The Power of Dividends

Many investors regard dividend-paying companies as uninteresting, low-return investments. Dividend-paying stocks are usually more mature and predictable than high-flying small-cap businesses, whose volatility may be pretty thrilling. Though some may find this uninteresting, the combination of a steady dividend and rising stock prices might provide earnings potential that is compelling enough to be enthusiastic about. 
 
My portfolio used to consist of dividend-paying stocks; however, I had decided to use concentrated play like investing the majority of my portfolio is in Alibaba Group (Ticker: BABA). In a way, I regretted making this investment adjustment to my portfolio since my previous version portfolio is doing much better than the current one. I like my previous portfolio much more because I could receive dividends from holding those stocks in my portfolio. With the dividends payout, I was able to buy more shares of companies that I like. Well, there is nothing I can do about it now since most of my capital is invested in only two stocks, Alibaba Group (Ticker: BABA) and Pfizer Inc. (Ticker: PFE). 
 
Due to my mistake, I learn something valuable, which is not to underestimate dividend-paying stocks. In this blog post, I am going to explain the power of dividends. Moreover, I will explain why holding a portfolio of dividend-paying stocks can be an excellent stock investment strategy. Lastly, I am going to give my opinion on investing in dividend-paying stocks.

Why I'm Planning to Stay with My Parents Even If I'm Married

I’m planning to stay with my parents even if I’m married. I know readers out there might wonder why I want to live with my parents even when I’m married. Usually, when you have a family of your own, you should be independent. The answer to this question is that I find it beneficial to live with my parents. It’s not because I need their money since I saved up my own personal wealth for quite some time already. My view of living with my parents had changed after living with them for quite some time.
 
Back then, I used to want to own my own home because I liked the design of my house to be minimalist. I was always complaining about how my older brother got the opportunity to live on his own. I felt he was lucky to live on his own, but now I feel fortunate I’m able to live with my parents. I’m glad that my dad prevented me from purchasing my own place. If it wasn’t for him, I would probably be in financial trouble now. As I grew up, I learned many valuable lessons from my parents that made me think differently. This is the reason why I want to live with my parents even if I’m married. I hope my future wife can agree to my idea. In this article, I will explain my reasoning as to why I will live with them forever. Moreover, I’m going to talk about my plan of building my own dream home.

Why Paying Taxes is Crucial to the Economy, and Why the Wealthy Should Pay More on Taxes

I used to hate paying taxes. I mean, who doesn't. After all, it is your hard-earned money. Yes, unemployment is at an all-time low, and the stock market DJIA is at an all-time high, but average hardworking Americans are still struggling to get ahead. Inequality has gotten so out of hand that it is stifling US growth.

 
Warren Buffett, who is my mentor and someone I admire, believes the government should tax the wealthy more. Warren Buffett believes that the wealthy in America do not pay enough taxes. "The wealthy are undertaxed relative to the general population," he told CNBC's Becky Quick "Squawk Box." In this article, I will bring up the topic to the fundamental understanding behind taxation. Then I will explain why it is crucial to tax more of the rich people. Moreover, I will also explain the cons to this idea. In the end, I will talk about my opinion about taxing more of the wealthy.

Why Has China Become the Wealthy Country It is today

We look back on how the People's Republic of China's transition spread the extraordinary wealth - and entrenched inequality - throughout the Asian giant as the country commemorates its foundation anniversary.

"China was extremely, very poor when the Communist Party took control," says DBS China economist Chris Leung.

 

"They relied on self-sufficiency because they had no trading partners or diplomatic contacts."

 

Since 1980, China has experienced a significant poverty reduction. The national poverty rate declined from about 90% in 1981 to under 4% in 2016, according to the World Bank's $1.90 per day poverty level (in 2011 prices at purchasing power parity), meaning 800 million fewer people living in poverty.

China has implemented a series of historic market reforms to open up trade routes, and investment flows during the last 40 years, lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. This is a fascinating topic to write about because I am heavily invested in Alibaba (Ticker: BABA), a Chinese company. Because of this reason, I researched why and how China became the wealthy nation it is today. This article will explain the history of poverty in China and how it has become one of the leading nations it is today. Moreover, I will explain what progress China has developed and why I want to learn Mandarin again.

