personal finance

Recently, I have restructured my Singapore Savings Bonds (SSB) portfolio by divesting two tranches of SSB which were bought with cash at 2.57% and 2.63%. The funds, consolidated with the proceeds from the sale of my previous house, were then parked in several fixed deposit accounts with an average interest rate of 3.75%.

Separately, I have also bought Singapore Savings Bonds (SSB) at interest rate of 3.07% using my Supplementary Retirement Scheme (SRS). I had wanted to purchase Mapletree Logistics Trust (MLT) using the SRS funds but decided not to after observing the declining unit price for the past one year.

Admittedly, I was late to the game as both the fixed interest rates and Singapore Savings Bonds (SSB) had started to decline in recent months. Previously, the inertia to restructure my Singapore Savings Bonds (SSB) was because I was expecting the rates to keep rising against the backdrop of the US Federal interest rate hikes. Henceforth, I was caught by surprise that the 10-year SGS yield declined so drastically since March 2023 (Singapore Savings Bonds (SSB) interest rates are based on the average SGS yields the month before).

Apparently, the market is expecting that the US Federal interest rate hike on 4 May 2023 to be the final one as the financial market is in jitters following the swift collapses of four US regional banks and the demise of Credit Suisse Bank.

This should be my last article for 2022. As we look back and reflect, 2022 would be remembered as the year in which US Federal Reserve unleashed its aggressive interest rate hikes to fight inflation. As a result, Singapore banks also increased borrowing rates. And then in a week time, GST will be hiked to 8% and then to 9% in 2024. Against this backdrop, it is not matter of choice for Singaporeans to consider growing their wealth to beat the cost of living. All Singaporeans must start the journey as early as possible.

Stop tracking expenses!

Early on in my wealth journey, I confess that I did track my monthly expenses and personal income religiously without fail. But I had stopped doing so after three years because I noticed there were no significant improvements in my personal cash-flow. Instead of enhancing my wealth, the quality of life inadvertently dropped as I suffered from guilt pangs whenever there were unexpected expenses incurred from friends’ outings or wedding dinner red packets.

After a while, I began to realize that my life should not be controlled by a spreadsheet. I need to be larger than life and start living a life. After all, we only live once.

Sign up for only $19.99! According to the Insolvency and Public Trustee Office (IPTO), as at 31 December 2020, the amount of unclaimed monies held at IPTO was $234 million, of which $150 million were unclaimed un-nominated CPF savings and $84 million were other unclaimed monies. The fact that there were $150 million of unclaimed un-nominated CPF savings means that there are still a number of Singaporeans who have yet to make their CPF nominations.

In 2017, I have made my CPF nomination. Subsequently in 2019, I changed my CPF nomination after an annual review with my spouse. Previously, I did not include my children in my CPF nomination. In doing so, we thought that this could be a risk in the event that both my spouse and I passed on at the same time. Thus, we made our way to the CPF office to change my CPF nomination. As usual, the process took only 5 minutes and the officer was very competent in answering our queries.

The reason why I am sharing this article is because I hope Singaporeans can understand the implications of not making a CPF nomination. There are many myths and misconceptions of CPF monies out there and I have read many sad cases of Singaporeans being left in the lurch after the sole-breadwinners died without making any CPF nomination.

Building wealth and achieving financial freedom is a good way to increase the quality of your life. Money can’t buy happiness, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that materialism has a negative effect on overall well-being. Just think about it. When you have money, you derive satisfaction from other areas of your life, such as family life, health, social life, and so on. If you don’t lose sight of the things that matter, you can live a better life.

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As a business owner, you could accumulate wealth or ramp up risk. You’re in the business to make a profit, so you should be enjoying the benefits of owning a successful company. How do you build a fortune? If you really want to know, keep on reading. In what follows, we’ll explore the best ways to achieve financial success and achieve your business objectives.

Don’t view your company as your job

Starting a company, especially a start-up, requires hard work and determination. The pay is low unless you’re one of the lucky ones who meet with success. To attain financial independence, you must think and act strategically. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to treat your company as a job.

LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP The Chinese has a saying “You come to this world with nothing, and you shall leave this world with nothing.” Death is an inevitable phase of life which everyone would have to go through. While your CPF savings certainly belong to yours, the ownership would cease upon death. This is a fundamental universal truth. However, being a responsible wealth builder, I believe in forward planning. In this article, I will share my thoughts on the biggest myths about CPF nomination.

