![](\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEii68XGsTtE_f26CQiUVBPfNNTBboo_446aIbYV-vBMkzkpdGT3eUpNLTfRhmnEhi-NK6sVyXgansIND8bGDZZQz5sKu_QfCwpDpZh9MPgr7sBhSI_bl2PADMDqjLWI0FidBrMOK1liU2j3B0WfS-WDZ7gDnFBzmtXD6FLcEy29rxmWmyxr5oqMbufZ0g\/s940\/Feb%2023%20Blog.png\")
<\/a><\/span><\/div>\nFeb 23 Portfolio Update<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Portfolio allocation as of Feb ’23.<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 SG Shares: CDG, DBS, SGX, Valuetronics<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 SG Reits: Syfe Reit+<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 US Growth: BABA, INMD, PYPL, SHOP, TDOC, UPST<\/span><\/p>\n Not much to update this month \u2013 I mainly added a small A few months back, I wrote that I was closely watching the In last month\u2019s update I also wrote about my interest in Haw With the SVB crisis, things would probably get volatile Meanwhile, I will continue to collect my dividends \u2013 current FIRE musings \u2013 some Thoughts on Finding Purpose<\/u><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Let\u2019s talk about \u201cpurpose\u201d today.<\/span><\/p>\n Recently, a friend shared about their longer-term career This conversation led me to think further about finding A common misconception is that \u201cpurpose\u201d has to come from But \u201cpurpose\u201d to me can come in many forms \u2013 it could be I think that at least for the vast majority of folks, during Then, after settling into a role, some might attempt to But for a good number of private sector employees, what can they Therefore, I think for the vast majority of folks, this What is my purpose then?<\/span><\/p>\n I believe that writing this blog gives me purpose. It is All these Singaporean financial independence accounts come I think what\u2019s great about this community is that, at least I think we should all do more to uplift each other, rather Thus, I would like to give a shoutout to the people who I\u2019ve @CentsOfIndependence<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n @BudgetByYerim<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n @kopi_dreamer<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n @enroute2fire<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n @MillionaireFIRE<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n @money.bao<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n @SpendingOnBrownies<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n @SGFIREGoals<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n @happymillionaire99<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n @theCashCottage<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n @sgFireCouple<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n @millionairePanda<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n @JCprojectfreedom<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n @money_mousee<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n @aFinancialSheep<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n @ThinkForwardInvestor<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n @HappyReitInvestor<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n @PothetaFarm<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n @fire_by_40<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n @LoadnFIRE<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n @SenseAndCentsibility<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n @heyGomako<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n @millionaireSpongebob<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n @FlyFireFinance<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n @tbhfinance<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\namount to my Syfe Reit+ portfolio, as interest rate fears once again puts
\npressure on S-Reits. This is part of my regular DCA strategy as I work towards
\naccumulating $20k in S-Reits on Syfe. I am clear that my objective is to just
\nachieve market returns for S-Reits and thus will continue to build my position,
\neven though the outlook for Reits may be rocky.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nUS Office Reit sector, and was looking at Keppel Pacific Oak Reit (\u201cKORE\u201d) in
\nparticular. Against the backdrop of some office landlords defaulting on their
\nloans \u2013 Pimco ($1.7bn, Office assets across the US), Brookfield ($755m, 2
\noffices in LA) and Blackstone ($562m, Office assets in Finland), I decided that
\nKORE will drop off my watchlist.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nPar. It was trading at $9+ at that time, then shot up to $11+ within a few
\nweeks, and is now back at the $9 level. I did some further research over the
\npast week and I think it is a compelling opportunity for me in the coming weeks. <\/span><\/p>\n
\nagain in the coming weeks, but as I\u2019ve said multiple times before, I think
\nhaving a diversified portfolio, investing prudently and consistently and having
\na long-term oriented mindset will be the best way of riding out any volatility.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\nrun rate stands at around $4k for the year, and well on track to hit the $6k
\ntarget for 2023.<\/span><\/p>\n
\ngoals, about what they would like to have achieved at the end of their career.
