購屋自住‧投資觀點不可少

只要未來有“換屋”的可能，就不得不從“投資”的觀點考量，才不會讓財富因房屋貶值而縮水。反之，“投資”也要從“自住”觀點考量；適不適合居住？賣不出去的時候好不好租？租不出去的話是否有其他用途？
因此，購屋千萬不能掉入偏狹的價值觀，即使是自住，都要有投資客的眼光與嗅覺，未來轉手換屋時，就有機會可以靠房地產賺大錢，房子越換越大，越來越好！
房價一定要跟著景氣循環跑，多看報紙雜誌可蒐集資訊，房地產循環通常起源於低利率，是逢低買進的好時機。當利率隨著經濟成長而緩步走高，一般消費者便會基於房價太高而延遲購屋。
在利率走高、供過於求、建築成本增加時，銀行勢必對房地產開發業者加緊信貸，如此一來，建築活動將放緩下來，景氣隨之衰退，為了再度透過低廉的資金成本重振經濟，利率又會回到低檔，新的房地產循環得以重新開始！

須懂房地產循環法則
購屋者若懂得房地產循環的法則，就能順著房價走向買低賣高，靠房地產致富。此外，都市規劃也是房地產投資者一定要關切的重點，瞭解都市規劃，才能知道地方建設的趨勢，及早洞悉地段的潛力與價值。
若想購買預售屋，絕對不能錯過潛在銷售期！所謂的“潛銷”指的是發展商尚未公開廣告，僅通知口袋名單、過去已購客戶前來看屋，以便測試消費者喜好與市場溫度的階段，通常會有至少一成的價差（與公開銷售價相比）。
建議可以先向朋友打聽，或直接到銷售場詢問發展商近期即將推出產業的地點，並留下聯絡電話，請他們屆時提早通知，就可以比一般消費者更早獲知潛銷資訊，因而賺得價差，也可以選到條件更好的單位。
一般人看房子的時候多半著重於室內格局與環境機能等較為切身的條件，精明的投資客通常還會注意以下幾個容易被忽略的地方：

1. 非凡品味
有品味的房子一定經得起時間的考驗，保值性也較高。若由知名發展商興建，更是猶如品質保證，但有品味的社區就能藉由口碑而撐穩房價。

2. 產業管理
產業管理亦是維護房屋永續價值的重要關鍵，缺乏物業管理的社區外觀，可能任住戶隨意加蓋、裝置鐵窗、冷氣室外機亂擺、電線纏繞、衣服棉被晾在目光所及之處，種種亂象都會導致房屋價值降低。
反之，產業管理理想的社區，一定會規定不得加裝鐵窗或加蓋，鞋子雨傘不可散落在梯廳，有特定的冷氣主機放置處與晾衣間，外觀也會定期保養清潔，所以建築能日久如新，即使屋齡漸長，還能擁有新建成屋的價值。

3. 入門廳堂
大廳是所有社區住宅的門面，千萬別迷失在華麗的水晶燈與質感高級的家具中，而要注意一般人不會看見的小細節；公設的牆面是否平整乾淨，其他不常使用的門窗是否還能順利開關等，都能看出居住社區維護公共設施的用心與否。
此外，有多少人欠繳管理費，也能看出管理的優劣與住戶的素質。

4. 車位選擇
購買車位是否只要考慮自身需求就好了嗎？其實車位很有可能是未來轉賣房屋是否順利的要素；購買二至三房的住戶多為小家庭，一定會有車也需要有車位，沒有包括車位的房子，可能會被優先淘汰而不列入考慮

大馬屋價5年漲17%

屋價對收入比率，主要是以高檔房產單位的每100公尺，對比個別國家國內生產總值人均收入的比率得出有關數據，低收入國家的比率，通常比高收入國家來得高。

根據《全球產業指南》公佈的數據，截至2010年第二季，與前期比較，新加坡屋價的漲幅為38.18%、香港24.53%、台灣12.74%、中國8.57%、韓國3.17%、日本3.12%（根據日本置業機構的數據）、印尼2.89%、菲律賓負0.87%，以及泰國負1.78%，馬來西亞截至2009年第四季的屋價波幅，與前期比較為3.30%。

