The Singapore Investor's Handbook: Navigating The Investment Landscape

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Introduction
#1 Understanding The Basics Of Investing
#2 Setting Your Financial Goals
#3 Key Investment Options
#4 Way To Invest
#5 Risk Management & Common Mistakes to Avoid
#6 Bonus Resources

Welcome to the world of investing! If you’re here, you’ve already taken the first step toward securing your financial future. Investing can feel overwhelming at first—with all the jargon, risks, and endless options—but don’t worry, this guide is here to make things simple.

Think of this guide as your roadmap. We’ll break down the essentials: why investing matters, the different ways you can invest right here in Singapore, and how to build a portfolio that suits your goals and risk appetite.

When I first started learning about investing, I found myself drowning in information. There was too much noise, and it took me a long time to piece everything together. That’s exactly why I created this guide—to give you a clear, structured starting point so you can fast-track your journey to becoming a confident investor.

Let’s get started and unlock the power of smart investing!

Imagine you have S$1,000 sitting in a bank account earning a measly 0.05% interest per year. After a decade, you'd barely have earned enough to buy a decent meal! Now, consider if you invested that S$1,000 wisely, achieving an average annual return of, say, 7%. Over the same decade, your investment could grow significantly, thanks to the magic of compounding.

Compounding, in simple terms, is earning returns on your returns. It's like a snowball rolling down a hill – it starts small, but as it gathers more snow (returns), it grows exponentially larger. This is the engine that drives long-term wealth creation.

Another compelling reason to invest is to combat inflation. Inflation is the rate at which the prices of goods and services rise over time. This means that the same amount of money buys less in the future. For example, that plate of chicken rice that costs S$4.50 today might cost S$7.00 in a few years. If your money isn't growing at least as fast as inflation, you're effectively losing purchasing power.

Investing, therefore, is not just about getting richer; it's about preserving and growing your wealth to maintain your standard of living in the face of rising costs.

Take a moment to envision your future. What do you want to achieve financially? Break down your aspirations into different time horizons:

Short-Term Goals (1-3 years): These are your immediate needs and desires.

Building an emergency fund (3-6 months of living expenses). This is your financial safety net, protecting you from unexpected job loss, medical emergencies, or car repairs.
Saving for a dream vacation to Bali or a weekend getaway to a nearby island.
Putting a down payment on a car to ease your daily commute.

Medium-Term Goals (3-10 years): These are your significant life milestones and aspirations.

Saving for the down payment on a home. Owning your own property is a major goal for many Singaporeans.
Funding your wedding and starting a family.
Paying for your children's education, ensuring they have the best possible start in life.

Long-Term Goals (10+ years): These are your grand ambitions and legacy plans.

Securing a comfortable retirement, allowing you to enjoy your golden years without financial worries.
Building wealth to achieve financial independence, giving you the freedom to pursue your passions.
Leaving a legacy for your loved ones, ensuring their financial security for generations to come.

Example: A Singaporean's Goal Setting

Let's say you're a 30-year-old working professional in Singapore. Here's how you might break down your financial goals:

Short-Term: Build an emergency fund of S$20,000 within 2 years.
Medium-Term: Save S$100,000 for a down payment on a HDB flat in 5 years.
Long-Term: Accumulate S$1.5 million for retirement by age 60.

Write it Down!

The act of writing down your goals makes them more tangible and increases your commitment to achieving them. Be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART goals).

SSBs are designed for individual investors seeking a low-risk, flexible investment option. Key features include:

Principal Protection: Your initial investment is fully guaranteed by the government.
Flexibility: Investors can redeem their SSBs at any time without penalties, though accrued interest is paid only up to the redemption date.
Step-Up Interest Rates: Interest rates increase the longer you hold the bond, incentivizing long-term investment.

For example, as of March 2025, SSBs offer a competitive 10-year average interest rate of 2.85%, surpassing the current 10-year SGS bond rate of 2.74%. With a minimum investment of just S$500 and a maximum cap of S$200,000 across all tranches.