Charlie Munger’s Firm Doubled Down on Its Alibaba Investment

This is an exciting topic to talk about. If you read my article, you know that Charlie Munger, a close friend to Warren Buffett, invested in Alibaba (Ticker: BABA) stock. The stock dropped significantly after his first purchase; however, he recently just doubled down on Alibaba bet.  
 
I am holding Alibaba stock (Ticker: BABA) as the majority of my portfolio. I own 3285 shares of Alibaba at an average cost of $215.45. I am still down about 18% from my average purchase cost. However, I am still confident in this company because it is an excellent value growth stock. Because I am holding Alibaba stock, I am curious why Charlie Munger doubled down on Alibaba stock. This article is going to focus on information about Charlie Munger's recent double-down purchase on Alibaba. Moreover, I am going to mention the bull and bear scenario in investing in this company. 

My New Bedroom Workstation - 'The Famous Table'

People that have been reading my blog know that I am setting up a workstation in my bedroom. I really need this workstation for my bedroom since I want to be more productive during the nighttime. I believe having the convenience of working in my bedroom will help me be more hard-working. Before, I could not do any work when I was just hanging out in my bedroom nighttime. I'm too lazy to go to the office since I don't want to dress up. Unlike having a workstation in my bedroom, I can keep working even when I only wear my underpants.
 
The table I have set up uses the classical theme design. Personally, I prefer minimalist design more. However, because my parents' house is a classical design, I have to match it with that theme. Also, this table compares the theme of my other furniture in my bedroom. All of the furniture in my bedroom looks uniform and matches each other. I have been waiting for this workstation for a very long time due to Covid-19 Pandemic. However, I was finally able to persuade my parents to make one.
 
I know this topic is not related to investment or personal finance, but because this is the work setup that I will use to build my career life and my journey to financial freedom, I will talk about it. After all, this workstation is called "The Famous Table" for a reason. This article will share all the equipment and gadgets that I use to set up my workstation. I hope this can be an inspiration for readers interested in setting up a workstation.

How to Start Digital Marketing Agency Company

If you're a savvy marketer, you've certainly fantasized about founding your own firm and developing a business that allows you to work from home and feel accomplished. Unfortunately, most people do not pursue their aspirations because they do not know where to begin.

 
The global digital marketing and advertising market are expected to be worth $322.5 billion, with a forecast of $640.2 billion by 2027. Within this industry, you can profit from various subfields, such as unique areas of expertise with little competition and fast-growing areas with significant profit potential. Launching a marketing agency could be a terrific alternative if you have marketing experience or want to establish a business that allows you to think creatively and offer solutions for a wide range of clients.
 
Eric Siu, Single Grain's CEO, got down to discuss the exact methodology he followed to grow this brand from a negative startup to a multimillion-dollar digital marketing agency that services Fortune 500 companies like Lyft and Amazon to help people get started.
 
I personally have a massive interest in this business niche because I am already doing it myself. I have created many websites to market the businesses I own. If you take a look at my online resume, I have created all the businesses from scratch. Creating my own digital marketing agency company allows me to synergize with the other businesses I already own. Because of this reason, I am going to research and write an article on this topic. I hope you readers can learn something valuable if you are also interested in starting your own marketing agency company. Moreover, I am going to explain my plan and strategy for creating this business.

How to Become a Successful Yacht Broker

Many people are interested in becoming yacht brokers. Although many of us fantasize about the day when we can quit our jobs and go cruising, our retirement funds may not allow us to do so just yet. As a result, many people who enjoy boats and know more than their fair share consider working in the marine industry.
 
Many persons with marine experience or who live near the water find professional yacht brokering interesting. I find it appealing to become a yacht broker because my dad and I are yacht enthusiasts. Because of this hobby, I want to create a yacht broker company myself, aside from doing a yacht chartering business. I believe that becoming a yacht broker allows me to be flip yachts as a business.  
 
