Here comes another Robo-advisor experience from my end. To re-iterate the risk level, I am still at the risk index to below 20% as I felt that there isn’t a need to go all out Risk On going into November. I still think that having calculated risk per $ makes more sense in my opinion as news and information goes on a random rampage.
As I have always preached, the important thing is that I am not left on the sidelines. If Mr Market decides to go either way, it would matter that much to me in my opinion.
Retirement Portfolio A (risk-14%)
The SRS account since deposit is currently at +2.07% as on 11 Dec 2020. Pretty stagnant I would say but I’m not too worried about this long term portfolio. Performance wise, I went into this knowing it was pretty high end of Jan 2020.
Education Portfolio B (risk-16%)
This is something I set on a 15-18 year horizon. It is at 5.78% on 11 Dec 2020 and I think that is okay going at around 6-7%p.a. that I assume going into the end of 2020. I have been averaging in whenever there are market dips. The risk index is at 16% and I will adjust from time to time but try not to touch any of those if you don’t quite understand how that works.
Education Portfolio C (risk-20%)
This portfolio has a shorter horizon of 12-15 years so I feel that I need to take on some risk to achieve my goals. This SA risk index is currently at 20% and will take on to be one of my riskiest portfolio. Return is at 10.14% at inception which I find it fantastic to reach double digits. More funds will be added over time to achieve my targeted invested goals.
Conclusion
So far StashAway has not failed me in a sense that it fits in to my investing style and logic. I wish to put more into the accounts but I can’t bring myself to invest when prices are going higher. However, this is a pretty good supplement in my opinion.
I shall re-look into how I present the performance. Perhaps a more systematic approach so that it is more of a reference instead of just a monthly update.
a. Month on Month
b. Quarter on Quarter
c. Year on Year
To sign up or try out Stash Away, visit the website and use my referral code at Stash Away Referral
We’ll both get up to $10,000 SGD managed for free for 6 months which is a good deal.
More often than not, I read articles and comments and many people ask about if it is the time to invest now. Markets are too high…What asset class to invest into and should I invest now? I only have $100, $500, $1000 (It doesn’t matter how much you have. It matters to start early and depending on which stage you are at. It might be better for you to start an emergency fund first before you invest)
Just this morning, I was listening to Kiss 92 radio channel and I heard that there was a miracle. A fan fell down and went into coma for 23 days. While he was a in a coma, the morning show DJs started to call and talk to him. While they wished for a miracle, they kept it real and thought that it might not happen. This then sparked a little thought – something we all know but fail to execute.
The story is such a good one that it kind of send me teary eyed for a short while. While we know that miracles do happen, we also know that miracles don’t happen all the time. However, it is important to keep believing that thing will happen the way you want it to no matter how far it seems. Never say never. Be practical but sometimes there are no explanations.
When is it really time?
You will never know when is the time you may lose your loved ones so treat them well and shower the love. Similar to investing, we will never have the crystal ball that tells us the future. If you do have one, I think there isn’t a need to seek financial independence anymore. No matter how accurate, lucky or correct one can analyse – there are no shortcuts. All things take time.
Spend time not focus purely just on money
Spending time on your loved ones is more important than making money. Money as what I alway advocate accelerate the process to many other things. Spending that time not also allows one to connect socially with family as well as reconnect with the young and old. Crossing generations also gives you fresh perspectives and new ideas. Don’t write them off.
Investing takes up a lot of brain cells if you are always exploring for new ideas. These perceptions will provide options and aide in that journey.
Family is family
Whatever your situation is family is always family. What you represent eventually will be translated down to the next generation. There isn’t a guide or way to do it but everyone is a parent for the first time so cut some slack on yours. After all, they were in different times as we did today. Family time provides connectivity that helps one mentally while providing that support. Some may call it safety nets in the finance world but personally I prefer to call that emotional support group. Perhaps friends might be as close to family but everyone’s comfort level is different.
With a section of the mental support covered, naturally one’s focus will be freed of distraction. However, there should always be a balance.
Is it the best time to invest now?
It is hard to say all of that with so many conflicting articles that talk about an all time high and that an impending correction is coming soon. That is all technical and feel. There are no scientific rules as to why markets goes higher or lower. Only interest rates and bond prices are inversely proportional. Other than that, there are no fixed formulas and no one can single handedly control or manipulate the markets.
As always, you can choose to put in some during the initial phase and stagger the investment on a regular basis. This is what most people know as dollar cost averaging.
The other way is really to split the amount that you wish to invest into 3 or 5 parts. Every time the market drops, just diligently put some in.
What ifs?
What if the markets were to increase by another 5% or 10% and you are not invested. That would mean that you will always be missing the market rallies. A medium and long term view of the market will definitely help in the long run.
The excuse
The contradiction will always be there. When you are young, your commitments are lesser but the disposable income is lesser too. Moving into middle age, your commitments increase but your disposable income depends on what you need to spend on. When you are slightly older, your commitments decrease but your risk level should not be like 20 years ago.
The concept
The whole idea is to really to invest early and invest regularly. A miracle happened for someone today but that doesn’t mean it happens to everyone. Some people missed their chance or opportunity and that would have been too late.
Disclaimer
This is purely my own opinion after using their service and/or products. If you like what you are seeing, do remember to check they out and do your diligence. There is no one size fits all investment strategy.
The pictures were taken from website solely for the purpose of illustration. Remember not to be a slave of money but make as much as you can so that you can make use of money.
