Financial Horse - Singapore Stock and REIT Investments 🐴

If you died tomorrow, can your family actually run your portfolio? The one-page plan + 5 documents to leave behindOkay so this one is by popular demand.At the end of the brokerage account article, I asked whether there was interest in a piece on how to leave behind a portfolio your spouse/kids can actually run.A LOT of you said yes.So I decided to sit down to answer the question properly — if I died tomorrow, could my family actually take over my portfolio?https://financialhorse.com/if-you-died-tomorrow-can-your-family-actually-run-your-portfolio-the-one-page-plan-5-documents-to-leave-behind/

If you had to name the trade of 2026 so far, it wouldn’t be AI.It would be Singapore.The STI is sitting at an all-time high of around 5,500, up a whopping 32% over the past 12 months. The Singapore dollar is one of the strongest currencies in the world right now, and money has been flowing into Singapore assets as a safe haven amid everything going on in the Middle East.So it’s no surprise that Lion Global Investors – the asset management arm of the OCBC group – is offering investors a broader range of funds focused on Singapore assets: the LionGlobal Signature Singapore Suite. The suite covers everything from money market funds to Singapore equities to physical gold vaulted in Singapore.https://financialhorse.com/sti-at-all-time-highs-gold-down-26-from-the-peak-should-you-buy-the-lionglobal-signature-singapore-suite/

The money lessons children remember are usually not taught in a lecture.They are learned in the supermarket, at the dining table, through pocket money, through work, and through watching how adults behave when money is tight or tempting.https://financialhorse.com/the-most-important-lessons-to-teach-your-kids-about-money/

AI stocks crash 58% in 1 month, while oil soars 30% – How would I invest $1 million today?Well, what a week.Or rather, what a month.As recently as late June, AI stocks were in full blown “bubble” mode.And then in the span of 1 month – big name AI stocks like SK Hynix and Sandisk fell more than 50%.And this week we had news that Leopold Aschenbrenner’s Situational Awareness AI fund was fully liquidated and bought out by Citadel.Which sparked a massive 20% rally in many AI stocks on the day.All while the US-Iran war is back in full swing, and Oil price has soared 30% in a month.So… with all that is going on.How would I invest $1 million in today’s climate?https://financialhorse.com/ai-stocks-crash-58-in-1-month-while-oil-soars-30-how-would-i-invest-1-million-today/

You die with S$500,000 in your brokerage account – How long before your family sees the money? Can you give your password to your spouse?Okay so quite a few of you asked me this after the estate tax article.The 40% US estate tax is one problem.But it turns out there is a second problem almost nobody talks about — the mechanics.Who actually unlocks your brokerage account when you die, what documents do they need, and how long does the money stay frozen?And… can you save yourself all the hassle and just give your brokerage password to your loved ones, so they can sell your stocks and transfer it out themselves?So I sat down and worked out what would actually happen to my own accounts if I died tomorrow.The answer was… not straightforward.In this article, I’ll cover:1. What actually happens to your brokerage account (IBKR, moomoo, Tiger, the robos, CDP) when you die2. How long your family waits before they can touch the money3. Whether “just give your spouse the password” actually workshttps://financialhorse.com/you-die-with-s500000-in-your-brokerage-account-how-long-before-your-family-sees-the-money-can-you-give-your-password-to-your-spouse/

Has the AI Bubble Burst? Will the Iran war cause a market crash? And why I sold my REITs?Okay so I wrote a variant of this article for FH Premium subscribers earlier this week.But a lot of you have been asking for my thoughts on AI and the Iran war.So I wanted to release this FH Premium article, with some edits, so that you guys know my latest thoughts on the issue.3 topics I want to discuss:1. Has the AI bubble burst?2. Will the Iran war cause a market crash?3. Why I sold some of my REITs?https://financialhorse.com/has-the-ai-bubble-burst-will-the-iran-war-cause-a-market-crash-and-why-i-sold-my-reits/

The Crazy Prices Behind the World’s Most Expensive DrinksThere is expensive, and then there is I just bought a drink worth a house expensive.What makes a drink worth a fortune?https://financialhorse.com/the-crazy-prices-behind-the-worlds-most-expensive-drinks/

