Dividend Magic

Saving and Investing towards Financial Independence in Malaysia

FI/RE

Earning Passive Income in Malaysia

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Filed Under: FI/RE, Passive Income 2

Readers of the blog will be familiar with the term passive income. And to once and for all give my point of view on what is actually passive income as well as my own passive revenue streams.

What is Passive Income?

The notion of having your money work for you, to have it generate additional income while you sleep is a wonderful one.

Right off the bat, let me dispel the notion that passive income is only for the wealthier individual. In fact, passive income is for anyone and everyone. Regardless of the amount, passive income is passive income. RM10 a month is a passive income if your assets are generating it for you. Everyone starts small. In fact, I think my first dividend received was in the region of RM50 for the first year. That’s like RM4 per month. Work on it continuously and trust me, it’ll grow.

More popular forms of passive income in Malaysia include rentals from real estate, interest from bank deposits and P2P lending, and dividends from stocks and businesses.

Real Passive Income

The term Passive Income has been thrown around and mentioned a lot recently as Malaysians become more financially literate. In general, passive income is defined as income earned with little or no effort. So not all ”passive income” is truly passive.

For example, almost everyone would list their rental income as passive. I beg to differ. In my experience, taking care of your rental property takes time and effort. You may have a real estate agent working with you at the start but most of the time, you’ll be doing the work yourself. Personally, I put up ads on my own as I feel my agent’s ads were too generic. I even attend the viewings to make sure the said agent is doing his/her job right.

Now all that is just to get your unit rented, what happens when a pipe bursts or your air conditioner malfunctions? Your agent isn’t going to help you with it as there’s nothing in it for them. So no, I’ll not list my rent collection as a passive income.

However, your rental income will be classified as passive once you hire a proper property manager where he/she is hired on a full-time basis to take care of your real estate portfolio. Of course, you’ll have to have a large mix of properties before that is viable.

My Passive Income

passive income malaysia

I like to only call a source of income passive when it truly requires zero to minimal effort on my part.

This is why, out of all my income streams, I only actually consider my dividends from stocks and interest earned from P2P lending passive income. 

A good benchmark to know if your passive income returns are up to par would be your fixed deposits with banks. Historically, it has been at the 3% mark. Recently, a 2% return is the norm. So if you’ve already got investments generating passive returns for you, check if it’s higher than your FD rates. I’d even go so far as to say that FDs are like the kings of passive income. Easiest to obtain, all you need is capital.

My income right now comes from the following:

  1. Salary
  2. Stakes in businesses
  3. Rental
  4. Dividends
  5. Interest

Earned income from working a job is the total opposite of passive income. My businesses, although can run by themselves, I still consider them not to be truly passive because they still require constant monitoring and checking in.

As mentioned earlier, rental income from my properties does not fall under the passive category for me. My properties require attention from time to time in the form of rent collection, having to look for tenants, fixing stuff etc. So, not passive. For me at least. Until I hire a property manager.

Dividends from my stocks I totally consider passive because the valuation of a company is done once before I purchase the stock. Thereafter, I only check in with the same company either quarterly, half-yearly or sometimes even once a year. 

Lastly, my income in the form of interest comes mostly from fixed deposits and lending money via P2P lending platforms. FDs are a no-brainer, you can even make placements online nowadays. As for my P2P lending, although small in comparison to my other income, this one is passive for me as well. I just read the prospectus and information on the company/business I’m lending money to, and then sit back and receive my money in the form of capital plus interest.

My main source of passive income comes from dividends generated by my Freedom Fund. To achieve financial independence, I’ve calculated that I’d need roughly RM3,000 a month in passive income.

Updated 2025 – Last year’s dividends came up to RM20,735.99. I’m more than halfway to my goal of RM36,000 in dividends per annum. My dividends so far for the year 2024 can be viewed hERE.

Updated 2021 -Last year’s dividends came up to RM16,322.27. I’m almost halfway to my goal of RM36,000 in dividends per annum. My dividends so far for the year 2020 can be viewed hERE.

How to Generate Passive Income

Earning any form of income boils down to two factors – the effort and time and/or the amount of capital you put in. In essence, either you invest and put up your time or you put up your money.