Due to my interest in this niche of business, I am researching and writing a topic on this article. What are the steps to become a yacht broker? What procedures do you need to take in order to become a licensed broker? Let's take a look at some basic needs to consider when pursuing a career as a broker. I will explain how you can become a successful yacht broker and make a high income from this industry niche. Furthermore, I will talk about my Plan as a Yacht Broker and the business I will build.

Flipping Boats for Profit: How to Make Money & Not Lose It

When we have the opportunity, we all prefer to have some additional cash. Nowadays, side hustles and side enterprises are the entire trends, and we'd all love to be able to flip houses. However, this can be costly. It's no surprise that you're considering purchasing and flipping a boat.

How to Make Money Flipping Boats for Profit: Flipping boats is a lucrative business in which you purchase a boat for a low price and then sell it for a profit. This can be accomplished by purchasing them and then repairing, cleaning, detailing, restoring, repowering, or otherwise enhancing them to sell the boat for a higher price than what you paid for it.

 

I'm interested in this business venture because I am already in the Yacht charter business (Jakarta Yacht Club). Moreover, I am interested in expanding the yacht charter business into a yacht brokerage business as well. With a yacht brokerage company, I can get the latest deal for yachts that are on sale. This can help me to pursuit the flipping boat business venture. Due to this reason, I am writing an article on this topic. I want to share my research on how you can flip boats for profit. In addition, I am going to explain my plan and strategy for the new business venture.

How to Flip Houses: A Starting Guide for Beginners

If you're new to purchasing and flipping houses, you've definitely noticed that there's a lot to learn. Buying and flipping properties aren't as easy or straightforward as it appears on TV. However, if you take the time to learn how to do it correctly, you can successfully flip properties. There are also methods for shortening your learning curve and putting precautions in place to reduce your costs.
 
I know readers out there know that I am a stock investor more than a property investor. But one of my best friends who live in San Francisco gives me the idea that I can be making money flipping houses. He is currently working in a home construction company. Moreover, he is learning how to renovate and build houses. I believe there are opportunities for us to work together and share profit in the future. I already have a stock portfolio that holds U.S. equities; however, I don't mind expanding my business portfolio to other ventures.
 
I think the real-estate business in the U.S. has much room for me to grow my assets. Moreover, I am interested in having my own Business Green Card to travel back and forth to America. I love San Francisco since I grew up over there. I want to be able to spend quality time with my friends who live there. Due to this reason, I decided to write an article on this topic. This article will teach beginners how to flip a house and some mistakes to avoid along the way. I am also going to talk about my plan in this business niche. 

Alibaba is in Big Hot Sale

The stock of Alibaba (Ticker: BABA) has taken a beating this year. It started at $227 in January and is now about $160, a 30 percent drop. This is a big blow for stockholders, especially given that it happened when U.S. shares were setting record highs after record highs. China's market performance has been poor this year. The S&P 500 has gained 20.8 percent this year, while China's Hang Seng Index has lost 7.5 percent. Surprisingly, the underperformance was mostly planned. Mind you, not by the firms themselves, but by force far more robust than they are.
 
The stock market in China did not fall because of an economic slump, the COVID-19 pandemic, or anything else. They're also not down due to weak earnings—at least not in the most recent quarter. Instead, they're down due to the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) crackdown on digital companies, which has many investors worried.
 
As you may be aware, the CCP is currently led by Xi Jinping, its most powerful leader in decades. He has been dubbed China's most powerful man since Mao and is famed for getting his way. Following his ascension to power, Jinping shook up the Chinese government to expand his control. He established working groups in which he served as the leader, and he made essential government bureaucracies directly accountable to him. The end consequence was a leader with an unrivaled capacity to achieve his goals.
 
Now fast forward to the present day. Xi Jinping is a man on a mission to resurrect and rebuild China. Moreover, he promotes the Belt and Road Initiative, a massive infrastructure project connecting Asia and the European Union. He is bolstering China's military. He's advocating the concept of the "Chinese Dream," a daring new vision for the next century in China. Overall, he is a forward-thinking leader with enormous intentions for his country.
 