不過，如果是與過去5年比較，截至2010年第二季，新加坡屋價的漲幅為60.03%、香港54.11%、台灣53.98%、中國50.67%、韓國24.32%、日本19.08%（根據日本置業機構的數據）、菲律賓41.02%，馬來西亞截至2009年第四季的屋價漲幅，與過去5年比較為16.58%。

另外，與過去5年的屋價相比，房產價格皆取得雙位數漲幅，與過去一年相比，依然是新加坡、香港與台灣排在首3名以內，漲幅超過50%，漲幅超過50%的另一個市場則是中國。

這幾個市場，幾乎都有一個共同點，土地面積小、地價昂貴，中國雖然地廣，但人口也多，加上近年來發展迅速，市場對房產的需求倍增，形成價格持續走高，一些大城市的情況，甚至可以說居高不下。

吃钱的怪兽

虽然大家时常看见报章谈到CPI（Consumer Price Index），但有许多人还不是很了解：“CPI究竟和我手中的资产有何关系？”

其实，CPI是消费者物价指数的缩写，是目前衡量通货膨胀的重要指标，CPI上涨会造成货币的实质的购买能力下降，所以买到的东西变少了，如CPI上涨1%，那100令吉就只能买到99令吉的东西，因此也有人将通胀视为吃钱的怪兽。

财富缩水

通货膨胀会导致物价上涨，使得财富缩水。它还会带来严重的财富再分配现象。通货膨胀还使资产增值，造福一些拥有许多固定资产的人，而普通打工一族阶级却只能望而兴叹。

让我举个例，目前一年期的定期存款利率为2.85%，如果CPI超过一年期存款利息，就出现了负利率，钱存在银行会越“存”越少，具体来说，这只怪兽会大口啃食你的存款。

72法则
依据“72法则”测算，如果以年通胀率4%计算，你今天拥有的100万令吉现金，若你什么都不做，18年后实际价值就只剩下50万令吉！白白损失近50%。

36年后100万令吉变成了25万令吉，损失了75%，75万令吉就这样蒸发了。

这只怪兽也会重挫你的退休计划。如果你计划30年后要退休，现在每月RM3000 的生活品质，30年后，必须要RM9,788.52才能达到相同水准！
钱存银行 越来越薄
此外，通胀对理财产品也会有一定的影响，投资者得到的只是名义上的利率，也就是银行规定的利率。

如果只靠银行存款，靠利息让资产增值，将无法跟上通胀脚步，就会落入“钱越来越薄”情况。
船停泊在港口内固然是最安全，但这不是造船的目的，船必须扬帆出海经历风浪，然后安然无恙返回海港。资金亦一样，放在银行虽然安全，但并不是长远之计。

通货膨胀不是一般人能够控制的，但采取适当的因应策略，却是一般人所能能够控制的。

因此我们必须留意各种资讯，并建立个人投资策略，一如船必须出海而而不是永远停留在港口道理一样。

所以在银行负利率时代来临时，抗通胀，除了要节流，还要会开源！而理财贵在能“开源节流”。

建立财务规划 跑赢物价指数
会理财与不会理财的差别，就是，不会理财的人以为，拿口袋的现金去购买人生的各种欲望，就是一种生活享受。

懂得理财的人，却在进行人生各种生活享受品的购买之前，先建立财务规划，把口袋里的现金扔进资产方格中，摇一摇，变出更多现金来，这就叫开源。
了解通胀对购买力造成的侵蚀作用后，你必须学习新的理财技能，尽早为长期目标做理财规划，用钱来赚钱的时间越长，就越能战胜通胀，最后拿到的钱就越多。

