The Uncertain Future of Tradehaven and Happy Mothers Day
Mothers Day will always be especially meaningful to me because it was on Mothers Day that I stepped off the plane carrying my late mother’s ashes and had her leave my side forever.
It has been over 2 years that we have had this site and the blog site before it running, and we have come to a new crossroad for the future.
It is now that I badly wish I had my mother’s counsel in the matter and I wonder what she would say.
You see, she had spent most of her life helping the less fortunate which she did till her last days, but never got to witness the last food drive and charity dinner for the various homes she had organised, which took place three weeks after her death.
I can imagine her vast disappointment in me as she sees me now, spending my effort and money maintaining a website which cannot be charitable because, as many of my friendly critics have put it, I am helping the rich get richer, for the poor cannot afford to be buying bonds. And I can imagine she would have wanted me to have furthered my career.
I forged on based on my belief that I am working in the name of education while on break for the PSLE last year. And I like to think I am doing something worthwhile with my experience in the markets besides the fact that it compels me to stay in touch with daily developments. Readers have been very encouraging in their feedback as well which kept me going and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the understanding though not-so-little-anymore son of mine.
Alas, the website is not paying for itself after all this time and we have been rejected by even Google ads (twice so far) for our content amongst other faults they found.
Thus we shall be spending the next couple of weeks deciding on the future of the site and how we can keep it afloat or grow it without incurring further expenses.
The future is not terribly promising, as my life coach pointed out to me this week, in that it is majorly dependent on the expertise of a few people that makes it difficult to scale into something larger which makes the prospects of planning a herb garden for a charitable organisation (a proposition I have been presented with) or getting a job again, viable alternatives. I can also name about two dozen people who would be elated at the demise of this site.
Until then, we shall keep our posts coming and will welcome any feedback or suggestions or job offers from readers, privately, or in the comments and forums sections.
My mother would approve, I think.
Happy Mothers Day All !!
Happy Belated Mother’s Day !
Would love to see the site carry on growing …
You have educated us as otherwise the main source of “Biased Advice” comes from the banks. It can be said it is Charity from you to educate us in area you are good in …. and as a result we suffer less losses or made some money, and in turn we are able to give ……
So indirectly it is from you too …. in the larger scheme of things ! : ))
Heaven will know ! : ))
Yes, I will miss reading TraveHaven posts. Very insightful posts that only market veterans can come out with.
Dear Tradehaven,
Very sad that you have to contemplate closing your blog.It has been most helpful
to me.What ever your decision I thank you
from the bottom of my heart.
Hey Guys,
Thanks for all the encouragement and support.
Will work something out and won’t stop writing yet.
Hi, I’m sure you know this already, but there are a lot of us (especially the silent ones) who are so grateful for having a resource like you for education and contrarian views as we embark on our investment journey.
I don’t think of myself as rich, so you are certainly not helping the “rich get richer” in my instance.
For me, I think that the greatest thing about the website is that you all are offering a (largely) independent view which is great in countering the “noise” and hard-sell from our investment peddlers. A voice of reason, so to speak.
As for the cost / scalability point, I don’t have much I can meaningfully add. I’m happy to buy a nice meal if that helps to (indirectly) defray the costs 😀
As for scalability, the sad reality is that in most instances it will come at the expense of independence, which is what makes us come to this website in the first place.
Hi TH,
It is a bad and sad news to us if you were to shut it down. If it is a costing issue, maybe you can work on paid memberships fee which will help to sustain this website. Thanks.
Km
dear TH,
your website has been a beacon of light for the retail bond investors… I sincerely thank you for your precious time and colossal effort to write the articles and maintain this website… your quality independent views on investment and life itself have been illuminating… I hope TH lighthouse will continue to shine brightly… in Singapore context, there is no other website parallel to TH… content is the key!
I’ve been an ardent follower of your articles since tradehaven.me
I find them insightful and relevant to the SGD bond markets.
I have used shibuimarkets.com previously on a subscription basis and will happily join the ranks of your subscribers should you decide to erect a member gate
I believe that growing an online community takes time, and you have broke ground on an unpolished gem here.
