Q: How did you get interested in investing?

When I was working in UOB, I invested in my first stock which was the initial public offering of DBS Land. I later joined the insurance industry and gained more exposure to investments.

I invest in accordance with AFA's principles, which include not buying anything that I don't understand. That explains why the majority of the 28 AFA member firms did not get involved in selling Lehman's Minibonds even though we were approached to do so.

Q: What property do you own?

I bought a three-bedroom terrace house in Upper Changi in 1992 for about $730,000. It has a built-in area of 2,800 sq ft and a land area of 2,000 sq ft. I recently renovated it for $150,000. Its current value is about $1.5 million.

In 2007, I bought a 1,500 sq ft freehold condo unit in Katong for $1.8 million. I sold it for $2 million last year. It was rented out at $5,000 a month till then.

Q: What's the most extravagant thing you have bought?

I splurged on a pair of Rolex King watches, which had a hefty price tag of $40,000, for Regina and myself. This was when I closed my first big insurance sale in 1983 and my commission amounted to $80,000. I wear my Rolex only on special occasions.

Q: What's your retirement plan?

The term 'retirement' does not exist in my dictionary. I will choose to work at my own pace as I let my accumulated wealth work for me. I would need at least $5,000 a month for my family in my golden years.

Q: Home is now....

My home is the three-storey terrace house in Upper Changi Road.

Q: I drive....

A 2.4-litre silver Toyota Harrier.

Q: My worst investment to date...

I lost $150,000 when the prices of my Malaysian Clob shares fell in the late 1990s, when Malaysia unexpectedly banned trading of its shares on Clob in 1998. I was holding stocks like Idris Hydraulics and North Borneo Timber. My initial investment was $230,000.

Q: My best investment to date...

In 1999, I invested $15,000 in the Keppel Telecom Fund and made a profit of 80 per cent, or $12,000, in less than eight months.

Ray Alliance is also a very good investment. I set it up with $150,000 and have invested a total of $300,000 in the firm so far. The firm is now worth $2.5 million. It has 28 advisers and five staff.

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This article was first published in The Straits Times.