How a regular 9-to-5 employee earns passive income for financial independence
If you’re in your 20s, financial independence by 50 is within reach. With strong skills, disciplined saving, and dividend investing, you can build a portfolio that covers your expenses without selling shares. Here’s a practical roadmap to create freedom and live life on your terms.
60% of Singaporeans are now living paycheck to paycheck – even in one of the world’s wealthiest cities. In this post, I break down why it’s happening, how it impacts your time and mental peace, and the exact steps you can take to escape the cycle and work towards financial independence.
Singapore dividends are tax-free and capital gains aren’t taxed. US dividends get hit with 30% withholding. So who really wins on total return? I compare two pairs I own – OCBC vs Wells Fargo, and CICT vs Realty Income using 10-year total returns, and share the surprising lessons.
While ETFs are convenient and diversified, I prefer picking my own dividend stocks for passive income. Influenced by Peter Lynch’s philosophy, I focus on businesses I understand, control my holdings, avoid expense ratios, and seek consistent payouts. Here’s why this approach works for me and the trade-offs every investor should consider.
Since 2015, I’ve never sold a single stock from my dividend-paying portfolio – no matter how bad the headlines got. From oil prices going negative, to billion-dollar lawsuits, to dividend cuts, I held on… and even bought more when fear was highest. These are the 3 times I almost sold and why I’m so glad I didn’t.
Escaping the 9-to-5 grind doesn’t require a lottery win—it requires a plan. In this post, I share how building a dividend portfolio gave me the freedom to leave the rat race behind. Through consistent investing, smart stock selection, and the power of passive income, I created a stream of cash flow that now covers my living expenses. If you’re tired of trading time for money, this real-life journey might just inspire your own path to financial independence.
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