Tiger Brokers: Deposit & Withdrawal via CIMB SG
In this post, I am going to show you the step-by-step guide on how to deposit and withdraw from Tiger Brokers via a Singapore bank account (CIMB SG), without having to pay any expensive bank fees.
The key benefits in using a Singapore bank account to do a deposit or withdrawal from overseas brokers like Tiger Brokers are obvious:
- For one, it gives us HUGE savings by skipping the intermediary banking fees (USD20 - 30) that are usually incurred during Foreign Telegraphic Transfer (FTT) via local bank.
p - Secondly, the deposit & withdrawal via a Singapore bank account is also faster as there is no need to go through a complex intermediary banking network.
--
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Click the button below to use my Tiger Brokers referral link, and get the following when you open a new account (promo ending on 30/4/2025)!
a. Cumulative Net Deposit (SGD3,000 - 9,999):
- Instant Reward: Total SGD100 in Stock Commission Card when you make your first deposit and within 30 days. Reward will be activated immediately after it is issued and will be valid for 90 days.
- Retention Reward: Total SGD100 (2x SGD50) in Cash Voucher when you make your first deposit and within 30 days. Rewards can only be activated if the net deposit reaches S$3,000 or more for 60 consecutive days. It will be valid for 60 days after activation.
b. Cumulative Net Deposit (SGD10,000 - 99,999):
- Instant Reward: Total SGD200 (2x SGD100) in Stock Commission Card when you make your first deposit and within 30 days. Reward will be activated immediately after it is issued and will be valid for 90 days.
- Retention Reward: Total SGD200 (4x SGD50) in Cash Voucher when you make your first deposit and within 30 days. Rewards can only be activated if the net deposit reaches S$3,000 or more for 60 consecutive days. It will be valid for 60 days after activation.
c. Cumulative Net Deposit ā„SGD100,000
- Instant Reward: Total SGD500 (5x SGD100) in Stock Commission Card when you make your first deposit and within 30 days. Reward will be activated immediately after it is issued and will be valid for 90 days.
- Retention Reward: Total SGD500 (10x SGD50) in Cash Voucher when you make your first deposit and within 30 days. Rewards can only be activated if the net deposit reaches S$3,000 or more for 60 consecutive days. It will be valid for 60 days after activation.
Open A Tiger Brokers Account Today!p
p
Opening a CIMB FastSaver SG Bank Account
Before we proceed, I gonna assume that you already have a Singapore bank account. If not, check out my step-by-step guide on how to open a CIMB FastSaver Singapore account online.
If you already have a CIMB FastSaver SG account, move on to the next section.Ā
Tiger Brokers Deposit via CIMB SG
Important to note before depositing funds to Tiger Brokers:
- No minimum deposit amount.
p - Tiger currently accepts the following methods of deposit:
Tiger Brokers funding methods p
- DBS Bank SG is the custodian bank for Tiger clients' funds.
p - Time needed for funding via CIMB SG to be reflected: Minimum 15 mins during business hours. If the transfer is initiated during non-business hours, it will arrive on the next business day.
p - Any fees for funding via CIMB SG? No.
p - TAKE NOTE: Please transfer funds from a bank account under the same name as your Tiger Account. Tiger currently does not accept any funds transferred from/by other persons' bank accounts, joint bank accounts, third-party payment platforms such as Wise and GrabPay.
Guide: Funding your Tiger Brokers account via CIMB SGĀ
Step 1: Open your Tiger Trade app > Me > Tiger Account > Deposit.
Step 2a: Select āDeposit with SGDā.
If you are looking to use USD to invest in the US market, donāt worry, because you can exchange your SGD into USD within the Tiger Brokers app at a decent rate easily. (āTradeā > āCurrency Exchangeā)
Step 2b: Then, choose āSingapore Bank Accountsā
Step 3: Youāll receive the account details from Tiger Brokers.
This is where youāll need to transfer the funds via CIMB SG. Do not close this window, and take a screenshot of the details as you'll need it in Step 5.
Step 4: Login to CIMB SG > Select 'Local Transfer' > 'To Other Bank' > 'Via FAST' > Transfer to: 'DBS POSB'
Step 5: Key in Tiger Brokersā bank details that you got in Step 3.
Remember to key in āPayment Referenceā from Step 3 under āMessage from Recipientā so Tiger Brokers know that the funding is from you!Ā
Step 6: Once you have done your transaction, take a screenshot and save the proof of transfer.
For ease of future transfer, consider adding Tiger Brokersā account details into your favourite by clicking āAdd to Favourite Listā.
Step 7:Ā After the fund transfer, go back to the Tiger Brokers app and click 'Funds remitted. Inform Tiger to check'
Then, key in your CIMB SG account number and upload the proof of transfer from Step 6. This step is not mandatory but it minimises the time needed for the Tiger Brokers to process your funding.
Step 8: Funding success
The time needed for the deposit to go through should take about 15 - 40 minutes (during business hours) from my personal experience. You'll receive an email once the deposit is successfully processed.
Tiger Brokers Withdrawal to CIMB SG
Important to note before withdrawing funds via Tiger Brokers:
- Singapore DBS Bank is the custodian bank for Tiger clients' funds.
p - Tiger currently accepts the following methods of withdrawal:
[p - Withdrawal time: The time depends on the processing bank(s). The minimum time for funds to arrive can be within the same business day.
p - Any fees for withdrawal via CIMB SG? No.
p - PLEASE NOTE: Transfer funds to a bank account in the same name as your Tiger Account. Funds cannot be withdrawn to other persons' bank accounts, third-party payment platforms (eg. GrabPay), joint bank accounts or mainland China-based bank accounts.
Guide: Withdrawal from Tiger Brokers to CIMB SGĀ
Step 1: Open your Tiger Trade app > Me > Tiger Account > Withdrawal.
Step 2: Select āWithdraw SGDā
If your account is mainly in other currencies like USD, donāt worry, because you can exchange your USD into SGD prior to withdrawal within the Tiger Brokers app easily. (āTradeā > āCurrency Exchangeā)
Step 3: If this is your first time withdrawing, add a bank account.
- Bank Country: Singapore
- Bank Name: CIMB Bank Berhad
- Branch Name: CIMB Bank Berhad
- Bank Account: Your CIMB SG Bank Account
- Bank Account Type & Currency: Single currency account & SGD
- Bank Swift Code: CIBBSGSG
- Contact Address: 50 Raffles Place Singapore Land Tower 09 01
- Click HERE for the latest Bank details.Ā
Step 4: Enter withdrawal amount
āWithdrawal Cashā is how much you can withdraw from your Tiger Brokers account.
Step 5: Done and check the status of your withdrawal
After the withdrawal request is submitted, you may go to [Tiger Trade mobile APP > Tiger Account > Funds Record > Request], to check the withdrawal request and processing status, or cancel the request.
Here are the statuses of withdrawals:
- Ā Reviewing: 1-2 business days are needed for the review, thanks for your patience. You may cancel the request when itās under review.
- Ā Rejected: The request didnāt pass the review, you may find the reject reason in the Tiger Trade APP.
- Ā Awaiting withdrawal: The request passed the review.
- Ā Bank Processing: The money was deducted from your securities account, and will be remitted out after the bank completes processing.
- Ā Failed: We canāt remit the money out because the bank rejected it. The money is being returned to your securities account.
- Ā Remitted: Your money was sent to your personal bank account.
- Ā Refunded: The money was returned by the beneficiary bank and re-credited into your securities account.
- Ā Cancelled: You have cancelled the withdrawal request.
Step 6: If everything goes smooth, the time needed for the withdrawal to be reflected should take within 1 - 3 business days.
You'll receive an email once the withdrawal is successfully processed.
You can also log in to your CIMB SG account to check the transaction.
No Money Lah's Verdict
So there you have it - a guide on how you can deposit to, or withdraw from Tiger Brokers via a CIMB SG bank account!
If you find this guide useful, consider clicking on the button below to useĀ my Tiger Brokers referral link!Ā
--
[PROMO] Commission-free trades + Free stocks!Ā
Click the button below to use my Tiger Brokers referral link, and get the following when you open a new account (promo ending on 30/4/2025)!
a. Cumulative Net Deposit (SGD3,000 - 9,999):
- Instant Reward: Total SGD100 in Stock Commission Card when you make your first deposit and within 30 days. Reward will be activated immediately after it is issued and will be valid for 90 days.
- Retention Reward: Total SGD100 (2x SGD50) in Cash Voucher when you make your first deposit and within 30 days. Rewards can only be activated if the net deposit reaches S$3,000 or more for 60 consecutive days. It will be valid for 60 days after activation.
b. Cumulative Net Deposit (SGD10,000 - 99,999):
- Instant Reward: Total SGD200 (2x SGD100) in Stock Commission Card when you make your first deposit and within 30 days. Reward will be activated immediately after it is issued and will be valid for 90 days.
- Retention Reward: Total SGD200 (4x SGD50) in Cash Voucher when you make your first deposit and within 30 days. Rewards can only be activated if the net deposit reaches S$3,000 or more for 60 consecutive days. It will be valid for 60 days after activation.
c. Cumulative Net Deposit ā„SGD100,000
- Instant Reward: Total SGD500 (5x SGD100) in Stock Commission Card when you make your first deposit and within 30 days. Reward will be activated immediately after it is issued and will be valid for 90 days.
- Retention Reward: Total SGD500 (10x SGD50) in Cash Voucher when you make your first deposit and within 30 days. Rewards can only be activated if the net deposit reaches S$3,000 or more for 60 consecutive days. It will be valid for 60 days after activation.
Open A Tiger Brokers Account Today!
