To The Moon

Click here to watch the live stream recap!

Recently, I had the chance to listen in on a livestream with Kenny Loh, SGX Academy trainer and founder of REITsavvy, where he shared practical ways to use SGX ETFs to tap into Asia’s growth and build a more structured portfolio.

As a beginner trader, I used to think investing was mostly about finding the “right stock.” But after this session, one thing became clearer to me: sometimes, the smarter move is not to chase one stock, but to build a portfolio that can survive different market conditions.

Here are some ETF techniques I learned and found useful, especially for beginners like me.

1. ETFs help reduce single-stock risk

One point that stood out to me was how risky stock picking can be.

When we buy one company, we are exposed to that company’s own problems. Bad earnings, management issues, policy changes, or unexpected market news can hit the stock badly. Kenny also reminded us that if a stock drops 50%, it needs to rise 100% just to return to the original price.

That made me rethink risk.

An ETF gives exposure to a basket of assets instead of just one stock. It can hold stocks, bonds, REITs, gold, or regional markets. This does not remove risk completely, but it helps spread the risk instead of putting everything into one name.

My beginner takeaway: ETFs may be a better starting point for people who are still learning how to analyse individual stocks.

2. Understand what kind of ETF you are buying

Another important lesson: not all ETFs are the same.

During the session, Kenny introduced several SGX ETF categories:

Local blue-chip ETFs
These provide exposure to major Singapore companies. For example, STI ETFs track Singapore’s top stocks and are more suitable for investors who want broad Singapore market exposure.

REIT ETFs
These focus on real estate investment trusts and may appeal to investors looking for dividend income. But the reminder here is important: high yield does not always mean low risk.

Regional and thematic ETFs
These may include China, Japan, Southeast Asia tech, EV, or future mobility themes. They can offer higher growth potential, but they are also usually more volatile.

Fixed-income ETFs
These are more defensive and may suit investors who care more about capital preservation.

Gold ETFs
These can be used as an inflation hedge without needing to store physical gold.

My beginner takeaway: Before buying an ETF, I should ask: is this for income, growth, defense, or hedging?

3. Use a core-satellite strategy

This was probably my favourite framework from the livestream.

Kenny explained the core-satellite strategy:

The core portfolio is the long-term part. It is meant for steady holding, broad exposure, and sustainable growth or dividends.

The satellite portfolio is the more tactical part. This is where investors can take smaller positions in short-term opportunities, themes, or higher-growth sectors.

For example, a beginner might use a broad market ETF or bond ETF as the core, then use a smaller allocation for themes like Hang Seng Tech, China EV, Japan, or Southeast Asia tech.

My beginner takeaway: Not every investment needs to have the same purpose. Some are for stability, some are for opportunity.

4. Match ETF allocation to your risk profile

Another thing I learned is that portfolio construction should start with risk profile, not excitement.

Kenny mentioned that investors should first understand whether they are conservative, balanced, or aggressive.

A conservative investor may hold more bonds and some gold ETFs for defense.

A balanced investor may use a mix of stocks, bonds, and gold.

An aggressive investor may hold more equity or thematic ETFs, but should also accept higher volatility.

This sounds simple, but I think many beginners skip this step. We often look at what is rising first, then only think about risk after the price drops.

My beginner takeaway: The question is not just “what can make money?” It is also “Can I emotionally handle the volatility?”

5. DCA works better when the asset is suitable

Dollar-cost averaging, or DCA, was another useful technique discussed.

Kenny shared that DCA can make sense for investors with a long-term horizon and stable income. Instead of trying to time the market perfectly, investors invest regularly over time.

But he also gave an important warning: DCA should be used carefully. Averaging down on an individual stock with weakening fundamentals can be dangerous. The stock can keep falling if the business is getting worse.

For ETFs, DCA may be safer because ETFs are diversified and regularly rebalanced.

My beginner takeaway: DCA is not magic. It works better when the underlying asset is strong and diversified.

6. Use limit orders, not market orders

This was a very practical trading tip.

When trading SGX ETFs, Kenny recommended using limit orders instead of market orders. A limit order lets investors control the price they are willing to buy or sell at.

He also mentioned that it is better to trade during the underlying market’s normal trading hours, and avoid trading too close to market open or close. This helps reduce the risk of poor pricing or wider spreads.

My beginner takeaway: Buying the right ETF is one thing. Entering at a controlled price is another.

7. Use ETF screeners before buying

Kenny also showed how investors can use the SGX ETF screener to compare ETFs.

This is useful because we can check things like:

• ETF name and ticker

• Currency

• Asset class

• Geographical exposure

• Distribution or accumulation structure

• Expense ratio

• Underlying holdings

• Past performance

For me, this is a good reminder not to buy an ETF just because the theme sounds attractive. The holdings, fees, and structure matter too.

My beginner takeaway: Do homework before clicking buy. An ETF is diversified, but it still needs to be understood.

Beginner Takeaway

The biggest lesson I took away from this livestream is that ETFs are not just “simple products.” They can actually be used as building blocks for a proper investment plan.

For beginners like me, ETFs may be a good way to start learning portfolio construction without taking too much single-stock risk. But we still need to understand what we are buying, why we are buying it, and how it fits into our risk profile.

My personal checklist after this session:

What is the ETF tracking?

Is it for income, growth, defense, or hedging?

What are the major holdings?

Is the expense ratio reasonable?

Does it fit my risk profile?

Should I use DCA or a one-time entry?

Am I using a limit order?

Still learning, but this session helped me understand ETFs in a much more practical way.

Not financial advice — just my market diary and what I learned from the session. Curious to hear how other traders here use ETFs in their own portfolio.

For anyone who wants to learn more about ETFs, REITs, and practical portfolio-building, I highly recommend following @Kenny_Loh ’s account — his sharing is clear, beginner-friendly, and full of useful market insights.