Do not love unless it is worth the loving.

We often hear that we should not fall in love with stocks.

What does this mean?

"The most important thing to realise is simple: The stock doesn't know you own it. All those marvelous things or those terrible things that you feel about a stock, or a list of stocks... are unreciprocated by the stock or the group of stocks." - Adam Smith

Basically, don't love things which can't love us in return. However, I am only human and cannot avoid loving and hating unappreciative things. 

I have no doubt that I made many decisions before based partially on my emotions. Could I continue to make emotional decisions? As long as I remain human, I could, of course.

Recognizing that we are all emotive is an important step in becoming better investors. The challenge is in how to be more rational in our decision making process.

Remembering that we should not fall in love with our investments, a friend sold his entire investment in an S-REIT which he feared he was falling in love with only to see its unit price rising higher. Now, what can we say about this? There are probably many people out there who love this S-REIT even more. This brings to mind another saying and that is we do not know we have a good thing until we lose it.

Although there is definitely wisdom in saying that we should not fall in love with our investments, I think that it would be less misunderstood if we say we should not blindly love our investments. Being blindly in love with our investments could see us holding on even when there is a deterioration in fundamentals.

Regular readers know that I have reduced my exposure to Singapore real estate by selling my properties. Readers would also know that I cautioned against being too optimistic about real estate and S-REITs as prices have appreciated a lot, yields have compressed significantly and the low interest rate environment is unlikely to last for many more years.

Then, why do I still have significant investments in certain S-REITs? Am I in love with these S-REITs? Perhaps, I am. However, I like to think that I am not blindly in love with them. I like to think that they are still worth loving.

So, what makes them worth loving?

They are still worth loving if they provide me with good recurring income. They are still worth loving if they take care of their health. They are still worth loving if they are growing stronger, day by day. In short, they are still worth loving if they give me joy and not angst.

Here are links to some of my past blog posts on S-REITs which show the way I think:
1. First REIT: This one is for keeps.
2. AIMS AMP Capital Industrial REIT: Making money.
3. Saizen REIT: Why did I buy and would I buy more?
4. LMIR: Divested 42.5% at 52.5c.
5. LMIR: Too cheap to sell.

Want to teach yourself Fundamental and Technical Analyses to be a better investor?
See: Recommended books for FA and TA.

Health screening in a polyclinic.

I have been hearing about people in my age group suddenly dying from strokes and heart attacks. Also, in recent weeks, I heard of people younger than me who were diagnosed with heart problems. 

The last straw that broke the camel's back was learning that a friend who is several years younger than me and physically fitter being diagnosed with some worrying health issues very recently.







I will be 42 this year and, perhaps, it is time that I exercise my privilege as a Singaporean to receive subsidised healthcare! I searched for Singapore polyclinics online and found this:

Our patients are offered the Opportunistic Health Screening (OHS) Service if they are aged 40 years and above, have no known personal history of diabetes, hypertension or dyslipidemia (high blood cholesterol), and have not been screened for these conditions in the past 12 months.

OHS screens for conditions such as obesity and major coronary disease risk factors. Supported by a computer-based health screening system, patients obtain their health screening reports and are counselled in the same session. 

More information: here.







Yesterday, I called the hotline and was impressed with how easy it was to make an appointment.

Today, I went to the polyclinic at the appointed time and I was impressed!

The interior was bright, well ventilated and clean. It didn't feel like a clinic or a hospital at all. I thought it felt like a resort in Bintan.

I scanned my IC and was given a number which was called within 5 minutes at the registration counter. Then, I was asked to go one level up where I was attended to within 5 minutes too.

The whole experience was very pleasant and the price tag did not cause me a heart attack. How much did it cost? Only S$12.00.






I encourage all Singaporean readers who are eligible to take advantage of this value for money service offered by the polyclinics. I am glad I did.

Related post:
Enhanced Incomeshield (H&S) for my mom.