In 2017, I have made my CPF nomination. The process was incredibly simple and easy. It is also free of charge. I was very impressed by CPF Board’s efficiency and service standard. Within three days, I got a follow-up call from a CPF officer confirming my nomination details were in order and within a week, I got an official letter from CPF Board.

Will versus CPF nomination

The biggest myth about CPF monies is that you can make a will on it. Many Singaporeans are not aware that CPF savings are not covered under will. According to CPF Board website, CPF savings are not part of your estate. The policy intent is to protect from creditor claims on any outstanding debts.

By Lena Teng, CFP®, Acting Head of Solutions and Investment Lead, MoneyOwl

Amongst all the pillars of financial management, from savings to investments to retirement planning, will-writing is definitely the one that’s most misunderstood.

A will is a legal document through which a person declares how his/her assets will be distributed in the event of death. A simple internet search on ‘will-writing’ brings you to a long list of suggestions, of which a good number of them focus only on breaking down its misconceptions and common myths. The immense number of articles on this just goes to show that many are still unsure of this confusing and misunderstood aspect of financial planning.

This is a significant knowledge gap that needs to be addressed—as it contributes a big part to why will-writing remains to be a taboo topic amongst most in Singapore, with 56% of adult Singaporeans reporting that they have not made a will.
Will writing is not only crucial, but also a surprisingly simpler process compared to all other aspects of financial planning. The quick questionnaire below will help you unpack the seemingly mysterious concept of will-writing.

Question 1. Which of these is closest to the sum left unclaimed over the last 6 years by those who died without naming a beneficiary ?

In this article, I will share my insights on three important money advice. The story is written from the perspective of Christianity but I have adapted the story to re-frame it from the angle of wealth building. Note that I am not a Christian and this is definitely not an article meant to spread Christianity. Instead, I believe that readers can benefit very much from this sharing in the course of their financial journey.

In life, we will always receive money advice from well-meaning friends and relatives. Yet, very often, it is only those simple money advice that really withstand the test of time. As a matter of fact, the three money advice contained in this article served me rather well in my financial journey. Thus, I am sharing this article with readers.

The long journey

Once upon a time, there was a poor young man named David who just got married. The couple lived in a small farm. David wanted a better life for his wife and decided to venture out to find a better job. Before he left, he said to his wife,

“Dear, I will go and find a job that pays well so that both of us can have a better life.

According to a Well-being of the Singapore Elderly (WiSE) study conducted by Institute of Mental Health (IMH), the number of dementia cases in Singapore is estimated to be about 82,000 in 2018. And this figure could rise to a staggering 100,000 in a few years’ time as our population aged rapidly. This is a frightening statistic and hence set the context for the need to consider making a lasting power of attorney (LPA).

Life is fragile and unpredictable. You do not know when disaster will strike you. In my previous article, I wrote about how my late Dad’s devastating stroke left my family in a state of limbo for many years. Thus, it is never too early to start planning ahead because you never know when adversity will strike. But if misfortune does strike, make sure you are ready.

Like all things in life, there is a dark side for lasting power of attorney. In 2014, the court case of Yang Yin cast the spotlight on the role of lasting power of attorney (LPA). In that saga, Singapore saw how this legal document can be abused if it falls into the wrong hands.

So, what is exactly a lasting power of attorney (LPA) and how does it impact your financial journey?

As an avid personal finance blogger in Singapore, I am passionate about personal finance and investment topics. My passion in personal finance stemmed from a challenging family financial background. So, it is definitely not by chance that I became a personal finance blogger. My goal for this blog is to share experiences relating to personal finance. In the process, I hope readers become better wealth builders.

Personal finance diary

The period 1994 to 2013 was the darkest chapter of my life, and also the longest winter for my family. We were very vulnerable then, and at the same time struggling to cope financially. My siblings and I were still schooling in secondary schools. Mom was a housewife and she received little education. Grandma was old and ailing. Dad was the sole breadwinner and his debilitating stroke plunged my family into an abyss of financial uncertainties.

