Can dividend investing be your ticket out of a 9-5?
Is dividend investing really the golden ticket to financial freedom or just another market myth dressed up as strategy? In this week’s episode of Money Hacks from The Business Times, host Howie Lim puts the question directly to David Kuo, co-founder of The Smart Investor, who has built his life around the promise of living off dividends.
Kuo has long written and spoken about smart investing. But is he really walking the talk? In this candid conversation, he explains why he views dividends not as a “bonus” but as the foundation of long-term wealth and why a falling share price is not the same as losing money.
Why listen?
- Investing is like cooking. Kuo likens portfolio-building to grocery shopping and meal prep: it’s all about blending the right ingredients for balance and value.
- Mistakes to avoid. Learn the common errors new investors make when they dive into the market without knowing their true investing style.
- Income as freedom. Kuo reveals how a dividend-paying portfolio can replace a pay cheque and how to work out your personal “magic number.”
- Mindset over markets. Why volatility is not your enemy, and how reframing “losses” can make you a calmer, more resilient investor.
This is not a conversation about get-rich-quick trades or timing the next Fed announcement. Instead, Lim and Kuo take us on a deeper dive into how to cultivate a portfolio that steadily pays you so that financial independence is not a slogan but becomes a strategy. Kuo also shares how he thinks about money as a custodian for future generations, and why he dismisses the idea of stock markets as a casino for the rich.
If you’ve ever wondered whether dividends can truly deliver the freedom to quit your day job, or if you’re simply looking for a way to sleep easier while still building wealth, this episode is a must-listen for you.
Find more great content at bt.sg/podcasts. For feedback or episode ideas, email the team at btpodcasts@sph.com.sg.
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Written and hosted by: Howie Lim (howielim@sph.com.sg)
With David Kuo, co-founder of The Smart Investor
Edited by: Howie Lim & Claressa Monteiro
Produced by: Howie Lim & Chai Pei Chieh
A podcast by BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media
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