More young Singaporeans investing early, but some prefer luxury bags over the stock market
Experts urge young investors to leverage their long runway by starting early and investing regularly.
Singapore's young generation is increasingly investing early, but not all are focused solely on the stock market. Sim Swee Kee, a 23-year-old banking and finance student, began investing at 18 using his part-time tuition earnings. He prefers low-risk, high-dividend stocks, often shying away from US stocks due to unfamiliar market dynamics.
Chloe Wong, a 19-year-old university student, started investing at the same age, following her mother's encouragement to open an investment account. Both are part of a growing trend of young investors entering the market early, according to a Trust Bank survey. This survey found that 51% of respondents aged 18-40 actively invest, with 74% of 18-24 year-olds making their first investment by age 20, compared to 27% of 25-40 year-olds.
Young investors benefit from a longer time horizon to learn and compound their capital, even starting with small amounts. They are increasingly informed due to social media, YouTube, and online platforms, and local universities are enhancing investor education. While some, like Sim, rely on self-study and workshops, others, like Wong, seek advice from their parents. However, not all young investors are equally confident, with some hesitant to enter the market.
Written by urgent.news from Straits Times Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
