Random thoughts: 5 years after I thought I begin my journey to Rome

This post is a review of a post of investment principles I had 5 years ago in 2014.

https://sillyinvestor.blogspot.com/2014/07/random-thoughts-my-route-to-rome.html?m=1

2014 One paradigm shift:
Stop worrying about the value of my portfolio. Not that it is not important, but the cashflow of dividends and the robustness of underlying business is more important

NOW:
Portfolio value is important. Returns is not as important robustness of portfolio. Keep a decent amount of cash in portfolio. Recent correction with counters in radar falling 50% to 80percent from their historical or recent peak, made me take out my gun and statt firing. The lowest cash went was 40 percent. It is back to 50 percent now with some triming of loses and taking of profits.

Second shift:
Only look at companies with yield of at least 4%. If u expect growth, 4-5% is ok, if u expect flat or zero growth, at least 6% will be appropriate.

NOW: More or less intact the view

Third shift:
Only buy companies that will survive the next downturn and emerge stronger. Trading of companies that are mispriced is permissible with 2 years horizon. Expect such counters to never recover, and be ready to take the risk, and be nimble. Such counters should yield more than 8% to justify the risk. 

NOW:
Trading of mispriced counters are about turnaround play. Dividend yield is a redundant marker. The risk reward compensation should be in the form of capital gain and the high yield.that should come only after u are right about the turnaround and dividend Increase to justify the high yield due to the low cost of purchase.

If Its 50_50 kind of turnaround, punt small run fast and accumulate only once.

4th shift: 
Do yearly reinvestment of dividends, there is no need to time the market for correction or bear. 

NOW: Hahahha, why am I keeping cash if I am not timing the market

5th shift:
Other savings go into cash. Only invest further with new capital injections when cash form more than 40% of portfolio, or 
When market correct 10-15 % ( 30% of cash can be a activated )
When market correct 15 - 25% ( up to 60% of cash can be used)
when market correct 30% - 40% ( Up to 100% of cash can be used)
When market correct 40-50% ( cash backs savings from 2 of my endowments plans can be used)
More than 50% ( CPF money can be used )

Keep expanding radar...

NOW:
I go for counter correction too. Of course low tide all boats sink. But if its a industry or company specific correction, I still fire off.

Beside CPF, I have start my maiden investment in SRS. Nope, I am not going to exhuast all cash before using CPF. What good is that.

I will stagger cash and CPF and SRS. So my cash will also get some low prices that allow.me to liquidated at a earlier possible time and not until the next decade.

Radar expanding... but more for interest on business than possible winners.

Random thoughts: What is Real?

The passing by in my life,
Are u real?
I give my best to u, enjoyed your company,
Are we real?
You will be gone in a year or two,
Bringing our laughters, my scolding into memory lanes.

Family ties are real instead, u say.
They are with u all the time.
If time is the test of real,
Then relatively, we are all fake as compared to something more permanent.

An half_life is real,
A winkling flower is real?

We feel it, its real.
Remember that fleeting motivation from that sale talk.
I knew that is not real.

Perhaps, nothing is real.
Is a footprint real?

The footprint seen, felt.
The wish to remember the peeson that man who left behind the footprint.

Long after the wind blow the dusk away,
Is real

Random thoughts: How rich am I?

This not a post about net worth, but rather, a compilation of real people I met, and my observations here. I am being judgmental here, so be warned. Names are not real

1) David has a view on how others should leave their lives. Why is the wife Not working, why work as a Expat overseas when the pay is not much higher. Why Not sack the relative at work who is not contributing. Why not looking to buy property.

It will be too late if we dun buy something to leave for our child. We are being passive if we are not striving to grow our wealth actively.

2) Wilson gambles and is in debts. Mountain high of debt. His mum pays off his debt. He ask mum for money evertimes he needs money. Mum sold off property, to stayed with another son while he continue to stay in condo, keep a pet and ask mum for money to pump petrol, and pay for mortages.

Mum in turns ask all her relatives for money. Beg, scold and hoot big big on toto and 4D. She always claim no one care about her. She blows her Hongbao money given as gifts on a single genting trip. Like mother like son. Both are in debts and Wilson is getting marriEd soon with girlfriend already pregnant.

3) Samuel is single. Spend a lot of time giving weekend tuition. Save enough money to buy an investment property. Became interested in stocks. Ask his friend to teach him. His friend who is yours truly silly investor ask how much money can he lose.