T-bills are short-term securities with tenors of 6 months or 1 year. They are issued at a discount to their face value, with investors receiving the full face value upon maturity. For instance, a 6-month T-bill with a 3.8% yield would cost S$981.05 for a face value of S$1,000. In other words, you will need to place in S$981.05. At the end of the maturity date, in this case 6 months, you will receive S$1000.

Key attributes include:
While T-bills offer higher short-term yields compared to SSBs, they lack the same liquidity since early redemption is not possible.

Issuance Frequency: Available fortnightly or quarterly through auctions.
Short-Term Focus: Suitable for parking funds temporarily while earning competitive yields.
Minimum Investment: S$1,000 per tranche.

For those with longer investment horizons, SGS bonds provide fixed coupon payments every six months until maturity. These bonds are available in tenors ranging from 2 to 50 years and can be traded on the secondary market for added liquidity. Their features include:

Fixed Returns: Interest rates remain constant throughout the bond’s life, offering predictable income streams.
Tradability: Investors can sell their bonds before maturity on the secondary market, though prices may fluctuate based on market conditions.
Investment Minimums: Requires at least S$1,000 per tranche.

Fixed deposits are a straightforward savings option offered by banks. You deposit a sum of money for a fixed period, and in return, the bank guarantees a specific interest rate.

They provide a stable interest rate over a set period, making them a dependable choice for short- to medium-term investments. These rates are fixed at the time of deposit and remain unchanged throughout the tenure.

The minimum investment for SSBs is S$500, with a maximum cap of S$200,000 per individual. In contrast, fixed deposits typically require higher minimum placements, ranging from S$1,000 to S$10,000 or more, depending on the bank.

Both FDs and SSBs have their unique benefits:

Fixed Deposits: Offer consistent returns over a predetermined period, suitable for those seeking predictable income. However, fixed deposit rates are typically lower than those of riskier investments, and your money is locked in for the duration of the deposit period, limiting your access to it.

Singapore Savings Bonds: Provide long-term security with gradually increasing returns, ideal for investors looking for flexibility and government-backed assurance.

If you find yourself short on time or lacking the expertise to manage your own investments, mutual funds, also known as unit trusts, offer a professionally managed solution. By pooling money from multiple investors, these funds invest in a diversified portfolio of assets, including stocks and bonds. The management of these funds is entrusted to experienced fund managers who make investment decisions on behalf of the investors.

However, it’s crucial to be aware of the various charges associated with investing in unit trusts, which can impact your overall returns. While there is no defined fee to invest in these funds, these consistent fees paid to fund managers may include a sales charge of about 1-5%, and an annual management fee of approximately 1-2% of the value of investment.

Beyond the upfront sales charge and annual management fees, investors should also be aware of potential platform fees charged by the brokerage or platform through which they invest.

Additionally, it's important to understand that some fees may not be directly charged to the investor but are instead deducted from the net asset value (NAV) of the fund at the end of the year. These indirect fees can include expenses related to the fund's operations and can subtly reduce your returns. Always carefully review the fund's factsheet and prospectus to fully understand all associated costs.

Singapore REITs (or called S-Reits) are listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange and they could be invested in, similar to how stocks work. REITs use investors’ money to buy, operate and manage properties. These properties are then leased out to tenants in return for rent. Thus, REITs investors are entitled to have a share of the rental income from the property assets which are distributed quarterly. Apart from the regular dividend payout, investors also have the chance to benefit from capital gain as the property value increases.

Additionally, because REITs are required by law to redistribute at least 90% of their taxable income each year, a typically investor would get between 5% to 7% a year in dividends on S-Reits.

Hence, if compared to a SSB, it is quite similar as it provides a recurring income, except that S-Reits pays out more frequently and in larger amount.

However, the share price of a REIT can go up and down, just like regular stocks.

