KT Wealth

I have a big roadmap of where my different income streams will be. For the past 8 years, I have been developing them. It is with this belief that will support my end goal of living a life that is contractually free, a 10 years plan in place . This post shall be a brief of where I am now and where I wish to be. By sharing, I hope to inspire everyone around me. My Day Job I have been strengthening my expertise in regional business development and cross-border negotiation, thereby building an excellent track record across diverse clientele in Asia and Europe. The positive mindset, constant thinking and humility of continuous improvement are extremely useful. The right characteristics offer me the pathway to senior roles, thus expanding my income base over the years. I seek to learn through newspapers and external publication, draw realistic scenarios from books and wade into deep waters to make tough agreements with c-suite business people. Finally, I pick up key abilities and persona...

Time is your friend. Patience is a virtue. How true this is. I set my financial sight to equities during 2008 sub-prime crisis, scooping up dirt-cheap shares of a prominent blue-chip Developer at less than S$1.50. In Jan 2015, I sold my Keppel Land shares at S$4.55 per share due to the privatization offer from the parent company, Keppel Corporation. That gave me more than 120% net returns, excluding dividends. Indeed, it was a hefty bonus for me! Being prudent, I channelled majority of the realized gains to my Emergency Fund. Forward-looking vision - in 2016, I aim to build a pathway to semi-retirement. I call it “ Project Silver Milestone ”, a late chapter in my Book of Life. By the age of 50-55, I should have a comfortable mix of monthly four-figure net dividend and business returns that’s able to sustain my day-to-day lifestyle – neither extravagant nor meager. Most importantly, pursue something that I like to do such as personal coaching, travel and outdoor nature. It’s cr...

We have seen several global events unfold this year. The downward spiral of oil prices, US Federal Reserve interest rate adjustment, China economic slowdown, threat of terrorism and the continued sluggish commodity demand. I have nothing much to shout in my portfolio. But it’s with the negative sentiment that I smell opportunities. Jack Ma once said “if 90% of those present at a business meeting vote in favour of one or other suggestion, I’ll always throw it out”. You can see more of his quotes here . What this means is that if everyone thinks about a particular idea, agrees and acts on it, the idea becomes stale because all, including your competitors will jump into the bandwagon. By then, it’s too late. My thinking is different. Some call it “Contrarian”. Myself? I label it as “ Market Opportunist ”. I can buy stocks at a better valuation when majority remains superbly pessimistic. Don’t get me wrong. I will not select companies blindly but have a broader assessment of industry d...

You can be a great person to build relationships. But if your closing rate is low, it’s as good as losing your plot. Often, a salesperson struggle because (a) he is shy to ask for the client’s signature (b) he develops preconceived assumption about the prospect (c) he can’t sense the buying signal in the beginning Whatever the reason, the salesperson’s (Insurance Agent, Property Consultant, Furniture Sales Executive, Relationship Manager etc.) success depends on the total value of the agreements and the rate of closing. 1. Repeat the prospect’s requirements During the selling process, you need an excellent listening ear. Hear the prospect’s buying signal carefully and write down, so that you remember. Usually, the same words and sentences are mentioned a few times – for instance, he likes things that are convenient. When closing comes, bring out similar phrases and wordings (i.e. convenient) again. Most of the time, the prospect is reassured, knowing that you have heard him....

You heard it. Corporate earnings disappoint. Companies face challenging market conditions, from softening of the retail climate to rising costs of rent, manpower and production. Externally, oversupply of oil with prices plummeting and there are few signs of recovery. Slowdown in China with China Central Bank imposes further interest rate cuts. Locally, Developers are pressing for favorable regulations to incite buyers’ interest in properties. Commodities slump as demand drops heavily from China, Russia and India.The story of “emerging Asia” becomes a theme of the past as funds flow outwards to Europe. Standard Chartered is the latest bank to retrench their staff and begin their corporate restructuring. Other financial institutions are also reducing headcount and cutting back on wayward lending. In Europe, recovery remains fragile after Eurozone crisis due to piling of corporate debts, high national deficit (e.g. Greece) and unresolved unemployment, from Spain to Italy. Many sh...

Look around you. There may be money-making opportunities. But the environment is cluttered with various schemes – some are dubious and raise suspicion. Flip the papers and you see an advertisement promising you double-digit returns with an investment that needs little effort. Surf the internet and there are many online link-ups informing that you can earn a 4 digit income within a few days by working from home. I prefer to pursue something that’s credible and pragmatic. In 2015, the chances are here! Do note that the options regarding investment are purely recommendations. Every individual has their personal risk appetite. Please assess the disadvantages and advantages carefully. 1. Stock market Not many will agree this approach - I will focus on companies in cyclical trade. In the past weeks, the share prices of property-related, oil & gas firms are beaten down due to weak macroeconomic conditions such as declining oil prices, slower demand in China and the fear ...

I begin to think about how “the man in the street” is able to save money yet gain something meaningful. So, I churn out a list of activities that anyone can do, minus off the wallet. 1. Visit the Library Take a walk into our National Libraries without flipping out a coin. Spend a day browsing through magazines or pick up your favorite book to read. Not only you can enhance your knowledge, you may also learn something beyond your imagination. Maybe, you may also know a friend next to you because of common reading genre. And who knows, sparks may fly? There are educational sessions held in the library. I used to host my career development and management workshops across the National Libraries in Singapore. Completely free and benefit people from all walks of life. 2. Check out free historic attractions We have some educational learning that is beyond any classroom learning. One of them is Sun Yat Sen Villa. If you are Singaporean, you enter for free. More details can be foun...