I am a firm believer of working hard and smart to achieve success. In Singapore, regardless of social status and academic achievements, most Singaporeans should be able to earn good income if they are willing to work hard and smart. But what about those who are physically handicapped and struggling to make ends meet?

For many people, the mere thought of removing urine for our fathers would have been grossly unpleasant.

Sure, the very wealthy are different than the rest of us — and in more ways than just the lavish lifestyles you see on television and tabloids. The rich also have a different mindset when it comes to handling and managing their finances.

You likely think the wealthy guard their wealth-building secrets closely. And to some degree, that’s true. But there are many ways you can emulate their fiscal practices to find your own way to financial freedom.

Work with Professionals

It’s a myth that financial advisers are only accessible by the wealthy. In fact, people with moderate incomes benefit more from expert advice than those who are already financially secure. For example, Singapore firms such as Asiaciti Trust serve private clients who want to make their money work for them, retire early and secure a solid financial future.

Working with the right financial advisor allows you to invest, save, and grow the money you have. Choose a firm that has years of dedicated service and proven results.

Embrace a Wealthy Mindset

To be sure, Singapore has many rich and famous people—and movies like “Crazy Rich Asians” can make it seem like a typical worker can never attain personal wealth. But that mindset can serve as a roadblock between a go-nowhere career and true growth.

A couple of weeks ago, I changed my CPF nomination after an annual review with my spouse. Previously, I did not include my children in my CPF nomination. In doing so, we thought that this could be a risk in the event that both my spouse and I passed on at the same time. Thus, we made our way to the CPF office to change my CPF nomination. As usual, the process took only 5 minutes and the officer was very competent in answering our queries.

So in my case, what is the difference between nominating and not nominating CPF monies to include our children? Are there any benefits in doing so? Previously, I have nominated my spouse to receive 100% of my CPF monies should I passed on. That is a pretty straight-forward situation. But in the scenario of us passing on at the same time, how would my young kids receive the monies? Even if they do manage to take out the CPF monies, being kids, they will definitely lack the financial judgement to handle the monies. With these in mind, we thought it is important to amend my CPF nomination to ensure that our children will not face financial difficulties in the event of our deaths.

The recent article by Dollar And Sense on how you can build one million dollar wealth using CPF by 65 certainly created a storm among netizens. While I do not dispute that this feat is definitely achievable, such an article does not paint a holistic picture and probably created plenty of false hopes to those who just started their financial journey. Let me share my insights in this article and how you should learn from Singapore government on how to use your CPF monies.

To put things into perspective, the author, Timothy Ho, is the founder of Dollar And Sense. Being an entrepreneur, it is unlikely that he contributes to his Ordinary Account. I may be wrong on this point and if so, I stand corrected. Therefore, when he encouraged readers not to use CPF monies to finance properties, he is probably speaking from his own experiences.

Okay fair enough, there are thousands of self-employees like Timothy who don’t have much CPF savings. Just think of taxi drivers, entrepreneurs and hawkers. But hey, the article was on how to build one million wealth with CPF right? Thus, what I am advocating now is managing your CPF monies to build a sustainable wealth.

As the year draws to a close, it is timely to review how you have fared financially for 2017. Are your personal finances in order and did you grow your wealth? In this article, I will share my journey for the past one year and also the top 5 personal finance blog articles (in terms of traffic).

This year has been an exciting one for my family as we have finally moved into our new home. The motivation to upgrade from a 3-room HDB flat to an executive condominium was not purely a financial reason. Sure, the potential to “cash out” after the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) is tempting. After all, ECs are sold at subsidized prices and home owners stand to make handsome profit after selling their homes. But the case for my family is different. We wanted our children to grow up in a better environment and forge a better future.

Due to the upgrade, I have done extensive research relating to home ownership, property taxes, home loans and financial matters relating to CPF. The analysis and strategies were subsequently shared in this blog. Many readers had feedback that they found the articles useful and insightful. Their comments had been heartening, so I have compiled the list to benefit those who may have missed out these gems.

On 6 August 2015, the Ministry of Finance took a rare step in refuting claims “the Government planning to raise the GST after the next General Elections”. Singapore government slammed online websites for spreading baseless claims that the GST would be raised from 7%. Personal finance website, Dollar And Sense, also rubbished the notion that GST would be raised to 10% on 22 September 2015.

