You might suppose having a $1M portfolio is a dream, however the fact is, that is extra achievable than most individuals anticipate.
Equally, once I first began investing, I didn’t think about I’d arrive at 2025 with $1 million in my funding portfolio – however that’s precisely how life panned out. By budgeting, rising my earnings and investing often, I managed to realize a breakthrough that my youthful self by no means imagined potential.
All that, whereas changing into pregnant twice and elevating two younger youngsters.
So even for those who’re busy juggling work and life – with no time to check or monitor the markets – I counsel which you could look into utilizing passive investing methods like dollar-cost averaging (DCA) or establishing an everyday financial savings plan (RSP) that can assist you construct your wealth.
Disclosure: This publish is delivered to you in collaboration with Nikko Asset Administration. All analysis and opinions are that of my very own, and shouldn't be taken as monetary recommendation on your particular scenario(s) as I do know nothing about your particular person monetary circumstances, danger tolerance or funding goals. I extremely advocate that you just use this as a place to begin to know extra concerning the numerous ETFs supplied by NikkoAM, after which click on into the respective hyperlinks above to retrieve the fund prospectus and efficiency in order that can assist you determine whether or not it matches into your funding goals
The true secret to hitting $1 million
Most individuals suppose it is advisable be tremendous good or have distinctive investing abilities as a way to obtain a $1 million portfolio, however that’s not needed.
Within the phrases of Warren Buffett, “The inventory market is designed to switch cash from the Energetic to the Affected person. Investing shouldn’t be a sport the place the man with the 160 IQ beats the man with the 130 IQ.”
For my part, the true secret to reaching the $1 million milestone is to remain invested (this requires self-discipline) and never let your feelings dictate your purchase/promote selections.
Consistency and self-discipline.
It’s not about luck, or how properly you may time the markets.
So long as you make investments often, let compounding do its magic and keep away from emotional buying and selling, I belief that you just’ll ultimately get there.
The sooner you begin, the better it’s.
Give attention to incomes extra and investing passively. As an alternative of making an attempt to outsmart the market, let a easy technique give you the results you want when you concentrate on growing your earnings.
Don’t underestimate the ability of investing often
Most individuals have a tendency to speculate throughout market highs and keep out when the markets are down. However I at all times believed that purchasing throughout occasions of greed and promoting throughout occasions of concern is the improper method to make investments – you’re actually shopping for excessive and promoting low!
Actually, not everybody has the time to select shares or analyze market traits. For those who’re centered on constructing your profession, operating a enterprise, or elevating a household, you is likely to be tempted to place off investing on your future and let it take a backseat.
However what if I informed you that you would nonetheless develop a million-dollar portfolio with out spending hours on analysis?
Even for those who wouldn’t have loads of time to observe the markets, utilizing passive investing methods can assist you keep on monitor.
With dollar-cost averaging (DCA), as an example, it takes the guesswork out of investing. You make investments a hard and fast quantity at common intervals (e.g. month-to-month) no matter market circumstances. When costs are excessive, your funding buys you much less shares or items. When costs fall, you get extra for a similar quantity. This helps smoothen out market volatility and removes the stress of you making an attempt to time the market.
Greenback Value Averaging - If an index ETF is buying and selling close to S$4.00 per unit, an funding of S$1,000 would purchase 250 items for that month. Nonetheless, if the worth falls to S$2.00, the identical S$1,000 would purchase 500 items, whereas a achieve to S$8.00 would see simply 125 items purchased with the identical S$1,000. This strategy sees the investor accumulate extra items when costs are decrease, serving to buyers to keep away from the remorse of poor timing selections, keep disciplined and keep away from overtrading market actions.
A straightforward method to apply this technique could be to arrange a Common Financial savings Plan (RSP). These are automated funding plans which you could create with nearly any financial institution or brokerage in Singapore at present, which then invests in your behalf into your chosen ETFs, unit trusts, or blue-chip shares every month.