So if you’re young, you’re able and you’ve got time to spare, you will want to consider putting in your time and effort towards building a steady stream of passive income. A good example of this would be someone in their 20s working their ass off in a business with the eventual goal of automating it and generating returns without their involvement.

Or, that same 20-year-old person could work at their career, save their salary, and then invest that money to then eventually earn passive returns. This means – time and effort first, and then putting up the capital after.

Unless you’re fortunate to be inheriting wealth, you’ll always have to put something up for return. Your effort, your time, your money.

Getting to where I’m at hasn’t been an easy ride. My portfolio is mainly built on frugality. In my experience, passive income does not come easy. It’ll take a huge initial investment on your part. In the case of my dividend income from stocks, to earn that RM16K per annum, I had to have about RM400K in capital which comes up to about a 4% return for me.

Why is Passive Income Important

If like me, you’re on a quest for financial independence, passive income will cover your expenses. Financial freedom and security have always been my ultimate goal.

When I invest, I invest to first increase my passive income. And when I’ve eventually reached my passive income goal, I’ll focus on growth. Because that is when I’m set and I can afford to take bigger risks with my investments. Also, I’d rather not liquidate and sell my stocks for income.

With a steady, reliable source of passive income generating for you every month, trust me, you’ll be in a very happy place. Investment decisions can be so much more logical and less emotional. You worry less about losing the shirt off your back if your investments don’t work out. Of course, being a rational investor you’ll still exercise caution, you just won’t be hindered by thoughts of bankruptcy and worst-case scenarios.

Passive Income Ideas

If you’re like most readers of the blog, you probably are in your 20s or 30s, and you’re working for a salary. You might want to first consider putting in FDs, and then maybe stocks for dividends.

Another way to go is properties, it may not be passive for now. But once you’ve built up a substantial real estate portfolio where hiring a property manager is viable, it most definitely will be passive then.

One more potentially lucrative endeavour is to venture into business. You may have a hobby right now which can be turned into a side hustle and eventually into a full-fledged business. Or if you’ve got the dough, look into franchises that do not require your full attention.

I’m always trying to find other ways to generate passive income for myself. Some good ones come to mind like royalties from book publishing, music, or any kind of intellectual property.

The blog itself is earning a little from ad revenue and affiliate marketing. This however isn’t passive YET. I don’t want to bombard you guys with too many ads on the site. Affiliate marketing only happens when I actually like and/or use the products. Right now I’m just really enjoying writing and having a community built on investing and FI/RE.

Now, as you can probably tell, not everything may qualify as passive at first because it requires a tremendous amount of effort. But at the end of the day, say 10 years down the road when you’re able to be hands-off and collect your cash, it’s most definitely passive.

A Few Closing Thoughts

Passive income for me is tied closely to my goal of financial independence and freedom. And I’ve decided on dividends to be my main stream of income. You may have other ideas for passive income and your goals might differ. At the end of the day, we can all agree that passive income is a good supplement to your portfolio whatever your financial goals might be.

Ever since I graduated and started my first job, I’ve worked towards a goal – having a stock portfolio whose dividends I can live off for the rest of my life. So, if you haven’t already, set yourself a target and work towards it. Don’t just work that 9 to 5 job aimlessly. Your goal could be like mine, financial independence. Or maybe you truly find happiness in living a lavish life. There isn’t anything wrong with either one. A goal is a goal, as long as you have one and you’re happy, by all means!

For the next article of the FI/RE and Savings Series, check out article 004 – Emergency Funds & Fixed Deposit Laddering.

As always, Facebook and Instagram. Keep up to date and help support the blog by following and sharing. Thank you!

Hello 2020!

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Filed Under: Dividends, FI/RE, Financial Independence 0

My Goals

Financial

Let’s start off with my goals set way back in 2018.

  • Dividend yield > 5%
  • Total dividends > RM20,000 p.a.

Those were the goals I set out to achieve at the start of 2019. Here’s where I am at now.

  • Dividend yield:  4.16%
  • Total dividends: RM16,322.27

As compared to 2018, both my yield and my total dividends have dropped. I can attribute this to the bad performance of some companies I hold and the markets not doing well. But at the end of the day, it is on me because I held on to those stocks and I should be ahead of the market.

So, come 2020, I’ll be sprucing up and making some changes to the Freedom Fund. Time to get the dividend yield above the 5% threshold, lock in some profits and cut some losses.