ETFs can be visualized as a diverse collection of investments packaged into a single fund, providing instant diversification at a lower cost. In essence, they are investment funds meticulously designed to mirror the performance of a specific index, sector, commodity, or investment strategy. What sets them apart is their trading mechanism – they can be bought and sold on stock exchanges, similar to individual stocks.

To illustrate this further, consider what it means for an ETF to track an index. When an ETF tracks the S&P 500 index, for example, it means that the ETF's holdings are structured to replicate the composition and weighting of the S&P 500. The S&P 500 is an index comprising 500 of the largest publicly traded companies in the United States; so the ETF will hold stocks of those 500 companies, at approximately the same proportions.

As a result, the ETF's performance will closely mirror the overall performance of those 500 companies.

Similarly, an ETF that tracks the Straits Times Index (STI) will hold the top 30 companies listed on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) in similar proportions and therefore reflect the performance of Singapore's leading companies. ETFs are a viable investing option for all investors.

Warren Buffett, one of the top ten richest people in the world, has advised to:

"Put 10% of the cash in short-term government bonds and 90%in a very low-cost S&P index fund. (He suggested Vanguard.) I (Warren) believe the trust's long-term results from this policy will be superior to those attained by most investors —whether pension funds, institutions or individuals —who employ high-fee managers. "

Berkshire Hathaway Inc., 2013 Annual Report. Nebraska. Berkshire Hathaway Inc., 2013. pp. 21-22.

Why would Warren Buffett, a highly successful investor himself, suggest this investment strategy for almost everyone to follow?

To prove his point, he made a $1 million bet in 2008 against hedge funds, challenging them to outperform a low-cost Vanguard S&P 500 Index Fund (VFIAX) over 10 years.

His opponent, Protégé Partners, picked five hedge funds. By 2016, Buffett’s index fund had gained 65.7%, while the hedge funds trailed far behind at 21.9%.

This bet reinforced Buffett’s belief: most investors are better off with low-cost index funds rather than expensive, actively managed funds.

Warren Buffett

Berkshire Hathaway Inc., 2013 Annual Report. Nebraska. Berkshire Hathaway Inc., 2013. pp. 21-22.

Here are some of the benefits of this investment strategy which is a lot more successful than any other strategy available to most investors.

• The average rate of return for a low-cost Vanguard S&P500 Index Fund over the past 15 years, assuming you started in 2010, was 13.87% with dividends reinvested.

• By buying and holding ETFs and Bonds for many years and reinvesting dividends, your investments will increase in size due to the power of compounded interest.

• This method of passive investing in low-cost index funds, keeps fees as low as possible which maximizes your returns.

• You can minimize personal income tax by investing and keeping the stocks years instead of days

• The strategy is easy to implement and very straight-forward making it a simple method to follow.

There are plenty of low-cost S&P 500 index funds out there, and Warren Buffett himself recommends VOO. But what if there are ETFs that can outperform VOO? You can check out our bonus resources at our last page for more.

The stock market is a place where you can buy and sell shares of stock of a publicly listed company.

The size of the Singapore market is measured by market capitalization. This is the total market value of all listed companies in that particular stock market. When compared to the other stock market in the world, Singapore is still very small.

However, this does not limit the amount of money one can earn in the Singapore stock market. Getting listed in the stock market

is another way of getting funding for the companies without having to borrow money outright. When the companies were first initiated into the Singapore stock exchange, they have to go through the Initial Public Offering (IPO) process.

There are many different stock markets in different countries. For example, the stock exchange in Hong Kong is called Hong Kong Exchange, Bursa Malaysia in Malaysia and Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX) in Singapore.

Before you can buy shares listed in the Singapore Exchange, you first need the Central Depository (CDP) securities account. The CDP account is basically a place where it contains all the shares that you bought from the Singapore Exchange.

After which, a brokerage account has to be set up as this would allow you to communicate with the broker, who is a professional individual who executes buy and sell orders on behalf of clients for stocks and other securities in a listed market or over the counter, usually for a fee or commission. It is worth noting that only one CDP account is needed even if you have multiple brokerage account.

