Early start in investing helped build financial confidence

Co-founder of investment management company is a firm believer in value of compounding

- Rosalind Ang

Finance professional Paul Chong got a head start in investing before even stepping into the workforce: His parents gave him $10,000 to invest during his final year of university, which he put into a portfolio of stocks.

His prudent upbringing shaped his financial values – he was brought up to never spend more than what he had.

Fresh out of school in 2007, he started his investment management career with Fidelity International in Hong Kong, where he was an analyst for five years focusing on fundamental research in the Asia ex-Japan region.

He then worked as a portfolio manager of Eastspring Investment's global emerging markets equity team before moving on to head the firm's Greater China equity strategy.

In mid-2024, Mr Chong, 43, co-founded investment management firm Bonham Investments.

Mr Chong also does portfolio management for the firm, which helps clients preserve and grow their capital over the long term through the funds it offers.

"Our key differentiation is that our founders invest more than 80 per cent of their net worth in the funds that we manage to ensure that we have strong alignment of interest with our clients and significant skin in the game in the funds we manage," he said.

Mr Chong holds a bachelor's degree in business management, majoring in finance, from Singapore Management University.

He is married with two sons, aged eight and four. His wife, 36, is an account manager.

Q Do you invest in anything? If yes, what do you invest in and why?

A Over the past 18 years, I have invested more than 80 per cent of my net worth in a portfolio of 15 to 30 stocks.

I tend to put all my eggs into one basket and watch the basket closely. The volatility is manageable but inevitable. If I had a long runway, I believe that volatility is not a risk, but permanent capital loss from picking the wrong stock is.