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Dividends Q1 2018

Being the browser equivalent of the Internet Explorer (sorry Bill),  I have only started reading the Tree of Prosperity blog by Chris. I highly encourage it for those who have not yet read his work. Very entertaining and, of course, insightful.

Chris recently got a JD from SMU (post-retirement) at a not-paltry cost of S$70,000. Not something I would do when I attain FI - hits much too close to what I am currently doing.  But see that's the fucking beauty of FI. You got all the time in the world to do whatever shit you fancy.

Chances are, plans will change, goals will shift, interests will wane, and new hobbies will arise.  Fluidity and flexibility is the essence of FI. Which is my standard reply to those who constantly ask "what are you going to do after retirement?" Yes, because finding something to do purely out of your own volition is the worst thing that could happen. Really.

Surprisingly, it seems difficult for the average Singaporean to fathom an existence that does not involve waking up begrudgingly in the morning and spending the good part of the day at a place which merely cultivates ennui and fabricates stress.

Time to take stock of my FI progress. 2018 has started off, erm shall I say, slow.

Firstly, the shares I hold in the company i work (which shall not be named) are finally eligible for sale. There is a standard escrow period upon issuance of these shares as part of a long term bonus compensation package. Long story short, the stock price plummeted 40% over the last few months. Just when I was about to cash in. Needless to say, I did not cash out and am still holding on to these shares. Fundamentally, the company is sound and EBITA is growing consistently. But the whims of Madam Market cannot be tamed.

Second, I made two large purchases into Singtel. The first was propelled by the greed for the special dividend due to the divestment of Netlink Trust. The second was due to the recent correction in its share price. In hindsight, those funds may have been better deployed elsewhere. Singtel's yield is good but its not FI-good.  And the share price looks like it would languish in the 3.3-3.4 zone for the foreseeable future.

Overall, the total dividends received for Q1 is $6,220.64, which is an underwhelming 12.4% of the annual target I had set for myself this year (50k in passive).

Main Contributors for Q1

SINGTEL 1,960
AIMS AMP 2,122.2
STARHILL 234
CACHE LOG 217.19
(Company which shall not be named) 1,687.25

TOTAL: 6,220.64

Of course, I take heart in that my dividend income is expected to be lumpy due to my concentrated investments in Frasers L&I and Ascendas Htrust - both of which issue dividends only half-yearly.

I recently cashed out of an AIA investment-linked life policy (which the stupid 25-year-old me bought); and I also worked full weekends this month for additional income. 

Hopefully, by April, my warchest will allow me to launch another vicious assault on Madam Market.

Onward to victory my FI brethren. 




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