Is $2.5 Million Enough to Retire in Singapore? Why the 4% Withdrawal Rule may Fail youThe 4% rule says you can withdraw 4% of your retirement portfolio in the first year, then adjust that amount for inflation each year, with a reasonable chance it lasts about 30 years.Which basically means that if your annual spending needs are $100,000 today, and you have a $2.5 million portfolio – that is enough to last you 30 years.So quite a few of you have asked me whether the 4% rule actually works if you plan to retire in Singapore.It’s a fair question, because almost everything ever written about safe withdrawal rates is American research, built on American market data, for American retirees.In Singapore, the situation could not be more different.So in this article, I wanted to answer 3 questions:1. Does the 4% rule actually work outside the US?2. What do Singapore’s structural advantages — CPF LIFE, zero capital gains tax, healthcare — actually add?3. What withdrawal rate should a Singapore investor actually plan around?And I’ll say it upfront — the answer is not 4% (in my view).https://financialhorse.com/is-2-5-million-enough-to-retire-in-singapore-why-the-4-withdrawal-rule-may-fail-you/

6 common myths about mortgages in Singapore — what home buyers often misshttps://financialhorse.com/6-common-myths-about-mortgages-in-singapore-what-home-buyers-often-miss/

Singapore’s average wealth hits S$680,000 — but the median is just S$123,000. What’s going on?So UBS released its Global Wealth Report 2026 on 30 June 2026.And the headline that’s been everywhere: the average Singaporean adult is worth US$527,217 — roughly S$682,000.But the number nobody is talking about is the median.The median Singaporean adult is worth US$96,434 — roughly S$125,000 — which ranks just 20th globally.While Singapore now ranks 6th among the 56 markets UBS tracks for average wealth per adult.In plain English, the “average” Singaporean is 5.5x richer than the “typical” Singaporean.Earlier this year I wrote a full piece on what a good net worth in Singapore looks like using the older UBS data, so think of this as the 2026 update — and a closer look at why the headline and the typical Singaporean’s reality are so far apart.Let’s dive in.https://financialhorse.com/singapores-average-wealth-hits-us527000-but-the-median-is-just-us96000-whats-going-on-ubs-global-wealth-report-2026/

UOB shares jump 10% in 1 week to record highs — Is the cheapest Singapore bank finally catching up to DBS and OCBC?Okay so quite a few of you have asked me about UOB this week.And I get why.UOB’s share price jumped almost 10% in 1 week, including a 4.7% gain in a single session — without any earnings result.For a stock I bought in the low S$33s when everyone hated it, this has been a satisfying ride.But all-time highs force a decision.Is UOB — still the cheapest of the 3 Singapore banks — finally catching up to DBS and OCBC?Or is this a momentum move that changes nothing about why UOB trades at a discount in the first place?In plain English — should I buy more UOB at S$44, or stick with OCBC and DBS?I want to cover 3 things:1. Why all 3 Singapore banks rallied this week?2. Whether UOB’s valuation discount is justified?3. What I am doing with my UOB position today?https://financialhorse.com/uob-shares-jump-10-in-1-week-to-record-highs-is-the-cheapest-singapore-bank-finally-catching-up-to-dbs-and-ocbc/

Most retirees do not look back and regret one bad stock pick.They regret the things they did not prepare for: rising costs, longer lifespans, healthcare bills, and how hard it can be to turn savings into steady income.https://financialhorse.com/what-retirees-regret-most-about-money-in-singapore/

Die holding US Stocks and pay 40% tax? — What Singapore investors need to know about US inheritance / estate taxImagine a Singapore investor who dies holding S$1.5 million of US stocks in a brokerage account.Their family expects to inherit S$1.5 million.The IRS can take more than S$500,000 of it first.Singapore abolished estate duty in 2008, so most of us assume death is tax-free.On the Singapore side, it is.The trap is on the US side — and it lands squarely on the assets most of us hold the most of, US stocks and US-listed ETFs.https://financialhorse.com/die-holding-us-stocks-and-pay-40-tax-what-singapore-investors-need-to-know-about-us-inheritance-estate-tax/

