In this commentary piece, Samuel Rhee, chairman and CIO of Endowus, discussed the importance of staying invested for the long term, especially when we cannot control the market direction. Investors are encouraged to keep it simple by setting up regular savings and investment plans regardless of market conditions. Staying invested for the long term and developing ongoing good investing habits is the only way to better prepare for volatile markets.

So Sin Ting, Chief Client Officer at Endowus shared how women can take greater control over their finances and grow their retirement nest egg with CPF. Compared to men, women in Singapore are living longer but have lower CPF balances than men. Women are encouraged to start small and set up recurring CPF investments for a globally diversified portfolio of appropriate risk, such as the Endowus Flagship portfolio, to be rewarded with suitable returns.

(From 16:30) Samuel Rhee, Chairman and CIO of Endowus, commented on global market performance and investor interest in China and Japan markets. Despite China’s market rebound, surprising growth rates are unlikely. The Chinese government will need to send a strong message, either through a fiscal or monetary stimulus or a strong growth target, to address negative sentiment. Amid positive growth and consumer recovery in the Japanese economy, successful wage negotiations will be key for the Bank of Japan to sustain growth.

Singapore's budding private credit industry is helping to grow its Asia-specific offerings to attract investors in the region. However, Gregory Van, CEO of Endowus, notes that a lot of strategies are US dollar-denominated and investors here are trying to earn a return in US dollars. If the strategies were Asia-based, investors would be required to hedge currencies as well.

Following the pending closure of the CPF SA post-Budget 2024, Samuel Rhee, Chairman and CIO of Endowus advised CPF members to invest part of their CPF savings in low-cost, globally diversified, and risk-appropriate portfolios to ensure that their money continues to work hard for them. CPF members may also consider opening an SRS account, reviewing their current investable assets, and adopting appropriate risk to grow their retirement nest egg sufficiently.

Min Axthelm, Director of Investment Research, discussed the different investment strategies one should adopt according to their life stages, goals, and risk appetite. Investors are encouraged to adopt a dollar-cost averaging strategy which allows one to grow their wealth while cultivating a regular habit of investing over the long term.

Gregory Van, CEO of Endowus, shared that the firm has seen enormous growing interest in private credit and private equity distribution to a broader audience. As demand for investment liquidity rises, the launch of NAV-marked funds, or funds that are not close-ended, over the next three to five years will be a critical development for the wealth industry.

Gregory Van, CEO of Endowus and Hugh Chung, Chief Investment Advisory Officer of Endowus, advise investors to consider their life goals before mapping out their asset allocation, which may or may not include alternative assets. Investing in private markets offers higher incremental returns and a significant information advantage, but it’s also important to understand the trade-offs.

Hugh Chung, Chief Investment Advisory Officer at Endowus, encourages individuals to consider their near-term cash needs as premature SRS withdrawals may result in greater penalties and taxes than intended. Upon making SRS contributions, one should also look to invest in a globally diversified portfolio of equities and fixed income products to help beat inflation.

Endowus conducted a series of financial literacy courses on personal finance and investing for foodpanda delivery partners, as part of its Endowus Empower initiative to support the underserved platform worker community with the right financial knowledge. The physical sessions and webinars, tailored towards their unique financial needs, have reached over 300 riders in total.

Gregory Van, CEO of Endowus, shared his entrepreneurial journey, Endowus’ mission, and differences between the Hong Kong and Singapore markets. Endowus was founded to solve investors’ pain points by bringing greater access to high-quality diversified solutions across asset classes at a low, fair cost.

Samuel Rhee, co-founder and CIO at Endowus was on Bloomberg Markets Asia to comment on the US, China, and Japan markets. Liquidity has remained strong and earnings are stronger than anticipated, with a good flow of money going into specific sectors like IT, the US, and Japan markets. This is in contrast to China where supply is oversized and demand has yet to pick up. Japan’s robust consumer demand has created a stable trajectory for the Japanese economy and the stock market has become attractive for investors.