Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Interview With Rolf Suey

Rolf Suey
It has been a while since my last interview series post, to be exact, about 26 days ago (my last interview was with Jun Hao of The Asia Report blog on 24/07/2014. 

Today, I am pleased to share with you folks the 18th interviewee of my Interview Series. He is non other than Rolf Suey. If you have visited his blog (Rolf Suey), I am sure you will be surprised with his indepth and detailed analysis of the companies he is interested in. I can feel the passion when he is writing his analysis.

Keep reading to find out more of Rolf's investing journey and his story so far (Oh, also the hidden meaning behind his blog name). 

Enjoy! 

Q1 : Can you give us a brief introduction about yourself?
I am an ordinary Singaporean male, 36 years of age and happily married with kids. I am a newbie blogger of less than six months, and definitely no heavyweights or gurus like many other interviewees listed. I grew up in a humble environment, although poor, I am grateful to receive good education in Singapore. I graduated from NTU during SARs crisis period and started as an Engineer with project and hands-on work experiences onboard offshore vessels/rigs. Years later, I got into sales by accident simply because my boss assigned me to it. Working as sales in an MNC provided me with opportunities to talk/negotiate with top management of many companies and also travel extensively around the globe from Americas, Europe, Middle East to Asia Pacific regions. This valuable exposure changes my mindset positively. 

Going through the GFC in 2008/09, seeing colleagues retrenched and CEOs literally begging for help, due to cash flow problems, is another great learning experience. It makes you wonder "what is job security?” After the crisis, my sales duties took a change to more management oriented. Overdose by more quick success, I made a bad career switch and suffered temporary setbacks. It serves as one of my best learning experiences! Besides, as I accumulate more wealth, my health deteriorates. Since then, I learn to treasure my love ones more. 

My health and career is back to normal now and probably even better since I have more time now to exercise, read, research and invest. I started “Rolf Suey – Better Late than Never” blog to advocate investment in “Yourself” and to spread financial literacy. My blog also serves as a library of information for my children in future. Rolf Suey, when the letters re-arranged means "Yourself".

Q2 : Are you a fulltime or part-time investor at the moment?
Part-time. 

Q3 : When (at what age) did you start investing in shares and who has influenced you the most?
Excluding investment-linked funds, my equity investment started in 2010. I was first influenced by my ex-boss who is a successful investor and business man throughout his life. Moreover, the nature of my work also requires me to know my clients and suppliers better. This is why I started reading annual reports eight years ago, which later led to my investment journey. Like many others, I idolized Warren Buffett and Peter Lynch, therefore their influence on me is significant too. 

Q4 : Do you view yourself as long-term (holding shares in years), short-term investor (holding shares in days/months) or mixture?
Mixture. Basically I devise three categories of stocks. 1. Very long term, normally "more defensive" stocks in my opinion, and going to keep for as long as possible. 2. Yield Stocks to provide regular income and in timeframe of 5-10 years, subject to changes in local/global conditions. 3. Cyclical stocks and more volatile higher-risk stocks, which I would like to consider as "growth” stocks. Strategy, is to profit over shorter term from category 3 stocks , from few months to five years and below, and then re-invest the realized profits into more defensive stocks for long term.

Q5 : What is your basis of selecting the shares to invest (e.g. basing on fundamental analysis, technical analysis or other methods/sources [share a little bit more details if it is the latter])?
Fundamental Analysis definitely. Attended a course on Technical Analysis but seriously have no interest. I like to invest in companies that I know well such as within my work sector or those that I have personal experiences with. 

For instance I have substantial holdings in oil and gas stocks (but I am selective). This is the sector I worked in since graduation. Suntec Reit is another stock I hold having malls and offices I visited frequently. Comfort Delgro taxi services is one of the best I had seen/or taken worldwide. Coca Cola is one of my favourite and most popular drinks in the world. I also have regular medical treatment at Raffles Medical Group. These are some examples why I am vested in all these companies 

Q6 : What is your targeted and achieved annual rate of returns (%) so far? 
My targeted rate of returns is 10 % and above. My achieved rate of returns: From 2010 to 2013, 6-10% p.a. From 2013 to current, 15-20% p.a.

Q7 : What is your most recommended online investing resource (site or blog) to share with our readers? 
www.singaporestockmarketnews.blogspot.sg – a place where you can find many updated reports. 
www.sginvestbloggers.blogspot.sg – a platform compiling all bloggers base in Singapore. 
www.fool.sg – excellent write up/analysis on SGX companies, particularly articles from Mr. David Kuo.
www.investopedia.com - The investment encyclopedia 

Q8 : Besides shares, what other investment are you involved in (e.g. Real Estates, Bonds or REITs etc)?
One Private (stay) and one HDB (rental) properties co-own by me and wife. REITs should be same category as shares. 

Q9 : What is your current Shares Investment portfolio size (in range, no need specific)? 
S$300K +/- currently. It also depends on how much cash I decide to hold from time to time, since I am not 100% vested. 

Q10 : If the readers what to get in touch with you, how to get hold of you? (Sharing of your website/blog/social media profile etc..)
Do drop by my blog at www.rolfsuey.com or email me at rolfsuey@gmail.com . Each posting comprised of painstaking research, time and effort !

By the way, if you are a retail investor and would like to be featured in my "Interview With The Fellow Investors" blog series, please feel free to email me at investopenly@gmail.com

Also, for the complete list of my interviewees and their posts, check it out here.

Cheers!

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