Well, they could be wrong as PM Lee Hsien Loong recently dropped big hint that there could be impending tax hike due to increased government spending.

In my perspective, I feel that there could be a grave need for the GST to be raised to 12%. Yes, it is 12%. Why so? Am I crazy? After all, it had been 10 years since GST had been raised from 5% to 7%. That GST hike had been perceived to inflate the cost of living and many people feel that the tax is regressive because the poor would be affected the most.

Before dismissing this article, it is important to look at the big picture and understand the macroeconomic dynamics. In doing so, Singaporeans can then better understand the insights of our leaders before jumping to conclusions.

Recently, my colleague passed away unexpectedly, leaving behind two young daughters and wife. His wife is a full-time housewife. In grieving his death, I wondered whether my family would be able to cope if I suffered the same fate. Like my late colleague, both of us are sole breadwinners. So, I can imagine the family’s financial concerns and the fundamental questions on the destiny of CPF monies upon death.

Most often, there are misconceptions on the distribution of CPF monies upon death. There were even false rumours that Medisave savings go to the government after death as they are not included in CPF Nominations. In this article, I will attempt to explain the framework and try to gain a better understanding of the system. Again, I must put a disclaimer that this article is not meant to be a legal nor financial advice. In case of any doubts, please seek advice from licensed professionals.

Upon death, you would want your loved ones to have access to your CPF savings. This is especially so if the family’s financial situation is not so ideal. You don’t want your family to undergo financial hardship after you passed on. Ultimately, how you plan your estate will determine the outcome.

The recent saga involving the will of the late founding father of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, has cast a spotlight on will. Of course, it is ridiculous to question the validity of Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s will as he was a trained lawyer. But most Singaporeans are not lawyers by profession. So, it is important to understand the legal framework to avoid the devastating outcome of making the wrong will. In this article, I will also share what is the outcome if you did not make a CPF nomination.

Basically, a will is a legal document that indicates the instructions on how you wish to distribute your assets after you passed on. Technically, everyone can craft his own will without the aid of legal advisors. Although this is the case, it is not advisable to do so because most of us are not familiar with the laws in Singapore. I have seen so many sad stories of legal disputes involving the challenges on the validity of wills. The biggest tragedies are often the broken ties and damaged family relationships.

Before proceeding, I need to clarify that I am not a lawyer by training and this article is not meant to be a form of legal advice.

Cancer. The mere mention of it strikes fear in many people. Yet most of us would never imagine ourselves being inflicted by this horrible illness in our lifetime. Recently, an ex-colleague of mine died from stomach cancer. His death caused a stir in the office because he was young (in the mid-thirties) and had everything going well for him. What is it like for a wealth builder to be struck by cancer in Singapore?

According to data released by Health Promotion Board (HPB), cancer is currently the leading cause of death in Singapore, accounting for 29.7% of deaths in 2015. In the investment community, ex-SGX CEO, Magnus Bocker died from cancer last month. Prior to that, founder of SharesInvestor.com, Dr Michael Leong lost his battle against colon cancer.

It seems like cancer is on the rise in Singapore. According to the HPB report, it was estimated that the lifetime risk for developing cancer in Singapore population is approximately 1 for every 4-5 people. This is not surprising as Singapore has an ageing population, so the number of people diagnosed with cancer is expected to rise.

In terms of statistic for cancer in Singapore, the number 1 cancer for males is colorectal (colon and rectal) while the number 1 cancer for females is breast.

Your CPF savings can be your best friend. But it can also be your worst enemy if you don’t manage it well. For some unknown reasons, some readers attacked me in my previous article, claiming that I wrote “misleading” and “nonsense” information on the CPF Accrued Interest. They refused to believe that CPF Accrued Interest could lead to potential wealth destruction if the game is not played correctly.

First of all, CPF Accrued Interest is of course your money! I have never disputed that in my previous article and I don’t know why some readers tried to stir up negative emotions without getting their facts right. I read my article over and over again and verified that I did not write that CPF Accrued Interest is not our money.

But then again, so what if readers know that CPF Accrued Interest belongs to them? Of more useful to them should be the understanding of the mechanism of CPF Accrued Interest right? Not understanding the law can cost you an arm or leg. In this article, I am going to discuss how wealth can be destroyed if Singaporeans mismanaged their CPF monies.

