Jochen Siepman helps people becoming financially free through property investment advise.
What’s your story?
I am originally from Germany and from a poor family. I was working in a bank, which transferred me to Singapore in 1996. I stayed here ever since. In 2013 I got retrenched and naturally was quite unhappy (to say the least) about it. But in hindsight it was the best thing that happened to me! Because since then I have built up a business in property, property education and property investments that enables me to be financially free, work only when and on what I want to, travel the world and I don’t have to worry about money anymore. Now I love to teach people how to do the same, it is satisfying to be able to help other people. I do a fair bit for charity as well.
What excites you most about your industry?
I find the property industry so exciting, because there are so many different ways one can profit from it. Whether it is collecting passive income, active strategies like flipping or advanced ones like lease options, or simply earning a commission from sales. Unlike stocks, property can be purchased far below its market value, so if you can buy something worth 100,000 for only 70,000, isn’t THAT exciting?
What’s your connection to Asia?
I have been living in Singapore since 1996 ( 22 years), I travel extensively in the region and actually have become a Singaporean citizen!
Favourite city in Asia for business and why?
Bangkok. The property market in Bangkok gives reasonably high rental yields compared to many other cities and countries and has been giving capital appreciation as well for decades. With the future high speed rail network and other initiatives in the region I believe this will continue to be so going forward, plus the currency is stable.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
In terms of investing: always do a proper due diligence before commiting to an investment.
Personal advice: don’t listen to others, unless they are much more qualified than you on that subject.
Who inspires you?
People who take action (do instead of talk), who want to learn more and strive to succeed, whatever challenges might be in the way.
What have you just learnt recently that blew you away?
It was not that recent any more, but it still blows me away that there are quite a few ways to buy property even if you don’t have any or only little capital available. I used to think it was a scam – until I did it myself and now I am teaching those techniques to my students.
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
I would not have wasted my precious time working for others, i.e. being an employee who only trades time for money. I would have started my own business, trading and investments earlier.
How do you unwind?
I do what I love and love what I do, so I don’t really need to ‘unwind.’ I can just keep doing it, but if I don’t feel like doing anything, I don’t need to. That’s the beauty of financial freedom (in my case through property). I do love scuba diving as well (I am also a scuba diving instructor) and that is the ultimate relaxation.
Favourite Asian destination for relaxation? Why?
Thailand. Excellent food, friendly people, beautiful beaches and islands, good scuba diving and just a 2 hour flight away. I usually go there 3-4 times a year.
Everyone in business should read this book:
The Property Apprentice – it teaches all the basics of property investing including risk management and psychology plus 14 great strategies on how to profit from it.
Shameless plug for your business:
After a successful career in the finance industry spanning across Europe and Asia within Private Banking and Investment Banking IT, I am now a mentor, trainer, and public speaker. I love sharing my vast knowledge, experience, and expertise with my clients so they too can enjoy a passive income that sets them financially free and enables them to potentially retire early, take care of their families, and have more time available.
I help people to succeed in their investment journey with my Property Apprentice property investment program. I am also the author of several books and eBooks. My mission is to help 1,000 people to become financially free – are you one of them?
How can people connect with you?
Best via email at [email protected] or my website http://www.professionalpropertyinvestment.com/contact-us-now/
Twitter handle?
I don’t really use Twitter, better on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/jochen.siepmann
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This interview is part of the ‘Callum Connect’ series of more than 500 interviews
Callum Laing is an entrepreneur and investor based in Singapore. He has previously started, built and sold half a dozen businesses and is now a Partner at Unity-Group Private Equity and Co-Founder of The Marketing Group PLC. He is the author two best selling books ‘Progressive Partnerships’ and ‘Agglomerate’.
Connect with Callum here:
twitter.com/laingcallum
linkedin.com/in/callumlaing
Download free copies of his books here: www.callumlaing.com
