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Was My Rebalancing A Mistake With Another Impending Turnaround For REITs- Sustainable Reversal Or Another Dead Cat Bounce

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This is my third time writing on this topic, so it shows I have been 'scammed' by the fake rally twice prior, the first time back in December 2023 and the second time in September 2024 .  Around 10th March 2025, REITs started staging its third rebound, with the CFA ETF up 4.2% within one week.  So will this uptrend finally last, and does it mean that I have made the wrong decision to rebalance my portfolio previously by selling part of my REITs allocation to buy banks? Frankly speaking, I have no crystal ball to foresee whether the rally will last, but personally, I think it may turn out to be short-lived as well (although I hope I am wrong once again).  While the recent drop in the 10-year yield might seem like a positive catalyst for REITs, it is important to consider the underlying reason behind it.  The decline in yields is possibly largely driven by a "flock to safety" from investors who fear an impending recession due to escalating trade tensions and tariffs i...
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The Crucial Role Of Time In Personal Finances

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After discussing about how I perceive mini-Retirements in my previous post , and looking at my current circumstances and regrets in my financial journey, I find that time is actually one of the most critical factor in personal finance.  The way one manages financial decisions early in life can significantly impact financial security in later years.  Whether it is leveraging the power of compounding interest, tackling debt before it spirals out of control, or making smart investments, time can either be an ally or an adversary.  Below are some key examples of personal experiences of how time plays a crucial role in financial well-being. 1)      Early Central Provident Fund (CPF) Contributions: The Power Of Compounding Interest One of the best financial moves a young working adult in Singapore can make is to aggressively contribute to their CPF accounts, particularly the Special Account (SA), as early as possible.  I came to realize this only recently ...
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How I View Mini-Retirements as a 40 Year Old Pursuing Barista FIRE

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In recent years, the concept of mini-retirements has gained traction, particularly among younger Millennials and Generation Zs, as discussed in this recent report .  Rather than following the traditional path of working continuously until retirement, they take extended breaks (sometimes months or years) to travel, pursue hobbies, or simply enjoy life.  These young professionals see mini-retirements as a way to avoid burnout, gain new perspectives, and enjoy life while young.  While this idea sounds appealing, my perspective as a 40-year-old working towards Barista FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) in Singapore is a bit more nuanced, as challenges like financial planning remain key considerations.  For a start, I would like to conclude that I personally prefer a more aggressive attitude towards work in my twenties and early thirties, and transit towards a more work-life balanced approach in my late thirties and early forties (which is my current state), foll...
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Portfolio Update for February 2025

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This will be a relatively short post, just to update on the transactions for the month. For the month of February, it remains a rather volatile month.  The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for January has once again risen year over year and even month over month.  This showed how sticky inflation is going to be moving forward, and has thus caused the 10 year treasury yield to spike up above 4.5% once again.  This has been unkind to many REITs, which experienced continual decline in prices, some going even lower than the Covid times.   Nothing much this month, except my regrets from the sale of Palantir last month.  It was definitely painful to watch its price rocketing through USD 100 to above USD 120, but I can only console myself with my reasons for selling at that time.  The sale proceeds were diverted to Microsoft and Google, and also 2 new ETFs, namely Vanguard Value Index Fund ETF (VTV) and iShares China Large-Cap ETF (FXI).  Microsoft and Google...
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What I Learnt From "The Psychology Of Money" In My Journey Towards Barista FIRE

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Recently, I have just completed reading Morgan Housel's "The Psychology of Money", and finally digested some of the contents within the book, which are valuable lessons that can further help me improve in my journey towards achieving Barista FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early).  For those unfamiliar, Barista FIRE is about having enough passive income to cover your basic needs, while working part-time to maintain a balanced, fulfilling lifestyle.  It is about finding financial freedom without retiring completely.   Living in Singapore currently, with its increasing cost of living, this goal can feel challenging (that is why returning back to Malaysia for retirement is always in my mind, and I am definitely working towards that too).  Thankfully, some of the lessons from this book have molded my approach towards dealing with money more conscientiously and live life fully within my means.  Below are some of the key things I learnt and how they have gui...
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