The Road to Million Dollars | Zlance Made $1M Following 3 Simple Rules
In 2025, more Tiger investors than ever are hitting the million-dollar mark. Through our “The Road to Million Dollars” series, we sit down with these standout traders to explore how they think, stay disciplined, and grow along the way.
At Tiger, investing isn’t just about profit and loss — it’s a journey from ambition to achievement. We hope their stories inspire others to set clear goals and turn the idea of a million dollars from a dream into something real and attainable.
This time, we featured Zlance, a banker born in the mid-1980s and a seasoned observer of global markets. He describes himself as a structured, hands-on investor who prefers to focus on fundamental rather than daily headlines.
First Steps: “When you’re not sure, start with ETFs”
TigerClub: When did you first start investing, and what was your very first trade?
Zlance: My first investment was around 2015, during the period when Chinese stocks were surging before the market correction. I wasn’t sure which company was the best back then, so I started with a China ETF listed in Hong Kong—CSOP’s 2822. Whenever I'm unsure what to buy but want to start investing, I usually begin with ETFs linked to large caps in a sector.
Philosophy: Trend → Leader→ Price
TigerClub:How would you describe your investing style or philosophy?
Zlance: I don’t obsess over valuations like which stock looks “cheap” or “expensive.” A company can look cheap today, and ten years later, it might still stay cheap. So valuation alone doesn't tell the whole story. Instead, I start with the long-term trend: what's going to matter in the next 5–10 years? Right now, that’s AI. Within that sector, I focus on the biggest companies: think the Magnificent Seven, semiconductors, Meta, Google, and even Alibaba because it’s AI-related. $Meta Platforms, Inc.(META)$ $Alphabet(GOOGL)$ $Alibaba(BABA)$
Every ETF out there has to buy these large-cap leaders. And beyong passive funds, even active managers — the ones benchmarked against the S&P 500 — end up holding the same names. So when the whole world is buying these names, it’s hard for them to collapse. That's why I always start like an investor, then execute like a trader: find the trend and the leader, then work hard on my entry and keeping my average cost low. $S&P 500(.SPX)$
Options as a Cost Tool, Not a Direction Bet
TigerClub: Could you walk us through your options strategy and how you typically use it in your portfolio?
Zlance: I only really started trading options on Tiger. My strategy is simple: I begin by taking a partial position in the underlying position. If the price drops, I sell puts to either accumulate more at a lower price or lower my average cost. If the price spikes, I sell covered calls to collect premium. I’m not trying to catch the bottom or the top, I just want my average cost at a level I'm comfortable holding for ten years.
I’ve tried buying calls, usually out-of-the-money, but in high volatility, I often end up paying more in premium than I earn. So I adjusted. Think like an investor, execute like a trader: if the cost or risk of a strategy gets too high, change it. Selling covered options generate cash flows, and improve your average cost, as well as margin utilisation at tiger brokers.
Best Trade This Year: Levered Tesla via TSLL
TigerClub:What has been your most profitable trade so far this year?
Zlance: Tesla—but I didn’t buy TSLA shares directly. I used TSLL, the 2x leveraged ETF on Tesla. If TSLA moves 5%, TSLL moves close to 10%. It’s an efficient way to get exposure while managing my trading margin. $Tesla Motors(TSLA)$ $Direxion Daily TSLA Bull 2X Shares(TSLL)$
Concentration and Markets
TigerClub: How many positions do you usually hold, and which markets do you focus on?
Zlance: Diversification matters, but anything beyond ten names is hard to track. And when you can’t keep track, you lose touch with your investmentsm, which is dangerous. So I try to stay within that range. I mostly focus on the U.S. Market. I don’t look at Hong Kong much because many companies that I like are also listed in the U.S. For Singapore, I mainly hold bank stocks. Their dividends are around 5–6%, which is good income since I don’t buy many bonds.
Views on AI, Palantir, and Burry’s Short
TigerClub: Some investors are warning about a potential “AI bubble.” Michael Burry recently shorted names like NVIDIA and Palantir. What’s your view on that? $NVIDIA(NVDA)$ $Palantir Technologies Inc.(PLTR)$
Zlance: I bought Palantir long ago, when it was still around the low twenties. And honestly, part of the reason was the name Palantíri, which is from The Lord of the Rings, meaning “the stones that can see everything.” I thought that was quite cool, so I put in a small amount in. Back then, I knew they were a government-facing company that doesn't disclose much. Since I feel the world is getting more chaotic with all the conflicts and geopolitics, I think intelligence companies can do well.
As for Burry, he is a respected figure, and I see his voice as more of a reminder than something to panic about. If he’s right and the market corrects, the question is whether you know what to do. That’s how I look at it. Even if PLTR drops ten percent, I’m fine with it; I might even add.
