It’s a new year and with the latest updates (here and here) on my evolving (hopefully not flip-flop) investment philosophy, there will also be a change in the format of this monthly update. Don’t say I didn’t warn you beforehand.
And yes, I have stopped calling it “passive income” even though my approach is definitely more “passive” than before. A portfolio is more apt since there will be 3 sections for the foreseeable future and here’s a short and quick explanation on each of them.
1. Core Portfolio
| Asset | Avg Price | Amount | Current Price | Valuation | Allocation |
| STI ETF | $2.94 | 9,800 | $2.67 | $26,166 | 27.3% |
| Berkshire B | $131.59* | 80 | $130.26* | $14,589 | 15.2% |
| SSBs | $1.00 | 15,000 | $1.00 | $15,000 | 15.7% |
| Cash (SGD) | $1.00 | 40,000 | $1.00 | $40,000 | 41.8% |
| Total | $95,755 | 100.0% |
The above will be the core portfolio going forward. I know I have not revealed the percentage allocation for each type of asset and don’t worry, the last post in the investment mini-series should be out in the next couple of weeks!
I am trying to increase this portfolio to $200,000 hopefully by the end of 2017 or even earlier! If the market (especially the US market) drops substantially, the process would be faster as I can then pick up more of Berkshire Hathaway B shares, which I am using as a proxy for the US market.
*The two numbers are in USD
2. Local Stock Portfolio
| Stock | Amount | Price | Valuation | Dividend | Est. Income |
| ST Engg | 4,000 | $2.820 | $11,280 | $0.1500 | $600.00 |
| Wilmar | 4,000 | $3.100 | $12,400 | $0.0750 | $300.00 |
| Kingsmen | 17,000 | $0.620 | $10,540 | $0.0400 | $680.00 |
| OCBC | 1,200 | $7.920 | $9,504 | $0.3600 | $432.00 |
| Semb Corp | 3,000 | $2.670 | $8,010 | $0.1600 | $480.00 |
| PLife Reit | 4,000 | $2.260 | $9,040 | $0.1152 | $460.80 |
| MCT | 6,000 | $1.405 | $8,430 | $0.0800 | $480.00 |
| Boustead | 9,000 | $0.760 | $6,840 | $0.0400 | $360.00 |
| Dairy Farm | 900 | $7.980 | $7,182 | $0.3200 | $288.00 |
| LKH | 10,000 | $0.555 | $5,550 | $0.0300 | $300.00 |
| Genting | 8,000 | $0.710 | $5,680 | $0.0100 | $80.00 |
| M1 | 2,000 | $2.520 | $5,040 | $0.1890 | $378.00 |
| MTQ | 10,000 | $0.435 | $4,350 | $0.0400 | $400.00 |
| Super Grp | 4,000 | $0.735 | $2,940 | $0.0310 | $124.00 |
| Bou Proj | 2,700 | $0.745 | $2,012 | $0.0000 | $0.00 |
| Total | $108,798 | $5,362.80 |
I was debating with myself if I should continue publishing this but well, why not? Hopefully, this list will be trimmed to around 10 by the end of this year. I actually sold off my Jardine C & C a couple of weeks ago @$35 (and heck, it went up to $40 in the next week!). If I included the STI ETF, the stock portfolio actually eked out a small $1k to $2k gain over the previous month.
There is a chance I could maintain a $50k to $100k high-yield portfolio to make up the lower yield of the core portfolio but I am still thinking about it. More diversification by picking non STI-constituent stocks? A small REIT portfolio? Or just 5 core small-caps? Or maybe it’s just too much hassle?
3. Emergency Funds
| Asset | Amount |
| CPF OA | $35,000 |
| Cash (SGD) | $20,000 |
| FCL Bonds | $20,727 |
| Alternative Currencies | $14,000 |
| Total | $89,727 |
I blogged about our $100k emergency fund a month ago and since I am having a tough time getting myself to buy the recent SSB launches, I have parked the somewhat stable FCL 3.65% bonds over here.
A voluntary top up to my CPF accounts as a self-employed is on the cards and in light of the recent weakness of the CAD dollars, I might be making a trip to Raffles Place Change Alley soon!
alot of money!
Hah!
Not as much as you definitely!
Would be good if u included avg price for your local portfolio too. But all in all, great blog post, appreciate the effort put in 🙂
Hi Unluckid,
I have not included that in the past and if one really wants to find out, one can scroll through the Past Transaction page.
Where’s your Silver classified under? Alternative currency? Hehe
Hi GMGH,
Bullion is definitely parked there. I definitely don’t have as much as you!
Besides classifying under there, any better suggestions? =)
Very smart of you to keep some cash earlier !
Appreciate very much that you keep the update of the Local Stock Portfolio.
May I ask where you buy the FCL bonds ?
How about Gold investment ? Any consideration ?
Hi Alan K,
I have not disclosed my entire cash position and all in all, I am holding quite a bit of cash.
Definitely much more conservative compared to a few years ago but that probably has more to do with our new employment status rather than the bear market.
For the FCL bonds, I got it when it IPOed about half a year ago. It is traded on SGX right now.
Regarding gold, I do hold a bit of it in my emergency funds. Two 50 gram PAMP bars.
“in light of the recent weakness of the CAD dollars, I might be making a trip to Raffles Place Change Alley soon!”
how competitive are the rate at change alley (CA)?
i do abit of currencies exchange – primarily USD, but mostly at mustafa. have you tried comparing the spread between CA and mustafa?
Hi foo,
I have never been to mustafa, but my guess is the difference shouldn’t be huge? And since it’s more convenient for me to get to Change Alley, I always do my transactions there.