Especially if you’re looking after both kids and parents, you don’t have extra hours to give to the office. You’re already squeezed for time and energy. You need a system that grows your bank account while you’re catching some Z’s, dealing with school runs, or taking your parents to their appointments.

Here’s a simple 5-step plan to stop chasing every ringgit and start building something that actually lasts.

1. Systems Beat Willpower Every Time

Wealthy people aren’t superheroes with infinite self-control! They just treat their money like a project with clear, unbreakable rules. We often think we fail because we “aren’t disciplined enough,” but the truth is that willpower is like a battery—it drains pretty fast every time you have to make a tough choice.

If you have to decide to save every single month, eventually you’ll have a bad day and spend that money instead. Don’t rely on your mood to save. Make growth your “default setting” by automating your accounts. Set up your bank to move money the second your salary hits. That way, your wealth grows without you even having to be in the room!

2. Be the CEO of Your Own Bank Account

Try managing your money like a little company. A CEO doesn’t just keep all the cash in one big messy pile; they allocate it to different departments.

• The HQ Account: This is your home base. Every cent you earn—salary, bonuses, or side-hustle cash—lands here first.
  
• The “Allowances” (Spending Accounts): Give yourself a set amount of “spending money” each month. Move this into separate accounts or cards specifically for bills, groceries, and fun.
  
• The Golden Rule: Never spend straight from HQ! Think of the HQ account as a “restricted zone.” Whatever is left over in that main account after the allowances are sent out is your company “profit”—and that’s the sacred capital you invest immediately to grow the business of You.

3. Keep an Eye on These Three Numbers

You don’t need to be a math whiz or a Wall Street analyst, just keep a close watch on these three vital signs:

1. The Safety Net: Life happens, especially when you’re caring for a family. Aim for at least 6 months of expenses in a spot where you can grab it easily (like TNG Go+). This isn’t just for emergencies; it’s “sleep-at-night” money. It’ll earn a bit of interest every day while staying ready for whatever life throws at you!
   
2. The Debt Limit: Debt is like a leak in your engine. Try to keep your monthly loan payments—mortgage, car, and credit cards—under 35% of what you make. If you’re paying more than that, you’re mostly working to pay for your past instead of funding your future.
   
3. Real vs. Fake Assets: This is a big one. Real assets put money into your pocket (like dividend stocks or a small business). Your own house is actually a “fake” asset in terms of cash flow, because it takes money out for taxes, insurance, and repairs. While you need a roof over your head, don’t let your home be your only plan for wealth. Focus on buying things that pay you back!

4. Invest Like a Robot

We humans are emotional creatures. We get a “fear of missing out” (FOMO) when everyone is talking about a new coin, and we tend to panic and sell when the news looks scary. To win the game, you have to take the “human” out of the equation:

• Go for “Boring” Wins: A steady, boring 8–10% a year from the stock market is a miracle of math over time. It’s way better than those “get-rich-quick” scams you see on Telegram promising 30% in a week. If it feels like a rollercoaster, it’s probably a gamble, not an investment.
  
• Set it and Forget it (DCA): Set up an auto-transfer for your investments, known as Dollar Cost Averaging. Robots don’t get scared when the market dips; they just keep buying the same amount every month. When prices are low, your “robot” buys more shares. When prices are high, it buys fewer. Over a decade or two, this consistency leads to a massive fortune that would make a professional trader jealous!

5. Build a Legacy, Not a Show

At the end of the day, you’ve got two main choices for how you want to live:

• The Vanderbilt Way: This is about spending everything on “status” to look rich. The Vanderbilts were once the wealthiest family in the world, but they spent it all on massive mansions and parties just to keep up appearances. Within a few generations, the money was gone.
  
• The Rockefeller Way: This is about focusing on stewardship. They focused on teaching their kids how to handle money, how to keep the system running, and how to give back. They didn’t just pass down money; they passed down a system.

The Goal: True wealth isn’t about a fancy car or a designer bag; it’s all about Time and Freedom. If you’re spending just to show off to people you don’t even like, you’re basically a high-paid slave to your own image! But if you spend on your values and your family’s future, you’re building a real legacy that will last long after you’re gone.

