How it all started
In 2016, I was working long hours in consultancy and realized this lifestyle wasn’t sustainable. I asked myself, Can I do this for 30 more years? The answer was a clear “NO.”
Determined to break free from the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle, I made bold changes—switching jobs, letting go of perks like a company car, and diving into books and blogs on financial freedom. That’s when I began investing.
After my job switch, life revolved around preparing for a new house, our soon-to-arrive daughter, and a promotion. With most of our savings tied up in the house, investing took a backseat—until my department was suddenly made redundant.
The uncertainty was a wake-up call. Thankfully, I was reassigned to a new department, which reignited my drive for financial freedom. That same year, I purchased my first rental property and began investing aggressively in stocks, leveraging low interest rates to boost passive income and savings.
Eight years later, the results are incredible. Luck played a role, but financial literacy and decisive action made all the difference.
So what is next
In 2024, I realized that by applying geoarbitrage, early retirement (MM2H) was within reach. To explore this, my family and I spent a month in Kuala Lumpur.
However, I quickly discovered that doing nothing wasn’t what I wanted. Also as a people-oriented person, I couldn’t imagine being far from my parents, sister, and friends.
During the trip, I reconnected with a college friend, and our conversation sparked a powerful question: What is our North Star? For me, it was clear—personal finance. I’ve always loved helping family, friends, and colleagues with financial planning.
Now, in 2025, I’ve turned that passion into action. I’ve launched North Star Finance next to my corporate job to provide financial coaching and help others build solid foundations to pursue their own North Star.
