Retire Rich

Breakout trade
Stock: URC
Entry: 159.6
Exit: 154
Result: Loss

Further to my study about stock trading, I read about Darvas Box and tried to use this set-up but I think I used it wrong.

So my bias is that It will break out at the second box that I plotted (see above). But It went against me.

With what I learned from reading the book "Think & Trade Like a Champion" by Mark Minervini, the good thing is applied what I've learned from the book. At least the rule of setting up stop loss before entering the trade.

So, with the above Darvas plotting and the 20, 50 and 200 MA I entered the trade @ 159.6 and set a 4.66 % stop loss at 154.

Well, as I said, I think the setup was wrong. As I look at it now, It seemed that URC has finished the one month upward run and in on its way to reverse the trend the day I entered. Glad about the stop loss and the discipline I learned from the book. I pull the plug without hesitation and learned from my first losing trade.

My takeaways on this trade.

• The book also told about stock selection process and criteria but was not able to use it religiously. The book mentioned about 8 criteria to consider before buying a stock. Next trade, I'll focus on those 8 criteria. 
• I'll study more about the right execution of Darvas. 
• I studied also about the Fibonacci retracement and it seemed I can still consider URC on a bounce as it hit now the 50%. I just don't know. Anyway, madami pang kakaining bigas. Aral pa ulit. 
• Next trade hint: I tried intraday and caught a stock that was surging up and ride the momentum.    

Position trading: EOD
Stock: JFC
Entry: 250
Exit: 322.6
Holding Period: 8 Months
Result: Win

As part of my shift to become a stock market trader from being an investor, I started looking at my current stock positions. The first I look into consideration was JFC (Jollibee). I bought the stock in July 2018 with the mindset of an investor. I decided to invest my hard earn money at JFC considering the criteria that it is a blue chip stock and that's it. I'm optimistic that it will grow over time.

Well, it just happened that I bought JFC at the time that it was near its bottom price. Honestly, that was pure luck because, at that time, I really don't have any idea about any indicators of a reversal. Reversal is the shift from one trend to the other. I didn't study anything yet about technical analysis let alone how to read a chart.

So, my entry at JFC was really pure luck and based on one criterion that the stock is a blue chip.

I bought JFC and forget about it.

Luckily, JFC was on the brink of reversal and the price started to go up the following day I bought it and skyrocketed from 250 to as high as 292 on 3 August 2018.

Pure luck. I just got lucky.

However, on 8 October 2018, the price plummeted to as low as 242.89. But I don't care. Naaaaa! I'm an investor yah! It was 4% down from the price I purchased it at 250 per share. Well, it really bounced back and went up to 324 on 4 January 2019. I'm a very happy investor.

All percentages I mentioned are the net percentage as I used a COL Financial buy and sell Android application that includes the brokerage commission on buy and sell.

In February 2019, I started my focus on learning about chart reading. At that time, I am not decided yet to become a stock trader. I'm curious about chart patterns and then, later on, learned that there are certain chart patterns that could signal a shift in trend. Eventually, on 1 March 2019 I decided that I will try stock trading.

So I tried to examine JFC price action using what I learned from my reading. Jan and Feb JFC price went sideways. It is consolidating and I'm observing the chart pattern taking into consideration what I just learned. I'm looking for a pattern that will tell me that the stock will breakdown or breakout.

Well, as far as my learning is concern, a chart pattern showed that the price will possibly go down trending. So I sold it at 322.6 on 11 April 2019. A 22% upside.

But by reading further, told me that I should wait for confirmation at least one more trading day if indeed the price will go down. I told to myself what if the price will go up even higher tomorrow?

However, the price indeed went down the following day. Till this writing, the price was going down and the price closed today at 302.20.

My takeaways in this trade:

• I know, I was lucky at the entry. I should read more about the correct entry.
• My strategy is not yet developed. 
• The exit was not correct also. I need to have confirmation if indeed it is a sell signal or not. 
• Need to check my time frame as a trader. 22% percent upside in 8 months? Is it okay?

I've got my online COL Financial account opened in 2015. It was the year that God gave me the opportunity to participate in the Philippine Stock Market. The opportunity was given to me thru OFSI. For those who followed this humble blog, OFSI is familiar to you already. For starters, you may click this link to know more about OFSI --- http://www.ofsi.ph/

In this tutorial, I will walk you through on how to withdraw money from COL Financial online. Just recently, COL announced the availability of online withdrawal. I tried this feature and I will share with you how to withdraw money from COL financial using the newly added feature -- online withdrawal. Two things you I will show you here. 1. To withdraw money from COL online instead of filling up hard copies of withdrawal form and send to COL. 2. Request to deposit the amount to your enrolled bank directly.

