lets say your dream is to do volunteer work to help others don't you need money to support yourself while you pursuing your dreams? doesn't mean when you stop working to pursue your dreams all your money problems also go on a vacation, your problems are there forever until you solve them or kick the canary.

To invest to make your dreams come true, you need money in first place to make that happen you can't invest with nothing, where is it coming from if not from working for someone for it?

Unless born into wealth thats different story.

(06-06-2013, 09:47 AM)Ben Wrote:

(05-06-2013, 11:55 PM)KopiKat Wrote: For me, Stocks Investing, started out as a WANT... Even while I was still in school, I enjoyed reading the business news in The Straits Times. I was very much intrigued by how the stock market functions but there was no one to ask. Back then, no such thing as internet and it was only in adulthood that I was able to find out more from people who're more knowledgeable.

It evolved into a NEED when I lost my job and our single income was insufficient to cover our monthly expenses.... Looking back, I guess the urgency to cover this NEED really forced me on an accelerated learning curve.

Today, it's a cross between a NEED and a WANT... I guess it's the fun of learning new 'tricks' from others (esp. books by successful money managers) and trying a modified approach that continue to fuel my passion... The thrill of making money (when I'm right) remains highly addictive...

Somehow, I feel that my situations are very similar to KopiKat. I am doing a lot of things he has done and can almost certainly agree with everything he said. For forum buddies info, starting from 1st July onwards, my passive income from stock investing will become active income, as I will be leaving my full time job. Like what KopiKat says, this change is going to accelerate my learning curve.

Though my situations are similar with KopiKat, I feel that he is far more successful and wiser than me and I have lots to learn from him and everyone in this forum.

It must be mid-life crisis....

I have had a headstart of 10 years+ of making mistakes and hopefully learning from it... I'm sure you'll do a lot better than me as you have already been practising good Value habits plus a good sizeable base, even before you decided to take this plunge.

One word of advice is to let Stocks Investing revolve around your life and not vice versa. This'll cut down a lot of unnecessary stress and unhappiness.

I hope everything works out fine when like Steve Jobs, you look back (in future) and connect all the dots.....

Good Luck!

(05-06-2013, 08:00 PM)paullow Wrote: from my personal experience,

its hardest to go from 10k to 100k, once you get that 100k, its easier to make 1M.

With one still holding on to a fulltime job with the right investment strategies and living fugally, I think 1M is very easily achieveable by 40yr, cos by then one would have already worked a good 15-20years anyway.

Unless you stay single, else marriage, housing, renovation can easily set u back another $200k

hi palantir,
true and not true. much of it depends on the mentality of the other half.
one can stinge n save like no tomorrow but if the other half wants to be taitai then i agree, hard.
once u hit 40, the normal qn pple ask when they haven't met u for a long time: u is that how r u? how many kids u have? how old r they?
and when u get even older, how many grandchildren u have?
it may seem a hassle n a slowdown to own's accumulation now but 20yr later, u want to turn back the clock also cannot.

(06-06-2013, 05:34 PM)paullow Wrote: hi palantir,
true and not true. much of it depends on the mentality of the other half.
one can stinge n save like no tomorrow but if the other half wants to be taitai then i agree, hard.
once u hit 40, the normal qn pple ask when they haven't met u for a long time: u is that how r u? how many kids u have? how old r they?
and when u get even older, how many grandchildren u have?
it may seem a hassle n a slowdown to own's accumulation now but 20yr later, u want to turn back the clock also cannot.

time is the most valuable asset.