Recap 2024 and getting ready for 2025

Opened a Moomoo account in May and started to fill up my portfolio in June with 40% MY stocks and 60%  US stocks. I focused on high dividend stocks, naively thinking this is a bulletproof way to grow a portfolio.

A few months down the road,  after being hit by stock price erosion and taking the 30% WHT hit on the US stock dividends, I realize this is not a sound strategy.

End of July saw the bungee plunge of USD, which put a massive damper on the enthusiasm I had for my newfound hobby. Well, it could have been worst,  so I was not discouraged but saw it as a learning curve.

Sept, Moomoo had a roadshow in Bukit Jalil Mall, Sadly, I only managed to go on the first 2 days , but the learning, exposure and networking value was awesome. Loved the vibe.

During the event, Moomoo announced that option trading for US stocks was coming  Since my dividend investing plan was not working out. I dived in to learn I bought a cheap.but high potential stock , coupled with my existing holdings, the adventure started with doing covered calls. And I also bought some option trading ETFs since I don't have enough stocks of 100 units, nor full understanding of how option works.

Global Paperfolio Challenge was also an9ther highlight for me,  even though I didn't win.

About now, I realize that option trading ETFs are not really good deals. You don't get to participate in the full range of the price movement upside, you don't get dividends the underlying pay and there is 30% WHT on the option trading income (which I find completely strange since these income are not technically dividend). So I don't think I will add any more positions to these derivatives. I will slowly buy my own 100 units of good quality stocks and do the option trading myself. 

I liquidated all my MY and SG positions to fund my holiday. I will build that back later, I still think this is a safe haven for medium to long term. So my portfolio is 100% US now, still not fully recovered from the currency depreciation. I did not take part in the Trump-related stocks, AI sector stock, and other hype stocks. So my performance for the past 7 months is flat. It's OK, I enjoyed the process, and I will put my learnings to full use in 2025.