Fundamentally, CPF’s principle is that whatever amount of CPF savings you take out for housing or education purposes, you must [This is a premium article.

Be afraid. Be very afraid after reading this article. This is an article that all aspiring and existing home owners can ill-afford to miss. And I do mean it because you may live to regret for dismissing the message in this article. Today, I am going to share with readers the devastating effect of HDB Loan combined with CPF Accrued interest.

Many financial bloggers wrote about CPF accrued interest and HDB Loan. However, they may not have the real experience of purchasing an HDB flat or obtaining an HDB loan before. Most of them merely touched on the interest rate figures without providing much analysis on the bigger picture of the housing scheme framework in Singapore. In my perspective, this is dangerous as not knowing the full picture of the law can cost you an arm or leg.

However, I am different because in this article, I am going to provide some basic analysis and share with readers the frightening aspect of the HDB Loan and CPF Accrued interest. At the end of the day, I hope readers can avoid the financial pit-falls and grow wealth with me together. So, if you do find this article useful, please lend your support and subscribe to my blog.

One of my missions of starting this finance blog is to share with readers some useful tips on financial matters. In relation to one of my previous articles, a reader has raised a very good question on Home Protection Scheme (HPS). So today, I am going to share some information pertaining to how you can apply for exemption from HPS.

First of all, HPS is compulsory if you are using your CPF savings to pay your monthly housing loan installments on your HDB flat. Of course, there are some residents who are cash rich and do not use their CPF savings to pay their HDB mortgage payments. For this group of people, HPS is not compulsory.

But assuming you are using your CPF savings to service monthly HDB loan and would like to apply for exemption from HPS, then you may apply to CPF Board for exemption.

Most people thought that they should write to HDB when applying for exemption of HPS. The confusion is probably because when applying for coverage under HPS for HDB loan, you can apply for HPS cover at HDB Hub or any HDB branch office when you are applying to use your CPF for the monthly housing instalment.

The recent court case of a Singaporean technician who stole to finance his wife’s chemotherapy set me thinking. Money, or the lack of it, has always been the root cause of many family tragedies. This tragedy certainly reinforces the importance of having the right money values.

The accused worked as a technician in the same company for 23 years and drew a salary of $1210. Having to support two school going children and his ailing wife who was diagnosed with cancer, the technician was driven to desperation to steal copper wires from his employer.

Like many readers, I sympathize the plight of the accused and can fully empathize his situation because I have been through similar rough patch in life before. Thus, the objective of writing this article is to highlight the lessons we can learn from this tragedy.

Dignity in poverty

First of all, being poor is not a sin. But the Chinese has a saying that goes “dignity in poverty”. It simply means that even if one is poor, one must have dignity and not let poverty erodes his values in life. Indeed, our money values define our legacy and whether you like it or not, stealing is a form of dishonest act and should not be condoned.

Recently, SG Budget Babe wrote a very interesting article on online frauds in Singapore and I thought it would be useful to share a quick post on the same topic.

But before that, it is important to note that like many fraud victims, I share the same perspective and argument if I am in their shoes. But for argument sake, this article shall attempt to strike a balanced viewpoint from the perspective of the service provider (the bank) and the consumer. Hopefully readers can benefit from this sharing and avoid the undesirable fate of being a fraud victim.

Understanding the law

In Singapore, the law that governs electronic transactions is the Electronic Transaction Act (ETA). This law covers two important components of online transactions – Electronic Signature and Secured Electronic Signature. For an electronic signature to be legally recognized, it needs to be able to authenticate the person signing the document and ensure integrity of the document signed. However, if the service provider implemented secured electronic signature, the law automatically presume that these requirements are fulfilled.

The 2-FA authentication used by many local banks is deemed as a form of secured electronic signature and the system works based on “what you know (PIN or password)” and “what you have (two factor authentication token)”.

This will be a short post to capture my thoughts about growing wealth in Singapore. In light of the recent Budget announcements, water prices will hike by 30% in two phases over two years. Thus, it is not matter of choice for Singaporeans to consider growing their wealth to beat the cost of living. All Singaporeans must start the journey as early as possible.

