The Merlion Baller

By MERLION$ | Merlion Finance

You know what’s funny about money? Everyone wants to make more of it, but no one wants to lose any of it.
That’s where risk appetite comes in – the difference between “investor” and “gambler.”

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🎢 The Ride Called Investing

Let’s be honest — investing is not for the weak-hearted. Stocks go up, stocks go down, and sometimes it’s like your ex’s mood swings: completely unpredictable.

If you’re the kind who needs your money in the next 3 months – maybe for a BTO down payment, wedding, or your next Bangkok trip – don’t invest that money. The market doesn’t care that you “need” it back soon.

Before you even start buying stocks or crypto, set aside an emergency fund.
💡 Rule of thumb: 6 months to 1 year of your monthly expenses.
This is your “sleep peacefully at night” fund – so you don’t have to panic-sell your investments when something breaks (and something will eventually break).

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🧠 Risk Comes in Levels — Know Which Game You’re Playing

Here’s a rough idea of how risk stacks up:

• 💼 SPY500 / Index Funds → Low risk, long-term stable growth, great for lazy investors.
• 📈 Individual Stocks → Medium-high risk, depends on your luck and research.
• 🚀 Crypto / Meme Tokens / Altcoins → Super high risk, heart palpitations included free of charge.

The higher the potential return, the higher the chance you’ll cry at 2 a.m. looking at your portfolio.

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😅 When Your “Investment Thesis” Doesn’t Work Out

If you’re gonna invest, you must have a risk management strategy.
That means:

• Know how much loss you can tolerate before you panic.
• Don’t go “all-in” unless you enjoy pain.
• Diversify – because one bad stock shouldn’t ruin your year.

The key is to understand your own risk appetite.
If you’re checking prices every 15 minutes and sweating like you just ran 2.4 km, your portfolio is probably too risky for your comfort.

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🧭 Final Thoughts

Investing isn’t about YOLO or diamond hands.
It’s about knowing yourself — your goals, your timeline, and your ability to handle volatility.
Play within your limits, stack your emergency fund, and treat investing like a marathon, not a casino.

“The market rewards patience, but it punishes desperation.”

Stay calm, stay invested, and as always –

🦁 Stay rational, stay ballin’.
– MERLION$ | MerlionFinance.com