Singaporeans love to talk about investing.
Stocks.
ETFs.
Crypto.
Property.
CPF optimisation.
But here’s a hard truth most people don’t want to hear:
If you’re not even earning around the median income in Singapore yet, investing in markets is not your biggest leverage.
Investing in yourself is.
And 2026 is going to make this painfully obvious.
The Uncomfortable Reality No One Likes to Say
Let’s keep this grounded and local.
If you’re earning below roughly the median full-time income in Singapore (around the low-to-mid $5k range), your main problem is not:
- market timing
- asset allocation
- whether S&P500 beats STI
Your problem is income ceiling.
No investment strategy fixes that.
Why “Just Invest Early” Is Bad Advice (For Many People)
Yes, compounding matters.
Yes, starting early helps.
But compounding tiny amounts while ignoring your earning power is a slow way to build wealth.
Example:
- Investing $500/month at 8% → respectable, but limited
- Increasing income by $2k/month → life-changing
The difference?
- One scales linearly
- The other scales exponentially
Markets don’t care how hard your life is.
Skills do.
2026 Will Reward Skills More Than Ever
The next few years won’t be kind to people who stay static.
What’s happening right now:
- AI compressing average performers
- Companies paying premiums for rare skill combinations
- Fewer promotions, more competition
- Higher expectations, not higher job security
In this environment, the best ROI isn’t an ETF.
It’s becoming harder to replace.
What “Investing in Yourself” Actually Means (Not Motivation Talk)
This is not about vague self-help.
In Singapore context, it usually means:
- upgrading technical or professional skills
- moving into higher-leverage roles
- switching industries when ceilings are low
- stacking skills (tech + domain, finance + ops, data + storytelling)
It might feel “expensive” to:
- pay for courses
- take exams
- spend nights learning
- switch jobs and restart
But staying underpaid is far more expensive.
Why Investing Too Early Can Be a Trap
Here’s a common local pattern:
“I don’t earn much, but at least I invest.”
That feels responsible.
But it can quietly delay growth.
Because it gives a false sense of progress while:
- income stagnates
- risk appetite stays low
- opportunities feel “too dangerous”
Sometimes the best move isn’t diversification.
It’s aggression in self-development.
The Correct Order (For Most People)
For the average Singaporean professional, the order should look like this:
- Build earning power first
- Create income buffer + flexibility
- Then invest aggressively in markets
- Then optimise taxes, CPF, property
Skipping step 1 makes everything harder.
A Simple Test
Ask yourself honestly:
“If I doubled my investing skill today, would my life materially change?”
If the answer is no…
Then your focus is clear.
Final Thought
Markets will always be there.
Stocks will still exist in 2030.
ETFs aren’t going anywhere.
But your earning window is finite.
In 2026, the people who win won’t be the best traders.
They’ll be the ones who:
- raised their income floor
- built irreplaceable skills
- gave themselves optionality
The best investment in 2026 isn’t an asset.
It’s you.
The Merlion Baller 
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