Pay for memberships that benefit (who) financially?

Reader says...

I have been following your blog since last year.

As a middle age self employed who’s asset rich and cash poor, I have been enlightened by your simple strategies on how to save money.

Thank you for the kind sharing!





The matter that I need advice :-

As someone who’s very good at spurring the economy I sometimes buy without much thinking.

So recently I paid a small amount (of money) to join a certain membership. Lazy by nature I thought it will be nice to follow someone whose good at what he’s doing.





So there after again I paid some more money to get another set of stock picks mainly the reits.

Last couple of weeks again they tried to sell another membership which members will get access to the CEO’s portfolio which has been widely publicised cos he’s putting his own money in.






Now this membership will cost much more than the earlier ones and as someone lazy by nature I’m thinking if I should join in and just follow what he’s buying.

But this time amount is big ($1999 for one year or $2999 for 2 years), I wonder if you could share with me your view?

AK says...

All I will say is that I have never paid any money to join any such membership.

The one membership which I like which gives me lots of benefits and which is FREE is my CPF membership.





I know.

Bad AK! Bad AK!

Good luck. ;)





Maybe, AK should do that too. 

Each reader pays me $1,000 to know what I buy and sell in the stock market. 

Then, I would have a lot more money to invest with! 

Wah! Mai Tu Liao! 

Related post:
Financial security in Singapore.

When would I invest in ESR-REIT again?

Reader says...
This is my first email to you although been following your blog for about 3 years.

You are an inspiration to me cause although you are 1 year younger than me but you have already achieve financial freedom long ago.






Understand that you have been blogging about not comfortable with ESR and VIva REIT but you also mention before an investment also depends on the price.

So I would like to find out from you at what level will you consider investing in ESR REIT.

Vanishing in less than 15 years.

AK says...
Absolutely no interest.

The whole deal is a godsend or a lifeline for VIVA (which is a ticking time bomb) but rubbish for ESR-REIT.

Yes, I think ESR-REIT got the shorter end of the stick and the shareholders paid for this and will continue to pay for it.






A big chunk of VIVA's portfolio have land leases which will expire within the next 15 to 20 years (see related post #2 at the end of this blog).

Another big chunk of their assets would see a drop in income as they convert from master leases to multi tenanted buildings.

Income support for UE Bizhub East is set to expire later this year.






ESR-REIT will be taking over this horror of a baby.

It would haunt them (mostly the common shareholders of ESR-REIT) later.

Of course, having said this, if there should be a big crash in price, maybe, then, I might take a look. ;p






Related posts:
1. Merger of ESR-REIT and VIVA.
2. VIVA more attractive with 9% yield?