For 2020:
Fix the Freedom Fund. The aim is still 5% dividend yield per annum with the final goal being RM36,000 in total dividends every year.

Thereafter, I’d want to set aside some money to invest in riskier, high growth potential companies.

The Blog

The blog has been making steady progress over the years. Dividend Magic has officially crossed the 1 million views mark. It’ll be exciting to see how the site does in the coming years.

You may have come across a few more Sponsored Posts than usual.
I’d like everyone to know that I vet through and at the end of the day only take on jobs that I personally approve and use. So, the next time you see the tag [Sponsored], do know that it’ll probably bring some value to you.

For 2020:
I’ve made a decision moving forward to focus on quality as opposed to quantity when it comes to sponsors. I’ll be choosing to work with a select few that relate closely to investing and what I’m writing about.

Health

In the past, I’ve been focusing a lot on financial goals but I’d like to keep myself accountable on the non-financial aspects of my life as well. So the goals will be a little more personal this time around.

I’ve been hitting the gym 5 times a week now. Also, instead of the usual strength and vanity muscle workouts, I’ve been focusing on mobility and stretching.

Meditation is also a big part of my routine now. If you all want to be more productive and focused on basically everything, I highly recommend meditation. It’ll take up only 10-20 minutes of your day.

For 2020:
I’d want to continue my 5-times a week work out sessions.

Also, I’d like to make meditation a permanent routine and habit of mine. First thing in the morning and one more in the evening.

And, a better diet.

Personal

I’ll be increasing my budget for travel as well as for food moving forward. So look forward to more posts and photos like this on my Instagram.

and this

I’ll leave you with a little video of my how my 2019 went.

https://youtu.be/72fM8-SY-10

End.

This is how the Freedom Fund looks going into 2020.

Gross Investment: RM392,717.20
Market Value: RM458,476.77
Dividends (2019): RM16,322.27
Dividend Yield: 4.16%
Special Dividend: RM11,970.00

2020 would be a good year to start investing. If you’re looking to start, start hERE. If you haven’t got the funds, please start saving.

To a stellar year ahead. Onwards and upwards.

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with my dividend income updates.

Emergency Funds & Fixed Deposit Laddering

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Filed Under: FI/RE, Investment, Other Investments 15

I’ll teach everyone how to set up your emergency funds using fixed deposits right here.

I know some of you veteran investors will already know all about FDs, but this one is for the newcomers.

You wouldn’t believe the number of inquiries I’ve had on FDs from readers. FDs are, by large the first form of investment everyone should have. They are a risk-free, interest-generating financial product offered by the good banks here in Malaysia.

In this article, I’ll show you how to set up your Emergency Fund with FDs.

What are Fixed Deposits?

Fixed deposits or FDs as we will call them are, first of all, a financial instrument. Here in Malaysia, they’re provided by banks and give a higher interest rate than a typical savings account.

The usual terms of a Fixed Deposit here in Malaysia:

1. You place a fixed sum with the bank for a fixed period of time.
2. The bank agrees to pay you a fixed interest rate.
3. You don’t touch that money. After the said period, you get your money back PLUS interest.

What if you were in an emergency you say?
And you needed to uplift the FD before it matures? Well, you’ll most likely lose all your interest. But your initial sum will NEVER be touched.

This right here is a liquidity problem with fixed deposits. Don’t worry I have a solution.

My Emergency Fund

An emergency fund is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a certain amount of money, easily accessible and put away in case of an emergency.

Exactly how much to put away? You’ll first need to know your average expenses and spending per month. After figuring that out, you’ll want at least a 6-month emergency fund.

Using myself as an example – On average, I spend around RM5,000 per month. All in.

So, a 6-month emergency fund would be RM30,000. But I try to keep a 24-month emergency fund going. Just cause. Which gives me around RM120,000 in liquid cash.

Now, the key ingredient for a good emergency fund is LIQUIDITY.

My emergency fund is 90% Fixed Deposits and 10% Savings Account and/or Cash. But an FD isn’t that liquid. So here’s how you make it liquid.

Why an Emergency Fund?

An emergency fund in my opinion serves two purposes.

