Posts
I don't know why, but i suddenly feel like blogging. Blogs. In 2016, in the era of facebook, twitter, instagram etc, with news feeds, limited characters, pics with short captions, do people still blog? Especially a blog with zero pictures? How does one express themselves without that in the moment smart jibe or selfie to go along?
Old fashion me, i honestly do not appreciate the new social media. Yet i can understand why it is so popular. 5 years since i even log on to blog a new post. 5 years, its like an eternity in the internet world. Yet i enjoy a moment like now, when I have some time alone to myself. To collect my thoughts, to pen it down in words. It just feels... almost therapeutic.
In the 5 years, much has changed of course. I re-read all my posts. I too have changed. Which makes me a little sad to be honest. I hardly have any personality and beliefs left in me anymore. Yet that had somehow finally allowed me to 'fit in', be part of the clique, to finally be successful in a corporate sense of things.
I tendered my resignation officially again today. Looking at when I started the blog in 2009, I just left my first job. That seems like a lifetime ago. In exactly one month's time, I will be starting training in my new job, an old firm that I had regrets leaving, and hopefully, this is finally the chance to make things right.
I look back at how my career has gone. 10 years in the industry this year. From a person that knows nothing about finance, to leading a team of seasoned priority bankers in one of the most prestigious bank/brand, I think it is ok for me to feel a little bit of pride today. From one of my first post looking back at my starting basic salary of $2300 in 2009 to a comfortable $9000 today, it's a rough 39% increment yearly. While it may not be the most impressive jump among my peers given the low base i started out with, I do believe I'm finally on track and a new phase is just beginning for me.
My life has changed drastically. Married now. Can't believe it would happen 10 years back but it really did. I've done many things that I had dreamed of especially in terms of satisfying my wanderlust.
Nothing quite satisfied me like the sight of an aurora on snowy mountain top, sailing through the majestic fjords dreaming of being a viking, enduring the blistering Italian summer imagining a gladiator life in the colosseum and finally Saint Basil and the red square in the horizon. I truly felt like I've finally lived.
My wife asked me lately out of the blue.
"Are you happy?" she said
A simple line, a simple question.
Yet I honestly couldn't give her an answer.
Life for me, for so long, except when I'm traveling, been nothing but mundane.
I do things not because I like it, but because I have to, because its a means to an end.
I love my wife. She makes me laugh all the time. But does laughter equate to happiness?
Do I enjoy my job? Do I like banking? I honestly do not think so. I derive no pleasure from it. But its something I get paid to do, and I somehow do it pretty good and people start paying me more to continue doing it and the cycle simply goes on.
People always say find something you love and you never had to work, but I don't really have a passion other than traveling, and without the money, I can't go anywhere anyway so I just continue to work for 11 months and hope to enjoy 2 weeks every year. That's it. Happy? Not exactly. But at least I have that 2 weeks a year so its better than 0. :)
I think a dream job if I ever can choose one, would be a travel writer. But to be honest its still a bit of a dread and I think I would probably suck at it because I don't like touristy stuff, I hate taking photos, and I'm really bad at giving directions or making what seems interesting to me palatable to the general public.
I just want to be alone in a foreign land, get lost and yet be enthralled and amazed by every single thing I see.
How the color of the brick in Florence can look so different from the one in Rome.
How there is a sudden piece of ruin in the middle of the street pavement in Istanbul.
How there is a castle ruin hidden in a park behind my B&B in Ephesus.
I just want to be continually amazed.
I just realised that all I want, is to be a kid once again.
Oh cruel cruel life.......
Damn you for letting me wish an impossible dream...
Friday, March 11, 2016
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Old horses
Today I was having a chat over lunch with a colleague of mine. Both of us had been in the industry for almost the same period of time, and having been through the ups and downs in the markets over the years, we are started to feel jaded about the job lately esp given the current market conditions.