Doing so will help support this blog, while entitling you to multipleĀ account-opening rewards.Ā Ā
Disclaimer:
This post contains affiliate link(s). As always, Iād only recommend tools and financial solutions that I personally use AND/OR are interesting & provide unique value to my readers. Every article takes a long time and effort to write and when it comes to financial solutions, Iāll only invest time in writing about good and relevant products.
Read this BEFORE the next market crash/bear market
It's difficult not to be amazed by the dynamics of the stock market.
It could be crazily calm and bullish for months, and 'poooof' - panic crash.
A panic selloff or crash for a longer period could happen for many reasons, but I do not intend to talk about it in this article. Chances are, you will be able to find out WHY the market does certain things at almost every corner online:
What's underrated (and less talked about) is HOW to deal with a tricky or challenging market condition as an investor.
As such, my intention with this article is to produce a reflection, or guide that I'd come back to every time there is bloodshed in the stock market (for whatever reason).
I hope sharing this with you can help you handle the next (and inevitable) market selloff better than the previous ones.
Such is the life of an investor in the stock market. Let's get started:
"What's your goal?" - How to be psychologically ahead of 99% of investors in the stock market
As clichƩ as it may be, I think being clear about why you invest is the most important thing in investing as it is something you could fall back on when things seem bleak and fearful.
Personally, I have 2 main portfolios and 2 clear goals with a timeline:
- Dividend investing (via my Freedom Fund) to complement my cashflow in about 15 ā 20 years. Those would be the time of my life when my parents might need more care.
- Growth investing for my retirement in about 30 years, mainly through Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs).
p.s. You can read about my investing strategies/approach HERE.
By setting a clear goal, I accomplish 3 specific things:
- The motivation behind WHY I invest (Complement cashflow and Retirement)
- A clear TIME FRAME of my investing journey (15 - 20 years and about 30 years)
- HOW I invest (Dividend and Growth Investing)
It is every investorās responsibility to find out their goal. Again, it does not have to be complicated. Just cover 3 things:
- WHY do you invest? (I hope it's not for quick money)
- What's your investment TIME FRAME?
- HOW do you plan to invest?
Knowing these 3 would put you ahead of most people in the market as they give you:
- The conviction to stick to the plan during a challenging market.
- The temperament to not be influenced by short-term hype and news.
- Even better, the confidence to buy more when everyone is panicking
In the following section, let's look at some useful perspectives about stock market selloffs.
Some useful perspectives about stock market selloffs
#1 Drawdown is common and inevitable
Stock market selloffs and crashes are part and parcel of investing. Do not let a relatively smooth 2023 and (most of) 2024 tell you otherwise:
If you invest in the US stock market (ie. the S&P 500), chances are high that you will experience a 5% drawdown almost every year. After all, it happened 94% of the time from 1928 - 2023.
Even the odds of a >20% drop in the stock market are not uncommon. It occurred 26% of the time in the past. Simply put, the stock market has experienced a big drop in 25 out of the past 96 years.
#2 The stock market went up regardless
Despite the high odds of a stock market drawdown, the S&P500 has grown by 898,634.26% from 1928 - 2023.
This translates to an annualized return of about 9.95%/year.
You don't see this being mentioned as much on social media and news compared to reports about stock market crashes. Boring news does not attract eyeballs.
READ MORE: Intro & how to invest in the S&P500
#3 There's always a reason to sell
It is easy to find reasons to sell and get out of the stock market in each panic selloff or market crash. Social media and news make it even easier.
Difficult times are when you fall back on your WHY in investing. You only need one WHY to stay the course.
#4 Time in the market > Timing the market
The ability to stay invested in the stock market is one of the most underrated skills of investing.
As I am writing this, we've just experienced one of the biggest panic selloff in recent years. Monday (5/8/2024) was full of fear and uncertainties.
Come Thursday (8/8/2024), the market bounced back, producing one of the best days in months/years.
Goes on to show how important it is to stay invested in order to participate in positive movements in the stock market.
We can't enjoy the good stuffs if we cannot stick through the difficult times.
Common emotions and how to deal with them
The stock market is a fascinating place as it teaches us more lessons about ourselves than most other endeavours could, especially our emotions on money and risk.
Here are 4 emotions I experienced as an investor over the years.
Allow me to define them as I believe the clearer I can define these emotions, the better I am in managing them.
#1 Fear of missing out (FOMO)
The urge to buy without a clear plan or reason.
Common reasons for FOMO:
- Not having a clear idea about my investing goals, style or strategy (time to re-visit my WHY and HOW).
- I am turning speculative from my initial goal of long-term investing.
- I have been on social media for too long (log out!).
#2 The urge to sell out of fear
The urge to sell my holdings when the market is crashing or panicking.
Common reasons for the urge to sell out of fear:
- I do not know what I am investing in, hence I lack conviction or confidence to hold on to my investments (learn to build my own investment thesis).
- I am risking too much/I am investing using money I cannot afford to lose.
- I have been on social media for too long (log out!).
#3 The urge to time the market
The tendency to want to buy when the market is at its 'lowest' point. Ending up missing out when the market rebounds or recovers.
Common reasons for the urge to time the market:
- I think I am the stock market god (snap out of it!)
- I want to post about it and look cool on social media (ego).
- I got lucky a few times, and thought I could do it again (anchoring bias). Bad kind of lucky!
#4 Regret of not buying more when the market rebounds from a selloff
The strongest emotions of all, as it comes with the hindsight of 'what could've been'.
Common reasons for regret of not buying more when the market rebounds:
- I think I can time the market (read Reason #3)
- Note to self: I only know this because it happened. Hindsight is worthless in a scenario like this.
The goal is NOT to avoid emotions while investing. It is learning how to deal with them better when we experience them.
3 final thoughts on investing during a stock market crash/bear market:
#1 Let's take a step back: Do personal finance BEFORE investing
A common reason why one might feel the urge to sell out of fear is due to one risking money they cannot afford to lose.
In other words, we could be risking too much in the stock market that we get very sensitive to market moving against us.
One way I have managed this over the years is by building up more savings and emergency funds with time. This way, I know I do not need to rely on selling my long-term investments during a short-term uncertainty.
With a safety net of savings and an emergency fund, it has helped me keep my composure and allowed me to stick to my investing plan during a difficult market condition.
Do well in your personal finances and investing becomes easier.
FIND OUT MORE: My experience engaging a licensed financial planner in Malaysia
#2 Why I rarely pick stocks anymore
In recent years, I have switched a lot of my individual stocks to Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) like the S&P500 ETF and SCHD.
One reason is the convenience that ETFs bring to the table:
- Diversification - Reduce the risk of investing in individual stocks. The risk of individual companies going obsolete is way higher than the entire stock market.
- ETF screening process - Most ETFs are built with a screening process to include qualified stocks that fulfill their criteria, and exclude the ones that aren't qualified.
ETF screening process is important, as it automates the stock selection process on investors' behalf.
Let's use S&P500 ETFs as an example. While the S&P500 has grown by 9.95% per year since 1928, the top stocks in the S&P500 are very different 30 years ago vs today:
In other words, time and market dynamics (such as a market crash) will make some individual companies obsolete, but the stock market tends to continue growing thanks to its built-in selection process.
#3 Learn to build your investment thesis
If you have bought stocks for the sake of buying (or FOMO), a market crash is a good learning opportunity to reassess your approach to investing.
Learning to form your investment thesis is a great way to enhance your conviction while facing a crash or panic market.
A simple (yet useful) thesis could be something like this:
- Why do I buy a stock/asset?
- How long am I planning to own it?
- Under what circumstances will I consider selling it? This is usually when there is no more reason to own the stock/asset, or when you have achieved your investment goal.
Verdict: Reminder to self - this is normal
I do not hate or like a market crash or bear market. For me, experiencing them is part of a journey of investing.
What I appreciate though, is the lessons that come with it:
It is not about avoiding a bear market or market crash. It is not about avoiding fear, FOMO, or regrets.
Rather, it is about how we learn to accept that these market phenomena and emotions are part of investing - it is our role to become a better investor with risk and uncertainties in an effort to grow our wealth.
Hope this makes sense!
Disclaimers
Any of the information above is produced with my own best effort and research.
This post is produced for general information purposes only. It is not intended to constitute professional advice, and should not be relied on or treated as a substitute for specific advice relevant to particular circumstances.
The inclusion of Interactive Brokersā (IBKR) name, logo or weblinks is present pursuant to an advertising arrangement only. IBKR is not a contributor, reviewer, provider or sponsor of content published on this site, and is not responsible for the accuracy of any products or services discussed.
SCHD Alternatives: 3 best Ireland-domiciled dividend ETFs (FUSD, FQGI, UDVD)
SCHD is one of the favourite ETFs among dividend investors thanks to its decade-long track record of dividend growth and solid historical return.
However, for non-US residents from countries like Malaysia and Singapore, investing in SCHD (which is listed in the US) comes with a 30% dividend withholding tax (WHT). This is not ideal considering most SCHD investors are investing for dividends.
Letās say you are receiving $100 in dividends, youāll only end up getting $70 due to withholding tax.
Investing in Ireland-domiciled ETFs as an alternative
One alternative is to invest in Ireland-domiciled dividend ETFs which are listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), as it comes with 15% dividend withholding tax (WHT) instead of 30%.
In this post, I will go through the 3 best Ireland-domiciled dividend growth ETFs, and discuss if they are good alternatives to SCHD.
RELATED POSTS:
Overview: What and why invest in Ireland-domiciled ETFs?
Ireland-domiciled ETFs are ETFs registered & regulated in Ireland. However, they are typically listed & traded on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).