The first one is to help you avoid a situation where you have to liquidate your investment assets in a crisis. As an investor, your portfolio can take a huge hit if you sell at the wrong time.

Imagine having to sell your stocks or that investment property due to a medical emergency.

The second reason is psychological. Knowing you have a safety net gives you a sense of security and peace of mind. It’ll give you a boost in confidence and has helped me as an investor focus on investing. I don’t have to worry about my expenses or my needs during an emergency.

I am genuinely positive that my emergency fund has helped me make better investing decisions.

Fixed Deposit Laddering

Fixed Deposit (FD) laddering is a strategy that tackles the liquidity issues inherent in locking all your emergency funds into one long-term deposit. Here’s how I do it:

Imagine again that you have an RM120,000 emergency fund. Placing the entire sum into a single FD doesn’t make sense—what if, suddenly, you need RM1,000 for car repairs, withdrawing early from that lump sum means forfeiting significant interest. At 3% per annum, RM120,000 would earn RM3,600 in interest over a year—no small amount.

The solution is simple: break the RM120,000 into smaller FDs with staggered maturities. Using Maybank as an example, the minimum FD placement is RM5,000 for a 1-month term. This approach ensures you have regular access to funds while still earning interest on your deposits.

My FD Ladder

If you’re comfortable with it, consider dividing your funds into 24 smaller portions.
I structured mine into RM10K and RM20K fixed deposits, using a mix of 1-month and 3-month terms.

Generally, the longer your money is locked in a fixed deposit, the higher the interest rate you’ll earn—though the difference is minimal when compounded monthly.

Additionally, stagger your fixed deposits by setting them up on different days of the month. I place mine in the beginning, the middle and the end of the month. This strategy lets you uplift the one that’ll cost you the least in interest in the event of an emergency.

Fixed Deposit Perpetuity

I always select the following 2 options whenever I place an FD.

1. Credit interest earned to the principal.
This essentially means you’re compounding your interest automatically.
2. Renew FD at maturity.
This means I never have to look at my FD Ladder again. It’ll run by itself.

End.

I know most of these are common sense to some, but I still hope I managed to bring value to everyone reading this.

I’m sure some of you have more sophisticated FD hacks and tricks. Please, do share!

For the next article of the FI/RE and Savings Series, check out article 005 – The Seven Stages of Financial Independence.

As always, follow my Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date!

Free Basic Financial Plan for Malaysians

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Filed Under: Dividends, FI/RE, Financial Independence, Financial Planning, Fixed Deposits, Savings Accounts etc, Investment 23

I’ve gotten so many questions from all of you seeking financial guidance that I’ve decided to once and for all to come up with a simple financial plan (a guide if you will) for all to use.  

We’ll begin with the basics first, getting yourself out of debt, saving up, and then investing that money for passive income.

The Goal

The final goal of this plan here is for everyone to have an investment portfolio that generates sufficient passive income to sustain your lifestyle.

What is your Networth

Use a paper or Microsoft Excel and draw up your Balance Sheet. You’ll have your assets listed in one column and your liabilities in the other.

I’ve got a simple template set up for everyone to use here. Add or remove necessary items. The download link for the Financial Plan excel sheet is below.

Personal-Balance-SheetDownload

1. Budgeting and Saving

First and foremost, you’ll need to have capital. For that regular, periodic investing. And also, for the opportunities that appear once (or twice) in your lifetime. This is why a financial plan is important.

Acquiring capital would mean you need a surplus in your monthly budget. Now, there are tons of budgeting templates out there on the interwebs so I’m not going to walk you through this.

I will, however, tell you that the most important aspect of budgeting is to make it into a healthy habit. Keep at it for a time and you’ll thank yourself 50 years down the road.

Savings – I want you to have at least a 20% savings rate. The higher the better, in fact, try for 50% of your take-home salary. You’ll invest more during your early years and let the magic of compounding take over sooner.

2. Your Emergency Fund

After you’re done consolidating and paying off your debts, you’ll have a nice surplus in your budget and savings every month.

The next step would be to start building up what we call your Emergency Fund. This is the fund where if and when you ever need money for an emergency, you’ll never need to take out that personal loan or worse, from loan sharks.

An example – medical bills, or if your phone got stolen etc.