China's tech billionaires appear to be excluded from Xi's goal. A speech by Alibaba's Jack Ma is said to have enraged Xi Jinping in 2020, prompting a full-scale attack on not just BABA but China's whole digital sector. Shortly after the speech, the government began implementing the policies that have sparked so much debate today, including penalties, app de-listings, and attempts to halt U.S. IPOs.

These measures are at the heart of much of the current debate around BABA. Everyone knows the company has a winning combination of growth and value, but the negative thesis is that China's regulatory crackdown will limit growth in the future.
 
It may. Chinese tech companies may grow more slowly in the future than they would have if Jack Ma hadn't spoken up. BABA's $2.8 billion penalties have already taken a toll on profits, and the CCP isn't finished enacting restrictions.
 
Nonetheless, the selloff that we've seen is unreasonable. BABA isn't suddenly valued 30 percent less because it will be subjected to regulatory scrutiny in the future. Its stock price is a typical illustration of Ben Graham's "Mr. Market" delivering a terrific business at a low price. As a result, in this essay, I'll present a bullish case for BABA, suggesting that its combination of growth and value is worth the political risk.

My Financial Journey Progress and Future Plan

Today, I want to talk about my current personal net worth and my progress in my financial journey. I’m showing you, readers, this not because I want to brag, but to show a tracking record of my performance in managing my personal finance. Yes, I did inherit some money from my dad as a starting capital. The total amount he gave me is $350,000. It’s not a small sum amount of money, but I manage to turn that starting capital into $1,400,000.

My current net worth (July 2021) is more than $1,400,000 if I combine both assets in Indonesia and United States. I’m not trying to brag but to show my tracking record of managing and building my personal wealth. I’m pretty satisfied with my progress overall. My investing journey wasn’t smooth, for I also made many bad decisions and mistakes that cause me to lose money. However, even though I made a lot of errors, I was able to turn the $350,000 my dad gave me in total into $1,400,000. In this article, I want to share my strategy to manage to have the current personal wealth I have right now. I am also going to talk about my plan for the future.

Is Inflation Coming? How is it Going to Affect the Economy & What You Should Do!

Recently, the Federal Reserve kept printing new money into the economy. The government did this to stimulate the economy during the Covid pandemic crisis. However, all this money printing has its side effect. Inflation is here. As with the April report, the May CPI inflation report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) highlighted that prices rose across the board by a lot. Overall, prices in May climbed 5% year over year, the biggest such gain in the headline CPI data since August 2008. Even when you strip out volatile food and energy prices—so-called core CPI inflation—prices rose by 3.8% year over year in May.
 
Investors are spooked because rising inflation, which threatens investment and consumer spending, would need to be tamed by a rise in currently rock-bottom interest rates – and that would be anathema to markets and a corporate sector that has grown used to cheap money. Due to all this money printing, the economy is in a bubble that might eventually burst. The S&P 500 Index has risen so much recently due to all this money printing. I believe the market is overvalued, and the upcoming collapse of the U.S. economy might occur. In this article, I'm going to emphasize how impending inflation is coming and how it will affect the economy. Moreover, I will explain what I did to my stock portfolio and what financial advice I recommend.

My New Business Plan - Bun's Bargains E-Commerce

I have created many side businesses during the journey of my career path. I enjoy the process of creating new business ventures since it’s my passion. I decided I want to do something about my grandfathered Shopify account (free membership) to be used as a new business. My older brother was the one that created the Shopify account. I have been thinking for a long time about what I can do about it. Because I have background experience in selling electronics and gadgets on the internet, I believe starting an online store that sells these goods is a good idea. When I was still living in the United States for my education, I bought and sold electronic goods. I was buying them wholesale from China and selling them at a markup price.
 
Anyways, let me explain my business plan for this e-commerce website. Bun’s Bargains will be a new online store that sells electronics and gadgets on the internet. I am going to use my grandfathered Shopify account for making this online business store. However, before I start this new business venture, I still have to ask my older brother for permission to use the Shopify account. I am willing to give him a 50% cut if he lets me use the Shopify account. In this article, I will discuss why I want to create this business and what my plans are. Moreover, I will explain how this new business will generate cash flow for me and how I can monetize this business.