Here are 2 key reasons why dividend investors should consider Ireland-domiciled ETFs over US-domiciled ETFs:
Reason #1: 15% dividend withholding tax on Ireland-domiciled ETFs
Thanks to Ireland's double taxation treaty with the US, ETFs domiciled in Ireland only pay 15% withholding tax on US dividends, instead of the 30% dividend withholding tax that US-domiciled ETFs are charging for non-US residents.
Reason #2: Availability of Ireland-domiciled ETFs that track the US market
Another plus point is that despite being listed in London, there are Ireland-domiciled ETFs that track the US market, making it possible for us to find alternatives to SCHD.
Comparison: Ireland-domiciled ETFs vs US-domiciled ETFs
| Ireland-domiciled ETFs | US-domiciled ETFs | |
| Dividend withholding tax (WHT) for non-US residents (Malaysia/Singapore) | 15% | 30% |
| ETFs that track the US market | Yes (though lesser in choice) | Yes |
| Expense ratio | Generally low, but slightly higher than US-domiciled ETFs | Generally low |
| Currency | Mostly available in GBP & EUR, with variants in USD | USD |
| Commission (Interactive Brokers Pro: Tiered Commission) | 0.05% of trade value (initial tier), min. USD 1.70/order | USD 0.0035 (initial tier), min. USD 0.35/order |
READ MORE: Interactive Brokers (IBKR) long-term review & pricing
My 2 selection criteria for Ireland-domiciled dividend growth ETF
To recap, SCHD is loved by many dividend investors thanks to its record of dividend growth and decent overall returns.
As such, while looking for Ireland-domiciled alternatives for SCHD, I have 2 key criteria:
#1 Consistent record of dividend growth
Firstly, the goal is to look for Ireland-domiciled ETFs with a record of dividend growth.
This is in line with SCHD which has a 12-year streak in growing its dividends.
#2 Decent overall performance (total return)
Next, it is also important to identify Ireland-domiciled ETFs that delivered a decent overall performance.
In other words, I'd be looking for those that delivered positive historical Total Return (price AND dividend growth).
READ: Introduction to dividend growth investing
#1 Fidelity US Quality Income UCITS ETF USD (FUSD)
i. FUSD Overview: A solid overall performer
Listed in 2017, FUSD is an Ireland-domiciled ETF focusing on high-quality large & mid-capitalization dividend-paying US companies.
| Ticker/Symbol | FUSD |
| Traded Currency | USD |
| Dividend Yield (As of 07/2024) | 1.94% |
| Expense Ratio | 0.25% p.a. |
| Asset Under Management (AUM) (as of 06/2024) | USD 1,571 m |
| Dividend Payout Frequency | Quarterly |
ii. Methodology: How are stocks selected to be part of FUSD?
The FUSD tracks the underlying performance of the Fidelity US Quality Income Index. Stocks are screened based on the following:
| (A) Non-banking stocks | (B) Banking stocks |
| i. Cash Flow margin: Measure how efficient a company is at converting sales to cash. | i. Return of Equity: Measure profitability of a company |
| ii. Return on invested capital (ROIC): Measure how well a company is making profit relative to the assets/equity committed. | ii. Debt-to-assets: Measure the financial leverage of a company. |
| iii. Free Cash Flow Stability: Measures the financial strength of a company |
Finally, companies with the highest dividend yield are selected.
FUSD is also ESG-sensitive, where certain businesses are excluded from selection, such as military & weaponry, tobacco, adult entertainment, and alcohol.
I like the selection criteria of the Fidelity US Quality Income Index which ensure that only companies with a strong financial foundation (eg. healthy cashflow) are selected.
iii. Top 10 holdings & sector of FUSD
As of June 2024, FUSD is an ETF with exposure weighted towards the tech sector (34.9%), followed by the financial (12.1%) and healthcare sector (11.9%).
The top 10 holdings in FUSD include familiar names like Microsoft, Apple, and Nvidia, which make up about 33% of FUSD's holdings.
iv. A look at FUSD Dividends
As of July 2024, FUSD pays about 1.96% in dividend yield.
That said, the more important metric is distribution growth (p.s. find out WHY here). Did FUSD manage to grow its dividends over time?
From FUSD's distribution (or payout) history below, FUSD managed to grow its distribution from 2018 - 2021. However, it experienced a dividend cut in 2022 due to a challenging market environment and managed to raise its dividend again in 2023.
Given a tricky 2022, I think this is an acceptable distribution growth trend, and I expect FUSD to continue raising its dividends in 2024 as the market has been doing well so far.
v. Overall performance of FUSD
As of July 2024, FUSD has delivered a year-to-date total return (price & dividend growth) of 12.72%.
This is expected, considering FUSD has heavier exposure to the tech sector, namely companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia.
FUSD also has a solid 5-year annualized return of 12.91%.
| Performance as of July 2024 | FUSD |
| Year-to-date total return (%) | 12.72% |
| 5-year annualized return (%) | 12.91% |
vi. Verdict for FUSD: Solid overall performance, though it lacks a convincing dividend growth record
FUSD is an Ireland-domiciled ETF that I personally own in my Freedom Fund. I like FUSD for its solid overall performance and relatively low expense ratio (0.25% p.a.) compared to other Ireland-domiciled dividend ETFs.
However, what FUSD lacks is a solid dividend growth record since 2022. As I am looking into these ETFs for dividend growth, this is what stopping me from investing more in FUSD for the time being.
#2 Fidelity Global Quality Income UCITS ETF (FGQI)
i. FGQI Overview: The global brother of FUSD
Listed in 2017, FGQI is almost similar to the FUSD ETF that we discussed above. The difference is that FGQI covers dividend stocks from developed markets, including stocks listed in the US, Japan, UK, and France.
| Ticker/Symbol | FGQI |
| Traded Currency | USD |
| Dividend Yield (As of 07/2024) | 2.40% |
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% p.a. |
| Asset Under Management (AUM) (as of 06/2024) | USD 756m |
| Dividend Payout Frequency | Quarterly |
ii. Methodology: How are stocks selected to be part of FGQI?
The FGQI tracks the underlying performance of the Fidelity Global Quality Income Index.
With the exception of multiple-country stock exposure, FGQI stock selection criteria are almost similar to FUSD:
| (A) Non-banking stocks | (B) Banking stocks |
| i. Cash Flow margin: Measure how efficient a company is at converting sales to cash. | i. Return of Equity: Measure profitability of a company |
| ii. Return on invested capital (ROIC): Measure how well a company is making profit relative to the assets/equity committed. | ii. Debt-to-assets: Measure the financial leverage of a company. |
| iii. Free Cash Flow Stability: Measures the financial strength of a company |
Finally, companies with the highest dividend yield are selected.
Just like FUSD, FGQI is also ESG-sensitive, where certain businesses are excluded from selection, such as military & weaponry, tobacco, adult entertainment, and alcohol.
The selection criteria of FGQI ensures that the stocks selected are financially robust.
iii. Top 10 holdings, geographical and sector exposure of FGQI
As of June 2024, close to 71% of FGQI holdings are listed in the US, followed by Japan (6.1%), France (3.7%), and the UK (3.0%).
In other words, most FGQI holdings are still US-focused, such as Microsoft, Apple, and Nvidia. That said, there is also exposure to quality dividend stocks from other developed markets, such as ASML Holding and Novo Nordisk from Europe.
FGQI is an ETF that is weighted heavier towards the tech sector (27.7%), followed by financials (15.2%), and healthcare (11.8%).
iv. A look at FGQI Dividends
As of July 2024, FGQI pays about 2.40% in dividend yield. This is higher than FUSD's 1.94%.
How about its distribution growth for the past few years?
Similar to FUSD, FQGI experienced a dip in distribution in 2022, but managed to recover in 2023 with the highest distribution yet.
In terms of recovery of dividend growth from a challenging 2022, I think FQGI is slightly better than FUSD.
v. Overall performance of FQGI
As of July 2024, FQGI has delivered a year-to-date total return (price & dividend growth) of 10.40%
Meanwhile, FQGI also delivered a decent 5-year annualized return of 11.15%.
| Performance as of July 2024 | FQGI |
| Year-to-date total return (%) | 10.40% |
| 5-year annualized return (%) | 11.15% |
vi. Verdict for FQGI: Decent globally diversified dividend growth ETF
As the global version of FUSD, FQGI is a great option for dividend growth investors looking for exposure outside of the US.
The decent dividend growth and past return are 2 plus points of FQGI.
However, its 0.40% p.a. expense ratio is slightly on the high side, especially in comparison to SCHD (0.06% p.a.) and FUSD (0.25% p.a.).
#3 SPDR S&P US Dividend Aristocrats UCITS ETF (UDVD)
i. UDVD Overview: Consistent Ireland-domiciled dividend growth ETF
Listed in 2011, UDVD is focused on US stocks with at least a 20-year record of increasing dividends.
| Ticker/Symbol | UDVD |
| Traded Currency | USD |
| Dividend Yield (As of 07/2024) | 2.22% |
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% p.a. |
| Asset Under Management (AUM) (as of 06/2024) | USD 3,445 m |
| Dividend Payout Frequency | Quarterly |
ii. Methodology: How are stocks selected to be part of UDVD?
The UDVD tracks the underlying performance of the S&P High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index. It is comprised of US stocks that have raised their dividends every year for at least 20 consecutive years.
Stocks are screened based on the following:
| Universe | Stocks must be part of the S&P500 Composite 1500. It includes large, medium, and small market-cap US stocks, making up to 90% of the US stock market. |
| Dividends | Stocks that have raised dividends EVERY year for at least 20 years. |
| Market Cap | Market capitalization of at least USD 2 billion. |
| Liquidity | Stocks with average daily value traded of at least USD 5 million |
| Diversification | Each stock is capped at 4% of total holding. |
While it may seem attractive to only include stocks with at least 20 years of dividend growth streak, it also means the exclusion of many notable names that may not have such a long track record, such as Apple (11-year dividend growth streak).