After the lehmans crisis, i think any bankers that have gone through that would start to be more defensive with customer's portfolio. Sometimes, we tend to over-think. We are afraid of committing customers to risk even though customers might be ok with it themselves. Think the 'trauma' still linger on with us.
In comparisons, those that are newer in the industry are simply lapping up everything the research reports are saying, and in their eagerness to prove themselves, are getting customers into increasingly aggressive positions despite current market uncertainty.
I don't want to say they are wrong to do that. Maybe we are really over-thinking it. Maybe nothing will happen. Maybe everything will turn out fine. Bull markets might be just round the corner and everyone will be making money and be happy once again. Like the good old days circa 2006.
I just don't really believe it.
End of the day, we bankers are hired by the banks to sell products to customers. Regardless of how you want to call it, re-balancing, positioning, portfolio allocation, financial planning etc, end of the day, we want to make a sale out of it, the bank wants us to sell to customers so that they earn the revenue. Bankers want to sell to you cos they want to earn that commission. We don't sell, the bank loses money on paying our salary, therefore, to cut their losses, the bank cuts your job. Its just business. Nothing personal.
But when personal feelings start to get in the way, maybe it's not the right job for you anymore
After the lehmans crisis, i think any bankers that have gone through that would start to be more defensive with customer's portfolio. Sometimes, we tend to over-think. We are afraid of committing customers to risk even though customers might be ok with it themselves. Think the 'trauma' still linger on with us.
In comparisons, those that are newer in the industry are simply lapping up everything the research reports are saying, and in their eagerness to prove themselves, are getting customers into increasingly aggressive positions despite current market uncertainty.
I don't want to say they are wrong to do that. Maybe we are really over-thinking it. Maybe nothing will happen. Maybe everything will turn out fine. Bull markets might be just round the corner and everyone will be making money and be happy once again. Like the good old days circa 2006.
I just don't really believe it.
End of the day, we bankers are hired by the banks to sell products to customers. Regardless of how you want to call it, re-balancing, positioning, portfolio allocation, financial planning etc, end of the day, we want to make a sale out of it, the bank wants us to sell to customers so that they earn the revenue. Bankers want to sell to you cos they want to earn that commission. We don't sell, the bank loses money on paying our salary, therefore, to cut their losses, the bank cuts your job. Its just business. Nothing personal.
But when personal feelings start to get in the way, maybe it's not the right job for you anymore
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
PM Lee apology
Credit where credit is due, it's refreshing to hear PM Lee admitting and apologizing for 'mistakes' that had been made over the years. It is also admirable of him to stand up to MM Lee and tell voters that he does not feel the same way, and that he sending a reminder (to his dad no less) that he is now the man in charge.
However, the timing and sincerity of the apology left many questions unanswered. Why now?
If the apology had came IMMEDIATELY after the mishaps, I would have praised PAP for finally manning up and admitting to their fallacies.
If the apology had came AFTER THE ELECTIONS, after their expected re-entry as the legit govt for the next 5 years, I would have praised them for being a gentleman, and looked forward to see them carrying out changes.
Now, with the apology coming in the heat of the elections, after denying that there was a problem for so long, why now?? Pressure from opposition?? It seemed to lend weight to the opposition's argument that having a 'co-driver' or simply someone to watch over and instil pressure on the incumbent to do what they are supposed to do, and do it better. Yet another own goal from the PAP?
To PM Lee, thanks for taking the effort, I may give my vote to you as a person if I still reside in Amk, but I do not thing that your party is deserving of it.
However, the timing and sincerity of the apology left many questions unanswered. Why now?
If the apology had came IMMEDIATELY after the mishaps, I would have praised PAP for finally manning up and admitting to their fallacies.
If the apology had came AFTER THE ELECTIONS, after their expected re-entry as the legit govt for the next 5 years, I would have praised them for being a gentleman, and looked forward to see them carrying out changes.
Now, with the apology coming in the heat of the elections, after denying that there was a problem for so long, why now?? Pressure from opposition?? It seemed to lend weight to the opposition's argument that having a 'co-driver' or simply someone to watch over and instil pressure on the incumbent to do what they are supposed to do, and do it better. Yet another own goal from the PAP?