Perhaps a mid way solution is possible ? Where your insights and price updates occur on a fortnightly or monthly basis on a subscription basis… a middle ground to keep the editorial appetite in surplus and the contributions almost light, but definitely relevant. ( “Strength in the bank” concept, keeps you wanting to come back for more )
In a strange way, I respect your contributions as on par as those members of society who carry out public service.
Transparency for the securities market is like oil to the gears of our quasi capitalist economy, we need a minimal level in order for the economic machine to be humming smoothly.
You are one of the rare few that is well positioned to shine light on this seldom covered, but absolutely essential segment.
Regardless of your decisions in the not too distant future, I will like to applaude your efforts thus far in my own small way 🙂
more power to you
Hi Tradehaven
I first discovered your blog in late 2012 during the Olam fiasco when I was desperately looking for a “an intelligent independent perspective on the Olam bond” and your blog was a heaven sent. I am still hanging on to the Olam bond by the way – and I only have you (and well ok, Ho Ching) to thank for it. Over time I went on to buy a few more bonds and partly because of your blog.
You have been an immense help and a great source of illumination in this very dark murky world of bonds. Like many here, I follow you closely, read your posts everyday – hey, I am even writing this whilst on a short getaway in Thailand!
As a digital marketer, I get what you are going through. What blogger hasn’t felt like deleting themselves forever from blogosphere? The truth is, blogging can be tiring. It can be time consuming, competitive, and down right discouraging at times. But there are many reasons why you should stay.
Because many of us are listening. Many are reading and learning and growing. And your mother would be so proud of you – in so many ways you’re helping us (complete strangers) navigate through these dark waters. That is charity work by any account.
I like some of the ideas proposed and I would gladly pay to subscribe to your blog.
Meanwhile perhaps it might be useful to share some digital industry perspectives as well on this? Many bloggers feel over committed, stay up too late to grow and “keep up” a blog, and might at times lose sight of why the blog should even exist? Advice for the weary blogger is don’t quit, but maybe cut back? Take a break. Opt out of networking for a while. Hush the growing frenzy and just take a mental break? And perhaps in your case, to write just because you enjoy writing – because the rest of us love reading your posts.
Bloggers prefer engagement – So, yes, many of your readers including Me, have been guilty of “lurking” and not engaging as much as we should? Perhaps we will try to change this? In fact the digital industry shows that social media (Facebook in particular) has “taken” a lot from blogging conversations. Readers are apt to leave a comment on a Facebook post rather than a blog post, or hit “like” and “Pin” a post they really enjoy, rather than write a comment. Perhaps we could and should engage more with you through Twitter or Facebook? Perhaps we could find ways to “share” your posts via social media buttons.
I look forward to reading your blog for a long long time to come.
Hey TH, please don’t go.
It is difficult to please everyone, what you have done definitely educated many. Note I say educated, not just benefited. I entered the bond space before I chanced upon your blog, only to realise the touted save investment in bonds are not that safe after all. In the ensuing time, I have no more bullets to invest. Have I benefited? Not yet.
I faithfully follow your blogs everyday not just on the investment bits but the entire space because you hold independent views which are nourishing. Do know that your views matter and would eventually attract people of the same mind, join you in your pursuit of charity.
I will be glad to subscribe to your blog to have it sustained.
It is your life and your future. Only you could decide what is best for yourself and your son! Whatever you decide, I wish you well!
If you choose to become a banker/RM, please let us know(you have our email addresses).
Wow.
I am overwhelmed by all the comments and emails I have received.
Was thinking of applying for a bond advisory role somewhere to fund that new handbag even though I am mostly holed up at home writing these days.
I will keep you guys posted on future after I meet up with friends and site partners to hear their advice.
Thanks again for all the heart warming messages. It makes one feel .. alive.
Dear Tradehaven
A broker friend of mine introduced me to your writing, but I never truly appreciated how good it was til starting at an FO role.
This is one of the rare places where a newbie investor can learn how not to lose it all.
Sorry I haven’t said anything over the past two years of reading (first at your .me site), if there is anything I can do to help I would love to.
Also, instead of having to maintain a site if cost is an issue – subscription a la John Mauldin emails perhaps?
Hoping this stays up,
Bisous
Hi Blackswan,
Thanks for your kind words of encouragement and support through the years. This public service business is getting to be quite tough and I am no where near Mauldin’s standard and reputation.
Let’s see how it works out for the future.