How much should you have you ask? Some sites will tell you 3 months of your expenses. I say at least 6 months, go 12 months if you’re the risk-averse kind.

I typically keep my emergency funds in Fixed Deposits (‘FDs’). Now, you may need to liquidate this cash immediately, so put it up in one-month FDs. You can learn more about emergency funds and how to get an “FD Ladder” going here.

An emergency fund is a crucial part of your overall financial plan.

3.1 Investing

You’ve got a kick-ass budget going on, your behind is covered by your emergency fund, now let’s talk investing.

As you all know, I invest heavily in stocks. My portfolio can be found hERE.
Here’s what I do – I continue saving and accumulating my wealth. I then wait for and seize any opportunities that present itself. I try to always have cash on hand.

Of course, you may not want to invest in stocks. And that’s perfectly fine, you should invest in securities you KNOW and you’re comfortable with. Just as long as you INVEST. Don’t leave your money lying around in FDs and whatnot because inflation is gonna take a bite out of it every single day.

The 7 investment options in Malaysia can be found hERE.

Investing your money is essentially making your money work for you. The first few years of your investing will determine the outcome of your financial well-being so invest with care and diligence.

3.2 Building Your Passive Income

For me and hopefully, for you, the goal is to have enough passive income to not have to worry about work. I’ve calculated that to about RM3,000 per month or RM36,000 per year. This is the essence of FI/RE – Financial Independence and Retire Early.

To learn more about FI/RE – click hERE.

There are lots of people and information out there that touts and scream passive income in your face. But when I say passive, I mean the true passive. You receive regular income with little to no effort on your part.

For example, a rental property where you manage it yourself and you’re getting complaints from the tenant every other month is not passive.

Whereas if you let your agent handle every single thing regarding the said property and check-in maybe every quarter with him/her, I’d classify that as passive.

Or you know, just buy Real Estate Investment Trusts (‘REITS’).
Let professional property managers manage your property instead. No worries. Hakuna Matata.

4. Protection

Now I’m including protection into your financial plan because many either overlook this or overprotect and overinsure themselves.

This step should be done simultaneously with Step 3.

Let’s talk insurance. I know I’ll be getting flak from insurance agents for saying this but – You don’t need life insurance. This is my opinion.

What you should focus on right now, is medical insurance. To cover your medical expenses, should you be hospitalized or some critical illness should befall you. That’s all I have and that’s all I need. I can pass on my whole portfolio to my next of kin and dependants upon my demise.

While we’re on the topic, fuck investment-linked insurance. Get a standard, simple one. Don’t let the premiums in your 80s scare you. You’ll invest the money yourself, without paying a fee to the insurance company.

5. Review and Monitor

You finally have everything in order. The final step is a step that is continuous and ongoing. It is for life. And it is for generations to come.

You’ll need to monitor your budget monthly, and make sure your savings increase in tandem with your salary and income.

Your emergency fund will increase as your monthly expenditure goes up.

Your investments and assets AND passive income should always go up, up and UP.

And, your insurance should always be updated to include the latest offerings and cover all illnesses.

I myself go over my finances every month. Part of the reason I started Dividend Magic is to keep track of my investment portfolio as well as to hold myself accountable.

End.

It is my hope that this here Financial Plan would be of help to every single Malaysian. It is a very basic plan, I’ve left out some more advanced features of financial plans but the essentials are all there.

You and you yourself are responsible for your finances.

Remember – Save, Invest and FI/RE.
I’ll leave you one of my favourite quotes by William Shakespeare.

”There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat. And we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures.”

Now go out there and don’t let them opportunities pass you by.

You’re done with the FI/RE and Savings Series! You can check out article 001 – A Guide to Stock Investment in Malaysia of the Investing Series.

As always, follow my Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date!

The Employees’ Provident Fund – EPF in Malaysia

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Filed Under: Dividends, FI/RE, Financial Independence, Investment, Other Investments 12

The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) or also known as Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP) is one of the most important retirement savings schemes in Malaysia. Whether you’re a salaried employee or self-employed, understanding how the EPF works can help you maximize your savings for a secure financial future and help with your retirement. This article covers everything you need to know about the EPF, including its benefits, contribution rates, withdrawal options, and strategies to grow your retirement fund.

What is EPF / KWSP?