The two ways an investors could make money from the Singapore

Exchange are via 1) Capital Appreciation and, 2) Dividend.

Capital appreciation is a rise in the value of an asset based on a rise in market price. It only occurs when the stock you have invested is worth at a higher price than when you first bought it.

On the other hand, dividend is a distribution of a portion of a company’s earnings, decided by the board of directors, paid to its shareholders. Dividends could be paid out as cash or shares of stocks.

Bigger dividend payouts tend to come from blue-chip stocks, which are established companies with history of consistent earnings and dividend payments. Some popular blue-chip stocks in Singapore are DBS bank, Singtel, OCBC to name a few.

Before making the purchase of investment products, it is vital to understand the following in order not to lose money: Income generating assets and Non-income generating assets. An example of an income generating asset would be a property or a good business which generates profit every year.

Hence, if you purchase an investment product that has a history of earning profits, the chances of you losing money is slim. Whereas for a non-income generating asset, it could be a block of gold or a business that is making losses for many years.

Write your awesome label here.

For instance, investing a block of gold might be a non-income generating asset because you can only watch the price go either up or down, and it could become less than what was worth on the day you purchased . At the same time, the block of gold did not generate any additional income along the way. Thus, the chances of you losing money is significantly higher.

Therefore, if you wish to make a purchase of an investment product using your hard earn savings, would you choose an income generating asset or a non-income generating asset?

The amazing part about value investing is that Warren Buffett sees investing as owning wonderful businesses instead of focusing on the stock market or stock prices. And usually, he likes to hunt for wonderful companies that are going on sale in the stock market.

In order to assess if a company is good or not, you will need to get the right knowledge to do this.

Assess

Assessing the business (stock) that we are investing in is important and usually, there are only 2 types of business that we would encounter, good business or bad business. Without a doubt, a good business is more attractive as it allow us to make money from it.

This is the first and also the most crucial point of all, which also requires much effort and knowledge to assess a company.

Buy

After finding out a good business, the next step is to buy.

However, we do not purchase the business (stock) at any price.
For example, if a business (stock) is worth ten dollars, we should not be paying for anything above that. Instead, we only buy them when they are either at or below ten dollars.

Cashing Out

Going back to the example above, this refers to when you purchased the business (stock) at either ten dollars or

below it and then selling it at above ten dollars. The difference between the purchased price and the selling price is called capital appreciation. However, this process do not always occur immediately.
Thus, while waiting for the price to go up, you can collect dividend along the way.

Singapore offers a diverse range of investment options, each with its own risk-reward profile. To build a well-balanced and resilient portfolio, it’s essential to understand these options and choose investments that align with your financial goals and risk tolerance.

For instance, a retiree may prioritize capital preservation and steady income, favoring lower-risk assets, while a younger investor with a longer time horizon may take on more risk for higher potential returns. Here's a table on the performance of each assets:

If you want direct access to the stock market, a brokerage account is your starting point. Think of it as your gateway to buying and selling stocks, ETFs, and REITs. There are numerous brokerage platforms available in Singapore and you can simply do a quick search to find which suits you.

To start investing through a brokerage account, you'll typically need to open a Central Depository (CDP) account, which is used to hold Singapore-listed securities that you purchase.

When selecting a brokerage, consider key factors such as broker fees, commissions, and regulatory compliance to ensure your funds are secure. It's also important to check the range of investment options available—especially if you have specific stocks, ETFs, or REITs in mind.

For those who prefer a hands-off approach, robo-advisors are an option. These platforms use algorithms to create and manage your portfolio based on your financial goals and risk tolerance.

It’s as simple as answering a few questions about your investment preferences. From there, the robo-advisor builds a diversified portfolio and automatically rebalances it over time. Fees are typically lower than those of traditional financial advisors. Examples of popular robo-advisors in Singapore include Syfe, StashAway, and Endowus.