To PM Lee, thanks for taking the effort, I may give my vote to you as a person if I still reside in Amk, but I do not thing that your party is deserving of it.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Growth and share package
This morning I encountered a long queue outside a local bank at 830am. Opening hour is 9am, but there was easily more than 50 people already in the queue which is far more than normal. I later realised that it was for the encashment of growth and share package cheque.
I remember when I used to work in our local banks, queues like these formed into the hundreds before branch opens during periods like this. Most of these people are the elderly and retirees which needs more attention in filling up forms or where to go etc so we try to help out the best we can.
I remember asking an elderly customer once.
"Why so kiasu auntie?" I said jokingly. "Wait a few more days then encash lah, or just drop into the quick cheque deposit box, tomorrow after 2pm can withdraw via ATM, no need to queue."
I can still remember what she said even now.
"Ah di, auntie no money already. Don't encash now how I am going to buy food for my next meal? I don't have any bank accounts with any banks as I cannot afford the minimum balance required and the banks keep deducting money from me every month!"
There are a lot more of these 'aunties' that I used to encounter almost on daily basis. They are mostly uneducated, illiterate and needs help to use machines or read the english letters the bank sent out. It seemed like the world has passed them by. Worst of all, they did not realised it.
They know that things are getting more expensive, but they don't understand why.
They know that jobs are getting more difficult to come by, but they don't understand why.
What they 'know' is that the government is 'helping' them by giving them money to spend. So they keep voting for the party that is actually causing them their problems in the first place.
Sad.
I remember when I used to work in our local banks, queues like these formed into the hundreds before branch opens during periods like this. Most of these people are the elderly and retirees which needs more attention in filling up forms or where to go etc so we try to help out the best we can.
I remember asking an elderly customer once.
"Why so kiasu auntie?" I said jokingly. "Wait a few more days then encash lah, or just drop into the quick cheque deposit box, tomorrow after 2pm can withdraw via ATM, no need to queue."
I can still remember what she said even now.
"Ah di, auntie no money already. Don't encash now how I am going to buy food for my next meal? I don't have any bank accounts with any banks as I cannot afford the minimum balance required and the banks keep deducting money from me every month!"
There are a lot more of these 'aunties' that I used to encounter almost on daily basis. They are mostly uneducated, illiterate and needs help to use machines or read the english letters the bank sent out. It seemed like the world has passed them by. Worst of all, they did not realised it.
They know that things are getting more expensive, but they don't understand why.
They know that jobs are getting more difficult to come by, but they don't understand why.
What they 'know' is that the government is 'helping' them by giving them money to spend. So they keep voting for the party that is actually causing them their problems in the first place.
Sad.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
My 1st rally this year
I attended my 1st rally of the year in serangoon stadium last night. It feels like a festival. WP flags, books, newsletters are being peddled around for a fee, people are sitting in and outside the stadium with the whole family, everyone seemed excited. But excited about what??
I paid $2 for a party flag, treating it as a small donation to the party's causes, and went into the stadium. Overwhelming crowd, sea of people everywhere. From the entrance, I couldn't see where the stage is, let alone identify who is speaking and on what issues. Finally managed to squeeze my way in eventually to have a better listen. In all honestly, the whole experience was a bit underwhelming, I had looked forwarded to and expected a better speech with more substance especially from CSM, but what disappointed me more was actually the crowd.
As impressive as the large numbers in the crowd may seem, a majority of them didn't seemed to be there to listen to the candidates speaking, to learn about what the party is doing or trying to do for them. I saw many simply having a picnic in the middle of the field, taking pictures, busy tweeting/facebooking then really listening to what is being said. To many, it's simply nothing more than a novelty, a form of 'entertainment'. Is it a new fad, especially for the younger crowd, to be seen as anti-establishment, a rebel? To be seen at an opposition rally? To take photos and 'check-in' on facebook just because its cool to be seen there?