Without further delay, here's how:

Step 1. Log-in to your COL Financial account. 

Step 2. In the Home Page, select the Trade tab and then click the Portfolio submenu.   

Step 3. In the Portfolio Page click the Withdrawal Request link. 

Step 4. Read the "Terms & Conditions" of online withdrawal and then click the "Accept" button. 

Step 5. Fill the online withdrawal request form.

1. Enter the amount you wanted to withdraw.
2. Select "Yes" to deposit the intended amount to withdraw to your enrolled bank account. Another window will pop-up to let you confirm the enrolled bank account details. Click "Confirm" and then click the "Submit" button.
3. Select "No" for Check pick-up. 
4. Select "No" for Uncross Check.
5. Select "No" for withdrawal through a Representative. It is obvious to select No as we intend to let COL deposit the money directly to your enrolled bank account.  

Step 6. After completing the five sub-steps in Step 5, click "Submit" button. 

Note that the proceeds of the stock sale of the day -- withdrawal will be processed only after three trading days (t+3).

I tried the online withdrawal facility, first by logging in to my COL account, select the "Trade" tab and then click the "portfolio" submenu. Go to the withdrawal request link as shown below screenshot and click. Then follow as instructed. 

It is a very much welcome development for Cemex (CHP) shareholders that APO Cement's two kilns at their plant resumed its operations.

In a disclosure to the PSE, CHP announced that it has resumed the operations of its two kilns in Apo plant.

What is Quicken? Well, Quicken is a personal finance management tool developed by a company called Quicken Inc. (formerly part of Intuit, Inc.) [Wikipedia]. On March 3, 2016, Intuit announced plans to sell Quicken to H.I.G. Capital. Quicken helps you with the following tasks:

• Personal financial management
• Track bank accounts
• Bill reminders
• Set up budget
• Set up saving goals

As the version goes higher... more features introduced. We will discuss more on its version later. I first stumbled upon Quickbooks and used this software for my personal finance, however Quickbooks is designed really for small businesses. So, I'm having a hard time tweaking the system to work as a personal finance tool.

Quickbooks brought me to Quicken, which is exactly the software I need for managing my salary and expenses. In this blog, I'm sharing my journey as an OFW. Part of my plan is to go back home in our country financially free -- to retire rich actually. So part of this journey I shared is how to manage our income. Of course, as OFW, our main income is our monthly salary. So, I made sure that I managed my salary correctly.

This could be done through proper recording and analyze your recordings so that you can make sound decisions to achieve your financial goals. Well, it doesn't really matter what kind of software you use, or even writing your personal finances manually on paper. It doesn't really matter. The important thing is you keep a record. Of course, I tried keeping my recording, at first, by just simply writing it on a piece of paper, and after I learned how to use a computer back in 2008, I started using excel.

Everything is, of course, fine, but when my recording has accumulated over the years, is not so expert on excel, I was not able to produce multiple reports to analyze my recordings. I wanted a tool wherein I will worry only about the entries and the reporting should be just a few clicks away. I did research on financial tools and software. That's why I stumbled upon Quickbooks and eventually Quicken. Quicken has the capability to generate the types of reporting I need and the simplicity and practicality in making entries.

Quicken versions

When I found Quicken, I ask myself if what will be the right version for me---considering my budget too. Since I have to monitor my income (basically my salary); expenses (how I spend my salary); small lending business; stock market and UITF investments; and another start-up businesses. I wanted to make sure also that I can generate separate reports between my personal and business transactions. With the above in mind, I choose Quicken Home and Business version.

Below are the Quicken 2017 versions: (affiliates links below let me earn a little commission when you buy at Amazon.)

Quicken Starter Edition - Lets you track bank accounts, credit card accounts, download transactions, and credit monitoring.

Quicken Deluxe Edition - Apart from the above features in the starter version, you will be able also to set up a savings goal, debt-reduction planning, track loans, and retirement accounts.

Quicken Premiere Edition - Apart from the above features in the starter and deluxe versions, you will be able to manage investments, compare performance with market averages, track deductions for tax returns,

Quicken Home & Business Edition - Apart from above features in the first three versions, you will be able to track business expenses and income, create schedule C for a tax return, create estimates and invoices.

Quicken Rental & Property Manager Edition - Apart from above-mentioned features, you will be able also to have tools for managing rental properties, create Schedule E for a tax return, maximize rental property tax deductions.