In other words, it may lead to UDVD holding to give way to many less-known companies, as we'll see below.
iii. Top 10 holdings & sector of UDVD
UDVD is a rather balanced ETF. As of June 2024, the top 3 sectors of UDVD are consumer staples (18.07%), industrials (17.99%), and the utility sector (17.42%) respectively.
Unlike FUSD and FQGI, there is no single sector that dominates the sector breakdown for UDVD:
The top 10 holdings in UDVD are generally less familiar names like Realty Income Corp, Chevron Corporation, and Kimberly-Clark Corporation.
These are companies with at least 20 years of record in raising their dividends.
iv. A look at UDVD Dividends: Consistent decade-long dividend growth
As of July 2024, UDVD pays about 2.22% in dividend yield.
UDVD displayed a consistent dividend growth record since 2014, with a small blip in 2022, which recovered in 2023.
Among all 3 Ireland-domiciled ETFs in this post, UDVD has a more reliable dividend growth record than FUSD and FQGI.
v. Overall performance of UDVD
As of July 2024, UDVD has delivered a year-to-date total return (price & dividend growth) of 4.19%.
This is pale compared to FUSD and FQGI, which makes sense due to UDVD's lack of exposure to stocks in the tech sector (such as Nvidia and Apple) which are driving most of the growth in 2024.
UDVD has a so-so 5-year annualized return of 6.64%.
| Performance as of July 2024 | UDVD |
| Year-to-date total return (%) | 4.19% |
| 5-year annualized return (%) | 6.64% |
vi. Verdict for UDVD: Consistent dividend growth, subpar overall growth
I used to own UDVD as part of my Freedom Fund, but I've decided to dispose of it in Q2 2024.
Reason being, I find the >20-year dividend growth selection rule, while seems attractive, has to be done by sacrificing many excellent dividend growth stocks like Apple.
As a result, many of UDVD holdings are very mature stocks (I mean, what kind of company raises its dividend for >20 years?) with less growth opportunity, leading to a subpar total return.
Comparison: Ireland-domiciled dividend ETFs (FUSD, FQGI, UDVD) vs SCHD
Before I share my concluding thoughts in the final verdict, let me lay out some side-by-side facts & features of all 4 dividend growth ETFs that we've discussed in this post today:
| SCHD | FUSD | FGQI | UDVD | |
| Domicile | US | Ireland | Ireland | Ireland |
| Exposure | US market | US market | Developed market (US, Japan, UK etc) | US market |
| Special traits (as of 06/2024) | 12-year dividend growth streak | Tech-heavy holdings | Tech-heavy holdings, global exposure | Only stocks with >20 years of div. growth are included. |
| Expense Ratio | 0.06% p.a. | 0.25% p.a. | 0.40% p.a. | 0.35% p.a. |
| Dividend Yield (as of 07/2024) | 3.64% | 1.96% | 2.40% | 2.22% |
| Dividend Growth Streak | 12 years | 1 year | 1 year | 1 year |
| YTD Total Return (as of 07/2024) | 4.17% | 12.72% | 10.40% | 4.19% |
| 5-Year Annualized Return (as of 07/2024) | 11.78% | 12.91% | 11.15% | 6.64% |
READ: My SCHD ETF review
How to invest in Ireland-domiciled ETFs
Investing in Ireland-domiciled ETFs like FUSD, FGQI, and UDVD requires access to the London Stock Exchange (LSE).
Since most brokers in Malaysia do not offer access to the London market, my go-to broker to invest in Ireland-domiciled ETFs is Interactive Brokers (IBKR).
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is one of the most reliable global brokers as it is regulated by financial authorities in over 10 countries (eg. US, UK, SG, HK, Australia, and more).
Aside from that, IBKR offers access to the USD-denominated Ireland-domiciled ETF at an affordable fee. You can check out IBKR's fee structure HERE (under 'United Kingdom' > 'USD-denominated')
READ: My Interactive Brokers (IBKR) long-term user review
Verdict: There'll be trade-offs while selecting Ireland-domiciled ETF as an alternative to SCHD
In my mission to look for the best SCHD alternatives in Ireland-domiciled ETFs, I find it difficult to find the perfect duplicate of SCHD.
For instance, SCHD has a solid 12-year dividend growth streak record, while the Ireland-domiciled ETFs we explored in this post (FUSD, FGQI, and UDVD) experienced a dividend cut in 2022.
However, FUSD and FGQI have shown a better total return relative to SCHD in 2024 thanks to their tech-heavy exposure to companies like Apple and Nvidia.
Simply put, in Ireland-domiciled ETFs, I have yet to find a perfect SCHD replacement, nor do they have an absolute advantage over SCHD.
What do you think?
Stay tuned as I continue my quest to search for the best SCHD alternatives (in other markets, maybe!).
Meanwhile, check out my go-to broker to invest in Ireland-domiciled ETFs below!
Disclaimers
Any of the information above is produced with my own best effort and research.
This post is produced for general information purposes only. It is not intended to constitute professional advice, and should not be relied on or treated as a substitute for specific advice relevant to particular circumstances.
The inclusion of Interactive Brokersā (IBKR) name, logo or weblinks is present pursuant to an advertising arrangement only. IBKR is not a contributor, reviewer, provider or sponsor of content published on this site, and is not responsible for the accuracy of any products or services discussed.
M+ Global Review: The good, the so-so, and the perks
For the past few years, investing in the global stock market has become more accessible to Malaysians.
M+ Global is one of the latest locally-regulated platforms that offers Malaysians convenient access to the US and Hong Kong stock market.
In this post, check out my review on M+ Global, and see whether you should consider using M+ Global to invest!
Highlights:
- Backed by Malacca Securities with over 60 years of experience, M+ Global is a stock trading platform that allows Malaysians to invest in the US and Hong Kong (HK) stock markets. M+ Global (global stocks) is not to be confused with M+ Online, which offers access to the Malaysian stock market.
- Regulated in Malaysia: M+ Global is regulated locally by the Securities Commission (SC) of Malaysia. This means M+ Global has to adhere to the best practices set by the local authority to ensure the safety of clientsā funds from fraud and other illegal activities.
- M+ Global makes global investing seamless for Malaysians by introducing features like FREE real-time price data to users, 24/7 real-time news and customer support, Shariah-screener, and more.
My short verdict:
I like that the M+ Global app is very beginner-friendly to invest in the US and HK stock market. Features offered are essential and are not overwhelming, such as the implementation of Shariah screener that is especially helpful for Muslim investors.
However, the 24-hour customer service is a hit-or-miss. No fractional shares (yet) and the fee is not the cheapest compared to competitors like Rakuten Trade.
In short, M+ Global shines via a simple-to-use app, but has much to do in improving its fee structure and customer service.
š Meanwhile, consider using my M+ Global referral link (via the button below) to open your M+ Global account and get a guaranteed FREE trading voucher or 1x share (worth up to RM1,200) when you open and fund your account!
5 Must-Know Features of M+ Global (The Good)
#1 Invest in a wide selection of US & Hong Kong stocks
M+ Global offers access to over 10,000 US and 2500 Hong Kong stocks & Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs).
As such, Malaysians can now find and invest in big names like Tesla, Microsoft, Apple, Google, Nvidia, and more.
#2 Shariah-screener
M+ Global is the first digital trading platform in Malaysia to offer shariah screener for both the US and Hong Kong markets. This allows Muslim investors to search for Shariah-compliant stocks to invest in.
#3 Beginner-friendly user experience and real-time data
In my opinion, M+ Global is the most practical implementation of how a stock trading app should be: Easy to navigate and straightforward.
i. Placing trades in M+ Global is straightforward
For one, placing a trade in the M+ Global app is a breeze.
For a trading app, I prefer an interface that is not over-cluttered with features that are too small to fit on a small screen, so M+ Global got a thumbs up here when it comes to the cleanliness of the app.
ii. Complete execution order types
Unlike rival Rakuten Trade which only offers 'Limit Order', M+ Global offers both Limit and Market Orders, which makes it more versatile for different investors & traders:
iii. Stock and ETF information + 24/7 news sources
While clean, the M+ Global app provides essential information about a stock or ETF.
From price charts, analyst ratings & price targets, fundamental data, and fund holdings (for ETFs), the app has everything conveniently arranged in a way that it doesnāt overwhelm me while making an investment decision.
Not to mention, M+ Global also provides 24/7 news updates around the markets and the stocks that you are focusing on:
iv. Real-time price datafeed of stocks
New M+ Global users will also gain access to real-time (level 1) price feed for US and HK stocks for 30 days as they sign up for an account.
v. App in English & Mandarin
On a side note, did you know that the M+ Global app is available in English and Mandarin language?
#4 Margin Trading
Unlike rival Rakuten Trade which offers purely Cash-Upfront account for trading US and Hong Kong stocks, M+ Global allows users to trade on margin.
This is especially helpful for shorter-term traders that may require additional leverage in purchasing power to trade.
#5 1.85% Interest on cash (MYR)
For cash deposits in MYR, M+ Global offers a 1.85% per annual interest. It is calculated and credited to users' accounts at the end of each month.
What I wish could be better (The so-so)
#1 24-hour customer support is a hit-or-miss
M+ Global offers 24-hour customer support (CS) with the intention to assist users whenever help is required.
While the idea is good, I find the actual experience rather mixed-bag.