所以，会不会理财，怎样理财，可是会在很大程度上影响你个人的财富积累。

温水煮青蛙
十九世纪末，曾有学者做过一项著名实验，把青蛙直接放到沸水中，它会因面临生死关头而奋力跳出逃命。

但是如果把青蛙放到冷水里慢慢加温，刚开始青蛙还充满活力，等水温渐热，青蛙察觉想奋力跳出水面时，却已四肢无力。

其实，“温水煮青蛙“的理论值得作为理财的借镜。

提醒身边的人，若不及早正视通胀风险而对理财行为选择观望，就像温水煮青蛙，对资产会造成无形伤害，甚至影响长远的退休计划！

财务规划不再是可有可无、听过就算了的观念，而是社会大学必修的学分！
现在全世界的经济都进入了二低一高的时代：低成长、低利率、高通胀；如何让资产有效地钱滚钱，利滚利，不在无形中缩水是非常重要的。

努力跨出投资理财的第一步，将跑赢物价指数列为自己的理财目标，真正受益的正是未来的你。

投資單位信託“兩全其美”

股市投資涉及層面錯綜複雜，需要一些時間累積知識、技巧與經驗等，這是投資新兵的不足，需面對較高風險的個中關鍵。

若要克服這些難題，在避免失去股市獲利機會，同時也掌握更充裕時間學習汲取投資知識，通過投資單位信托基金，或是新兵的其中一個“兩全其美”的選擇。
投資單位信托有其利與弊，投資者在作出投資前，也需要作出一些考量，以便符合本身的投資目標與要求。

投資單位信托的優勢

先談投資單位信托的優勢，即首推擁有全職專業基金經理代勞投資，若投資目標定位及基金經理選擇得當的話，達到目標的機會較個人投資來得高，並節省許多追縱及監督投資項目的時間與精神。

資金市場邁向全球化之際，訊息傳達速度一日千里，使股市投資日趨複雜；雖然這也帶來更多賺錢機會，不過失去資金的風險相對地提高；所以投資專業化是勝敗關鍵，如需要擁有一切的設備與人力資源負責管理投資事務。

在股市個人投資方式已變得更具挑戰性，所以繳付一些佣金讓專業基金經理代勞投資，為大勢所至，也是投資者的另一項選擇。

投資項目多任君選擇

目前，市場擁有諸多涉及各級風險及目標的單位信托投資項目，任君選擇，如回酬及風險較高的激進成長產品、固定收入、平衡投資、保守債券等等，總會有一種適合你的投資目標及風險要求。

同時，單位信托基金與自行買賣股票一樣容易套現。單位信托的招股書將清楚列明投資項目、目標與公司及管理層等資料，同時也可向資產管理公司查詢額外相關的資訊。

至於弊端，一般管理單位信托基金的資產管理公司，將徵收5%至6%的初期收費，或是服務費，接著每年費用則介於1%至1.5。

有鋻於此，在繳付上述的服務收費後，短期內欲從單位信托獲取盈利的機會不高，所以它較為適合作中長期的投資，即至少3年至5年的投資。
由於單位信托基金的投資項目及目標固定，往往不夠伸縮性，這也是成本風險所在。不過，一些公司實行免費轉移投資產品，已降低有關的風險。

至於單位信托的表現優劣，主要關鍵為管理層及基金經理的能力與表現。投資者至少瞭解它們3至5年的表現記錄，才可較為全面地突顯有關基金的賺錢實力，得以更為安心地將資金投下，代為效勞。

如何选择医药卡！

1)
在你的保单里面都有写
GUARANTEE RENEWAL WITH LIFE-TIME LIMIT vs YEARLY RENEWAL有些保单是每年必须更新！但是，当你购买时，必须确定是保证更新到一定的年份！否则，如果你患上任何36种疾病的话或你的医药费已经超过了ANNUAL LIMIT，那么你就不能在更新你的医药保单。切记！
所以，购买时，请选择保证更新的医药卡，年份越长越好！

2)
CASHLESS vs PAY-FIRST-CLAIM-LATER/REIMBURSEMENT
在保单可以查看，当你有任何不幸患上任何疾病时，医药费是你必须先付后CLAIM，还是由医院直接和保险公司联络。
要记住，CASHLESS都是好过REIMBURSEMENT

