Why do I invest in Stock Market

To get rich?
Not exactly.  I want to have enough to retire and totally depend on passive income from dividend.

Is it possible?
Yes, but the capital employ could be substantial (depending on the lifestyle one aspire).  Let's say, if our living expenses is $3k a month.  We will need $36k a year.  At current environment, we can quite easily get 6% dividend a year, working backward, we will need a capital of $600k.  This is not a small sum.  Capital could be lower if you are able to find higher dividend income.  For example, for 7% dividend income, you will only need $515k to give you $36k passive income in a year.
So, can you retire once you have a capital of $500k?  Not exactly.  Things aren't so simple.  Reason is inflation.  If we spend away our dividend on day to day living, and capital remain at $500k. A few years down the road, assuming dividend stays the same, living cost would possibly go up.  That leaves us with insufficient passive income to meet the increase cost of living.  Then we will have to go back to work.

The solution?
Unfortunately, it means we will have to increase our Capital. 

Conclusion
For a sustainable retirement plan.  We will need a substantial capital of close to $1 million.  This would ensure that a portion of the dividend is being plough back as capital to cope with inflation.  So, if want to live on dividend alone, we know how much capital we have set aside for this purpose.  It's a goal achievable for some.

WBL

Bought this counter in Jan 2012 at an average price of $3.22 and kept till now.  I have just accepted UE's offer of $4.50 /share.  My original plan was to keep till it's at least $5/share.  I was expecting this figure because I believe both Straits Trading and Great Eastern Group won't give up control easily. Unfortunately I was wrong. Straits Trading throw in the towels.
At one point, it was trading at $4.70/share. I didn't even consider exit at that price.  Now I have to settle for $4.50/share.  Considering that I kept this share for about 17 months, my total return is about 39%, and the yield works out to be about 2.29% per month.  Is it a great investment?  Depending on what I am comparing with.  For idle cash sitting in the bank for less than 1% per annum.  Yes, it's great.  However if we compare to some business that sell their inventory for at least 20% margin, it's just too little to be proud of.  However, since I am getting a divident yield of below 10% per annum for all the other stocks that I invested. I should be contented with this result.  I will have to look for something else of good value to reinvest my cash proceeds.   

Look at this wonderfully made video about wealth inequality of America.  I have always suspected that this happens everywhere, not just in America.  The rich are enriching themselves further, leaving the rest poorer, struggling more and evermore insecured. The rich poor gap is increasing in a alarming rate.  If we take a hard look at Capitalism Vs Socialism.  We surely would be far better off living in a socialist model than the extreme Capitalist model.

  

Is Market Exhuasted?

The 2 charts tells a different story.  DJI is powering ahead with such bullish sentiment that it would leave one wondering why STI is not following suit.  3300 proof to be a significant resistance to take note of.  STI is looking for a reason to cross the significant 3300.   People are uneasy over several events that's crippling the bull. N Korea's threat, Europe's austerity & impending H7N9 outbreak.  As the world is seeking ways to contain the contagious outbreak, any sign of success would propel STI beyond 3300, heading toward 3800.  There's much to gain if one stay invested.