Thursday, January 07, 2010

The Singapore Plan.

I just want to take a short break to introduce the Singapore Plan.

i) Do well in school.
ii) Get a university degree in a professional field
iii) Get work in either the civil service or MNC.
iv) Get married.
v) Buy a HDB flat / Condo.
vi) Get a car
vii) Have kids
viii) Finish reservist / Grow old.
ix) Die before you become a burden to the government.

Powerful institutions exists to reinforce this plan from HDB loans to baby bonuses. People who deviate from this plan are on their own or labelled quitters or unpatriotic assholes.

A large component of this plan is also only possible with hefty loans or obligations.

I think a large part of wealth accumulation means breaking out from this plan and coming out with something on your own but that will be a post for another day.

Which brings us to this new idea called Lifestyle Design. I always believed that Singaporeans can come up with their own plan based on their own personal circumstances. This requires some effort in developing a Philosophy to Life, something which I'm currently developing for future books which I hope to launch.

2 comments:

  1. Dear Christopher,

    I just bought and read your book this week. I would to thank you for sharing the knowledge of investment to me in your book " Growing your tree of prosperity". I am very new to investment and I am glad I have found your book.

    Your step by step teaching and the method of investing our savings using the " economic castle" is very interesting and new to me.

    I am interested in building this economic castle and would like your advise. I already builded my petty cash and reserves and I would like to go to the next step. Regarding your recommendation in the book for the Bond fund, Equity fund, Balance fund, such as: OCBC Value balance fund, OCBC Global Bond Fund, etc. is it still worth to invest in it at this present time? or should I be investing the dividen stocks?

    Looking forward to your reply soon.

    Once again, thank you

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  2. Hi Megan,

    A lot depends on your own personal situation. If you can save a large amount every month as in thousands, then by all means get into dividend stocks.

    If, however, you can save only hundreds a month, then you may use dollar cost averaging to pick up the unit trusts recommended.

    I'm personally not a big fan of balanced funds these days. Better to buy a global equity fund and a global bond fund to keep expenses low.

    ReplyDelete