Personally, that is not my ward. But I was there because I wanted to see how WP had evolved. The party is contesting in my ward, albeit with a different team. Not the 'A-team', but I wanted to get more of a feel on the party, and how they would make things better for us. I remember visiting quite alot of election rallies the last time round and the crowd was visibly different. There is a sense that people were taking things more seriously. This time round, people seemed to be taking it as entertainment, and the speakers seemed to be playing to the crowd as well, making generalistic popular statements that evoke emotions but doesn't really say too much.
I had hoped this election will be different.
I had hoped that it will be a next step towards a better future for us.
But I am not feeling so optimistic.
Lets pray it doesn't end 87 - 0
I paid $2 for a party flag, treating it as a small donation to the party's causes, and went into the stadium. Overwhelming crowd, sea of people everywhere. From the entrance, I couldn't see where the stage is, let alone identify who is speaking and on what issues. Finally managed to squeeze my way in eventually to have a better listen. In all honestly, the whole experience was a bit underwhelming, I had looked forwarded to and expected a better speech with more substance especially from CSM, but what disappointed me more was actually the crowd.
As impressive as the large numbers in the crowd may seem, a majority of them didn't seemed to be there to listen to the candidates speaking, to learn about what the party is doing or trying to do for them. I saw many simply having a picnic in the middle of the field, taking pictures, busy tweeting/facebooking then really listening to what is being said. To many, it's simply nothing more than a novelty, a form of 'entertainment'. Is it a new fad, especially for the younger crowd, to be seen as anti-establishment, a rebel? To be seen at an opposition rally? To take photos and 'check-in' on facebook just because its cool to be seen there?
Personally, that is not my ward. But I was there because I wanted to see how WP had evolved. The party is contesting in my ward, albeit with a different team. Not the 'A-team', but I wanted to get more of a feel on the party, and how they would make things better for us. I remember visiting quite alot of election rallies the last time round and the crowd was visibly different. There is a sense that people were taking things more seriously. This time round, people seemed to be taking it as entertainment, and the speakers seemed to be playing to the crowd as well, making generalistic popular statements that evoke emotions but doesn't really say too much.
I had hoped this election will be different.
I had hoped that it will be a next step towards a better future for us.
But I am not feeling so optimistic.
Lets pray it doesn't end 87 - 0
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Respect
Really salute Mr Low Thia Khiang for his decision to move out of his comfort zone in Hougang and contest a GRC in Aljunied. Put me in the same position and I may not have the guts and resolve to do what he did. He could pretty much stay put and keep on doing the same job which he had been doing very well, and drawing a high 'allowance' at the same time. He could treat it as his own little retirement village, a little bit like a small village chief in the old days, where he will live a comfortable life, and commands respect from the people in Hougang.
I used to live in Hougang a long long time again. Long before I knew anything about politics. To me, Hougang was never any different from the nearby AMK (which I moved to next), nice housing, amenities, places of worship etc. Only real 'difference' or question to me at that time was why there are no MRT there. I did not feel that it had been in anyway 'shortchanged' or disadvantaged. There is no reason for me to feel that way.
Only much later in life, just like in the matrix movie, after taking the red pill, did I realise how many things work in our uniquely Singapore context. Learnt new terms, such as 'pork barrel politics', 'gerrymandering', 'character assassination' and 'fear-mongering'.
I often see Mr Low when I visit Hougang. I even see him around my estate once or twice over the last couple of years even though he isn't contesting here. Rumor has it that he attends every single funeral wake or wedding banquets held in Hougang. Not sure how much truth there is to it, but if true, speaks volume for his character. To voters living in PAP wards, I pose this question, "when was the last time you ever saw your MP if they didn't need something (ie your votes) from you?" For me, its easier to strike 4d than to meet my MP.