For one, I find that not all customer service (CS) associates are equally trained. As an example, while testing the M+ Global app, I directed a similar question to 2 different CS, and got a different outcome each time.
As a whole, I think the M+ Global team has to invest more into building their CS team. That said, M+ Global is a relatively new app in the market, and I am informed that they are upgrading their CS team - hence I will be revisiting their CS in the near future.
#2 M+ Global fee structure is just..."OK"
With more competition in the brokerage space, it is hard not to compare M+ Global's fee structure to other locally-regulated brokers that offer access to similar US and HK markets.
In this regard, I think M+ Global's fee structure is OK, but definitely not the best:
| M+ Global Fee Structure | Fees |
| US Stocks & ETFs | 0.1% of Trade Value, min. USD3.00 |
| HK Stocks & ETFs | 0.1% of Trade Value, min. HKD18.00 |
Many might compare M+ Global to close rival Rakuten Trade, which has one of the most competitive fee structures (among Malaysia-regulated platforms) at the moment:
| Trading Value | M+ Global Fee | Rakuten Trade Fee (MYR trading) |
| USD100 (~RM467) | USD3 | RM4.67 (Better) |
| USD500 (~RM2336) | USD3 | RM9 (Better) |
| USD1,000 (~RM4671) | USD3 | RM9 (Better) |
| USD2,500 (~RM11,680) | USD3 | RM11.68 (Better) |
| USD10,000 (~RM46,715) | USD10 | RM46.72 (Same) |
| USD20,000 (~RM93,580) | USD20 | RM93.58 (Same) |
| USD30,000 (~RM140,370) | USD30 | RM100 (Better) |
With competition setting such a high bar, I am sure the M+ Global team is aware of this, and hopefully will make changes to their fee structure in the near future.
#3 Exchange Rate could be better
As a platform offering access to global stocks, it is crucial that M+ Global users are able to exchange their MYR for USD or HKD (and vice versa) at a good rate while investing.
From my personal experience, I noticed M+ Global's exchange rate tends to be less ideal most of the time compared to the likes of Rakuten Trade:
Check out the exchange rate comparison on the days below for RM1,000 to USD or HKD:
| Date | M+ Global (USD) | Rakuten Trade (USD) | M+ Global (HKD) | Rakuten Trade (HKD) |
| 12/6/2023 | USD214.60 | USD215.08 | HKD1681.60 | HKD1675.04 |
| 14/6/2023 | USD214.40 | USD214.94 | (Forgot to collect data) | (Forgot to collect data) |
| 29/6/2023 | USD211.90 | USD212.56 | HKD1660.00 | HKD1661.13 |
#4 Cannot hold foreign currency (USD, HKD) (... for now)
Another minor complaint I have about M+ Global is that it is not possible (for now) to hold other currencies aside from MYR.
In other words, if you were to buy US stocks, your MYR deposits would be exchanged for USD as you make your trade.
Meanwhile, brokers like Rakuten Trade allow users to exchange to their preferred currencies (USD or HKD) anytime, so they can lock in a favorable exchange rate.
The good news is, from my understanding, this is a feature that will be introduced to M+ Global in the near future - so stay tuned!
#5 No fractional shares (... for now)
Fractional shares refer to the ability to buy shares at a fraction of a unit (eg. 0.1 unit instead of 1 unit). This makes it convenient for users with small investment capital to own relatively expensive shares like Tesla.
For the time being, there are no fractional shares available on M+ Global - all while rival Rakuten Trade has launched fractional shares not too long ago.
That said, from my understanding, this is a feature that will be introduced to M+ Global in the near future - so stay tuned!
Who should consider using M+ Global to invest?
While far from perfect, M+ Global has offered something that many local brokers failed to do: Access to the US & Hong Kong stock market via a truly user-friendly platform.
In my opinion, M+ Global is a great option if you are:
- Seeking for a Malaysia-regulated broker to invest in the US & Hong Kong stock market.
- Looking for a user-friendly platform to invest in the US & Hong Kong stock market.
- Require margin facility to invest or trade the US & Hong Kong market.
š LIMITED-TIME Promo: Get FREE shares & FREE live datafeed when you open a M+ Global account! (Ending: 31/7/2024)
Give M+ Global a try and receive a guaranteed FREE share or trading voucher worth up to RM1,200 and FREE live price feed for US & HK stocks!
How to be eligible:
Step 1: Open an M+ Global account
Step 2: Make a minimum first deposit of RM2,000.
Step 3: Claim 1x guaranteed FREE share or trading voucher worth up to RM1,200, such as Tesla, Apple, and more within 7 working days.
Check out the full T&C here.
In addition, you can also claim FREE access to 30-days Level 1 live price feed for US and HK stocks!
No Money Lah Verdict: Big room for improvements for M+ Global
As an investor, I really enjoy using the M+ Global app, as the app is so easy to navigate around (Rakuten Trade, take note).
However, aside from a nice app, it is hard to give more points to M+ Global currently. This is especially true when we compare the relatively less favorable fee structure and exchange rate, alongside a lack of important features like fractional shares trading to rival Rakuten Trade.
That said, it is important to note that M+ Global has just been launched (since May 2023), and there is always space to make upgrades to the app in the near future.
For that, I am actually excited to see M+ Global coming to the global investing space, and I look forward to seeing more improvements with time!
Step-by-step: How to open an M+ Global account
Step 1: Download the M+ Global app by using my referral link (via the button below):
Step 2: Register for an account and set up your password
Step 3: Begin your application by entering your basic details, and determining the markets you want to trade.
If you do not require margin (ie. borrow money from the broker) to trade, you can choose to untick the 'Share Margin Financing Account' option.
Step 4: Provide the necessary details such as your employment details, financials, and tax details
Step 5: Review, accept, and sign the agreements
Step 6: New M+ Global users will have to pay a CDS account opening fee of RM11. Existing M+ Online users who are opening an M+ Global account do not have to pay this fee since they already have a CDS account under M+.
Step 7: Your application will be reviewed within 1 - 3 working days. Once approved, you can start trading.
Disclaimer:
This post contains affiliate links, which afford No Money Lah a small referral (and in return, support this blog) if you sign up for an account using my referral link. The information stated above is based on my personal experience and for purpose of sharing such experience only. It is not intended as professional investment advice. Please contact M+ Global for more information.
Moomoo Malaysia (MY): 5 must-use features that will change how you invest!
Moomoo Malaysia, one of the fastest-growing investment platforms has recently expanded to Malaysia and is open for trading for the US and Malaysia stock markets!
In this post, let me show you my top 5 favorite features within the Moomoo app that will help you become a better investor!
RELATED POST:
Highlights of Moomoo MY:
- Locally-regulated broker: Moomoo MY is regulated by the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC). This ensures that Moomoo MYās operation and business are conducted within the rules set by the authority to protect Malaysian investors.
- Access to US and Malaysia stock markets: Invest in the US and Malaysia stock markets within the Moomoo app.
- Best fee structure for Malaysia-regulated brokers: Moomoo MY offers the most competitive fees for the US and Malaysia stock markets among Malaysia-regulated brokers, with 0 commission trading for all Moomoo users for the first 180 days.
- Powerful features: Investors of all levels and experience will appreciate the useful features that will alleviate their investing experience, such as a powerful stock screener, 24/7 news, Moo community, and more.
My short summary:
I am pleasantly impressed by how the Moomoo trading app can offer so many feature-packed tools while keeping the app so simple to navigate around.
It is truly one of the most feature-rich yet easy-to-use investing apps available in the market now.
My Top 5 Favourite Features of Moomoo MY:
Feature #1: FREE level 2 US market data when you register for your Moomoo MY account
While most brokers will make users pay for level 2 data, Moomoo MY gives you level 2 US market data for FREE when you register for your account.
What exactly is Level 2 US market data?
Essentially, Level 2 US market data allows you to see transaction details (ie. Buy & sell activities) across multiple price levels:
Having level 2 US market data is equivalent to having an aerial view of the market. For instance, with Level 2 US market data, you can detect in real-time should buyers are buying aggressively (or vice versa) and make better entry decisions.
In short, with level 2 US market data, you can get a better gauge of market strength.
Feature #2: Get big-picture business views via 'Industry Chain'
'Industry chain' is also one of my favorite features in the Moomoo app. With Industry chain, you can have a big-picture view of a specific industry.
For instance, you can instantly learn how the whole Electric Vehicle (EV) industry work, alongside companies that fall under each segment.
In addition, you can also discover what companies are there in a specific role in the business chain in an ecosystem.
Simply put, you can gain a big picture of any industry that you are interested to learn.
Where to find: 'Markets' > 'US' > 'Industry Chain'
Feature #3: Track the performance & insights of a specific theme with 'Concepts'
Concepts is a unique feature within the moomoo app that allows you to track the overall performance and news of companies that fall under a specific theme, such as 'EV charger', 'Gene Editing', 5G, and more:
As an example, check out how I can view the overall & individual performances of the companies that fall under the āEV Chargerā concept:
With Concepts, you can have a clear view of how certain themes perform, as well as research for a specific theme with ease - all within the moomoo app.
Where to find: 'Markets' > 'US' > 'Concepts'
Feature #4: See what other investors are doing with Market Position Overview
Another useful feature of the Moomoo app is Market Position Overview. Essentially, it shows the number of shares held at different prices by investors in an easy-to-see visual.
As an example, in this example of Apple (AAPL) stock below, we can see that most Apple shareholders are in a profitable position (shown in green), as their entry price is below the market price ($195).
In addition, you can also spot the price where most investors bought their shares based on how long the horizontal bar is:
Where to find: Search for a stock > 'Market Position Overview'
Feature #5: One of the most flexible stock screeners around
The stock screener within the Moomoo app also impressed me. This screener can be super simple, or as sophisticated as you want.