3)
INITIAL WAITING PERIOD
你必须知道疾病的WAITING PERIOD的期限是多久，大多数是60天，120天。
INITIAL WAITING PERIOD 越短，那么你就越快获得保单的保障

4)
CLAIM AMOUNT BASED ON ANNUAL LIMIT PER DISABILITY OR OVERALL ANNUAL LIMIT这个STATEMENT时常使到顾客混乱。CLAIM BASED ON PER DISABILITY是每项疾病最高的赔赏。CLAIM BASED ON ANNUAL LIMIT是根据每年可以获得最高赔赏(不管什么疾病)

5)
AS CHARGED OR SET AMOUNT BASED ON SURGICAL SCHEDULE
AS CHARGED 是说根据医药费，必须遵守ANNUAL LIMIT和PER DISABILITY LIMIT
SET AMOUNT的意思是最高赔赏是多少，比如说，如果器官移植，保险公司只付10,000,那
么只有这个数目而已.
最好是选保单比较多AS CHARGED，因为医药费日益高涨，很多不肯定的事情会发生。

6)
PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS
有些保险公司有设立这些条件，如果顾客有任何的疾病，那么这些情况会使保险公司需要用更长的时间来确定是否承保。
有些公司12月甚至更久，有些保险公司甚至不要接保

7)
SPECIFIC DISEASES DURING FIRST POLICY YEAR
当要购买任何医药卡时，必须知道什么疾病是在第一年不再受保里面的。越少疾病的保单越好

8)
PANEL HOSPITAL vs NON-PANEL HOSPITAL
有些医药卡是有自己的医生和医院，当你有紧急时刻，是不需要抵押金。我的结论是，和你的代理拿最新的PANEL HOSPITAL的名单，还有，拥有最多的PANEL HOSPITAL的保险公司越好。

9)
GRACE PERIOD FOR PAYING RENEWAL PREMIUM
有些保险公司可以给30天的通融时期，但是有些保险公司只有14天，那么顾客必须在14天内付清PREMIUM，没有的话，保险公司不会作出任何赔赏。

10)
MANAGED-CARE ORGANISATIONS (MCO) vs INSURANCES COMPANIES
MCO 是一间提供医药卡的公司，不是保险公司，不受国家银行管制。例如马华爱心医药卡，SOS医药卡(已经倒闭了)之类的公司。
我的建议是最好不要买这样的公司，虽然比较便宜，但是不稳定。

11)
UPGRADE/CHANGE POLICY CLAUSE
有些保险公司可以接受提升你的医药卡的LIMIT，但是也有些不愿意给你提升。

12)
COST SHARING/CO-INSURANCE
现在大多数的公司是根据这样的方式来售卖医药卡，保客必须承担10%的医药费。
有些是一个指定数目 像ING MEDIPLUS 是一律RM50 不管任何数目的医药费！

The secret of investing in Unit Trust

There are 3 common strategies used in unit trust investment.

1. Ringgit Cost Averaging

Regularly invest a fix amount in a unit trust fund regardless of market trend is called the Ringgit Cost Averaging strategy. The actual market performance is fluctuating. When the equity market is high, you buy less unit with the same amount. When the market is low, you buy more unit. For long term, you will get much more unit in the lower price range.

2. Portfolio Re-balancing

Portfolio re-balancing is the process of bringing the different asset classes back into proper relationship following a significant change in one or more. More simply stated, it is returning your portfolio to the proper mix of stocks, bonds and cash when they no longer conform to your plan.
Example:
You start investing 50% in equity and 50% in fixed income fund.
1 year later, the equity rises and now your portfolio consist of 80% equity and 20% fixed income fund.
To re-balance your portfolio, you should sell 30% of your total fund in equity and invest it in fixed income fund so that the portfolio is maintained.
This is the simple principle of buying low, and selling high.
If you are investing with Fundsupermart, you can easily do fund switching of your unit trust portfolio by logging into your account online. There are no switching fees involved and you can switch between different unit trust companies.