My 3 Biggest Investment Mistakes in 2026 (so far) — and what were my investment returns for the year?Okay, I’ve had feedback from readers that you enjoy my yearly debriefs.So I figured: why not do a half-yearly version?For the first 6 months of 2026, what were my investment returns? And more importantly — what were my 3 biggest investment mistakes?https://financialhorse.com/my-3-biggest-investment-mistakes-in-2026-so-far-and-what-were-my-investment-returns-for-the-year/

The New Retirement Risk in Singapore: Living Long, But Needing CareSingaporeans are living longer.That is good news.But it also changes the retirement question.According to a recent study, only 15% expect to rely on children for financial support.https://financialhorse.com/the-new-retirement-risk-in-singapore-living-long-but-needing-care/

Gentle Reminder: Why you should put S$1 into SRS before 1 July — Before the Retirement Age rises to 64On 1 July 2026, Singapore’s statutory retirement age increases from 63 to 64.Your SRS withdrawal age – the age at which you can access your SRS savings without penalty – is fixed at the statutory retirement age prevailing at the time of your first contribution.From 1 July 2026, that age becomes 64.In plain English – if you open an SRS account and contribute a minimum of S$1 by 30 June 2026, you lock in the current withdrawal age of 63 – for life.That gives you penalty-free access to your SRS savings a full year earlier, regardless of when you actually start contributing in earnest.For $1, I think that’s a no brainer.In this article, I wanted to discuss how the SRS works, why the withdrawal age lock-in matters, and why I think the S$1 top-up before the deadline is worth doing even if you have no immediate plans to use the SRS.https://financialhorse.com/why-you-should-put-s1-into-srs-before-1-july-before-the-retirement-age-rises-to-64/

Where is the Best Place to Park Cash for Yield Today? — T-Bills at 1.47%, Fixed Deposits up to 1.60%, and why interest rates have stopped falling (July 2026)Earlier this year, the story for cash was straightforward. Interest rates were falling, and the only real question was how quickly they would drop.All that has changed.The conflict in the Middle East has pushed oil and inflation higher and the Federal Reserve has shifted from cutting rates to signalling that its next move could be a hike.For Singapore savers, the practical consequence is simple: cash yields have stopped falling, and may start rising going forward.The 6-month T-bill has bounced off its lows, and the best fixed deposits have actually gone up since February.So this is a good time to revisit the question — where is the best place to park cash for yield today?https://financialhorse.com/where-is-the-best-place-to-park-cash-for-yield-today-t-bills-at-1-47-fixed-deposits-up-to-1-60-and-why-interest-rates-have-stopped-falling-july-2026/

Gold and Bitcoin have crashed 50% – Is this the buying opportunity we’ve been waiting for?Remember when Gold / Silver were all the rage back in January 2026, and there were queues outside shops to buy bullion?Well, in hindsight that should have been a big red flag, because since then gold is down almost 30%, and silver is down 52%.And if you thought gold was bad – it’s absolute carnage for Bitcoin, down >50% from highs.That said, remember the Buffet quote about buying when there is blood in the streets?So I wanted to to talk a closer look at Gold and Bitcoin, to discuss why both have been performing so poorly, and whether it is a good time to buy.https://financialhorse.com/gold-and-bitcoin-have-crashed-50-is-this-the-buying-opportunity-weve-been-waiting-for/

For those who have been asking — Financial Horse is now on WhatsApp too!Follow the FH WhatsApp Channel for the latest posts, market updates and new articles, all in one place.https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6tFwhFi8xbf2EFU60e

The hardest part of investing is rarely just finding the right stock. It is managing the person making the decision.https://financialhorse.com/the-investor-you-need-to-understand-best-is-yourself/

Iran war is “over” – How would I invest $1 million today for the recovery? Buy bank stocks, AI, REITs?Well, in case you missed it – the Iran war is “over”.For stock markets, the Iran war being “over” has been all but priced in since Trump chickened out in early April.But this week, with the signing of the MOU, oil markets finally got the memo.And yet because oil price has been high for so long, markets have shifted from pricing in rate cuts at the start of the year, to now pricing in rate hikes.With big implications for markets.So… with all that is in play, how would I invest $1 million today?It’s been ages since I’ve done a no holds barred macro piece tying into how to invest my own portfolio.Exactly what I wanted to do today.https://financialhorse.com/iran-war-is-over-how-would-i-invest-1-million-today-for-the-recovery-buy-bank-stocks-ai-reits/

