And I think of a lot about the changing landscape.
It bothers me.
It affects how I look at investments. How I plan for my future, etc.
US printing more money, this could result in a significant depreciation of the US dollar. Maybe another currency will take over as the reserve currency.
Class divide in US is growing. You either have money or don't have money. If we go back in history, when such class divides grow, there is usually civil war.
Trump may win the election. Even if he loses he may not want to leave the White House. This could also result in civil war or significant unrest in the US.
US lives by no rules. They will claim laws when it's in their favour, but ignore them when the situation is flipped around.
The rise of China will change things, US will try to contain China like a suicide bomber.
China also plays by no rules. Just like any big sovereign country.
China has made a lot of headway in many countries by providing funding and investments for development. Their influence on the world is growing significantly.
The future of SG looks gloomy.
Our Gov isn't what it used to be.
SG economy is pretty much stuck. Seems like most of the STI companies have reached some form of maximum cap and can't out grow the shores of SG. Seems like only the banks and REITS can keep growing.
Will SG still be around when I reach 65? How will my CPF be by then?
There's a lot of uncertainty in the future.
And IT IS DIFFERENT. It's different cos 10-15 years ago, when I invested during the last crisis in 2008, these weren't concerns.
During that time, I had good faith that the crisis was just a bump in the road.
I can throw my money in my investments with good confidence that the world system would remain the same and once the financial crisis was over, my investments would grow with the recovery.
But somehow, now, I feel that things have changed. My fundamental faith in the world system is no longer the same.
I don't have faith when I invest and hold the US dollar.
I don't have faith when I think about the future prosperity and longevity of Singapore.
I'm 38 this year. 17 years to 55, 27 years to 65.
It's a long time. A lot of things could change.
Remember, 18 years ago, smart phones didn't exist.
22 years ago, when I was in JC, handphones weren't a thing.
So another 17 years or 27 years, A LOT of things could change.
And yet within all this uncertain, I have to tell myself.
Focus on what I know, and make decisions based on that.
I can always adjust my strategy as life goes along.
I know that, despite what's happening in the US, it will be the center of consumption and innovation.
Apple, Facebook, Google, etc...
The next generation of innovation, product, etc... will come from the US.
Could be AI, could be quantum computing, whatever.
As old companies drop out of the S&P 500, new companies will be added and grow.
I haven't bought into the S&P 500, but I probably will in future.
I look at the S&P 500 as ONE BIG COMPANY.
Sometimes a company will close off some of their dying business, sometimes they will acquire new businesses.
When one business segment loses market share to another segment, I still earn, cos I own the whole market by owning the S&P.
Like, if Walmart gets less customers, but Amazon gets more deliveries.
Regardless, I still own the whole S&P "company".
What's even better is that the Gov supports this S&P "company".
So someday, I'll by myself some S&P.
I still want to stay in Singapore for the near future.
I cannot keep thinking 20 years into the future which might or might not exist.
Hope for the best, plan for the worst.
Maybe Singapore will find a way to keep developing. Hopefully they are able to re-engineer the economy and industries to focus on more future related segments.
Hopefully there will be no more changes to CPF policies so that I know what to expect when I grow old.
Even if things change in SG. I still have time to react. It's not as though we are like sheep in a farm. We can always do things to make our situation better.
China will become a powerhouse. It already is.
The problem with China investments is that I know very little about it. There's not enough transparency.
Also I feel there's a lot of government involvement in the financial markets. So I'm concerned.
I know it's a growing economy. It's a good place to invest for the next 30 years.
But yet, I find it hard to have faith in the financial markets there.
I suppose that's part of the risk and investors get compensated for taking such risks.
So I think... despite all my fears and concerns, I need to try to keep the faith that the world will largely remain the same at least within the next 10 years, and keep investing and planning for the future.
Regardless of what happens, money is still important, especially if I expect the world to change.
Then again, maybe all these concerns are in my own mind and I'm just being paranoid.
Who knows...
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