From fundamental to technical filters, you can filter for stocks based on your preferred criteria:
It is definitely one of the most complete stock screeners within an investing app that Iāve used in my investing journey so far.
Where to find: 'Markets' > 'US' > 'Screener'
Other useful features within the Moomoo app:
- #1 Gauge bearish sentiment via Short Sale Analysis
Short sale analysis is a solid feature that allows you to identify (i) the volume of a companyās shares that are being shorted in the market, and (ii) the percentage of shares that are being shorted but not yet closed (ie. People that are betting for the market to go down) in the market.
This is a very useful feature to gauge the market's bearish sentiment on a specific stock.
Where to find: Search for a stock > 'Short Sale Analysis'
- #2 Use Trade Overview to confirm your conviction
With Trade Overview, you can identify the movement of funds in and out of a specific stock.
Furthermore, you can go further by looking at the capital flow breakdown of XL, L, M, and S orders.
This can give you an idea of whether the stock you are looking to buy has the conviction of other players (big or small) in the market.
Where to find: Search for a stock > 'Trade Overview'
- #3 Get real-time, 24/7 financial news in the moomoo app
It is also extremely convenient to get the latest financial news in the moomoo app.
Even better, the news is real-time and updated 24/7, making it easy for you to get in touch with the latest updates of the market and the companies that you are investing in.
Where to find: 'Discover' > 'News'
Disclaimers
All views expressed are the independent opinions of myself, which are not necessarily shared by Futu Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. ("Moomoo MY"). No content shall be considered financial advice or recommendation. Moomoo MY links are included in this post, through which referrals are made and I may receive certain commissions. Please contact Moomoo MY for more information.
FSMOne USD Autosweep Review ā Grow your savings in USD!
When it comes to how I save, there are 2 key requirements:
- Only save on low-risk assets or funds that provide competitive returns to negate the impact of inflation.
- Save in low-risk assets that do not lock up my money (ie. I can deposit & withdraw freely), so I can access my money whenever I need it.
For the above requirements, FSMOne USD Autosweep ticks all the boxes.
Even better, it allows me to save my money in USD, making it even more attractive!
In this post, let me share about FSMOne USD Autosweep, a low-risk way to grow your cash in USD!
Highlights of FSMOne USD Autosweep
Introduced in April 2024, FSMOne USD Autosweep is a USD cash management solution offering users attractive cash yield, alongside exposure to USD.
Some of its key features include:
- Earn competitive yield: Invest your idle or excess cash in USD, and earn a competitive yield on them. As of 29/4/2024, the net yield for FSMOne USD Autosweep stands at 4.598%* per annum (*updated weekly, please check FSMOne's website for the latest yield figure).
- Side note: It is important to know that FSMOne USD Autosweep does not pay out dividends. The returns from the yield will be reflected in the growth of your investment value.
- Low risk: FSMOne USD Autosweep invests in low-risk financial instruments like short-term bonds and money market funds.
- Flexible & low barrier of entry: Start using FSMOne USD Autosweep with a minimum top-up amount of USD10 or RM100. There is also no lock-in period which provides maximum flexibility to withdraw or invest your cash elsewhere.
How does FSMOne USD Autosweep work?
Firstly, it is important to understand how FSMOne USD Autosweep generates its yield.
To begin with, FSMOne USD Autosweep is a discretionary portfolio managed by the iFAST team (p.s. FSMOne is wholly owned by iFAST) which allows the team to invest in high-quality, low-risk investment products such as short-term bonds, deposits, and money market funds.
As of the time of writing (early May 2024), 90% of the underlying fund of FSMOne USD Autosweep is made up of iFAST USD Enhanced Liquidity Fund, which is a fund that invests in high-quality & low-risk debt instruments like bonds and notes.
Generally, the yield of debt instruments like bonds follows the US interest rate.
Since the US interest rate is at decade high, this makes it possible for FSMOne USD Autosweep to generate its competitive yield.
Key features of FSMOne USD Autosweep
#1 Low barrier of entry: Start using FSMOne USD Autosweep at just USD10 or RM100
FSMOne USD Autosweep has a low barrier of entry with a minimum top-up of USD10 or RM100. This means everyone can try and see if it is a good fit for their financial routine.
Furthermore, there's no minimum balance to maintain in your FSMOne USD Autosweep account, which ensures maximum flexibility for you as a user.
#2 Same-day withdrawal (T+0) & no lock-in period
FSMOne USD Autosweep also offers same-day withdrawal. If you submit a withdrawal before 10am on a business day, your withdrawal will be credited back to your FSMOne USD Cash Account on the same day.
From my experience (see photo below), the withdrawal process from my USD Autosweep account (USD) back to my bank account (MYR) is done within the same business day. This is considered speedy compared to other cash management solutions available in the market.
There is also no lock-in period, which provides the flexibility for users to withdraw, or use the cash to invest whenever they see fit.
As for withdrawal, the minimum withdrawal amount is USD10.
#3 Use your cash balance in your FSMOne USD Autosweep account to pay for your investment within FSMOne suites of products
Since FSMOne offers a range of financial products from stock, ETFs, unit trusts, bonds, and managed portfolios, you can use your cash balance in FSMOne USD Autosweep to pay for your investments in FSMOne seamlessly, regardless of currency.
This convenient feature makes it easy for you to deploy your cash balance in your USD Autosweep account to pay for investments in FSMOne whenever you see fit.
#4 Automatically reinvests your dividends, coupon payments, and bond proceeds
Furthermore, if you invest in stocks/ETFs or bonds via FSMOne and you opt into the FSMOne USD Autosweep account, your dividends, coupon payments, and proceeds from bond maturity will be automatically swept into your USD Autosweep account to earn potentially higher interest once they have accumulated more than USD10 in value.
Fees & Pricing
FSMOne USD Autosweep charges a management fee of 0.05% per quarter.
This management fee and any other fund-related expenses are already taken into account in the net yield for FSMOne USD Autosweep.
Meanwhile, there is no other platform fee involved.
What are the risks?
While FSMOne USD Autosweep invests in high-quality low-risk assets like bonds, notes, debt instruments, and money market funds, it is still not without its own set of risks.
For one, the funds in FSMOne USD Autosweep is not PIDM protected, unlike the deposits and Fixed Deposits (FD) in your bank.
In addition, the yield of FSMOne USD Autosweep will likely be influenced by the fluctuation in US interest rate. Simply put, should the US Federal Reserve (FED) decide to cut interest rates in the future, it will influence the yield of FSMOne USD Autosweep (or US bonds and money market funds as a whole, for that matter).
Is FSMOne USD Autosweep for you?
One key strength of placing your cash on FSMOne USD Autosweep is the liquidity - where you can deposit and withdraw quickly whenever you see fit.
As such, I think it is suited for:
- People who want to keep their idle or excess cash in USD and earn potentially higher returns than typical Fixed Deposits (FDs) - all while enjoying the flexibility to deposit & withdraw anytime without penalty.
- Investors who want to keep their idle cash from dividend payouts and coupon payments to earn a competitive yield while waiting for the next investment opportunity.
- Investors that use the FSMOne platform to invest in USD-denominated products. Funds from FSMOne USD Autosweep can be used seamlessly to invest without any lag time.
š FSMOne: Account-opening perks & referral link
Aside from FSMOne USD Autosweep, the FSMOne platform also offers a range of financial & investment products for fellow Malaysians - from stocks, unit trusts, managed portfolios, and bonds!
Open your FSMOne account with my exclusive referral link today, and enjoy the following perks:
No Money Lah Verdict: Low-risk & flexible way to grow your cash in USD and earn a competitive yield!
Given that MYR has been losing its value against the USD for the past decade, it is important to consider diversifying our excess cash to have USD exposure - and I think FSMOne USD Autosweep is a great choice for this purpose.
Give FSMOne USD Autosweep a try, and let me know what you think!
Step-by-step guide to start using FSMOne USD Autosweep
Step 1: Firstly, start by opening your FSMOne account HERE. Skip to Step 2 if you already have a FSMOne account.
- Select 'Personal Account'
- Key in your personal details and create your FSMOne account username & password.
- Key in your tax information
- Verify your identity by taking a photo of your IC
- Enter your address and upload a supporting document (eg. utility bill, bank statement) as proof of your address:
- Enter your employment details. You will also given an option to open a CDS account with FSMOne, which allows you to trade stocks. There will be a fee of RM10 to open a CDS account, which will be refunded upon successful account activation:
Step 2: Log in to your FSMOne account.
- Under Cash Solutions, select USD Autosweep. Then, select 'Top up now'. Once you top up to your USD Autosweep account, your account will automatically opt-in for the autosweeping feature.
Step 3: To add funds to FSMOne USD Autosweep, you will first need to top up your FSMOne MYR or USD Cash Account.
Reminder: A minimum top-up of USD10 or RM100 is required for USD Autosweep
- Top up your FSMOne MYR or USD Cash account first:
- Once done, proceed to top-up your USD Autosweep account with your MYR or USD cash balance. If you are using your MYR cash account to top up, then currency conversion will take place automatically in this step.
- Once done, the balance on your FSMOne USD Autosweep account will be updated instantly.
FAQ - FSMOne USD Autosweep
Q1: Is FSMOne regulated?
FSMOne is licensed by the Securities Commission of Malaysia. This ensures that FSMOne operates within the rules set by the authority.
Q2: Is FSMOne USD Autosweep PIDM protected?
No, funds in USD Auto-Sweep are not protected under the Perbadanan Insurans Deposit Malaysia (PIDM)
Q3: Is FSMOne USD Autosweep Syariah-compliant?