Your P.A.T.H. Forward

1. Plan: Stop waiting for a “lucky break.” Realize that being wealthy is a skill you can learn and a structural system you can build.
   
2. Approach: Be patient. Aim for that steady 8–10% long-term growth. Remember: the first few years feel slow, but the last few years feel like a rocket ship.
   
3. Tools: Don’t overcomplicate it. Stick to the basics like low-cost ETFs and money market funds.
   
4. Home: Get the whole family on board! Talk to your partner and even your kids about these goals. The whole thing falls apart if one person is trying to save for a legacy while the other is busy building a “castle” to show off to the neighbors.

So, here’s the final question: Are you building a temporary castle for show, or are you engineering a foundation that’s going to grow forever?

PWM Members can watch the webinar here:

Link: Stop Grinding So Hard and Start Building a Money System!

For decades, the traditional rental narrative was a slow “buy-and-hold” strategy yielding a modest 3% to 4%—barely enough to service a modern mortgage. However, the playbook is being rewritten. Here, I would like to list down 5 Surprising Realities of Modern Airbnb Investing.

1. The 2031 LRT “Game Changer”: Future-Proofing Scarcity

In real estate, infrastructure is the ultimate catalyst, but the upcoming Light Rail Transit (LRT) project is more than just a traffic solution. Scheduled for completion in 2031, the 21-station line represents the only viable direction for Penang’s future expansion. It connects the airport directly to Silicon Island—a massive reclamation project that serves as the island’s only answer to its flat-land shortage.

The strategic analyst’s move isn’t to buy in 2031 when values have already peaked, but to position oneself now along the stretch from the airport to the industrial hubs. “The LRT is a game changer for the state’s accessibility,” notes Michael Yo. Projects like the Maritime Signature are positioned just a “stone’s throw” from Station 17/18, ensuring that as the island becomes more connected, these units become “future-proofed” hubs for both commuters and travelers.

2. The “Studio Fallacy” – Why Penang Isn’t Kuala Lumpur

A common mistake for investors is applying the “KL Model” to Penang. In Kuala Lumpur, compact studio units thrive on solo business travelers. In Penang, however, the tourism DNA is fundamentally different. The island is a destination for the “tribe”—multigenerational families and groups from China, Indonesia, and the Middle East.

For these travelers, a studio is a constraint; they seek “home-away-from-home” functionality. The data shows a clear cultural preference for units that offer:

• Space for Connection: Multi-bedroom layouts that allow families to stay together rather than splitting across separate hotel rooms.
  
• Operational Independence: Full kitchen facilities and in-unit laundry, essential for the Indonesian medical tourist or the long-stay Middle Eastern family.
  
• The Group Dynamic: While a KL business traveler needs a desk and a bed, a Penang vacationer needs a living area where the group can gather.

3. The 70% Rule – Why “Bans” are a Professional’s Best Friend

Recent headlines regarding the “Airbnb Ban” in Penang have scared away the amateurs, which is exactly why professional investors are leaning in. The state has restricted short-term rentals (STR) in residential-titled buildings, requiring a rigorous 70% owner approval threshold in Joint Management Body (JMB) or Management Corporation (MC) meetings.

This regulatory hurdle acts as a “filter,” clearing the field of oversupply and amateur competition. By funneling demand toward specifically approved commercial-titled properties, the state has stabilized yields for serious players.

“There is a massive difference between the risk of ‘meeting under a tree’ to exchange keys for an illegal residential unit and the safety of an approved commercial project,” says Michael Yo. “Regulation protects the professional’s ROI by ensuring your competition can’t simply pop up in the apartment next door.”

4. The Medical Tourism & Digital Nomad “Safety Net”

While holiday crowds drive the peaks, the “safety net” of the Penang market is its secondary segments. Specifically, Penang is a premier hub for Indonesian medical tourists who often require “long-stays” of two to four weeks for recovery. These guests prefer the comfort of a private apartment over a hotel, providing high-occupancy stability during “low months” like April when traditional tourism dips.

Additionally, the rise of the Digital Nomad—those seeking high-speed Wi-Fi and a “live, work, play” environment—provides a mid-term rental buffer. These segments ensure that the unit remains a cash-flow engine 365 days a year, not just during school holidays.