However, it's important to be cautious of the projected returns often presented by robo-advisors. These projections are estimates of potential gains over a certain period and should not be taken as guaranteed returns.

That said, robo-advisors don’t offer the same level of personalization, and you’ll have less control over individual investment choices. If you’re looking to find out more, click here for more information on robo-advisors.

One of the most fundamental principles of risk management is diversification—or as the saying goes, Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Investing all your money in a single asset, stock, or sector is like betting everything on one outcome. If it fails, your entire portfolio suffers.

Instead, a smart investor spreads their investments across different asset classes with varying levels of risk—from low-risk assets that provide stability to high-risk assets with growth potential.

For example, a conservative investor might hold 70% in bonds and fixed income, 20% in stocks, and 10% in REITs. A younger, aggressive investor might allocate 70% to stocks and ETFs, 20% to REITs, and 10% in cash or alternatives. Proper allocation aligns with your goals and risk tolerance

These days, everyone’s looking for the next Amazon—and guess what? TikTokers, YouTubers, even your Grab driver all have an opinion. You hear them say, “This stock is going to the moon!” and before you know it, you’re FOMO-ing in without even knowing what the company actually does.

And that’s the real problem. People go around asking, “Is stock XYZ good?” when the real question should be:

Do I know what XYZ does?
Do I know if it’s a good business?

Because at the end of the day, when things go south, none of those influencers or so-called experts will take responsibility for your losses. It’s all on you.

What’s ironic? People will spend hours researching the best phone to buy—comparing specs and reading reviews—just to make sure they’re making the right decision. But when it comes to investing? They’ll pour in thousands of dollars into a company they don’t understand, based on nothing more than hype. This is simply gambling and not investing.

"The biggest risks comes from not knowing what you are doing."

Warren Buffett

Being cautious with your investments is important, but too much fear of risk can be just as harmful as taking reckless bets. This tendency, known as risk aversion, occurs when investors avoid taking necessary risks—even when the potential rewards outweigh them.

Many investors, especially after experiencing losses, become overly conservative. They may stick to low-yield investments, such as fixed deposits or government bonds, to avoid further losses.

However, this cautious approach has a hidden downside: their portfolios may not grow fast enough to outpace inflation. Over time, this means their money loses purchasing power, reducing their ability to achieve long-term financial goals.

While risk can never be eliminated in investing, understanding and managing it wisely is the key to building sustainable wealth.

With the return of Trump-era trade tensions and new tariffs potentially on the horizon, investors are facing renewed uncertainty. History has shown that tariff announcements often lead to short-term volatility—especially in sectors like tech, manufacturing, and global trade.

That said, nothing is truly predictable in markets. While tariffs may hurt many industries, they could also benefit others (like domestic producers). The key is not to overreact, but to be prepared. Focus on companies with strong fundamentals, wide economic moats, and pricing power—traits that help them weather macroeconomic shocks.

Howard Marks, co-founder and co-chairman of Oaktree Capital management, said in his memo that investing requires action despite uncertainty, as waiting for clarity often results in missed opportunities. Marks emphasizes that the future is inherently unpredictable, and decisions must be made based on logic and probabilities rather than certainty.

On Uncertainty and Action:

"There’s absolutely no place for certainty in the world of investing, and that’s particularly true at turning points and during upheavals... deciding not to act isn’t the opposite of acting; it’s an act in itself."

On Market Opportunities During Crises:

"The negative developments that make for the greatest price declines are terrifying, and they discourage buying. But, when unfavorable developments are raining down, that’s often the best time to step up."

On Predicting the Future:

"The future has not yet been created, and it’s subject to millions of complex, unquantifiable, and unknowable factors... You can ponder the future and speculate about it, but there’s nothing to 'analyze.'"