\nThey work in a tech role and therefore will likely be very well compensated
\nduring their career, but yearn for a greater \u201cpurpose\u201d or \u201cimpact\u201d on the world.
\nThis friend shared that an option would be to work at a Big Tech firm, or
\nperhaps even become a quant in finance. But they want something more
\n\u201cmeaningful\u201d. For example, working on how artificial intelligence can be
\napplied to the medical field. For them, the main decision at this point would
\nbe between money, or money and<\/i> purpose. I think that\u2019s great, and I feel
\nhappy for them to be able to find their ikigai<\/i>. This person is
\nincredibly capable and talented, and definitely deserves the best of both
\nworlds. <\/span><\/p>\n
\npurpose, and what it means to me.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nwork. I mean if you can find purpose from your work, or deliberately look for
\njobs that have \u201cpurpose\u201d, then that\u2019s great. Even better if you get paid well
\nfor it. You are lucky. <\/span><\/p>\n
\nfrom volunteering, it could be from nurturing your children, it could be from
\nbeing a caregiver to your elderly parents\u2026 and much more. <\/span><\/p>\n
\ntheir search for employment, do not have \u201cpurpose\u201d at the top of their list \u2013
\ninstead focusing on factors such as compensation, job progression, job scope and
\nso on. After all, \u201cpurpose\u201d doesn\u2019t pay the bills. <\/span><\/p>\n
\nrationalise and find \u201cpurpose\u201d in their roles, perhaps as a way to justify
\ntheir chosen field. It is easier to find purpose in some jobs than others, for sure. A
\nteacher\u2019s purpose might be \u201cto educate the future generation\u201d, or a healthcare
\nworker\u2019s purpose might be \u201cto help my patients recover well\u201d. <\/span><\/p>\n
\nsay? If you work in the securities desk at a bank, you might say something
\nabstract like, to paraphrase Lloyd Blankfein, \u201cwe are selling this security to
\nclients who wanted exposure to the housing market\u2026\u201d (lol) Or, for someone working at
\na tech firm and whose role is to write algorithms to literally get people
\naddicted to social media, what can they say?<\/span><\/p>\n
\nwhole job and purpose thing should be viewed as a \u201cgood to have\u201d rather than a
\n\u201cmust have\u201d. Don\u2019t be too fixated on this.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nalways nice when people write to me to tell me that I\u2019ve positively impacted
\ntheir financial independence journey. I love it when a new finsta account tells
\nme that they\u2019ve been following my account for some time, and finally decided to
\nstart to document their own financial independence journey as well. <\/span><\/p>\n
\nfrom a variety of backgrounds, some are recent graduates and have just began
\nworking, while some are families with kids and in their 30s and 40s. Some have
\neven achieved Barista FIRE or FIRE.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nfrom my perspective, while we are clear that we are all running our own races,
\nwe still celebrate the triumphs and success of others. For me, I recognise that
\nwe all have different starting points, different circumstances and different
\npriorities, thus it is clear that some will achieve FI faster than others. Yet,
\nI believe that we can still learn a great deal from what others share,
\nespecially from those in a similar situation or those who have walked a similar
\npath before. The focus is on sharing positive financial habits with the
\nultimate goal of achieving Financial Independence. At that point, the option to
\nRetire Early will always be on the table.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nthan having a dog-eat-dog mentality where people look to put each other down \u2013
\nas seen in some forums or groups where people constantly argue over whether a
\nstarting salary of $X is realistic or not, or whether a net worth of $Y by a
\ncertain age is attainable or not\u2026 all I can say is \u2013 the sky\u2019s the limit.<\/span><\/p>\n
\ncrossed paths with on Instagram. These are Singaporeans who have embarked on
\ntheir personal finance \/ financial independence journey and have been sharing
\ntheir progress. In no particular order:<\/span><\/p>\n