The typical response I will get when I shared that my daughter is in P6 this year is, “PSLE year hor, stress or not?” To be honest, I think the stress started when she was in P5. Being in a privileged school, where exceptional preparation is the norm, the heat is turned up then, just like our current weather! It was all good as she is a motivated student and she always will do her best even in her least favorite subject, the dreaded Science. She will have her down moments when she is reluctant to revise Science as it seems like it is an insurmountable task. So as a dutiful mom, I will always spend time with her and cheer her on; eventually, she will find the zeal to start hitting the books again. Then came this April/May, where we know more than half the race is completed as PSLE starts in August with the oral examinations. And suddenly my girl hit a plateau, she lost her motivation to study ☹ Frankly I was taken aback, what happened? After a while, it dawned on me; that my daughter is feeling fatigued from studying. After all, her race to PSLE started in early 2021, and she has been running this race for more than 1.5 years, like a marathon. Truly life is a marathon. Similarly, the investing journey to me is also like a marathon, never a shuttle race. So what is one supposed to do when they hit a plateau when investing? What happens when we feel like we are stuck in a rut? How do we get out of the plateau?
I never believe one can continue to run at a fast pace for an extended period. We as humans should learn to rest and recalibrate at different junctions. With rest, one’s mind is clearer and less cluttered; often than not, we remember why we do what we do.
Why did you start investing? I like to believe there is a bigger purpose and it is not just done under impulse. Given the present volatility in the market, both equities and bonds are down, this is not for the fainted-hearted. Yet if one is clear about their goals and continues to focus on their objectives (be it wealth accumulation/retirement/other specific goals), this is one of the best time to actively do dollar cost averaging and take advantage of the lower prices and grow one’s portfolio. Time in the market always will reward us.
We should never be alone, and I find that when we can be with people who also shared similar values and goals in our investing journey, it helps to spur us to continue to reach a higher level and not give up when the results are not evident. May I invite you to join the Financial Alliance telegram where you can get regular doses of useful articles? This is made of a community of people who want to grow in their investing journey, and who want to better manage their resources.
Borrowing the words from Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, set your own path, think about what you want to achieve, and go for it with all your heart. I wish you well in your investing journey, and for those whose children are taking PSLE soon, I wish them added wisdom and strength as they finish this last lap. Jia you!
Important: The information and opinions in this article are for general information purposes only. They should not be relied on as professional financial advice. Readers should seek independent financial advice that is customised to their specific financial objectives, situations & needs. This advertisement or publication has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
