Meet Inn Chong, who is on a mission to help busy professionals grow their wealth the smart and steady way. With over a decade of experience in portfolio advisory, he focuses on creating sustainable returns of 6 to 10% annually, without the hype, panic, or guesswork that often plagues retail investors.
What sets Inn Chong apart is his emphasis on discipline, consistency, and emotional resilience. He doesn’t just manage portfolios, He coaches mindset, helps clients clarify their “why,” and builds systems that withstand uncertainty. For those ready to grow their money with confidence, Inn Chong is the trusted guide behind the scenes.
You help working professionals grow their portfolios by 6 to 10% annually. What investment principles do you believe are most critical to achieve sustainable returns over the long term?
I think for professionals, it’s important to have a long-term horizon, minimally three to ten years and only invest what you can afford to lose. This helps cushion their emotions.
Of course, discipline and habits are important too, such as putting in $500 every month, every quarter, or even every year. All these reduce panic selling or FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) buying, so their emotions are more stable. These are the principles I believe are important for working professionals.
What are the most common investment mistakes you see working professionals make, especially those who are just starting out?
The first thing I often see is that working professionals chase the latest stock. For example, right now we are in the AI environment. They’ll ask, “What is the new AI stock to buy?” Even when the price is very high, they still want to go in.
Second, they ignore risk management. They don’t practise proper position sizing, like risking only 1% or 5% max per stock. Some of them just think, “Oh, I believe Nvidia will go up,” and put 100% of whatever they want to invest into that stock, or worse, another AI stock that’s new on the block.
Third, they have irregular investing habits. For example, some say, “I’ll wait for the market to quieten down before I start investing again,” or “I don’t feel like investing now.” These are the common mistakes I observe.
For someone with limited time and market knowledge, what does a well-structured investment portfolio look like today?
If someone is very busy and has limited time and knowledge, I would suggest starting with the S&P 500. It has more than a century’s worth of track record. It has survived the 2008 financial crisis, the dot-com bubble, and even COVID.
Overall, it still returns around 8 to 10% per annum. So, if you don’t have time, you can just invest in the S&P 500, provided you invest regularly. This will beat most people who only invest when they feel like it.
The best time to start is yesterday, but the next best time is today. As long as the person starts earning an income or has some savings, they should already begin planning.
How early should someone realistically start planning for retirement income, and what happens when they start too late?
The best time to start is yesterday, but the next best time is today. As long as the person starts earning an income or has some savings, they should already begin planning.
The eighth wonder of the world is compounding. It’s essential in retirement planning because compounding is directly linked to time. The longer your money is in the market, the more compounding works for you. It helps people reach their retirement goals faster.
In volatile markets, emotions often drive poor decisions. How do you help clients stay disciplined and invested during uncertain times?
I remind my clients of their “why”—why they started investing with me, why they began this journey, and what their end goal is. I also encourage them to spend time with their loved ones and do the things they truly enjoy.
Leave the heavy lifting to professionals like us, because we’re the ones monitoring the market and making the right risk management and trading decisions.
What sustains your motivation when things get tough?
The greatest satisfaction for me comes from seeing my clients move closer to their financial aspirations. Knowing that I played a part in giving them more clarity, confidence, and a sense of security is deeply satisfying.
So when things get tough, the trust and responsibility I carry keep me motivated and moving forward.
What’s your vision for Singapore in the next five years?
I hope to see more Singaporeans move beyond short-term thinking and dependence on a singular income source. Instead, I want to see them build multiple, well-structured income streams that give them more options and peace of mind to do what they truly love.
If you could have a superpower for one day, what would it be and why?
I would choose the ability to remove fear. I often imagine how different a person’s life would be if they could act without fear. If my clients or even myself could make decisions free of fear, I believe our lives would transform in the long run.
Connect with Inn Chong: LinkedIn.
Inn Chong is a member of Rainmaker, a revolutionary movement that rallies like-minded people together based on the values of Love, Authenticity, Respect, Kindness and Youthfulness (LARKY).