Gold, Silver, Bitcoin
TigerClub: Gold and silver prices have been volatile recently. What’s your outlook on precious metals—and how do you view Bitcoin in comparison?
Zlance: To me, gold and silver are very politics-driven right now. A lot of it comes from geopolitics, tariffs, and the movement of the U.S. dollar. They don’t generate income, so it’s really more like speculation or buying a currency. I don’t see them as long-term investments. For crypto, I treat Bitcoin the same way. I keep the position small. If I want exposure, I usually prefer service providers like Coinbase because at least there is a real business model behind it.
$SPDR Gold Shares(GLD)$ $iShares Silver Trust(SLV)$ $Bitcoin(BTC.USD.HKCC)$ $Coinbase Global, Inc.(COIN)$
EVs Beyond Tesla
TigerClub: You’ve mentioned Tesla a few times. Do you also follow other EV makers such as BYD or XPeng?
Zlance: I do. I’ve held BYD in Hong Kong since the COVID period. To me, BYD is a real car company. They could replace brands like Toyota, Hyundai or even Ford in many markets, and you can already see their cars all over Southeast Asia. I also like XPeng. In fact, I liked it enough that I eventually bought an XPeng car using some of the gains from the stock. $Boyd Gaming(BYD)$
On Elon Musk’s Pay Package
TigerClub: What’s your take on Elon Musk’s trillion-dollar compensation package? Would you have voted in favor of it as a shareholder?
Zlance: Yes. He hasn’t taken a salary or cash bonus from Tesla for about 6-8 years, and Tesla is closely associated with him. Bringing in someone else would create uncertainty. The grant vests over time and implies a company value many times higher than today. If he drives that outcome in ten years, he deserves the package.
Risk Rules and Position Limits
TigerClub: What are some of the key risk management rules or principles you follow when investing?
Zlance: Don’t let the news drive you. Keep your thinking structured. I try to hold no more than ten names so I always know what I own. The entry price matters, and I use options to manage it. The timeframe is not sacred. If the price is right, you can hold for years or sell next week.
Tiger Experience
TigerClub: When did you start using Tiger Brokers $Tiger Brokers(TIGR)$, and how has your overall experience been with the platform?
Zlance: I started around COVID. I had more time at home, saw the mascot, and downloaded the app. Onboarding with Singpass took about ten minutes and the approval came the same day. The fees were low, the platform was comprehensive, and I liked the community features.
One moment stood out. When my account moved from Singapore to Hong Kong, the HK account only supported HKD deposits, but I needed to fund in SGD. I messaged Tiger’s WhatsApp support and they told me to give them five minutes. Five minutes later, it worked. I mean, which bank or brokerage moves that fast?
The Million-Dollar Moment
TigerClub: How did it feel to receive Tiger Brokers’ “ 2025 Million-Dollar Milestone Trophy”?
Zlance: Most of the time when you hit a target like a million, you’re alone. You open a beer and celebrate by yourself. But the trophy made it tangible. Somehow, somewhere, someone knows you achieved something. I felt honored.
Click here to redeem your Dream Edition Million-Dollar Milestone at the Tiger Coin Center
One-Sentence Summary
TigerClub: If you had to summarize your investment logic in one or two sentences, what would it be?
Zlance: I’m hands-on and structured. Don’t focus too much on the news. Start with the trend, buy the leaders, and use options to keep your cost at a level you can hold for ten years.
For New Investors
TigerClub: Finally, what advice would you give to new investors who are just starting out?
Zlance: If you’re not sure where to begin, start with sector ETFs that hold the large caps. Build a framework for structured thinking. Keep your list short enough to really track, ideally under ten names. Only then do you know what you own and how you plan to create value
Summary
Zlance’s path is straightforward and disciplined: trend first, leaders only, options to manage cost, and strict position tracking. It’s less about calling tops and bottoms, more about staying power—“think like an investor, execute like a trader,” and let time do compounding’s heavy lifting.
For SG users only, a tool to boost your purchasing power and trading ideas with a Cash Boost Account!
Welcome to open a CBA today and enjoy access to a trading limit of up to SGD 20,000 with upcoming 0-commission, unlimited trading on SG, HK, and US stocks, as well as ETFs. Find out more here.
Complete your first Cash Boost Account trade with a trade amount of ≥ SGD 5000* to get SGD 688 stock vouchers*! The trade can be executed using any payment type available under the Cash Boost Account: Cash, CPF, SRS, or CDP.
Other helpful links:
Disclaimer: Investing carries risk. This is not financial advice. The above content should not be regarded as an offer, recommendation, or solicitation on acquiring or disposing of any financial products, any associated discussions, comments, or posts by author or other users should not be considered as such either. It is solely for general information purpose only, which does not consider your own investment objectives, financial situations or needs. TTM assumes no responsibility or warranty for the accuracy and completeness of the information, investors should do their own research and may seek professional advice before investing.