Stop tracking expenses

Early on in my wealth journey, I confess that I did track my monthly expenses and personal income religiously without fail. But I had stopped doing so after three years because I noticed there were no significant improvements in my personal cash-flow. Instead of enhancing my wealth, the quality of life inadvertently dropped as I suffered from guilt pangs whenever there were unexpected expenses incurred from friends’ outings or wedding dinner red packets.

After a while, I began to realize that my life should not be controlled by a spreadsheet. I need to be larger than life and start living a life. After all, we only live once. We are born into this world to enjoy, not suffer. With the change in mindset, I started to empower myself by focusing on how to grow wealth through enhancing my earning ability.

Times are bad and conmen are out in full force. Be aware of phone scams in Singapore. In a recent media report, a couple in Singapore lost $70,000 to a phone scam.

Apparently, the conmen posed as policemen and called the wife to inform that her credit card had been used for criminal activities in China. She was led into giving her online banking PIN number to facilitate investigation works. Subsequently, both husband and wife realized they had been conned and their savings had been wiped out within hours.

The speed at which the criminals stole their life savings left the couple in a state of shock. Within a day, they had lost everything and even had to borrow from friend for family expenses. Complete disaster.

One thing to note is that such a tragedy can happen to everyone. The common misconception is that only the elderly or less educated people are susceptible to falling prey to scams. This incident vindicated that when it comes to scams, everyone can be fooled. We must all stay vigilant and must never reveal our personal bank details and PIN number to anyone, not even to the authorities or enforcement officers.

For the young couple, this will be a painful lesson for them as they are likely to need the money to move into their new home.

As SG Wealth Builder, my dream is for fellow Singaporeans to have an equal opportunity to build wealth. That is why I chose this name for my blog. Even though I don’t work in the financial sector, through my articles, I hope that readers can gain valuable insights and learn from my investment mistakes.

Building wealth is a journey and requires a person to have a correct mindset. There are finance bloggers out there who wrote that more money cannot buy you happiness. I certainly don’t dispute this wisdom but then again, being poor in Singapore will certainly make you unhappy and miserable. If you belonged to the lower income bracket, it is understandable that you feel stressed out and insecure just trying to make a reasonable standard of living here. I have being through that phase in life and can certainly relate to this sort of feeling.

One thing that I must qualify is that I have not achieved financial freedom, nor am I trying to preach to readers on how to live a life. In fact, I am still a struggling middle-class income earner. But I feel that if Singaporeans can step out and share our investment or financial mistakes, collectively, we can become a better wealth builders.

Although money makes the world go round, you may find yourself in a spin by not having sufficient funds in your bank account. But if you struggle to make ends meet, feel as though your pay cheque doesn’t go far enough or simply want some extra cash to spend on life’s luxuries, then consider giving one or more of the following 10 easy money-making tips a try:

1. Forex trading

Short for foreign exchange, forex is the largest financial market in the world and allows anyone to take advantage of currency fluctuations caused by interest rates, inflation, government policy, and a wide range of other factors. It has fewer barriers than other forms of trading and is simple to get going.

 2. Online surveys

Research companies are always on the look out for members of the public to answer online surveys and test new products. This can be done while watching TV or before you go to bed at night and will result in either cold hard cash or another type of reward.

 3. Sell your holiday snaps

You don’t have to be a professional to sell photographs, as stock image agencies constantly need new and novel images of far-flung foreign destinations for their databases.

In recent years, there have been many articles of old folks in Singapore living in poverty. This prompted Dr Alexandre Kalache, former head of ageing issues at the World Health Organization (WHO) to voice concerns that Singapore still has much room for improvement in terms of helping elderly to age with dignity.  Whilst I do not have the data to illustrate the profile and root causes leading to the plight of these people, at the back of my mind, I wonder to myself what it is like to spend my golden years in survival mode. Can CPF savings be your ticket to retirement?

Perhaps one of the most controversial topics among Singaporeans would be – Do you really need your CPF to retire? Is the CPF scheme still effective in addressing the retirement needs of Singaporeans? To tackle these questions, one needs to trace the history of CPF and its original intent.

Implemented in 1955, CPF is a compulsory savings scheme that requires all employers and employees to contribute a portion of the employee’s monthly gross salary to their CPF fund. In those days, most workers depend solely on their personal savings when they retire and most employers did not provide any form of retirement benefits to their employers.