Overspending usually isn’t one huge mistake.It’s small, frequent spending that quietly grows until it destroys your financial goals.https://financialhorse.com/where-did-my-money-go-5-signs-youre-overspending-and-how-to-fix-it/

Why you should put S$1 into SRS before 1 July — Before the Retirement Age rises to 64On 1 July 2026, Singapore’s statutory retirement age increases from 63 to 64.Your SRS withdrawal age – the age at which you can access your SRS savings without penalty – is fixed at the statutory retirement age prevailing at the time of your first contribution.From 1 July 2026, that age becomes 64.In plain English – if you open an SRS account and contribute a minimum of S$1 by 30 June 2026, you lock in the current withdrawal age of 63 – for life.That gives you penalty-free access to your SRS savings a full year earlier, regardless of when you actually start contributing in earnest.For $1, I think that’s a no brainer.In this article, I wanted to discuss how the SRS works, why the withdrawal age lock-in matters, and why I think the S$1 top-up before the deadline is worth doing even if you have no immediate plans to use the SRS.https://financialhorse.com/why-you-should-put-s1-into-srs-before-1-july-before-the-retirement-age-rises-to-64/

Most investors don’t lose money from one big, dramatic mistake.They bleed out from a few “small” mistakes that can compound into tragedy.Here are three of the deadliest ones, and how to avoid themhttps://financialhorse.com/3-small-but-deadly-investing-mistakes-you-dont-want-to-make/

SGX shares Doubled in 2 years — Better buy than DBS Bank today?Singapore Exchange (SGX) shares are absolutely on fire.This stock has more than doubled over the past 2 years – outperforming even DBS Bank.Some of you have asked me for my views on SGX stock.So I wanted to take a closer look in today’s article.Is SGX a better buy than DBS Bank?https://financialhorse.com/sgx-shares-doubled-in-2-years-better-buy-than-dbs-bank-today/

Best Luxury Concierge Services in SingaporeTop-end concierge services in Singapore broadly falls into three buckets: credit-card concierge, stand-alone luxury concierge clubs, and digital app-based concierge.https://financialhorse.com/best-luxury-concierge-services-in-singapore-2025/

Why is OCBC share price beating DBS and UOB Bank in 2026? Which is the best bank stock to buy today?In this week’s FH Premium article, I shared my views on whether bank stocks or REITs are a better buy today.Banks are the strong momentum play, while REITs are the mean reversion play.This led to a great question from a subscriber:Amongst the three banks, which one would be the most interesting buy right now based on your analysis? If you were to add more. Thank you.So I wanted to take a closer look at the 3 bank stocks.https://financialhorse.com/why-is-ocbc-share-price-beating-dbs-and-uob-bank-in-2026-which-is-the-best-bank-stock-to-buy-today/

One afternoon in 1988, Cher was rehearsing in a Los Angeles recording studio when a man with wild hair, a stern face, and biker gear showed up.His name was Richard Stark.And he had a strange idea: motorcycle gear did not have to be cheap, flimsy, or disposable. It could be heavy, overbuilt, beautiful, expensive, and dangerous-looking at the same time.That idea became Chrome Hearts.https://financialhorse.com/why-is-chrome-hearts-so-expensive-inside-fashions-weirdest-luxury-empire/

How will I invest in 2026 – With the S&P500 at all time highs and AI stocks going parabolic?In the weekend portfolio and macro update, I shared that after the huge rally, the S&P500 looks overbought here.The RSI sits at 70 – the last time the S&P500 was this overbought was mid 2024 and 2025, both of which were followed by mild corrections (but no trend break).Meanwhile AI stocks are going parabolic, with names like Micron going up double digit percentage day after day.So how would I invest my money in a climate like that?I wanted to use this article to share some big picture thoughts.https://financialhorse.com/how-will-i-invest-in-2026-with-the-sp500-at-all-time-highs-and-ai-stocks-going-parabolic/

Singapore couples are marrying later and making big money choices earlier.It’s not uncommon to hear a proposal that begins with “Will you BTO with me?”.So what’s changing in how couples earn, spend, and plan their money in Singapore today? Let’s look at the most interesting shifts.https://financialhorse.com/will-you-bto-with-me-what-singapore-couples-are-doing-differently-now-with-marriage-and-finances/