5. The Power of Low-Density “Flexible” Units

The ideal investment profile in the modern market is the “versatile” commercial unit. Take the Maritime Signature project at Kapal Singh Drive as a case study. Developed by the Taiwanese-backed Binary Development with IGM as the main contractor, it offers a crucial metric: only 8 units per floor.

Low density is an analyst’s dream because it minimizes internal competition for bookings, maintaining a high Average Daily Rate (ADR). This project also utilizes a “Dual-Exit Strategy”:

1. The Airbnb Pivot: Using professional “Free Reno” packages designed specifically for the “Instagrammable” aesthetic that triggers the 4.5+ star ratings required by the booking algorithms.
   
2. The Class A Office Pivot: Because the units are commercial-titled and Georgetown’s existing office stock is increasingly dated, these units can easily transition into professional office spaces if the market shifts.

Conclusion: The 10-Year Horizon

The days of the 30-year mortgage slog are over for those who understand the new rental code. By optimizing for the short-stay model, investors are targeting an ROI of 8% to 12%—a figure that remains robust even after accounting for the 20-30% fees charged by professional operators.

As the LRT moves toward its 2031 completion and Silicon Island begins to rise, the island’s scarcity will only intensify. The fundamental question for any prospective investor remains: Would you rather spend three decades paying off your own debt, or let the “2031 traveler” build your equity for you? In the new Penang market, the answer is written in the data.NotebookLM can be inaccurate; please double check its responses.

PWM Members can watch the webinar recording here:

Link: Cracking the Penang Rental Code

A Co’s current P/E Ratio stands at 20. 

B Co’s current P/E Ratio stands at 30. 

So, does it mean that A Co is more attractive an investment than B Co?

Let’s examine. 

Here, I’ll share two methods on interpreting their current P/E Ratios. 

They will shape my perspectives on their attractiveness as investments. 

Before I share the two methods, let’s add some context to both stocks: 

A Co and B Co

For A Co, it is a national champion that operates in a matured market. It is a cash cow which has a track record of paying out 80% of its earnings to shareholders in dividends and keeping about 20% of its earnings for plant repairs and maintenance purposes. At present, A Co’s details are: 

Stock Price = $20.00
Earnings per Share (EPS) = $1.00
P/E Ratio = 20
Dividends per Share (DPS) = $0.80 (80% of $1.00)
EPS Growth Rate = 0%

For B Co, it is a global powerhouse. Like A Co, it is also a cash cow. But unlike A Co, B Co invests 100% of its earnings back into the business, expanding its moat (dominance). As a result, B Co’s EPS is growing at a rate of 15% per annum. At present, B Co’s details are: 

Stock Price = $30.00
Earnings per Share (EPS) = $1.00
P/E Ratio = 30
Dividends per Share (DPS) = $0.00
EPS Growth Rate = 15%

Method 1 – Comparing Current PE with Historical PE

This method involves comparing their P/E Ratios with their historical P/E Ratios (10 years). 

Here is the rationale. 

Let’s say, in Year 0, you bought an apartment for $480,000 for investment. 

You secured a tenant that pays $2,000 a month / $24,000 a year in rent. 

So, your rental yield is 5% per annum. 

10 years later, you manage to raise the rent to $2,500 a month / $30,000 a year in rent. 

If investors continue to expect 5% in annual rental yield, what’s the value of your apartment? 

Answer = $600,000. 

What went up in those 10 years? Answer = Property Price. (Price)

What was the driver for its appreciation? Answer = Rental Income. (Earnings)

What had remained constant in those 8 years? Answer = Expected Rental Yield (Valuation)

This rationale (or concept) can be applied on stocks. 

Referring back to A Co and B Co. 

Let’s say, over the past 10 years, A Co’s shares were trading on average at a P/E Ratio of 25. That is also the same with B Co. 

At current P/E Ratio of 20, A Co is undervalued as it is below its historical average of 25. 

As for B Co, it is overvalued as its P/E Ratio of 30 is above its historical average of 25. 

So, is that it? Is A Co definitely a winner when compared to B Co?

Let’s dive deeper. 

What Are We Investing For?

Here, it is helpful to revisit our purposes for investing in stocks. 

It is primarily to achieve sustainable capital growth in the long run. 

