This guy is Kung-Fu Panda style - Inner Peace! His reply for the car he is driving is classic - it doesn't matter! (Very Zen-like). But then he doesn't give much insights into how he built wealth or invests, so even though I can identify with his focus on health and inner peace, we cannot learn very much about his style or personal finance habits. I guess he is deliberately brief as he has no agenda to push, unlike previous interviewees? 
The Straits Times
http://www.straitstimes.com
Published on Jan 27, 2013
me & my money
He prizes health over wealth
Taiji instructor quit his property agent job to pursue inner peace and lead a happier life
By Joyce Teo
Mr Daniel Tan, an enthusiast of the Chinese martial art of wushu, once led a life no different from many others - busy, stressful and chasing the next big deal.
But all that changed around a decade ago.
"I had high blood pressure, so my doctor advised me to exercise more," says the 50-year-old.
It was also his mother's death around that time that jolted him into action.
Having picked up wushu in his 20s, he decided to become a taijiquan instructor.
He also started spending more time to learn more about traditional Chinese medicine as he delved deeper into the world of Buddhism. And then he quit his real estate agent job.
"Without good health, there is no point having a lot of things in life," he tells you.
He has seen too many of his friends pay a high price for their success.
"They do very well as entrepreneurs but they end up with stroke, Parkinson's disease and other health problems.
"I am now doing something that I am passionate about and I am grateful for the simple joys in life."
Practising taiji, a form of Chinese martial arts, can help to boost immunity, regulate blood pressure and promote better sleep, says Mr Tan, who teaches a taiji group at East Coast Park.
His aim is to help others work towards holistic health and inner peace - "It's about mind, body and soul."
Up to 100 members or more gather to practise taiji and also do good deeds like raising funds for the elderly and needy.
"I am very happy to be an instructor because it's my passion. I can make a lot of good friends as there is no conflict of interest and we all help one another.
"No matter how big your house is, you won't be contented as we have insatiable desires," says Mr Tan.
The key is to work towards inner peace, a state where you have less trouble, better health, a better family life as well as good friends, he adds.
"I am now happier than before because I have fewer desires."
Mr Tan is also a wushu judge and has won numerous gold and silver medals in wushu competitions.
He is married to Madam Alice Ng, 50, a housewife who is a certified taiji instructor.
They have three children - Jia Ting, 16; Jia Gen, 17; and Jia Hui, 19.
Q: Are you a spender or saver?
I am a saver.
I spend wisely. I invest my money to prepare for my future retirement and spend on my children's education.
And I donate to charity several times a year.
Q: How much do you charge to your credit cards every month?
About $500 a month.
Q: What financial planning have you done for yourself?
I don't trade shares and prefer the passive income that property gives.
I have a freehold condominium unit that I lease out. I bought it more than 20 years ago for $265,000. It's now worth about $1.5 million.
My sons always laugh at me for missing out on many business opportunities.
It's because I prefer to take good care of my health and my family.
Having said that, I remain open to good business opportunities if they come my way.
I am also waiting for the right opportunity to buy another investment property or perhaps invest in the stock market. I think property prices are too high now.
I bought insurance plans for my three children when they were babies. It's for their education, which is very important.
For me, the plans are a form of forced savings.
Q: Moneywise, what were your growing-up years like?
I am a Singaporean now but I was born in Malaysia.
I grew up in a very poor family, with 12 brothers and sisters.
My parents were farmers and I had to help them in the morning before going to school.
Life was hard because my father passed away when I was 10.
That's why, when I was young, I told myself I must work hard and earn money.
Q: How did you get interested in investing?
I started to invest in property when I became a property agent.
Q: What property do you own?
A condominium unit in the east that I have leased out.
Q: What's the most extravagant thing you have bought?
I can't think of any at the moment as I am careful with my spending and am grateful for simple joys.
Some young people spend a lot of money on materialistic things that are not necessary. There is no point as they rack up debts and have no savings.
When I was a property agent and I saw that my supervisor had a Rolls-Royce, I too thought it was something to aspire to. But that was in the past.
Not everyone can do it, but if you can be contented with what you have and let go of your materialistic desires, you will be a much happier person.
It's all about changing your state of mind.
Q: What's your retirement plan?
I don't need a lot of money so I can just live off the passive income from my property. It's good to lead a simple life.
In Singapore, it is not easy to retire early because of high costs. But if you don't spend freely and live simply, you can still do it.
Q: Home is now....
An HDB flat in the east.
Q: I drive....
It doesn't matter what car I drive. It's not important.
joyceteo@sph.com.sg
--------------
Worst and best bets
Q: What is your worst investment to date?
I bought shares of a local retail firm a few years ago and lost more than $50,000 when the stock price fell.
Since then, I have never bought any shares.
Someone recommended that I buy the company's shares and I blindly bought them without doing any research.
