Most Singaporean investors doomed to financial disappointment in 2015: report

They are trapped in a vicious investing cycle.

Most Singaporean investors are doomed to more financial disappointment in 2015, a report from Manulife revealed.

The report showed that two-thirds of investors claimed that they were disappointed with their 2014 performance. However, the respondents seemed on track to repeat the same mistakes given their financial plans for 2015.

Only 12% of those surveyed listed learning more about investment as their top financial priority of the year, while just 9% intended to set up a financial plan.

Although they expect equities to be the top performing asset class, more investors say they will ‘invest’ in cash than any other asset in the next six months.

“Holding a high level of cash may not necessarily be consistent with their expected returns. With interest rates likely to remain low in 2015, cash deposits will not give investors the returns they hope for,” cautioned Naveed Irshad, President and CEO of Manulife Singapore.

The second-most popular asset class for the next six months is equities, with 21% intending to ratchet up their holdings, ownership is still quite low with just over half of those surveyed saying they hold equities in their portfolio. Intent to build fixed income holdings is even lower at just 8%.