Of course, in the meantime, it is always nice to receive dividends. Hopefully, they will grow too. 

Hence ultimately, growth is what we are looking for. 

Such is achieved more sustainably with growth in earnings per share (EPS), which is contributed by long-term sales growth, earnings growth and share reduction. Companies that could deliver such financial results often have competitive advantages, which are often known as moats. 

So, it is fundamentals that drive long-term growth, be it capital growth or dividend growth. 

Method 2 – Comparing PE with EPS Growth

With this in mind, it is crucial to assess the fundamental qualities of a stock before investing. 

By factoring in growth, we discover that the payback period for investing in B Co is shorter. This is even if its P/E Ratio is higher than A Co. 

Here are the maths. 

For A Co, its payback period is 20 years. 

Investors who opt for A Co shall invest $20 to earn $1 every year. Since its EPS doesn’t grow, the shareholders shall earn $20 by holding onto A Co for 20 years. 

But, what about B Co? 

In Year 0, its EPS is $1.00. 

In Year 1, its EPS is $1.15 as it grows at a rate of 15% per annum. 

In Year 2, its EPS would grow further to $1.32. 

In Year 3, its EPS would grow further to $1.52. You can generate a table as follows:

Investors who opt B Co may (in a glance) pay a higher PE for its shares (PE = 30). 

But, their payback period is between 11 to 12 years, a lot faster than A Co. 

Based on this perspective, B Co is more attractive than A Co despite having a higher P/E Ratio.

Notes: 
A Co – Invested at $20 (PE = 20). Earned back in 20 years. 
B Co – Invested at $30 (PE = 30). Earned back in 11-12 years. 

So, do we use Method 2 over Method 1?

Well, not entirely. 

Personally, I use both depending on situations and context. 

Let’s say, I’m considering an investment into a growth stock. I’ll use Method 2 first to evaluate its investment attractiveness. Then, I’ll use Method 1 as a guide on determining my entry prices. As an investor, I’ll still prefer to invest when its current P/E Ratio is either below or (if above, close to / not too far away) from its historical long-term P/E Ratio. 

But, if I want to invest in a pure-breed dividend stock, I’ll only use Method 1. 

All in all, the first priority is on EPS growth. 

The second priority is on its valuation. 

Conclusion: 

There are a few conclusions to this: 

1. A low P/E Ratio does not necessarily mean that a stock is an attractive buy. 

2. The context (business growth & fundamentals) is important. 

3. Growth > Valuation. 

4. A stock with a high P/E Ratio can be attractive as an investment if its growth rate is solid. 

At the end, the focus is to shift from “buy cheap” to “buy growth at reasonable prices”.

Which is better for investors: stocks, unit trusts or ETFs? 

Today, many compare and prefer one over the other. 

It seems that stocks, unit trusts and ETFs are entirely different. 

Now, if you are new to investing and are scratching your head as to what they are and how they work, read on. In this article, I’ll share their basics and highlight their pros and cons. Of which, as an aspiring investor, you will be able to decide which is more suitable for yourself. 

Let’s begin. 

Case Study: Public Bank Bhd

Let’s take Public Bank as an example. 

In 2025, Public Bank earned RM7.2 billion from offering banking services to its customers. Based on 19.3 billion shares in issue, its earnings per share (EPS) is 37.41 sen. Of which, Public Bank had declared 22.5 sen in dividends per share (DPS). 

As I write, Public Bank is trading at RM4.98 a share. 

Now, there are three ways investors can choose to invest and own Public Bank’s shares. 

Method 1 – Stocks

Investors can buy or sell Public Bank’s shares directly through their stock brokerage accounts. If they own shares of Public Bank, they will collect its DPS declared and choose to either spend or reinvest it to further build their portfolios. Also, they will participate in any capital growth or loss
directly as Public Bank’s shareholders. 

This is simple and suitable for investors who prefer to make their own decisions. 

They know clearly what stocks to invest in and intend to decide on their own what prices, when, and how much shares they want to invest or divest over time. 

It’s about retaining control over investment decisions. 

Also, do investors incur any costs after investing in Public Bank’s shares? 

Well, after a one-time transaction costs (brokerage and stamp duty), there is no fee charged on keeping or holding onto the investment. Hence, in that sense, it is cost effective. 

