Me & My Money: Ex-cop who swopped badge for vintage treasures sees the shine of precious metals

SINGAPORE – Former policeman Wak Sadri keeps his investigation skills up to speed by travelling the world to unearth vintage treasures like original movie posters and rare porcelain, but when it comes to his investment, he reckons it would be criminal to bypass precious metals like gold and silver.

As he says: “They are among the safest forms of investment today; I actually started accumulating gold bullion at $280 per troy ounce, and today it is trading at more than $3,900 per troy ounce... Along the way, I sold some to buy my car.”

Mr Sadri, a police officer for over 20 years, developed a passion for vintage wares when he married in 2002 and became increasingly impressed by his mother-in-law’s eye-catching collection.

“She had everything from Art Deco-style furniture to Peranakan porcelain, and those objects reminded me of my own childhood and my late parents... so they brought me back to the good old days,” he said.

That eventually led him to quit the force and open his vintage shop, Treasure At Home, in Tai Seng in 2021.

Before he opened the shop, Mr Sadri, 46, and his wife would scour antique shops around Singapore, including those in Sungei Road and Joo Chiat, hunting for vintage wares to add to their collection.

But no find has yet matched one of Mr Sadri’s heirlooms: “One of my most sentimental pieces was a Straits Settlements police belt, which was passed down to me from my late grandfather.

“The belt originally belonged to his father, an officer in the Straits Settlements police force. I held on to it for six years. I made the difficult decision to sell it when my children were young, prioritising their needs, and I sold the belt for four tins of baby powder.”

Mr Sadri’s wife Aryana Aziz serves as the chief financial officer of Treasure At Home.

The couple have a 21-year-old son studying finance at National University of Singapore and a 19-year-old daughter who recently completed her diploma in nursing and plans to pursue a career in real estate.

Q: What do you invest in and why?

A: I primarily invest my money in my business and my children. As my children will eventually take over my business, I believe that personal development will help them become more capable, confident and successful individuals.

Treasure At Home also has Peranakan items like display cabinets, rare local advertisements and my personal favourites – artefacts from KTM (Malayan Railway) with historical significance for Singapore.

These assets have appreciated steadily by 8 per cent to 15 per cent annually as they become rarer and harder to acquire. Even for a significant amount of cash, collectors are often reluctant to sell due to their historical importance.

Apart from gold and silver bullion, I also collect watches, including those from brands like Patek Philippe, Rolex and Omega. To me, a watch symbolises more than just telling time – it reflects one’s identity, success and drive for future achievements.

Q: Did you collect anything when you were younger?

A: As a child, I collected local advertisement signage from old shops and coffee houses. Back then, an A4 paper-sized metal sign would cost around $50. Today, they can fetch between $300 and $500 per piece.

Q: What was your first investment?

A: My first investment was in gold and silver bullion. I still invest in precious metals as a conservative approach while focusing on growing other areas of my life.

Q: What has been your biggest financial mistake?

A: Spending beyond my salary when I served in the police force. I lacked financial guidance then and often relied on credit cards to purchase things I wanted rather than needed, just to impress people.

Q: Where’s home for you?

A: I own a fully paid four-bedroom apartment in Bedok.

Q: What do you drive?

A: I have two Mercedes-Benz cars – an E-class convertible and a vintage Fintail. I also own two motorcycles for those late-night therapeutic rides – an MV Agusta and a Harley-Davidson.

Q: Money-wise, what were your growing-up years like? How did these experiences shape your outlook on personal finance/investing?

A: I grew up in an above-average working-class family. My late father’s habit of diligently saving for his children instilled the importance of financial discipline in me.

Q: What was your childhood dream?

A: I actually dreamt of becoming a policeman, so I guess I got to realise one of my dreams. But I also dreamt of being financially free, and after serving as a cop for a few years, I realised that wealth creation was more difficult as an employee. This inspired me to explore entrepreneurship and start my own business.

Q: What was your first job?

A: My first job was as a police officer assigned to protect VVIPs and ministers in Singapore. Later, I became a personal bodyguard for a prominent automotive businessman, which profoundly shaped my business mindset.

Observing his global network, business strategies and confidence taught me invaluable lessons. His advice that I still carry today: “Be different and don’t care about what people think; we don’t have time for that.”

Q: What does work-life balance mean to you?

A: Work-life balance means having time for my family while helming my business. Money without time holds no value to me. We ensure we take family vacations to private islands every three months, creating irreplaceable memories.

Q: What does your perfect day look like?

A: A perfect day involves quality family time, personal growth and impactful work. It includes a morning workout, spiritual reflection, time at the shop working on meaningful projects, and ending the day with contentment and personal fulfilment.

Money Matters:

Q: What would you do if you suddenly had a windfall of millions?

A: I would buy a private jet for more effective family travel. Time is more valuable than anything else.

Q: If you suddenly had only $100 to your name, what would you do with it?

I would donate it.