TLDR;
This video is about the creator's nine-year investment journey, detailing his portfolio, financial gains, and lessons learned. He shares his initial investments, the evolution of his strategy, and his current portfolio allocation, with a focus on Chinese stocks. He emphasizes the importance of consistency, conviction, and faith in one's investment strategy, while also addressing the criticisms and challenges he faced along the way.
- Portfolio value sits at roughly $291,000
- Initial capital injected is roughly $198,000
- Chinese stocks make up more than 60% of his portfolio
Introduction: Investment Journey Overview [0:00]
The creator introduces his investment journey of about nine years, during which he will break down his portfolio, show his investments, and share his financial and mental gains from the stock market. He emphasizes that he is not providing financial advice and encourages viewers to do their own research. He discloses his portfolio value is approximately $291,000, with an initial capital contribution of around $198,000. Had he invested in the S&P 500, it would be worth $279,000.
Early Investment Experiences and Influences [2:14]
The creator explains why he's sharing his investment journey, aiming to push the conversation forward in Asia, where financial discussions are not always open. His journey began in 2016 at age 18, influenced by his father's emphasis on passive income through owning real businesses. He invested his accumulated red packet money from Chinese New Year, roughly $5,000 to $10,000, into an oil and gas company called Cappo Corporation based on his father's suggestion. His father covered any potential capital losses while he kept the dividends, making it a risk-free proposition for his 18-year-old self.
Sponsor Message: Longbridge Promotion [4:25]
The creator promotes Longbridge Singapore, a MAS licensed broker, offering free Nvidia shares for new users who sign up with his link and deposit $2,000 Singapore dollars. The promotion includes a 6% per annum interest boost on the first $2,000 for 90 days, an $18 cash coupon for signing up and depositing, and half an Nvidia share for holding funds for 30 days and completing three buy trades. This amounts to about $178 in value on a $2,000 deposit, plus lifetime commission-free trading for US, Hong Kong, and Singapore stocks.
National Service, Further Education, and Portfolio Development [5:50]
The creator shares that Cappo was trading at $5-$6 per share, and his purchase wiped out most of his net worth at 18, though he received dividends. During his national service from 2017 to 2019, he studied economics and markets extensively, developing a value-oriented mindset. He saved aggressively due to covered meals and lodging, building a war chest of 20,000 Singapore dollars, which he then used to buy 1,000 shares of DBS Bank. He later pursued a finance degree from 2019 to 2023, taking on part-time jobs and internships, and started his YouTube channel in 2021.
Current Portfolio Breakdown and Performance [8:41]
The creator discusses his current portfolio, which he started tracking more seriously in December 2020 when low-cost brokers entered the Singapore market. He exited his early Singapore picks, Kappo and DBS Bank, around the end of 2020, roughly at breakeven, to manage his own money. He breaks down his portfolio across different platforms, from the smallest to the largest, including Alibaba and other holdings, detailing the market value and gains in each account.
Portfolio Tracking and Investment Style [11:07]
The creator explains why he religiously tracks his accounts, citing personal momentum and accountability as key reasons. He shares an AI-generated summary of his investment style. He emphasizes that tracking helps him stay consistent and provides a visual feedback loop. It also measures his stock-picking performance against benchmarks, ensuring he adds value after fees and FX.
Challenges and Convictions in Investing [12:37]
The creator discusses the challenges he faced for being bullish on Chinese stocks, which make up over 60% of his portfolio. He was ridiculed for his positions being down 50% in 2022. However, recent rallies have allowed his portfolio to catch up with the S&P 500 on a money-weighted basis over the last four and a half years. He highlights the importance of consistency, sticking to a process, and riding out drawdowns.
Portedo and Investment Performance Analysis [13:23]
The creator uses Portedo to mirror his exact cash flow timing and assess his investment performance against benchmarks. He appreciates Portedo's ability to provide a fair comparison of capital allocation skill. He notes that his biggest deployments occurred during volatility and cheaper valuations, resulting in higher money-weighted returns. He encourages viewers to try Portedo with a 14-day free trial via his affiliate link.
Consistency, Faith, and Opportunity Costs [15:34]
The creator reflects on the scrutiny he faced and the importance of community and accountability. He emphasizes the need for faith in one's investment strategy and thinking, not blind belief, but a willingness to stick with a process across different cycles. He critiques the use of "opportunity cost" in investing, arguing that it relies on hindsight bias and ignores the probabilities and unknown pathways in the markets. He stresses the importance of assessing decisions based on the information available at the time, not by today's stock charts.
Diversification and Final Thoughts [19:28]
The creator shares his thoughts on diversification, suggesting that it may be less meaningful when young with a small capital base. He believes the goal should be to accumulate capital quickly to reach a point where not diversifying feels uncomfortable. He concludes by thanking viewers and expressing hope to see them on the moon, signifying financial success.