Samuel Says 150K. Silly tease him that he is rich as 150K is silly total assets.

Samuel reply is classic:

You have a child that looks like u
You have a wonderful family living together.
You doing well in your career.
You are nice to your family.
You know how to invest.

You are much richer than me.

Silly being silly and failing Maths Agree with Samuel. Although he is no longer doing as well in his career than what Samuel knows, silly never really feel poor.

He knows he might not be as comfortable as others financially, but he doesn't need advice on how to get rich.

He tried to stay away from Wilson and David, and advise others not to be burden by them.

I think I am rich. I think I am happy. U are richer, god bless u. U are happier, cheers. I need no help or words of encouragement or advice from u, Thank you very much

随心笔：害怕

害怕晚上，
害怕下班后到医院去。

那里环境还不错。
但不知道能为父亲做什么。
虽然，哪里有许多人情况比父亲还糟。

害怕停下来。
害怕思绪乱窜。

过年那几天，害怕呆呆呆在家。
也不知道和“亲戚”说什么。
只提醒自己注意当下，
其他的别想。

回到了学校，
好像是我的救命绳，
逗孩子笑，很开心。

看孩子努力，很欣慰。
很期待每个星期四和篮球队的孩子打十五分钟的球。
我怕，去医院，我也有点怕回家。
今天就在课室外，改簿子，
改了就把簿子分类，放在课室。
其实有更快的方法的。
但是，不知道为什么，知道忙完了，
就要到医院去了，
所以很不积极。
只想留在学校。

看看股票，也闷。
听歌听着听着，
会无厘头地想哭 。

买点什么好，让他止痒。

随心笔：本来

本来以为都习惯了。
以为没感觉了。
怎么都回来了。

突然想哭。
突然想起以前当义工时，
也是推着老人到公园走走。

说说笑笑。
昨天还教我的学生尽情哭。
把不满都抒发。

我原来也会哭。
本来以为无悔，没什么好哭的。

原来有感觉是这种感觉。
到底是在同情他，还是同情自己。

随心笔：空屋

我回到了我们的家。
我成长的家。
好像想起你还健康时，
拉着你到外头吃饭的情景。
其实，我知道你很累，
但是不想你一直睡。

走过餐桌，你的药还在药盒。
有时怪你为什么没吃药。
也想起你说肚子饿，
半夜起来橇饼干罐。

现在你在医院，
什么食物都说饱，吃不下。
精神不算太坏，
但是不知道能和你说什么。
就只能按按你的脚，希望你舒服一点。

你在医院三周了，
房子空了三周，
那天回去，赫然发现屋外的植物都快枯死了。
我从很阴郁，到没感觉，
这就是他们说的麻木吧。

空空的，很整齐。
空空的，很平静，不像你刚入院前，
忙得头昏脑胀。
我知道你想快点回家，
不过自私的我，在工人还没来前，
器材还没买前，还是挺赞成医院留着你的。

空屋空屋，过年前能热闹起来吗？

Random thoughts: Looking back at 2018

Looking back at 2018, I have not been effective.

I have not done what I can control. My emotional is on a roller coaster ride due to negative feedback at work, a weaken father, and a non-performing portfolio.

I however, like to give thanks to a supportive wife and a wonderful family.

I was very frustrated caring for my dad. It seem that his capability to take care of his daily needs are getting weaker. Caregiving is getting tougher because his situation does not seem to improve. There are various occasions where I raise my voice at him.

I was very demoralized at work too, but I had written a post on it and I shall not dwell on it any longer. My health checks show my liver is getting worse and I am putting on weight. (hahahaha)

I would like to remind myself of the serenity prayer:

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference."

This quote gave me a different perspective this year. I used to focus on the word, "accept". Now I realize serenity is one important key word that should come together with acceptance. Whatever I do wrong, whatever makes me unhappy, I would like to wash it away every night in a bath, and not bring it with me.

The courage to change things, depends a lot of mindfulness. Mindfulness clear the mind on what is possible, and provide the focus and clarity.

I am very fortunate to meet a teacher who advice me for 2 hours on how to move forward, and I feel lighten by the burden. My dad situation did not improve but I have not raise my voice and become my patience. 

I thank god for a testing 2018 to strengthen me, although I might have fail the test, I will continue to see how best I can to move forward. 

Merry Christmas to all, may your 2018 makes you wiser and stronger for 2019