No.
Disclaimers
All materials and contents herein shall not be construed as an offer or solicitation for the subscription, purchase or sale of any fund, product or services. Any advice herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific investment objectives of the specific person or group of persons.
Investors are advised to read and understand the contents of the prospectus, product highlight sheet (PHS) and relevant disclosure documents before investing. The prospectuses, PHS and relevant disclosure documents can be obtained from FSMOne Malaysia website. Investors should compare and consider the fees, charges and costs involved before investing. Investors are advised to understand the risks involved in relation to the products or services and further conduct his/ her own risk assessment and seek professional advice, where necessary. The unit trust fundās prospectuses have been registered and lodged with the Securities Commission (SC), however this does not amount to nor indicate that SC has recommended or endorsed the product. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. Some funds, products or services may not be suitable or available to all investors, and are only made available to Sophisticated Investors (as defined in Capital Market and Services Act). The contents herein have not been reviewed by SC. Please read our full disclaimer in the website.
Introduction: Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRP/DRIP) & Example Calculation
Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRP/DRIP) is a programme that allows investors to reinvest their cash dividends in the form of shares.
For investors, DRP is a convenient way to automate the compounding process of their investments, without having to manually reinvest their dividends every time they are paid out.
In this post, weāll dive deep into DRP, its benefits and downsides, how to use DRP efficiently ā and more!
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What is DRP + Why DRP?
DRP is a programme that certain companies will open for their investors when a dividend is announced.
Instead of paying investors in cash dividends, a DRP reinvests investorsā dividends by purchasing additional shares of the company.
Through DRP, investors are able to compound their dividend returns over time by turning them into additional shares. In return, these shares will then pay out more dividends to them.
If an investor merely receives dividends without reinvesting them, thereāll be a huge difference in return in the long run. Consider a simple comparison below:
- Context: $10,000 investment with a 5% annual dividend over a period of 30 years.
- Simple return: Dividends are not reinvested. Turns into $25,000 in 30 years.
- Compounded return: Dividends are reinvested. Turns into $44,677 in 30 years.Ā
Another huge benefit of DRP is that it automates the dividend reinvesting process. As a result, it lifts the manual effort away from investors and leaves the compounding process uninterrupted.
How to calculate DRP
As an example, if you own 1,000 shares of Company X and it announces a DRP for its upcoming dividend payout.
For this example, the DRP details are as follows:
- Distribution Per Unit (DPU): $0.20
- DRP units issue price*: $11.00
[*Issue price: It is common to see companies offer DRP units at a discounted price from the market price to entice investors to join the programme.]
Without DRP, you would receive $200 in cash dividends (1,000 shares x $0.20). What happens if you enroll in DRP?
- Step 1: If you choose to enroll in DRP, you will receive 18 additional shares at $11.00 share price (18 x $11 = $198). This increases your total holdings to 1,018 (1,000 + 18) shares in Company X.
- Step 2: Now, recall that your initial cash dividend is $200 and only $198 was used for the additional shares. What will happen to the remaining $2?
- Step 3: Since the remaining $2 is unable to purchase a whole unit of share ($11), it will (usually) be paid to investors in the form of cash dividends. That said, certain brokers may allow for fractional shares in DRP (ie. Shares smaller than 1 unit), which will convert your $2 dividend into 0.18 units of shares.
DRP Calculation Examples
#1 CapitaLand China Trust (SGX: AU8U) Dividend Reinvestment Plan
AU8U is a Singapore-listed REIT that offers investors exposure to retail properties in China (eg. malls). Here's how we can make our DRP calculation from the announcement below:
| (1) Distribution per unit (DPU) | SGD 0.0315 |
| (2) DRP issue price | SGD 1.157 |
- Step 1: Calculate the dividends that we are going to receive without DRP. In this case, we'll be receiving SGD 15.75 in dividend payment.
500 units x SGD 0.0315 = SGD 15.75
- Step 2: Find out how many DRP units we are eligible for. Divide the dividend payment by DRP issue price and we are eligible for 13.6 units of shares.
SGD 15.75/ SGD 1.157 = 13.6 units
- Step 3: Since AU8U does not have shares in units less than 1, we are eligible for a maximum of 13 units of shares from this DRP (instead of 13.6 units).Ā
- Step 4: If we opt for the maximum of 13 units for this DRP, any dividends that are not reinvested will be paid to us in the form of cash dividends. In this case, we will be getting SGD0.019 in cash dividends.
0.6 units x SGD 0.0315 = SGD 0.019
#2 Maybank (KLSE: 1155) Dividend Reinvestment Plan
Maybank is the largest Malaysia-listed bank. Here's how we can make our DRP calculation from the announcement below:
| Distribution per unit (DPU) | RM0.30 |
| (1) DPU that is eligible for DRP | RM0.075 |
| (2) DRP issue price | RM8.28 |
- Step 1: Using the portion of DPU that is eligible for DRP (RM0.075/unit), calculate the dividends that we are going to receive from that portion. In this case, we'll be receiving RM37.50 in dividend payment.
500 units x RM0.075 = RM37.50
- Step 2: Find out how many DRP units we are eligible for. Divide the dividend payment by the DRP issue price and we are eligible for 4.53 units of shares.
RM37.50/RM8.28 = 4.53 units
- Step 3: Since Maybank does not have shares in units less than 1, we are eligible for a maximum of 4 units of shares from this DRP (instead of 4.53 units).Ā
When should you consider DRP + How to opt for DRP
You should consider opting for DRP when you are invested in a solid company and the company offers a DRP on its dividends.
Through DRP, you get to acquire additional shares in the company (most of the time, at a discounted rate), and this compounds your returns automatically.
Normally, you will be notified by your broker whenever you are eligible for a DRP after a dividend is announced. If you are eligible for a DRP, just proceed to log in to your brokerage account and agree to the DRP accordingly.
Benefits of DRP
- DRP allows you to automatically reinvest your dividends in the form of additional shares without interrupting the compounding process.
- Usually, companies will offer DRP units at a discounted price compared to the share price. This allows investors to acquire shares at a lower price than the market price.
- Moreover, when companies offer a DRP, investors usually do not have to pay additional brokerage fees/commissions to acquire the DRP units. As such, the cost of owning these additional units becomes lower.
Downsides of DRP
While there are many benefits to DRP, it is not all perfect and may not suit certain investors. Here are a few downsides to DRP:
#1 Fractional shares can be hard to sell
Investors that opt for DRP may, at times, end up with additional fractional shares. Fractional shares are units of shares that are not commonly transacted. (eg. 7 shares where the shares are transacted in 100-unit lots).
For certain stocks (especially ones with low volume), fractional shares may be harder to sell.
#2 No control over price & timing of DRP purchase
Since the terms of a DRP are decided by companies, investors do not have a say on the price and the timing of when a DRP purchase will happen.
No Money Lah Verdict
So there you have it! I hope this guide has been helpful in making DRP easy to understand!
For most investors, DRP is an amazing tool to automate the compounding process of their investments.
If you have any questions on DRP, feel free to leave your questions in the comment section under this post!
FAQ on DRP:
Q1: How can I enroll in a DRP?
When a company that you invest in announces a DRP, you will normally be notified by your broker. To enroll in the DRP, just log in to your brokerage account and there should be a corporate action section for you to enroll in it.
Q2: Is enrolling in DRP compulsory?
No, it is not compulsory for investors to enroll in a DRP. If you do not wish to reinvest your dividends into the company via DRP, you can choose to receive your dividends in cash.
Q3: Is DRP subjected to Dividend Withholding Tax (WHT)?
Yes, DRP is subjected to Dividend Withholding Tax, just like ordinary cash dividends.Ā
LEARN MORE: What is dividend withholding tax (WHT) and how to deal with it?
Q4: Are there any fees to enroll for DRP?
If a company offers DRP, there is usually no extra cost for investors to enroll for the DRP. This means there'll be no commissions and exchange fees involved.Ā
Disclaimers
Any of the information above is produced with my own best effort and research.Ā
This post is produced purely for sharing purposes and should not be taken as a buy/sell recommendation. Past return is not indicative of future performance. Please seek advice from a licensed financial planner before making any financial decisions.
This post may contain promo code(s) that afford No Money Lah a small amount of commission (and help support the blog) should you sign up through my referral link.
Guide to invest in Singapore REIT (S-REIT) ā All You Need to Know!
If you are investing for consistent dividend income, Singapore REITs (S-REITs) offer an investment option that you should not miss.
In this post, letās explore S-REITs, and why it is such a great choice, especially for investors looking to build a stable dividend income portfolio!
RELATED POSTS:
- How to build your first $1,000/month passive income with REITs
- In-depth investing guide: S-REIT ETFs
- Introduction to Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
- 5 things I look for when I invest in REITs
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What is S-REIT?
Singapore Real Estate Investment Trusts (S-REITs) are listed companies in Singapore that own and/or manage local and global properties such as malls, hotels, warehouses, data centres, and more.
Through rental income from these properties, S-REITs generate yield for investors looking for consistent dividend income.
S-REITs are an important part of the Singapore stock market. With 43 listed REITs and a total market cap of around S$110 billion, S-REITs make up around 13% of the whole Singapore stock exchange.
Effectively, this makes the REIT industry in Singapore the largest REIT market in Asia (excluding Japan) and is increasingly becoming an international REIT hub.
4 reasons why I invest in S-REITs
#1 Earn attractive dividend yield at low volatility
Generally, one of the main reasons why S-REITs are favoured by investors is due to its higher-than-average dividend yield.