By choosing this route, he is basically forcing voters that are still sitting on the fence to make a decision. To break status quo. To bring WP and opposition in Singapore to the next level. I sincerely hope he succeed. Its not going to be easy, especially against George Yeo who seemed to be genuinely well-liked by many and to give credit where its due, had been doing a pretty decent job as a foreign minister. The other members in his team are certainly no TPLs and can be counted on to stand on their own feet, but the WP team seems intent to match them all the way by fielding an very impressive lineup as well.
For this election, I finally decided to start doing something. I've volunteered my services as a polling/counting agent with WP.
A small step forward, may it lead to a big leap next.
I used to live in Hougang a long long time again. Long before I knew anything about politics. To me, Hougang was never any different from the nearby AMK (which I moved to next), nice housing, amenities, places of worship etc. Only real 'difference' or question to me at that time was why there are no MRT there. I did not feel that it had been in anyway 'shortchanged' or disadvantaged. There is no reason for me to feel that way.
Only much later in life, just like in the matrix movie, after taking the red pill, did I realise how many things work in our uniquely Singapore context. Learnt new terms, such as 'pork barrel politics', 'gerrymandering', 'character assassination' and 'fear-mongering'.
I often see Mr Low when I visit Hougang. I even see him around my estate once or twice over the last couple of years even though he isn't contesting here. Rumor has it that he attends every single funeral wake or wedding banquets held in Hougang. Not sure how much truth there is to it, but if true, speaks volume for his character. To voters living in PAP wards, I pose this question, "when was the last time you ever saw your MP if they didn't need something (ie your votes) from you?" For me, its easier to strike 4d than to meet my MP.
By choosing this route, he is basically forcing voters that are still sitting on the fence to make a decision. To break status quo. To bring WP and opposition in Singapore to the next level. I sincerely hope he succeed. Its not going to be easy, especially against George Yeo who seemed to be genuinely well-liked by many and to give credit where its due, had been doing a pretty decent job as a foreign minister. The other members in his team are certainly no TPLs and can be counted on to stand on their own feet, but the WP team seems intent to match them all the way by fielding an very impressive lineup as well.
For this election, I finally decided to start doing something. I've volunteered my services as a polling/counting agent with WP.
A small step forward, may it lead to a big leap next.
DBS ramps up offerings to high net worth clients
From Todayonline:
Hmm... is it just me or is this new DBS CEO trying to mimic his previous employer? Even the name and the criteria is exactly the same. Just like their adding of 'specialists' and 'consultants' to the investment team. Similarly, can't even be bothered to change a title.
Let me guess what next. Instant credit card issuance? hmmm...
Sure makes the job look easy.
DBS ramps up offerings to high net worth clients
10:30 PM Apr 26, 2011
SINGAPORE - As part of its strategy to grow its assets under management from US$35 billion (S$43 billion) to US$50 billion in the next three years, DBS is ramping up its offerings to the high net-worth segment through a new wealth management platform.
Called Treasures Private Client, the platform is a one-stop shop of private banking and consumer banking solutions to give clients access to everyday transactional banking, along with investment offerings.
Analysts estimate that the number of high net worth individuals, with upwards of US$1 million of investable assets, is set to grow by 40 per cent in Asia in the next three years. Wealth amassed by such individuals in Asia is seen growing by US$80 billion in the same period.
Ms Pearlyn Phau, managing director and regional head, DBS Treasures, said, "We will roll Treasures Private Client out to Singapore and Hong Kong as these are the two key markets. We will roll it out to the rest of our key markets in due course."
"In terms of the growth of our customers in the US$1 million to US$3 million wealth bands, we see exponential growth in the next three years. So this will be the target market we're looking at," she said.
DBS also said that the new platform will have a team of 200 staffers, of which 30 to 40 per cent will be new hires.
Hmm... is it just me or is this new DBS CEO trying to mimic his previous employer? Even the name and the criteria is exactly the same. Just like their adding of 'specialists' and 'consultants' to the investment team. Similarly, can't even be bothered to change a title.
Let me guess what next. Instant credit card issuance? hmmm...
Sure makes the job look easy.
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