My advice is for investors to do their own research and not blindly follow other people's recommendations.
Q: What is your best investment to date?
It has to be my condominium unit as I am able to lease it out for income. The value has also risen significantly.
The Straits Times
http://www.straitstimes.com
Published on Jan 27, 2013
me & my money
He prizes health over wealth
Taiji instructor quit his property agent job to pursue inner peace and lead a happier life
By Joyce Teo
Mr Daniel Tan, an enthusiast of the Chinese martial art of wushu, once led a life no different from many others - busy, stressful and chasing the next big deal.
But all that changed around a decade ago.
"I had high blood pressure, so my doctor advised me to exercise more," says the 50-year-old.
It was also his mother's death around that time that jolted him into action.
Having picked up wushu in his 20s, he decided to become a taijiquan instructor.
He also started spending more time to learn more about traditional Chinese medicine as he delved deeper into the world of Buddhism. And then he quit his real estate agent job.
"Without good health, there is no point having a lot of things in life," he tells you.
He has seen too many of his friends pay a high price for their success.
"They do very well as entrepreneurs but they end up with stroke, Parkinson's disease and other health problems.
"I am now doing something that I am passionate about and I am grateful for the simple joys in life."
Practising taiji, a form of Chinese martial arts, can help to boost immunity, regulate blood pressure and promote better sleep, says Mr Tan, who teaches a taiji group at East Coast Park.
His aim is to help others work towards holistic health and inner peace - "It's about mind, body and soul."
Up to 100 members or more gather to practise taiji and also do good deeds like raising funds for the elderly and needy.
"I am very happy to be an instructor because it's my passion. I can make a lot of good friends as there is no conflict of interest and we all help one another.
"No matter how big your house is, you won't be contented as we have insatiable desires," says Mr Tan.
The key is to work towards inner peace, a state where you have less trouble, better health, a better family life as well as good friends, he adds.
"I am now happier than before because I have fewer desires."
Mr Tan is also a wushu judge and has won numerous gold and silver medals in wushu competitions.
He is married to Madam Alice Ng, 50, a housewife who is a certified taiji instructor.
They have three children - Jia Ting, 16; Jia Gen, 17; and Jia Hui, 19.
Q: Are you a spender or saver?
I am a saver.
I spend wisely. I invest my money to prepare for my future retirement and spend on my children's education.
And I donate to charity several times a year.
Q: How much do you charge to your credit cards every month?
About $500 a month.
Q: What financial planning have you done for yourself?
I don't trade shares and prefer the passive income that property gives.
I have a freehold condominium unit that I lease out. I bought it more than 20 years ago for $265,000. It's now worth about $1.5 million.
My sons always laugh at me for missing out on many business opportunities.
It's because I prefer to take good care of my health and my family.
Having said that, I remain open to good business opportunities if they come my way.
I am also waiting for the right opportunity to buy another investment property or perhaps invest in the stock market. I think property prices are too high now.
I bought insurance plans for my three children when they were babies. It's for their education, which is very important.
For me, the plans are a form of forced savings.
Q: Moneywise, what were your growing-up years like?
I am a Singaporean now but I was born in Malaysia.
I grew up in a very poor family, with 12 brothers and sisters.
My parents were farmers and I had to help them in the morning before going to school.
Life was hard because my father passed away when I was 10.
That's why, when I was young, I told myself I must work hard and earn money.
Q: How did you get interested in investing?
I started to invest in property when I became a property agent.
Q: What property do you own?
A condominium unit in the east that I have leased out.
Q: What's the most extravagant thing you have bought?
I can't think of any at the moment as I am careful with my spending and am grateful for simple joys.
Some young people spend a lot of money on materialistic things that are not necessary. There is no point as they rack up debts and have no savings.
When I was a property agent and I saw that my supervisor had a Rolls-Royce, I too thought it was something to aspire to. But that was in the past.
Not everyone can do it, but if you can be contented with what you have and let go of your materialistic desires, you will be a much happier person.
It's all about changing your state of mind.
Q: What's your retirement plan?
I don't need a lot of money so I can just live off the passive income from my property. It's good to lead a simple life.
In Singapore, it is not easy to retire early because of high costs. But if you don't spend freely and live simply, you can still do it.
Q: Home is now....
An HDB flat in the east.
Q: I drive....
It doesn't matter what car I drive. It's not important.
joyceteo@sph.com.sg
--------------
Worst and best bets
Q: What is your worst investment to date?
I bought shares of a local retail firm a few years ago and lost more than $50,000 when the stock price fell.
Since then, I have never bought any shares.
Someone recommended that I buy the company's shares and I blindly bought them without doing any research.
My advice is for investors to do their own research and not blindly follow other people's recommendations.
Q: What is your best investment to date?
It has to be my condominium unit as I am able to lease it out for income. The value has also risen significantly.
