Recently, I've been thinking that many people believe investing is only something to consider when you have millions, but this idea is becoming increasingly outdated. Looking at current prices, rent, food, and various expenses are all rising, and mortgage rates remain stable at 2.2%, which means the purchasing power of every dollar is being diluted. For office workers, investing 100k NT dollars is actually not a dream; saving up 100k NT dollars through some effort and time is not difficult at all.

I’ve realized that many people underestimate the power of this 100k NT dollars. It’s not just a number in your bank account; it’s your most practical weapon against inflation. You don’t need a large sum to start investing; small capital has its advantages—flexibility, quick entry and exit, and less market impact. The key is to have the right mindset, choose the right projects, and give them enough time.

First and foremost, bookkeeping is really crucial. Treat yourself like a company—manage your income and expenses clearly, so you can set aside stable spare funds for investment. Never invest with living expenses, because investment targets don’t always go straight up; they fluctuate. If you need to use money midway and the investment has just dropped, you’ll have to accept losses with tears, which is very unfavorable for asset growth.

Once you have the initial capital of 100k NT dollars for investment, the next step is to set a concrete goal for your investments. Different life stages require different strategies. If you are a salaried worker with stable employment but slow capital accumulation, dividend-focused funds or high-yield ETFs are suitable for you—they can generate steady cash flow. For example, many funds now pay dividends of 7 to 8%, so 100k NT dollars a year can yield 7,000 to 8,000 NT dollars, about 600 to 700 NT dollars per month, which can cover your phone bill. Although this method doesn’t compound and asset growth is slow, it’s quick in terms of returns and easy to stick with.

If your salary is decent and your main job is busy, leaving little time to monitor the market, index ETFs like 0050 or SPY are good choices. 0050 tracks Taiwan’s top 50 companies, while SPY tracks the 500 largest US companies. The advantage of these indices is that they automatically weed out weak companies and keep the strong ones. As long as you hold for the long term, returns are quite impressive. SPY has risen from 201 to 434 over the past 10 years, with a return of over 116%, averaging about 8% growth per year. The S&P 500’s average return over the past 100 years is even higher—around 8 to 10%. Compared to a 5% US dollar fixed deposit, the long-term difference is huge.

But honestly, stock market investing involves risks. The dot-com bubble in 2000, the 2008 financial crisis, the pandemic in 2020, inflation in 2022—although markets rebounded and even hit new highs afterward, if you need to cash out during downturns, you’ll have to cut losses. Long-term investing is more suitable for those with high income and strong risk tolerance.

If you have time to research the market, you can consider more aggressive strategies. For example, as US interest rate hikes approach their peak, future rate cuts and even QE are likely, which will increase dollar supply. After the last rate hike, shorting the dollar has a high probability of success. A weaker dollar also stimulates cryptocurrencies, so riding the Bitcoin wave is a good option. The stock market also often features hot topics; AI concept stocks have been very popular recently, and these are all directions worth researching.

Regarding specific investments, I categorize into four roles. Defensive assets like gold don’t pay dividends; returns come from price differences, but they effectively combat inflation and currency devaluation. Gold prices tend to surge during times of uncertainty, such as during the 2019-2020 pandemic or geopolitical risks from 2023 to 2025.

Transformational assets like Bitcoin are no longer just speculative tools. They are now included in ETFs, sovereign funds, and even corporate balance sheets, transforming into digital reserve assets.

Growth assets refer to those expected to have sustained high revenue and profit growth in the coming years. NVIDIA is a leader in AI computing, with GPUs and data center platforms being core infrastructure for large AI models. TSMC is a semiconductor foundry leader, supporting the AI industry chain with advanced technology and steady orders. NextEra Energy is one of the largest green energy companies in the US; with AI-driven energy demand expected to surge over the next decade, investments in power and grid infrastructure are very sound.

Cornerstone assets like 0056, Taiwan’s most well-known high-dividend ETF. Over the past 10 years, it paid out dividends totaling 60%, and its stock price increased by 40%, doubling its assets. If you save 100k NT dollars annually and reinvest or even spend the dividends, after 13 years, the annual dividend would be 100k NT dollars; after 25 years, it would be over 220k NT dollars per year. This can provide a stable monthly cash flow after retirement.

Actually, no single method suits everyone. The key is to find what works best for you. As long as you have good investment thinking, starting with 100k NT dollars can open the door to wealth accumulation. All that’s needed is enough patience to wait for compound interest or enough time to research entry and exit points. With these three elements in place, becoming a small millionaire or a wealthy person is just around the corner.