Investors of the Roundtable

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292

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Oct 2026

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About the show

Join The Fifth Person as we discuss the latest stock market topics in Asia and the U.S. The Fifth Person is an award-winning investment site that focuses on Asian and U.S. equity research. The Fifth Person won best independent investment website at the SGX Orb Awards organised by the Singapore Exchange in 2018 and 2020.

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60 recent

October 28, 202621 min

Should I Invest at All-Time Highs or Wait for a Crash?

With U.S. markets near all-time highs, is it still a good time to invest—or could buying now mean getting caught in a fall? We discuss what market highs can and can’t tell you, whether waiting for a crash makes sense, and how investing in line with your goals can help you move forward without trying to predict the market. We also explore whether the speed of information today makes markets more efficient, and leaves investors with less time and opportunity to buy stocks at lower prices. All this and more in our latest episode! 00:00 Intro 02:08 All-time highs 02:43 Valuation 04:12 Waiting for a crash 11:42 Speed of information 14:07 Start small 18:04 Investment goals

October 22, 202618 min

Is This the Best New S&P 500 ETF for Singapore Investors?

In this roundtable, we take a closer look at the Xtrackers S&P 500 UCITS ETF: an Irish-domiciled fund with a low annual fee of 0.03%, traded in SGD, and available in lots of just one unit. It’s also listed on SGX—which means it can be held through your CDP account and is eligible for SRS (Supplementary Retirement Scheme). Could this be one of the most cost-effective ways for Singapore investors to gain exposure to the S&P 500? We discuss the case for investing, whether the S&P 500 will always rise, and any potential downsides of this new ETF. All this and more in our latest episode! 00:00 Intro 01:30 Xtrackers S&P 500 UCITS ETF 09:21 Will the S&P 500 always rise? 13:51 SRS-eligible 16:07 Downsides

October 14, 202641 min

S$240K a Year in Dividends: AK71 on Banks, REITs and Retirement

In this roundtable, we welcome back AK71, one of Singapore’s OG personal finance bloggers and dividend investors, whose portfolio generates over S$240K in annual dividends. He shares how he built his wealth, compares Singapore bank stocks with REITs, and gives his take on the banks today—including whether investors should consider selling. We also discuss his retirement plans and what he intends to do with his CPF savings when he turns 55. All this and more in our latest episode! 00:00 Intro 01:30 Hustling 04:01 Singapore banks vs REITs 12:40 View on Singapore banks now 16:40 Sell Singapore banks? 21:32 Peace of mind 25:08 Retirement 29:17 CPF at 55 34:33 Investing in the age of social media

October 7, 202618 min

VALU: A Better, Cheaper Alternative to VWRA?

Vanguard’s new global ETF, VALU, launched in August 2026—but how does it stack up against the popular VWRA? In this episode, we compare their holdings, assets under management, expense ratios, and other key features. We also explore VALU’s small-cap exposure, whether it could make a meaningful difference to long-term returns, and the big question for existing VWRA investors: Is VALU compelling enough to make the switch? All this and more in our latest episode!

September 30, 202635 min

Grab CEO Buys US$30 Million of Stock: Should You Follow Him?

Grab CEO Anthony Tan has invested nearly US$30 million of his own money in Grab shares—but should investors follow his lead? In this roundtable, we examine what insider buying may signal, assess Grab’s mobility, delivery and fintech businesses, and explore whether the company can achieve sustainable profitability amid cut-throat competition. We also discuss Grab’s financial performance and key risks before sharing our thoughts on whether Grab stock, at its current valuation, are worth considering.

September 23, 202632 min

Sea Limited’s Comeback: The Next Big Growth Opportunity?

After navigating a difficult period of slowing growth and cost-cutting, Sea Limited has staged an impressive business comeback—but can it sustain the momentum and unlock its next phase of growth? In this roundtable, we take a closer look at Sea’s three core businesses (Garena in digital entertainment, Shopee in e-commerce and Monee in digital financial services) to assess their growth prospects and competitive positions. We also explore the opportunities ahead, the key risks investors should watch, and whether Sea’s current valuation offers an attractive entry point for long-term investors. All this and more in our latest episode!

September 16, 202622 min

Is Financial Independence Becoming Unaffordable in Singapore?

Is financial independence becoming unaffordable in Singapore? In this roundtable, we compare median household incomes with HDB and car prices in 2005 and 2025 to examine whether Singaporeans are genuinely finding it harder to get ahead—or whether our expectations and lifestyles have also changed. We explore how rising living costs and lifestyle inflation can make financial independence feel increasingly out of reach, before discussing what financial independence truly means and whether it remains a realistic goal for the average Singaporean today. All this and more in our latest episode! 00:00 Intro 00:50 Housing, cars, salaries 05:32 Why does it feel unaffordable? 10:43 Inflation 12:26 Financial independence 18:00 Comparison

September 9, 202622 min

How Much Debt Should You Actually Have?

How much debt should you actually have? And is becoming completely debt-free always the best goal? In this episode, we examine property loans using the 3-3-5 rule and discuss whether it makes sense to borrow for home renovations, cars and education. We also explore when car debt might be justified, why some people prefer the security and freedom of owing nothing at all, and how to strike the right balance between using debt and building wealth. All this and more in our latest episode!

September 2, 202623 min

Return on Effort: The Best Investors Don’t Always Work the Hardest

Does spending more time researching investments actually lead to better returns—or simply more stress? In this roundtable, we explore the "Return on Effort", a hidden metric that could change how you invest. We examine why successful investing is often more about managing yourself than constantly managing your portfolio, and why doing nothing can sometimes be the smartest move. Finally, we discuss how to choose an investing approach that delivers satisfactory returns while fitting your time, temperament and lifestyle. All this and more in our latest episode!

August 26, 202633 min

JB–Singapore RTS Link: Which Singapore REITs Win or Lose?

The Johor Bahru–Singapore RTS Link promises faster, easier cross-border travel—but could it divert Singapore’s retail spending across the Causeway? We examine how the RTS may change shopping habits, which Singapore malls and retail S-REITs could be most exposed, and whether increased spending by Malaysian visitors could offset some of the impact. We take a closer look at Frasers Centrepoint Trust, Lendlease Global Commercial REIT, CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust, Starhill Global REIT and Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust—and whether investors should avoid these REITs or view any market weakness as an opportunity. All this and more in our latest episode!00:00 Intro 00:56 RTS 03:53 Impact on SG retail 14:28 Regional impact 16:31 Impact on retail S-REITs 17:21 Frasers Centrepoint Trust 18:33 Lendlease Global Commercial REIT 19:28 CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust 20:11 Starhill Global REIT 20:30 Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust 21:10 Factors to consider 24:16 What to do as an investor 27:42 Sheng Siong