~~Towards Barista FIRE~~

This will be a relatively short post, just to update on the transactions for the month. For the month of August, it was a month of joy ride.  Although the US markets faced slight volatility due to Trump's threat to fire Jerome Powell time and time again, but markets probably got tired of it and resumed its uptrend, with S&P 500 continuing to hit new all time highs.  However, the mega-news this month should come locally from Singapore.  On 21st July, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) allocated the first SGD 1.1 billion to three asset managers (Avanda, JP Morgan and Fullerton) under its SGD 5 billion Equity Market Development Programme (EQDP) aimed at reviving SGX by driving institutional investment in small and mid-cap stocks.  This news gradually brought about a broad-based rally in the Singapore markets.  This is evident in the last 2 weeks of July, where many stocks not included in the Straits Times Index (STI) gaining steam and started their rall...

Over the past year, Singapore Technologies Engineering (STE) has had an incredible run.  Compared to just 12 months ago, the share price has risen by almost 100%.  That is a significant rally, especially for a traditionally defensive counter like this.  While I am glad to see one of my core dividend holdings performing so well, the sharp price appreciation has also changed the dynamics of the stock, particularly the yield, which has now been compressed to below 2.5%.  That is a little too low for my liking, especially considering my dividend investing goals. STE has benefited from several positive tailwinds over the past year.  Its aerospace division recovered strongly with global air travel rebounding, and its defense and smart city solutions continued to see robust demand.  The company also announced multiple new contract wins, both locally and globally, which boosted investor confidence.  More importantly, to dividend investors like myself, STE int...

Earlier this year, I made two new additions to my dividend portfolio, namely Riverstone and Kimly, as part of my ongoing effort to diversify my income stream with consistent dividend payers.  Recently, I am adding a new name to that list: HRNet Group (SGX: CHZ). This decision came after careful thought, and more importantly, as a tactical reallocation of funds.  I recently did a partial divestment of Singapore Technologies Engineering (STE), a strong blue-chip stock that I still like and hold.  However, with its share price shooting up significantly this year, the allocation based on market value to STE is growing too large for my comfort, and the dividend yield has already compressed to below 2.4% at one point, which no longer justifies a full position for someone like me who prioritizes dividend yield as part of my Barista FIRE journey. Why I Sold Part of STE I did not sell out of STE completely.  It remains a core holding in my portfolio, and still the largest ...

This is a relatively short post, and I just want to share my personal thoughts (to myself) and record it down as a constant reminder to myself in my dividend investing journey. This post is inspired by a conversation in the Dividend Investing Telegram Group.  How will one feel financially if one day, an investor is paid SGD 250 daily, rain or shine, not through active income, but through dividends?  Sounds too good to be true?  Maybe.  But let me churn the numbers to see if it is achievable. To Achieve SGD 250 Per Day: Annual Dividends required = SGD 250 * 365 days = SGD 91,250 Assuming 5% Dividend Yield, Portfolio Value Required = SGD 91,250 / 0.05 = SGD 1.825M As shown above, the capital required is quite massive (for me), and its not easy to achieve, especially when one is just earning a median income in Singapore.  However, dividend investing is never a one hit wonder nor a "get-rich-quick" scheme.  It is a journey, a lengthy, but in my personal opinion...

3rd July 2025 marks a historic moment for Singapore’s stock market.  The Straits Times Index (STI) has finally broken past its long-standing ceiling and closed at a new all-time high of 4019.57 points.  For years, the STI has lagged behind other global indices, frequently described as "boring", "defensive", or "undervalued", often trapped between 3000 and 3400.  Some others even nicknamed it the "Super Terrible Index".  However now, after what feels like a long, frustrating wait, I have finally witnessed a psychological and technical breakthrough and it feels both exciting and oddly sobering. As someone who has been building a dividend-oriented portfolio in Singapore for years, this moment is more than just a number.  It feels like validation, a recognition that Singapore-listed companies are not stagnant, and that patience can eventually be rewarded.  It is a reminder that value and yield still matter in the long run.  I have been collecting di...