Method 2 – Unit Trusts 

Alternatively, investors can own Public Bank’s shares indirectly via unit trust. 

Unit trust is a vehicle that pools funds from investors to invest. For instance, a company forms a unit trust fund known as Fund A. Fund A has successfully raised RM100 million from investors. It then invests the RM100 million raised into investments, which can include Public Bank’s shares. 

The decision to invest lies with its fund manager. 

The fund manager can decide: 

1. whether or not to invest or divest Public Bank’s shares 

2. the price to buy or sell for its shares

3. the time to invest or divest 

4. The quantity of Public Bank’s shares to be invested or divested

These decisions are done on behalf of investors who pooled in capital into that unit trust. 

Investors give away “control over investment decisions” to the fund manager. 

Investors who prefer to free their minds (or headache) from making these investment decisions would then compensate the fund manager with annual management fees. The fees payable are based on the fund size (also known as asset under management). 

So, if Public Bank (and other major investments) appreciate in stock prices and collectively, they have contributed to a larger size for Fund A, Fund A will earn higher fees from its investors. 

But, if the otherwise happens and have resulted in a reduction in fund size, Fund A would earn a lower management fee from its investors. 

In either direction, Fund A earns management fees. 

Now, what about DPS from Public Bank? 

How will investors of Fund A benefit from DPS declared and paid out by Public Bank?

So, let’s say Fund A owns 1 million shares of Public Bank (worth RM4.98 million) today. 

The fund manager decides to hold onto it for the long-term. 

So, Fund A will receive RM225,000 in dividend income from Public Bank in 2025. 

Then, the fund manager can decide to:

1. Keep the RM225,000 in the fund’s bank account. 

2. Reinvest the RM225,000 into other stocks or add more Public Bank shares. 

3. Distribute the RM225,000 to its fellow investors. 

4. All keep some, reinvest some and distribute the remaining portion. 

The utilisation of dividend income is decided by the fund manager. 

Method 3 – Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) 

For unit trust investors, they incur: 

1. One-time sales charge. 

2. Annual management and trustee fees. 

They hope to leverage on the fund manager’s expertise to invest their capital. 

ETFs have a similar structure to unit trust funds. 

ETFs also pool in capital from investors to invest. 

As ETFs hire fund managers to manage portfolios, investors also pay annual management fees. 

But typically, the fees charged could be lower than unit trusts. 

Why? 

This is because the manager of a unit trust fund does more work than the manager of an ETF. In brief, the fund manager of a unit trust does extensive research and analysis work to build, run, & manage the portfolio. Typically, an ETF is set up to track the performances of a specific industry or market (for instance, the KLCI). 

So, if an ETF is formed to track the KLCI, the manager would own stocks, which are members of the KLCI, in accordance to their respective weightage. Hence, if the KLCI has 8% of Stock A, 6% of Stock B, 5% of Stock C and so on and so forth, the manager will “copy & paste” such into that ETF portfolio. In this sense, the manager does less work, thus, earning lesser fees. 

Let’s say an investor buys an ETF that tracks the KLCI. 

He would own a portfolio of 30 biggest listed companies on Bursa Malaysia, which also includes Public Bank. The ETF earns dividends from Public Bank (and the 30 companies) and its manager decides how best to utilise the dividends similar to a unit trust fund. 

But unlike unit trust, investors can buy or sell ETFs directly via their stock brokerage accounts. In this sense, there is no sales charge for ETFs. 

So, in a way, ETFs are kind of a hybrid between stocks and unit trust funds. 

Conclusion: Which is Suitable?

Once again, here is a table that depicts the differences between stocks, unit trusts and ETFs:

To assess suitability, you may refer to the list of questions below: 

1. Do you prefer to make your own investment decisions? 

2. Do you have the interest to learn about investing? 

3. Do you want to learn about the business model of a company before investing?

4. Do you want a professional fund manager to invest on behalf of you?

5. Do you want to build a portfolio from scratch or own a ready-built portfolio? 

6. What are your thoughts about fees? 

7. Do you want to invest in a specific company or the overall market? 

Your answers will reveal which of the three vehicles is more suitable for yourself. 

Imagine this. 

