This post was originally shared in my DT Email Newsletter here.
That’s what readers have asked me over the years. The thing is, my burnt out in the banking industry pushed me out of a six years corporate career.Â
I was uncomfortable with the rigid structure and politics of the industry. Along the way, I made a bit of money. And this allowed me to quit my job.Â
But what was crucial were also these:Â
- Aggressive (like serious) savings
- Grow salary income in my 20s
- Learnt/read up investing
- Built network of like-minded investors
- Get great stock ideas (fuel for $growth)
Of all these, I’ll tell you what was toughest: trying to save up as much as I could. Because as your salary grows, the need to spend even more increases. It’s just human behaviour.
And yes, like what John Bogle said: “The two greatest enemies of an investor are expenses and emotions.â€
Look I’ve nothing against material success. But I also believe there’s always a cap to how much money we make in a job.
Once you hit your “peak salaryâ€, have managed a certain living cost, the next best thing is simply to take the money out and put it into the stock market – whether you want to buy an index fund, an ETF, a stock or a bond. Find ways to let the money grow for you.
Because in Singapore, the harsh truth is we have a lifespan. Put it this way, if we aren’t senior managing directors of a bank, or C-Suites of a corporation, one day someone much younger, or even AI as we speak can replace us before we even know it.
Now, most of us aren’t Warren Buffett or born with a silver spoon. I’m not. But we can be average investors like Ronald Read and Anne Scheiber in our own world.Â
That means, while there’s really nothing wrong working for someone, what’s more important is knowing that building wealth isn’t just relying on a single paycheck – it’s also building income on the side.
I found this concept the most logical for me at an early age, especially in a place like Singapore.
That’s how I got started working toward that goal, growing from my first $10,000 and then beyond.
What do you think about growing wealth? Hit “reply†in the email and let me know!
Sometimes, investing can be simple.
Willie Keng, CFA
Founder, Dividend Titan
The post “How did you find the courage to quit?†appeared first on Dividend Titan.