Quicken for Mac Edition - Best version for mac yet and has the capabilities of deluxe windows version.

Working with Quicken

My Quicken version lets me create bank accounts; credit card accounts; monitor my bank loans and payments; monitor each loan I funded on FundKo [Retire Rich] (a very nice crowdsourcing lending and borrowing platform). I also am able to see where I am on my spending and how much is left money intended for spending at any day of the month.

What I like most about Quicken is that I can set up a monthly budget. At the beginning of the month, I would set up a budget for the whole month and monitor if I'm in or out of my budget. I can also compare my previous and current monthly budget and adjust accordingly. I'm really happy and satisfied that I bought this software, which cost me only KWD 18 at the time I bought it on Amazon. If you are really serious about knowing where your money went and serious about keeping an eye on your spending, Quicken is the answer to raising it to the next level.

Edubas (right) poses with Philippine Embassy in Kuwait Consul General Atty. Raul Dado

“Even before I became an OFW, I know someday, I will support children's education. Or even support a single family for their children’s education”, Edubas said, while sitting on his bed inside a 2 X 8 meters modified room he rented in Kuwait.

Edubas understood the growing number of out of school children in his country. And the major reason why these numbers are growing -- it's because of poverty.

The growing numbers of out-of-school children in the Philippines

According to Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS) one in every ten or about 4 million Filipino children and youth was out-of-school in 2013. Out-of-school children are defined in the FLEMMS as persons aged 6 to 14 years who are not attending school.

Insufficient family income to send a child to school is the primary reason for not attending school (this refers to all educational expenses other than tuition fee) for 19.2 percent of these 4 million out-of-school children.

Early life without parents

“My mother died when I was two years old. And my father died when I was in second-year high school. Back then, it was tough even to buy a pencil and paper”, Edubas said as his eyes turned red. He became emotional reminiscing those hard days of his life.

During third year high school, Edubas admitted that he was lost. His life went to the wrong direction as a result of his parent’s untimely death. He resorted into drugs.

“From having excellent grades during my second year in high school. I failed the following year. I didn't pass my junior high school. From that point I realized. What will happen to me? What will be my future without proper education?" the 37, year old Edubas said.
"I need to stand up from where I succumbed”, said Edubas. He worked as a payroll officer at an Oil & Gas construction company in Kuwait.

Edubas picked himself up and repeated junior high school with a renewed mindset. He sought help from an OFW relative as a working student.

“Without my relatives’ help and trust, I would not be able to finish high school and college. That’s why when I finished college, also with my Aunts’ help; I vowed that someday I will give something back!”

After he finished college, Edubas worked in a local bank earning $130 per month. Even with a limited amount of money to share. He did not stop helping nieces and nephews with their education. Edubas said that he values education more than anything. He doesn’t want to see children face difficulty in acquiring basic education.

Collaborating with fellow OFW's

Even working abroad as an OFW, he knows that he can’t do it alone considering his earnings. So he sought help from friends and relatives that also worked abroad. He wanted to realize a dream of helping children for their education.

Edubas donated school supplies to Datag Elementary School to Grade 1 pupils in June 2015. The dream was realized with the help from OFW friends and relatives from Hong Kong and Canada.

Finding ways and means to help

Edubas did not stop from there. He still continued finding ways and means to help more people in his community, in his own simple way. He also founded a microfinance aim to help the poorest among the poor in his community. He funded this from his own pocket.

"Although there were creditors who are not able to pay dues on time, but I didn’t give them problems. My aim is to help” said Edubas.

But how he sustained funding his microfinance if few creditors are not able to return some amount in time? Edubas said, “it is pure honesty, trust and their willingness to help their fellow men”.

He told those who avail the services of his microfinance to keep in their minds that the more they will able to pay the more people in dire need he can help.

Edubas proved that the ability to help others is not just for the wealthy philanthropist. But the desire to help others should come from within your heart, and God will provide all the resources you need to bless others.

What a lovely, kind and generous man!

Photo: Don Juan of Tabang Pinoy

I've got the chance to see the new Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait up close. This was during the launching of Gracia Amor's book, Global Filipino bloggers . He's the one who handed to me over the certificate from Amor's book launch and signing.

Ambassador Renato Villa is also an OFW earlier in his career.

Before he became a diplomat, our new Ambassador had worked as an OFW in Jubail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He worked as a technical writer at Saudi Petrochemicals.

As a diplomat, Ambassador Villa were assigned in countries like UAE and Jordan.

He was also assigned in Malaysia -- the most populous Muslim country in the world. A country of more than 255 million and home of around half a million Filipinos.