Soros pointing to another Financial Crisis, starting within the EU

What do the best focus or put their money in ?

I have been reading the GIC's (Government Invest Corporation of S'pore) report for 2016 - 17. In it, it states that the annualised rolling 20 year rate of return is 3.7 % above global inflation (which I think is about 2 to 2.5%). Why am I reading this ? Because this is practically the best guide to finding out what amongst the best investment companies in the world would they do to put their money to the best use.

The mission statement is admirable and it bears repeating :

La Pedrera in Barcelona, Antoni Gaudi's signature condominium, way ahead of his time.

Prudence
Respect
Integrity
Merit
Excellence

There are 6 asset allocations in their Policy Portfolio
1. Developed Market Equities (20-30%
2. Emerging Market Equities (15-20%)
3. Nominal Bonds and Cash (25-30%)
4. Inflation Linked Bonds (4 -6%)
5. Private Equity (11-15%)
6. Real Estate 9 - 13% 

Interestingly the yield horizon is always pegged at 20 years and not shorter. So this is 1 takeaway I must implement if I am going to be an investor of any standing. Be patient ; stay in the same field long enough to beenfit from the domain knowledge acquired through the years and / or decades going through thr 'school of hard knocks'.

Learn from the best, its always the best  strategy. 

Trust your gut yes. But 20 % for me I get it wrong ; use technology or other people to aid

Front 4 km run ; from B1 to near East Coast Seafood Center and return 

Here I was, on a balmy Saturday morning, again doing the hard 8 kms again on my way to the 21 km half marathon in August. I though I knew it all, my body and my pace and my fitness. I started out fast, or so it seemed, as I cruised along the stretch of East Coast Parkway and felt I was running my 'usual' 25 - 26 minutes run. When I looked at my Garmin, I was surprised to find, that I was actually 27 minutes 21 seconds. 
Therein, I learned a I life lesson, yes trust my 'gut' feel but again, the truly great ones who achieve anything of note in life, always have a scorecard, technology or coaches to give them the "real result. " And that morning's result was that though I felt I was doing good, I was in fact slower than normal or the last 3 Saturdays when I recorded my 4 km runs. 

Back 4 km run ; from neat East Coast Seafood Center and back to B1 

For the 20% of the time I get it wrong, think about what I did, did I get enough sleep, ate enough to fuel myself 1 hour before the run (normally I do not eat so I 'run on empty' perhaps this caused me to slow down, or the fact that I also ran on Tuesday 22nd the same distance and this had somehow slowed or tired my body ? 

Always trust your instincts and gut, yes, but remember I am human and 20% I get it wrong, in running, in business and in making decisions. I must always remember this and act in accordance to this maxim. 

Use proven softwares, technology, and people who are smarter and more objective than myself to help me reach my goals. This is my point. 

Carpe Diem ! 

I'm a teenager again ; My boyhood team's successful jersey signed by 3 'legends'

Comes complete in an aluminium casing and rubber back 

Recently with the resurgence if my boyhood football team this last season, I am transformed back to the 70s when I watched TV and sat glued Star Soccer. It was delayed telecast of 2 weeks late but no matter, the teams were full of talent, mainly white players (in the days of old) and the stadiums were beacons of attraction to my boyhood dreams. My eyes were filled with stars as we saw the teams of the day, Leeds United, Manchester, Liverpool and Arsenal vying for the top 3 positions. I somehow, stupidly followed a team from the West Midlands, the Black Country as they call it and supported Wolverhampton Wanderers. 

Wolves was playing a good brand of attacking soccer fronted by John Richards, Willie Carr, Kenny Hibbit and was occasionally on the Star Soccer Channel. Since the '70s, sadly they have been relegated a number of times from Division 1, sunk to Division 3 and won 2 League Cups (one in 1974 and one in 1980). They are frankly, a bunch of underachievers.
Till now.  

True, in the context of the mid to late 70s, we had the colour TV, as well as the coveted Shoot Magazine which was sold for a princely sum of $1 and later $2.50 at the Mamak Shop along Middle Road (I well remember the next to corner shophouse selling Chicken Rice) at the junction of end of Jalan Besar. 

I would save my coins and buy the magazine. Our good friends each had a team to be loyal to, Andrew Lee chose Arsenal, Eddie Cheng chose Liverpool, my brother John chose Leeds United and me, Wolves.

I regretted that decision for almost 40 years until this season. With Nuno Esperito Santos at the helm as chief coach and master class Reuben Neves in the centre of midfield, I believe I can hope again for my bunch of no-hopers. Backed by Fosun, a Chinese conglometare and with super agent Jorge Mendes on the sharp lookout, this team is going places.

I think I would say if Wolves could emulate the exploits of Burnley 7th position in the world's toughest league, I would say they have finally made it. 

The top 6 is pretty hard to crack but my take is that Wolves can and will make it to the top 3 , can they do it in 1 season ??? We live in interesting times.

Below is my prized shirt I bought from the British Sports Museum signed by the 3 'legends' of the '70s, John Richards, Kenny Hibbit (the 2 goalscorers) and George Bailey when they won the 1974 League Cup final against the current Premier League Champions, Manchester City.

Signatures of Kenny Hibbit, John Richards and Mike Bailey with a Certificate of

  Authentification 

   

Do remember, its always about the people

     

       May 9th was a historic day for Malaysia, as the incumbent BN was spectacularly booted out of office, amidst claims of major impropriety, money laundering, and corruption. The people or the Rakyat have spoken and Mahathir Mohammed, the 93 wily politician, galvanised the hearts and minds of the people, cobbled through all the various opposition parties, calling themselves Pakatan Harapan and under this univified umbrella, unseated the incumbent Barisan Nasional which includes UMNO as its major component. He was sworn in as the 7th Prime Minister of Malaysia on May 10th and I take my hat off to this master politician who is so well respected in this part of the world. True, his policies in the past were not too good for Singapore, playing hardball, but he always had the Malaysian people's interests at the topmost of his mind. That is the true difference between him and the recently deposed ex-Prime Minister Najib. 

      My heartiest congratulations to all those who voted, proudly, showing off their unwashed index fingers. Many Malaysians are working in Singapore because of the weakened ringgit in the last 5 years or so, the taking away of many extra overtime pay, and the overall rapid rising cost of living. An ordinary small bowl of wanton mee cost me RM 5 which is S$ 1.80 but for the ordinary technician who earns only RM 3,000 that is a hefty increase from just 10 years ago when it cost RM 3. 

     The question in everyone's minds was, is life better now than it was 5 years ago in the 2013 elections. I think the answer was very clear on May 9th. A 60 odd year ruling party has been unseated unceremoniously at the polls.

      

Reuben Neves ; Midfield Genius and 30 yard spectacular goals

Watching him score those sreamers, 5 with inch perfect placement and just the right amount of power, and 1 with the innocuous roll-in, this 21 year old is a player of the season for Wolves. I sincerely hope he can stay with the club for the longest time and achieve great things. 

There are plenty of top clubs eyeing his talent, so Wolves management better have the purses ready to keep this midfield genius.

Wolves Championship Party 6th May 2018

The Celebrations in the city of Wolverhampton, population of only 230,000. What a season ! What a coach ! What do we do next ???  

Champions !