The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) or also known as Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP) is a mandatory savings scheme established by the Malaysian government since 1951 to help private-sector employees and non-pensionable public-sector workers save for retirement. It is managed by the Employees Provident Fund Board and ensures that Malaysians have sufficient savings to support themselves after retirement.

EPF Dividend Rates and Historical Returns

2024 – 6.30%
REJOICE!

EPF KWSP Malaysia Historical Dividends Full Dividend Magic

One of the key advantages of the EPF is its annual dividend payout, which has historically ranged between 5% to 7%. The fund invests in various asset classes, including equities, bonds, and real estate, to generate stable returns for members. EPF dividends are compounded annually, making it a powerful tool for long-term wealth accumulation.

The 6.30% declared for 2024 is one of the highest in history. Anything above 6% is really good for Malaysians. Rejoice!

EPF / KWSP Contribution Rates

Both employees and employers contribute to the EPF based on a percentage of the employee’s monthly salary:

  • Employees contribute 9% of their monthly salary.
  • Employers contribute 12% for salaries RM5,000 and below and 11% for salaries above RM5,000.

EPF Account Structure

EPF KWSP Malaysia Account 1 2 and 3 Akaun Persaraan Akaun Sejahtera Akaun Fleksibel How many %

The EPF divides contributions into three accounts:

  1. Retirement Account (Akaun Persaraan) 75%
    Originally Account 1, Akaun Persaraan aims to accumulate and increase the members’ saving level for the long term to achieve a comfortable life after retirement. Savings in Akaun Persaraan cannot be withdrawn before 55 years old.

    However, eligible members can invest a portion of their Akaun Persaraan savings in investments managed by the approved Fund Management Institutions (FMIs), subject to the terms and conditions. This is not recommended by Dividend Magic, keep your EPF money in EPF, no unit trusts please.
  2. Wellbeing Account (Akaun Sejahtera) 15%
    Originally Account 2, Akaun Sejahtera aims to meet the pre-retirement life cycle needs for the medium term. Savings in Akaun Sejahtera can be withdrawn for pre-retirement purposes (subject to EPF terms and conditions) such as:
    • Housing
    • Education
    • Health
    • Insurance/Takaful protection
    • Hajj
    • Age 50 Years Old
  3. Flexible Account (Akaun Flexible) 10%
    The aptly named Akaun Flexible is designed to meet members’ short-term financial needs. Savings in Akaun Fleksibel can be withdrawn by members any time, subject to terms and conditions. However, members are encouraged to withdraw only for emergency purposes and immediate needs only.

EPF Withdrawals

Age-Based Withdrawals

  • Age 50 Withdrawal – Members can withdraw from Account 2 as a partial retirement fund.
  • Age 55 Withdrawal – Members can withdraw the full amount in both Account 1 and Account 2.
  • Age 60 Withdrawal – For members who continue contributing after 55, they can withdraw their accumulated savings at 60.

Other Withdrawal Options

  • Full withdrawal for permanent disability
  • Full withdrawal for leaving Malaysia permanently
  • Nomination benefits – To ensure savings go to the rightful beneficiary in case of death
  • For the Flexible Account (Account 3) – You can withdraw from Akaun Fleksibel any time through the KWSP i-Akaun app. Once processed, the funds will be disbursed directly into your bank account. It’s important to note that there is a minimum withdrawal amount of RM50.

EPF Withdrawal – More than RM1 million savings

EPF KWSP more than RM1 million withdrawal

This here is the best form of withdrawal. If you happen to be a high income earner or you have voluntarily contributed extra amounts every year, you’ll find yourself with more than RM1 million in EPF savings. This is when you get the flexibility to withdraw any savings in excess of RM1 million.

An important note – you have to withdraw a minimum of RM50,000 at any one time.

Strategies to Maximize Your EPF Savings

  1. Voluntary Contributions – You can contribute beyond the mandatory rate to boost your retirement fund.
  2. i-Invest – Invest a portion of your EPF savings in approved unit trusts to potentially earn higher returns.
  3. Delay Withdrawals – Keeping your funds in the EPF beyond 55 years old allows your savings to continue compounding.
  4. Diversify with Private Retirement Schemes (PRS) – Supplement your EPF with PRS to enhance your retirement income.