Professor Aswath Damodaran, often dubbed the "Dean of Valuation," recently laid out his playbook during a turbulent market shift triggered by global tariffs and trade fears. His response is a masterclass in rational investing:

"I have long argued (and teach a class to that effect) that every investor needs an investment philosophy, attuned to his or her personal make up. That philosophy starts with a set of beliefs about how markets make mistakes and corrects them, and manifests in strategies designed to take advantage of those mistakes." 8 April 2025

In addition, he plans to follow along this script:

Track Equity Risk Premium (ERP): Damodaran continues to monitor the ERP, treasury rates, and expected returns on stocks daily. This helps him stay grounded in reality and alert to valuation shifts as macro conditions evolve.

Revalue His Portfolio: He is actively reassessing the companies he holds—particularly in big tech—acknowledging that geopolitical changes can significantly alter even recently fair valuations.

Seek Out Mispriced Opportunities: He reminds us, "Great companies don’t always make great investments if they’re overpriced. But in crises, indiscriminate selling can create buying opportunities." He is currently updating his valuations and placing buy orders for high-quality names like BYD and Mercado Libre, which are approaching his ideal buy range.

Live Life Fully: Amidst all this, Damodaran chooses not to obsess over the day-to-day market swings. "I’ll focus on what I can control—like walking my dog or celebrating my granddaughter’s birthday. Markets will do what they do."

The Singapore Investor's Handbook: Navigating The Investment Landscape

Disclaimer

Table Of Content:

The Singapore Investor’s Starter Kit – Your Guide to Smart Investing

Introduction

#1: Understanding the Basics of Investing

Why Invest? The Power of Compounding

Inflation

#2: Setting Your Financial Goals

What Are Your Dreams? Short-Term, Medium-Term, and Long-Term

#3: Key Investment Options

1. Singapore Government Securities (SGS)

Singapore Savings Bonds (SSBs)

Treasury Bills (T-bills)

Long-Term SGS Bonds

2. Fixed Deposits: Simple and Secure Savings

Which is better? FD or SSB?

3. Mutual Funds/Unit Trusts: Professional Management

4. Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

5. Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)

Why Warren Buffett Recommends Index Funds?

6. Stocks: Owning Businesses

Get Started In Investing

So how do I get started in value investing?
In fact, it is as simple as A, B and C:

Assess

Buy

Cashing Out

#4: Ways To Invest

Investing Through a Brokerage Account

Using Robo-Advisors for Automated Investing

#5: Risk Management & Common Mistakes to Avoid

Portfolio Allocation

The Biggest Risk

Ignoring Fees

Risk Aversion: The Hidden Psychological Trap

Bonus Insights: What Trump's Protectionist Policies Could Mean For Investors

Bonus Resources

Get In Touch

The Singapore Investor's Handbook: Navigating The Investment Landscape

Disclaimer

Table Of Content:

The Singapore Investor’s Starter Kit – Your Guide to Smart Investing

Introduction

#1: Understanding the Basics of Investing

Why Invest? The Power of Compounding

Inflation

#2: Setting Your Financial Goals

What Are Your Dreams? Short-Term, Medium-Term, and Long-Term

#3: Key Investment Options

1. Singapore Government Securities (SGS)

Singapore Savings Bonds (SSBs)

Treasury Bills (T-bills)

Long-Term SGS Bonds

2. Fixed Deposits: Simple and Secure Savings

Which is better? FD or SSB?

3. Mutual Funds/Unit Trusts: Professional Management

4. Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

5. Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)

Why Warren Buffett Recommends Index Funds?

6. Stocks: Owning Businesses

Get Started In Investing

So how do I get started in value investing?In fact, it is as simple as A, B and C:

Assess

Buy

Cashing Out

#4: Ways To Invest

Investing Through a Brokerage Account

Using Robo-Advisors for Automated Investing

#5: Risk Management & Common Mistakes to Avoid

Portfolio Allocation

The Biggest Risk

Ignoring Fees

Risk Aversion: The Hidden Psychological Trap

Bonus Insights: What Trump's Protectionist Policies Could Mean For Investors

Bonus Resources

Get In Touch

So how do I get started in value investing?
In fact, it is as simple as A, B and C: