Have a friend who is silently wealthy? Or could this person actually be...yourself? Here are seven less obvious signs of wealth in Singapore.
Driving a fancy Bugatti, buying a Good Class Bungalow (GCB), or owning a yacht are clear signs of wealth in Singapore. However, beyond these flashy possessions, there are a handful of lesser known signs that show one is wealthy in Singapore. Here are seven you might have heard of.
#1 You buy Bitcoin in whole number quantities
“I bought two Bitcoins last night during the flash crash.”
One Bitcoin today costs about US$47,000 (but yes, with Bitcoin’s volatility, it can cost anything from US$30,000 to US$60,000 in 2021).
So unless you’re someone that has an easy US$50,000 on hand, you’ll be purchasing Bitcoin in fractional quantities. For example, 0.01 BTC would cost you US$470 — a far more attainable amount for someone starting on their cryptocurrency journey.
If you’re someone who can purchase Bitcoin in whole numbers, you definitely have a degree of wealth.
However, if you don’t have tens of thousands of dollars on hand but would still prefer to purchase cryptocurrencies in whole numbers, you can always go for altcoins such as FTT, SOL, UNI and BNB. You can even buy cryptocurrencies in the thousands by purchasing the likes of DOGE, FTM, TRX and more.
#2 Your home address doesn’t include a unit number
“Oh, 6 is the house number, there’s no unit number.”
Ever asked a friend for their unit number, only to realise that the first number in front isn’t the block number but the actual house number?
Majority of Singaporeans living in HDBs or condominiums will be used to seeing the unit number as part of someone’s home address. An address without a unit number shows that the person lives in a landed property.
Residing in landed property in Singapore is a clear sign of wealth. Whether it’s a terrace house, semi-detached house, bungalow or even a GCB, it’ll cost more than just a couple million dollars.
#3 You wear a Rolex even while drinking kopi at a hawker centre
“One kopi, having here.”
Rolex remains one of the leading luxury watch brands, although smart watches such as Apple, Garmin and Fitbit have gained in popularity for their multi-functional purposes.
A Rolex easily costs upwards of S$10,000. Wearing a Rolex as your everyday watch, even while having a S$1.20 drink in the coffee shop downstairs is most definitely a subtle flex.
Better still, if you can alternate between a few Rolex watches depending on your outfit, occasion, or even mood, you’re likely to have that spare cash set aside for the finer things in life.
#4 You can pay for your new car in full
“Here’s a cheque for the car — S$150,000 right?”
Owning a car in Singapore is far from cheap. Besides the actual cost of the car, you’ll also have to fork out nearly S$50,000 just for the Certificate of Entitlement (COE). This would mean that the cost of purchasing a car like the Honda Vezel today would cost about S$150,000 (without factoring in car insurance yet).
If you have the financial capabilities to pay for your car in full, you are definitely wealthier than a large part of the population — there are car loans for a reason!
#5 You stay in Sentosa
“I’ll meet you directly at FOC Sentosa because I live pretty near.”
Housing estates that might be popular for the average Singaporean include the likes of Bishan, Toa Payoh, Queenstown and Kallang, where you see Build-To-Order (BTO) flats for these locations being snapped up like hotcakes. These tend to be mature estates that offer great convenience and plenty of amenities, such as schools, shopping malls and more.
However, if you live in Sentosa or know of someone who does, that’s wealth. Living in Sentosa comes with the perk of having beaches (nowhere near pristine, but they will do whilst we’re stuck in Singapore) near your doorstep, at a cost that’s far from affordable.
#6 You’re retired at 40
“I retired last year, at 40 years old!”
Retirement is a major milestone in life, marking the end of your career. It’s also something to cheer about, knowing that it’s time to fully enjoy the fruits of your labour.
Typically, if you’ve retired young (or before the retirement age), chances are, you have the financial safety net and/or sufficient passive income to sustain your lifestyle, even without working. This retirement amount would differ from person to person, and is very much dependent on your retirement lifestyle.
As the standard of living in Singapore continues to rise, this makes it even more difficult to retire, what more at a younger age. Hence, retiring at an age like 40 is a massive achievement and also testament to your wealth.
#7 You have a relationship manager
“My relationship manager just helped me invest in Equity Linked Notes.”
It’s difficult to have a relationship manager if your investment amount is a mere S$10,000 — although, it is possible to get a degree of wealth management advice from robo-advisors regardless of your portfolio size.
If you know someone who has a relationship manager, chances are they have a priority banking or private banking relationship with the bank and they might also be an accredited investor.
Relationship managers (sometimes referred to as wealth managers) play a supporting role in helping their clients grow their wealth. This could be providing them with access to exclusive investment products such as structured notes, bonds, options and more, or advice on their portfolios.
Are you ready for the high life?
If you see yourself in any of the scenarios above, chances are, you’re more than ready for priority banking.
Starting from deposits of S$200,000 and more, priority banking comes with a barrier to entry lower than that of private banking.
As a priority banking member, you can take your wealth to the next level with the support of a dedicated relationship manager and wealth management tools. You’ll also enjoy access to luxurious perks such as exclusive lifestyle events, complimentary golf games, discounted limousine rides and more.
Check out the best priority banking options around, only on SingSaver.
Ready to level up? Find out how you can make your money work harder and smarter for you. Enjoy your own dedicated relationship manager and privileged access to a whole suite of preferential rates with Priority Banking. Compare your options.
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Read these next:
Being Rich vs. Being Wealthy: What’s The Difference?
8 Ways To Accelerate Your Wealth In Singapore
Privilege Banking: What’s In It For You and Your Money
A Full Guide To Priority Banking In Singapore (2021)
Premium Credit Cards: Which Gives High Income Earners The Best Value?
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