EPF Voluntary Contribution – RM100K a year

You can choose to increase your EPF savings voluntarily on top of your existing mandatory monthly deductions, with as little as RM10, up to a maximum of RM100,000 per year. 

By starting your savings journey as early as possible, you can take advantage of the power of compounding, giving your savings more time to grow. So, that’s why you should start saving now to ensure comfort and financial stability during retirement.

More info on Voluntary Contribution to your EPF here.

EPF i-Saraan – Self contribution and RM500 per year

EPF KWSP Malaysia i-saraan self contribution RM500 and RM5000

Self-employed individuals can also voluntarily contribute to the EPF under the i-Saraan scheme, which allows them to enjoy government incentives while saving for retirement. More on EPF’s i-Saraan scheme here.

Please do self-contribute here and earn that RM500 per year if eligible for i-saraan. Do take note that there is a lifetime incentive limit of RM5,000.

Who is eligible to apply for EPF’s self contribution scheme – i-Saraan?

  • Malaysian
  • EPF Member
  • Self-employed individuals (not an employee)
  • Below 60 years of age.

KWSP i-Sayang – Contribute To Your Wife’s Retirement Savings​

i-Sayang is an initiative introduced by the government that allows the husband (contributor) to transfer the 2% employee share contribution received from the employer to the wife’s (recipient) EPF account.

EPF KWSP i-Sayang - Contribute To Your Wife's Retirement Savings​ i-Suri

Features of EPF’s i-Sayang

  • Transfer of 2% employee share contribution received from the employer to the wife’s EPF account.​
  • The application is made voluntarily by the husband, and the transfer occurs automatically each month when an employer contribution is credited to the husband’s EPF account.​
  • The transfer of this contribution cannot be cancelled unless the wife divorces or dies.​
  • More information here.

We’re all familiar with EPF as our retirement fund. But what does EPF actually invest in?

dividend magic - retirement
‘How late do you expect to be working?’

Main Assets of EPF

As of 2018, equities made up about 41% of EPF’s total assets.

A further 50% is invested in fixed income instruments.

Let’s have a look at some of EPF’s largest equity holdings.

It’s a good idea to have EPF’s investments as a reference, apart from my Freedom Fund of course. ; )

What I Do With My EPF

I personally am leaving my EPF untouched till I reach 55. And then I’ll withdraw a monthly amount to keep me alive, slowly drawing down on the capital. And if I do happen to have extra funds, I will be self contributing to EPF, up to RM100K a year.

Your EPF is essentially forcing you to save a portion of your income every month. And it helps you reinvest those 6% and above dividends every single year.

Even though I’ve mentioned there being no wrong answers to the poll above, I do believe Option 2 and 3 – where you’re essentially drawing down on your funds from your EPF savings is the least financially sound decision.

I see no reason for one to forego that 6% return in lieu of mutual funds or property. If you’ve got to take money from your retirement savings to purchase something, you definitely can’t afford it. In my opinion, of course.

Has anyone done this long term and made good money from Options 2 and 3?

End.

The EPF is a crucial pillar of retirement planning for Malaysians. Understanding its features, making informed contributions, and leveraging available investment options can help you build a robust financial future. Whether you’re just starting your career or nearing retirement, proactive planning with the EPF can ensure you enjoy financial security in your golden years.

You may have heard from uncles and aunties telling you to withdraw as much as you can during times of uncertainty. Mutual fund agents may have enticed you to believe their RM100 million funds are superior to our national fund – worth over RM800 fucking billion dollars.

Property agents may have hinted that your purchase of that 3BR apartment is a better decision than leaving your money in the hands of a professional investing team.

I think all are a load of hokum and I’ll stick with EPF for the foreseeable future.

I think you should too. 
And this is a plea to all Malaysians, don’t squander away your retirement savings.

TL;DR – Withdrawal from EPF? Bad idea.

Things To Do Before You Start Investing in Malaysia

By
Filed Under: Dividends, FI/RE, Investment 4

I get asked a lot about investing.

To start off, let me just say that I don’t claim to be the best investor in Malaysia. There are many others who I’m sure are better out there. However, I’ve been able to make a decent amount of money through saving and investing. In particular, dividend and value investing.

I’ve been able to successfully generate annualized returns of 10% (so far). With my portfolio close to RM450K right now.

