Wednesday, March 5, 2014

The benefits of investing when you're young

During secondary school days, I always remember we have to do maths question on simple interest and compound interest. As my maths was not very good during my younger days(often failing my exams), i only understood simple interest but cannot seem to understand the concept of compound interest. I remembered I spent a lot of time looking at the question, putting the numbers in my calculator just to find out how compound interest works. Through the patience of a good maths teacher in secondary school, i manage to get quite a reasonable grade during my O levels and it grew my love for numbers.



Fast forward to today, compound interest is still a concept which is important in our lives. Understanding how compound interest works may probably change your life once and for all. Compound interest works through time. The longer the time period, the faster the compounding effect.

Let's illustrate with examples of 2 scenarios:

1) Suppose you have zero savings now and you want to achieve 1 Million dollars in 20 years, how much do you need to save per month? The answer is 4166.66 per month. Saving this amount is quite hard for most people unless you have very high pay.

2) However, if similarly you have zero savings now and also want to achieve 1 Million dollars in 20 years, you can actually just save $2000 per month. If you invest $24000/year($2000x12) and let the money compound at 8% per year(with interest reinvested), you would have achieve 1.19 Million by the end of 20 years. Now saving $2000 per month may be more achievable. The key is you must invest your money and let it compound. In fact, if you think 8% return is too high, even at 7%, you would similarly have achieved 1 Million dollars(1.05 Million to be exact) in 20 years. The 8% interest can come in the form of dividends from stocks. Reinvest the dividends to let it compound.

Some people may say 20 years is too long. Yes it is if you start investing late. If you start investing at the age of 25, 20 years later you are just 45 which is still not too old for many. Achieving 1 Million dollars is possible for most average income earners.

Start investing when you are young to experience the benefits!

Watch the following video to understand how investing can compound your money in an unimaginable rate:


If you would like to learn how to start investing, read this post which i've written sometime back last year: Investing basics - How do I start investing?

*All figures above are denominated in Singapore dollars 


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4 comments:

  1. Don't confuse compound interest with compound return.

    Compound return can unfortunately turn negative when we are wrong.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Uncle CW,

    Indeed. If we can have something to invest which gives interest of 8% and at the same time is capital guaranteed, how good would it be?

    Well, I heard it happened in Singapore many years back but it was shortlived. POSB gave interest rates as high as 9.5% back then. Now? A tiny twinie 0.025%.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi,
    Sort of agree with Cw. When u invest, u get return if successful. Of course u can be unsuccessful too! So it is compound return.
    When u save or loan u get or pay interest as reward. So it is compound interest.
    Good to invest when young! But better to spend some time have investment education first like yourself before investing. What u been doing is really applaudable! :)

    If u do well in ur work, and move up the ladder or expand ur own business, it is even better now since u really know what a business is all about esp business that encompass 50m cap and above. Otherwise being an outside retail investor I can only spend this much time compare to the professional full timer!

    Just my 2 cents thought .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Rolf,

      Yes I agree too. In investing there will always be risk. We should invest safely and at the same time increase our income and reduce our expenses to have more savings.

      Investing requires at least some knowledge and the right attitude and mindset too. A professional investor may not even be better than normal retail investors. In fact, most professional fund managers do not even beat the market index.

      Delete