Based on the latest 12-month yield (as of July 2022), S-REITs generate an average dividend yield of 6.3% ā which is higher than Singaporeās key Straits Times Index (STI) and government bond respectively.
In addition, investors are able to enjoy these attractive dividend yields at relatively low volatility.
When compared to major global markets, both S-REIT indices (which represent the performance of S-REITs) have been able to produce competitive yield at significantly lower volatility:
#2 Grow your passive income in SGD
Investing in S-REITs is also a great way for investors to grow a dividend income stream in SGD.
From RM2.25 to RM3.20, MYR has lost value against the SGD in the past decade. As such, investing in S-REITs can be an attractive move, especially for dividend investors looking to protect themselves against a weakening currency.
#3 Competitive overall growth
In addition to dividend yield, S-REITs have been producing a decent long-term total return relative to other REIT markets globally.
From the comparison below, the FTSE ST REIT Index (which reflects the average performance of S-REITs) delivered a 5-year total return of 69% (2017 ā 2021). This means it outperformed key REIT markets from Australia (ASX), Japan (TSE), and the US.
In a challenging 2022, S-REITs continued to display low volatility compared to other markets:
#4 Global exposure to quality real estate & sector diversification
The S-REIT market also allows investors to have a very respectable exposure to the global real estate scene.
To be precise, over 85% of S-REITs own and/or manage properties outside Singapore.
In addition, within the S-REIT industry itself, there are REITs that focus on various business sectors. As an example:
- Retail REITs: Mapletree Pan-Asia Commercial Trust (SGX: N2IU) owns Vivocity, the biggest mall in Singapore; CapitaLand China Trust (SGX: AU8U) mainly owns malls in Tier 1 cities in China (eg. Beijing).
- Specialized REITs: Keppel DC REIT (SGX: AJBU) owns data centers around the globe.
- Office REITs: Manulife US Trust (SGX: BT0U) owns office buildings in the US.
- Industrial REITs: Ascendas REIT (SGX: A17U) owns logistics and industrial properties in Singapore, UK, Australia, and more.
- Aside from that, there are also Healthcare, Hospitality, Residential and Diversified REITs as well. For more details on different S-REITs, click HERE.
All in all, as an international REIT hub, S-REITs allow investors exposure to quality global real estate, with the option to diversify their REIT investments across different sectors ā neat!
READ MORE: 6 different REITs and their pros & cons
How to invest + Best performing S-REITs & S-REIT ETFs
There are 2 main ways you can invest in S-REITs:
Method 1: Invest in individual S-REITs
The first way to invest in S-REITs is by investing directly in individual S-REITs listed on the Singapore stock exchange (SGX).
Below are the best-performing S-REITs based on the 3-year annualized total return for your reference (Source: SGX, as of August 2022):
-
Parkway Life REIT (SGX: C2PU)
-
- 3y Annualized Return: 20%
- Dividend Yield: 3.0%
- Parkway Life REIT is a healthcare S-REIT that owns & manages 56 healthcare facilities (eg. hospitals & nursing homes) mainly in Singapore & Japan.
-
Frasers Logistics & Commercial Trust (SGX: BUOU)
- 3y Annualized Return: 12.7%
- Dividend Yield: 5.4%
- Frasers Logistics & Commercial Trust is a diversified S-REIT that owns more than 100 industrial & commercial properties (e.g. Warehouses, factories, offices) across five major developed markets ā Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and the Netherlands.
-
Mapletree Industrial Trust (SGX: ME8U)
- 3y Annualized Return: 11%
- Dividend Yield: 5.1%
- Mapletree Industrial Trust is an industrial S-REIT that owns industrial properties and data centres in Singapore & the US.
Method 2: Invest in REIT ETFs listed in Singapore
The 2nd way to invest in S-REIT is by investing in REIT Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) listed on the Singapore stock exchange (SGX).
S-REIT ETFs allow investors to gain exposure to a basket of Singapore and/or global REITs.
An S-REIT ETF is a great choice for investors that seek diversified REIT exposure and do not want the hassle of managing a portfolio of individual REITs.
Below are 5 SREIT ETFs listed on the SGX (Source: SGX, as of August 2022).
For your reference, Iāve also covered all S-REIT ETFs in detail in a separate post, which you can check outĀ below:
LEARN MORE: How to choose the best S-REIT ETFs for dividend income!Ā
-
Phillip SGX APAC Dividend Leaders REIT ETF (SGD: BYJ | USD: BYI)
12-Month Dividend Yield: 3.47%Ā
The Phillip SGX APAC Dividend Leaders REIT ETF is an ETF that tracks the iEdge APAC ex Japan Dividend Leaders REIT Index.
It reflects the 30 highest dividend-paying REITs in the Asia Pacific.
-
NikkoAM-StraitsTrading Asia Ex Japan REIT ETF (SGD: CFA | USD: COI)
12-Month Dividend Yield: 4.74%Ā
NikkoAM-StraitsTrading Asia Ex Japan REIT ETF is an ETF that tracks the FTSE EPRA Nareit Asia ex Japan REITs 10% Capped Index.
It tracks the performance of qualifying REITs from China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand.
-
Lion-Phillip S-REIT ETF (SGD: CLR)
12-Month Dividend Yield: 4.86%Ā
The Lion-Phillip S-REIT ETF is an ETF that tracks the Morningstar Singapore REIT Yield Focus Index.
It is an index that invests purely in high-quality Singapore REITs (S-REITs) screened by Morningstar.
-
CSOP iEdge S-REIT Leaders Index ETF (SGD: SRT | USD: SRU)
12-Month Dividend Yield: 4.75%Ā
CSOP iEdge S-REIT Leaders Index ETF is a S-REIT ETF that tracks the iEdge S-REIT Leaders Index.
It tracks the performance of the largest and most liquid REITs listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX).
-
UOB APAC Green REIT ETF (SGD: GRN | USD: GRE)
12-Month Dividend Yield: 4.06%Ā
The UOB APAC Green REIT ETF mirrors the iEdge-UOB APAC Yield Focus Green REIT index, which aims to allow investors to invest in environmentally-friendly REITs.
Risks of investing in S-REITs
Risk #1: Interest Rate Risk
Since REITs distribute over 90% of their income as dividends to investors, most REITs will usually take up loans to finance their property acquisitions.
As such, REITs are generally sensitive to interest rate fluctuation.
Simply put, any rise in interest rates will increase the operating cost of REITs as their interest repayment will become higher.
Risk #2: Subject to market fluctuation
Just like other stocks, the price of REITs is also affected by the overall market fluctuation - though S-REITs are usually less volatile.
Are S-REITs for you?
Investing in S-REITs can be a solid choice if:
- You are looking to build a reliable dividend income stream.
- You are seeking to diversify your stock portfolio to assets that are less volatile.
- You are looking to expand your dividend portfolio to earn dividends in SGD.
No Money Lah Verdict
So there you have it - an in-depth guide to invest in S-REIT!
I hope this guide has been useful and if you have any questions, feel free to leave your comment in the comment section below!
Disclaimers
Any of the information above is produced with my own best effort and research.Ā
This post is produced purely for sharing purposes and should not be taken as a buy/sell recommendation. Past return is not indicative of future performance. Please seek advice from a licensed financial planner before making any financial decisions.
This post may contain promo code(s) that afford No Money Lah a small amount of commission (and help support the blog) should you sign up through my referral link.
A thought on Social Media & Self-Esteem
I think the major challenge of the parents of our generation is to figure out how to teach our kids to not take social media too seriously, and how to not let social media influence their ego and self-esteem.
And most importantly, how to build confidence without having to rely on social media for self-validation.
Back then, I studied in a high school full of kids from really wealthy family backgrounds (children of big figures, business person, etc).
Funnily, I'm not aware of most of them until many years later via social media.
Aside from the fact that my peers are really well-taught & low profile with their backgrounds, I think a big part is social media was still really new back then.
Looking back, I'm grateful that my teenage years are pretty much clear from the social media scene that we living in today.
As a kid from the M40 group, I could make friends with anyone without feeling overwhelmed by the differences in our backgrounds. And there's less pressure trying to catch/copy the latest material stuff & trends, and instead allowing my curiosity to prosper.
I think the major challenge of the parents of our generation is to figure out how to teach our kids to not take social media too seriously, and how to not let social media influence their ego and self-esteem.
And most importantly, how to build confidence without having to rely on social media for self-validation.
Gonna be a tricky hurdle given how even we, supposedly mature adults, are equally influenced by social media anxiety as well, don't you think?
Why figuring out what's important to you in life is so crucial
Knowing what I want also means I can truly be happy for other people's wins in life without being sour.
Why? Because there's no point comparing to someone else's life that you do not see yourself living.
My recent revelation: You gotta spend time thinking about what's important to you.
Knowing your priorities will tone down a lot of the anxieties that we have in our adulthood life.
I spent my 20s figuring out that (i) PEACE of mind + (ii) pursuing my CURIOSITY are things I value A LOT.
For me, peace of mind means I don't rush myself into a relationship just because most of my best friends got engaged/married last year. (9 weddings, no joke)
It also means I don't/stop investing in things that can disturb my mental peace (eg. Properties 
, individual stocks), regardless of what my peers/other Youtubers are doing.
It also means I don't take up financial commitments simply because my peers are doing 'em. (
)
Letting go of FOMO granted me the peace to pursue my genuine curiosity in work and life - be it the market, learning about love/relationship, traveling, and more without feeling guilty or I'm 'later' in my adulthood life than the peers around me.
Finally, knowing what I want also means I can truly be happy for other people's wins in life without being sour.
Why? Because there's no point comparing to someone else's life that you do not see yourself living.
Life's more fruitful and less overwhelming when there are clear priorities, cheers.