My Philosophy

I invest primarily for financial independence and freedom. To generate enough passive income, allowing me to have the freedom of choice when it comes to major financial decisions.

I don’t view ‘investments’ that keep me up late at night as passive investments. I’d very much rather have an investment generating 10% pa, worry-free than an investment that generates twice that but keeps me up all night and all on my toes all day.

In other words, I am investing with quality of life as an end goal. And I’m investing for the very long term, for life.

What Are Your Advantages

The first question to ask yourself before you invest is this. I’ve broken advantages down into 3 main categories.

1. Informational

If you happen to have access to certain information not privy to the public or the rest of us Malaysians, you’re way ahead of the curve. Be aware of threading the fine line of insider trading though.

It’s always a good idea to invest in businesses you have a direct connection to. A good example would be an AirAsia employee who might have noticed that passenger volume has gone down for months where previous flights were full.

An example of illegal insider trading would be an accountant of AirAsia who reads the unpublished accounts and notices AirAsia is about to declare an unusually high-profit next quarter.

2. Analytical

This means you’re better at taking the information available in the market and dissecting it and then using it to your advantage. You could have algorithms set in place, charts etc.

This usually applies to the big boys. Investment firms with PhDs and whiz kids working for them, making better use of the information available in the market than the average joes like me.

3. Emotional / Behavioural

Do you have a particular personality or temperament that allows you to make better investment decisions?

Being able to separate your emotions from investing ie. not succumbing to the ups and downs of Mr. Market. This is easier said than done and I myself find it difficult to execute especially during times of recession.

A good example would be our good Mr. Warren Buffett. ‘Be greedy when others are fearful and be fearful when others are greedy’.

Becoming a Better Investor

After identifying your advantages, it’s time to beef up. Now, these are useful even if you’ve had some mileage as an investor. Remember to always improve yourself.

 1. Read These Books!

I’ve taken the time to compile a list of useful books hERE.

The purpose right now is to not to immediately jump into investing. It is to make sure you’ve got your arsenal of knowledge and skill to help you keep your head afloat in the market.

If you don’t have the time or the energy to read up and increase your knowledge, you shouldn’t be investing. Trust me, you’ll get burnt.

Consider a low-cost index fund or FDs if you eventually find that investing in the stock market isn’t for you.

2. Pick Your Style

Now you’ve read up on the different styles of investing, you should have a rough idea on how you want to go about investing.

Base this on your own personality. What sort of risk are you willing to take? And what sort of returns are you looking at?

Base this also on the amount of capital you have to invest. RM10,000? or RM100,000. There is both a case for and against diversifying. Which you’ll have to decide for yourself.

And base this on how long you plan to invest in. The timeframe. Investing for the long term allows your money to compound for a longer period of time. Which is why investors that start young have a huge advantage compared to their senior counterparts.

3. Set Your Rules

One of the main mistakes investors make, especially value investors is thinking that the journey ends once you’ve successfully picked a stock.

On the contrary, investing ends only when you’ve liquidated your investments. When that cold hard cash is in your hands or bank account. Dividend investing helps me maintain my capital while receiving dividends in my bank account annually.

On that note, it is important to have a target price or value for your stocks. This will let you know when to sell and when to purchase more. For me personally, as a dividend investor, I only sell a stock when it is 50% higher than my valuation of the stock. And I add more if it falls below 30%.

4. Have a Proper Financial Plan

It is important to have a plan to adhere to every month. You’ll want to have a proper financial plan in place and review your finances periodically in accordance with the said plan.

I’ve gotten a proper basic financial plan together that covers the essentials for all Malaysians hERE.

Paper Trading

Now that you’ve got everything in order and you’re all set to start investing, I’d highly recommend one more step before you start off – paper trading.

Paper trading is trading hypothetically online without the actual use of money. You start off with a set amount of capital, say RM100,000 and you start investing as how you normally would. Do this for a year and see how you manage at the end of the exercise.

End.

Now, investing is easy. But it isn’t as easy as some of you might think. You’ll be thrown into the market with the big boys and their PhDs and algorithms. But, armed with the right knowledge and some common sense, investing isn’t too difficult.

For your next step, you’ll want to go through the motions and start with the opening of your brokerage account. You can read up on it hERE.