Firstly of final 12 months, I taught a free learners investing class to 300 of my readers and did an experiment the place I arrange a RSP on the spot for them to see how simple it might be. It took me quarter-hour and I specified a hard and fast quantity to be withdrawn from my account to speculate on my behalf each month.
The returns on my RSP has made me greater than what an analogous sum sitting in my high-yield financial savings checking account has gotten.
Not too dangerous for simply quarter-hour of labor and set-up.
If that’s not enough proof to persuade you that RSPs may be a simple method to develop your wealth, right here’s extra.
The Path to $1 Million: How A lot Ought to You Make investments?
Right here’s a easy breakdown of how a lot it is advisable make investments month-to-month to hit $1 million, assuming a 7% annual return (utilizing a conservative historic common of the S&P 500):

Purely for illustration functions solely. There may be no assurance the above returns may be achieved in your scenario. A number of components together with market downturns and your individual actions can have an effect on the result which might embrace a achieve or loss in investments.
For those who begin in your 20s or 30s, hitting $1M earlier than your retirement may be achievable – even for those who begin with a modest funding of simply $500 every month.
Once I first began investing, I used to be nonetheless incomes a take-home pay of $2,000. However I nonetheless invested each month with out fail. If I obtained any additional earnings or bonuses, it went into my investments. It didn’t matter whether or not the markets have been up or down – I invested by the 2016 oil disaster, the 2018 extended crypto winter, the 2020 COVID crash and particularly through the 2022 tech meltdown.
After 10 years of investing diligently, I crossed the $1 million milestone final 12 months in December.
RSPs: A Newbie Investor’s Greatest Good friend
Time is an investor’s largest ally. It is usually probably the largest issue that may have an effect on your wealth-building journey within the markets.
Most individuals actually solely have 4 many years to speculate. Your 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s. Yearly that you just determine to attend is one other 12 months gone the place your cash might have grown for you.
For those who wait too lengthy to speculate, that’s time that you’ll by no means be capable of get again.
I began investing in my 20s and crossed the $1M milestone in my 30s. You’ll be able to solely think about how my portfolio will appear like within the subsequent decade (psst, comply with this weblog and verify again right here to seek out out then!)
The excellent news is, you may determine to begin investing your cash and let compounding do the give you the results you want, over time.
I began investing in my 20s and crossed the $1M milestone in my 30s. You’ll be able to solely think about how my portfolio will appear like within the subsequent decade (psst, comply with this weblog and verify again right here to seek out out then!)
The excellent news is, you may determine to begin investing your cash and let compounding do the give you the results you want, over time.
And even for those who’re too scared to select particular person shares, then RSPs might very properly be your greatest pal that can assist you make investments with no need a lot effort from you each month – no have to display or analyze particular person shares, and even for those who’re busy, your investments will nonetheless run on autopilot for you. Nonetheless, like all investments, there are danger components to be thought-about when investing in a sure sector or area. RSPs don’t absolve one from the necessity to conduct the non-public due diligence required earlier than making any funding selections. Greenback value averaging into a nasty funding doesn’t make it a very good funding.
Upcoming Occasion!
As I’ve repeatedly preached during the last decade of operating this weblog, the most important mistake you would make is to wait too lengthy to begin investing.
Even for those who start with simply $100 or $200 a month, the important thing factor is to begin in order that your cash will get put to give you the results you want within the monetary markets sooner fairly than later.
As an example, for those who choose a balanced portfolio, you may take a look at the Nikko AM Singapore STI ETF and ABF Singapore Bond Index Fund right here for some concepts.
Or, for those who’re a fan of Actual Property Funding Trusts (REITs) for his or her dividends however don’t know which REIT to select, then the NikkoAM-StraitsTrading Asia ex Japan REIT ETF – which encompasses the highest listed REITs in not solely Singapore but additionally the remainder of Asia ex Japan – might be a very good place to begin trying.
And for those who’ll wish to learn the way I crossed $1M in my very own portfolio whereas juggling my profession and household, all inside a decade, be a part of me in my upcoming session at SGX the place I’ll break all of it down.

Register right here to order your seat!
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