Let’s assume you bought 1,000 shares of Public Bank Bhd at RM4.35 a share on March 5, 2021. 

Then, you bought another 2,000 shares of Public Bank Bhd at RM3.78 a share on June 2, 2022.

Ever since, you hold onto 3,000 shares of Public Bank Bhd and collect dividends from them. 

Now, Public Bank Bhd is trading at RM4.87 a share on 6 March 2026. 

So, what exactly is your investment returns from Public Bank Bhd’s shares?

Introducing XIRR

From the above, can you see that you have:

1. Made two investments into Public Bank Bhd at different dates (different intervals)? 

2. Invested different quantities of shares of Public Bank Bhd (different amounts)? 

Also, you would have collected different amounts of dividends at different dates since your first investment into Public Bank Bhd on March 5, 2021. 

So, you have different amounts of cash, flowing in and out, at different dates, between March 5,
2021 to March 6, 2026, from your investments in Public Bank Bhd’s shares. Here are the dates of your investments (cash outflows) and the dividend income you would have earned in between: 

XIRR, known as Extended Internal Rate of Return, would calculate the annualised returns of your investment in Public Bank Bhd’s shares based on the actual amount you’ve invested and earned in dates throughout the period. 

The annualised returns calculated are comparable to FD rates. 

Basically, we can easily calculate XIRR in three simple steps as follow: 

Step 1: Insert the “DATE” function

Allow me to demonstrate this with Google Spreadsheet. 

So, to insert a date, type in “=date(year, month, day)”. 

Hence, for March 5, 2021, type in “=date(2021, 3, 5)” as shown below: 

Repeat the same for all dates listed at the table above. 

As such, you would have inserted all the transaction dates as follow:

Step 2: Insert the “Net Cash Inflow / Outflow” Amount

The next step is to insert the net cash inflow / outflow amount for each date in that period. 

So, for March 5, 2021, the amount to be inserted is “-4,362”.

This figure is negative as you paid RM4,362 to acquire 1,000 shares of Public Bank Bhd. 

Cash flowed out of your pocket. 

Next, for March 22, 2021, the amount to be inserted is “130”. 

This figure is positive as you earned RM130 in dividends from Public Bank Bhd. 

Cash flowed into your pocket. 

Then, we have today’s date, which is March 6, 2026. 

Although you intend to continue to hold onto your shares, you’ll need to imagine that you would be selling off your shares today in order to calculate your annualised returns. 

Thus, the market value of your 3,000 Public Bank Bhd’s shares, which is RM14,610, is inserted as a “cash inflow” in the Google Spreadsheet. 

Step 3: Insert the “XIRR” function

At this stage, we are ready to calculate the annualised return of your investments. 

You may proceed to insert “=XIRR(cashflow amounts, cashflow dates)”. 

You may first drag all the

First – all the “Cashflow amounts” inserted in Step 2 and 

Second – all the “Cashflow dates” inserted in Step 1

Once done, you would get the annualised return figure, which is “0.08638…”

Then, kindly click onto the “%” function as shown below. 

Of which, you would obtain the figure as 8.64%. 

That would be the actual annualised return of your investments into Public Bank Bhd. 

And yes, we are done! 

Why Do Different Investors Obtain Different Results, Despite Investing in the Same Stock?

Now, what if another person invests in Public Bank Bhd at an earlier or later date? 

What if another person just happens to buy Public Bank Bhd at the same dates above but not at the same quantity of shares? 

You can play around with the XIRR calculator at Google Spreadsheet. 

Of which, you’ll discover that different results are obtained when different investors buy: 

1. at different prices

2. at different time or intervals

3. at different quantities of shares

Of course, we haven’t factored in – What if an investor chooses to sell off his shares partially?

As such, one thing is for sure. 

Stock investing is more than just knowing what stocks to buy. 

With XIRR, it reminds us that every investor’s journey in building portfolios is different. 

By tracking XIRR, we can see if our decisions have contributed to compounding of our wealth. 

Announcement:
I have just launched Dividend Vault – my latest book. It documents my 10-Year Journey as an investor, which includes my background, 15 case studies of stocks that I invested in, successes, mistakes and lessons learnt from them. 

Link: Dividend Vault Book