3. Switching

Switching will lock in the gain you made in your unit trust investment. Switching fees are low and definitely lower than the upfront service charge. When you are making profit from an equity fund, you can switch it to some lower risk fund to lock the gain instead of selling it for cash. When the market turn low, you can switch it back to equity fund.

退休：最近您有想过这件事吗？

竭尽所能，时间事停不住也流不下的。当年少力壮时，我们将大部分的时间用来打拼事业和讨生活。但在我们察觉之前，岁月已经在工作之间悄悄溜走，将我们带入迟暮的黄金岁月。对许多人而言，退休是新生活的开始，不再受到工作烦恼的牵绊，我们可以自由设定人生的新目标，并且享受更悠闲的生活。

但是对某一些人而言，退休则意味着面对失去收入，做吃山崩的烦忧。汇丰银行在一项被题名为“未来的退休生活”调查报告中，针对在退休时所面临最大的恐惧时什么这个问题，访问了年龄介于40至79岁的人士。当中，有逾78％的人士表明最害怕生病和发生肢体残障，然而担心钱不够用的人士亦以70％的高分，盘踞恐惧排行榜的次座。

仅有34％的马来西亚人拥有储蓄退休金的习惯纵然担心钱不够用，但令人担忧的是，大部分的马来西亚人并未身体力行，为您自己的退休做好储蓄的计划。虽然原因或许各有不同，所以依然有人对退休计划举棋不定，但是其中一个原因，是缺乏财务忠告与教育。缺乏财经知识，会导致大家无法及时依据个人的财务所需，鉴定适当的退休方案。
不征询专业意见，在储蓄生活周期所出现的许多优质产品很可能会被忽视，又或不被考虑。

通货膨胀，乃退休的大敌
在鉴于此，当您决定储蓄蚁鼻钱供做养老金时，有什么时不容忽视的？其中一些最为重要的计算因素，就是通货膨胀以及未来生活成本的与日俱增。
这两个因素，将彻底地消耗存款的价值。举例来说，若一名人士希望他的退休收入，依据目前的市场价格是每年RM120,000,那么在考虑过通货膨胀的影响之后，他必须储蓄更多才能达到理想。让我们假设在他到达退休年龄的未来24年内，通货膨胀率是每年5％。总括而言，意味着除非他的投资回酬高过通货膨胀和逐步上扬的生活成本，否则他的养老金很快就会消耗殆尽，化为乌有。

公积金够您防老吗？
您的公积金，充其量知识一项低风险的基本退休计划。2009年12月31日的财政年截止时，公积金局宣布派息5.65％，较2008年的4.5％利息高出115各基点。表面看来似乎相当理想，可是当计算到通货膨胀，这个回酬就显得差强人意了。   “根据马来西亚Fundsupermart.com在过去5年，EPF平均每年派息5％，可是，当通货膨胀率平均每年达到3.4％时，会员在过去5年真正得到的利率只有1.7%.”星报如此报道。
公积金的另一危机是会员往往在提出全部存款后于短时间内花光使尽。选择较具弹性的Flexible Age 55提款方案，定期领取存款，远比选择一次性的付款方式更能保障您在退休后依然能获取固定的生活费。

您什么时候应该筹备退休金计划？
退休生活的品质，很大程度上取决于您依然有赚钱能力时所设定的目标。当您在决定投资于储蓄目标时，亦应该要同时设定退休目标。之后，请身体力行，将一部分的收入存起来充作养老金。请依据个人可以承受的风险，决定投资项目的风险以及回酬率。一些您需要考虑的包括有能够提供固定收入的投资项目（例如债卷，债卷基金），结构性投资计划，Takaful退休保险以及产业投资等等。

早起的鸟儿有虫吃，养老计划越早开始越好请尽快与您的财务顾问洽谈您心目中的理想投资计划。刻不容缓，请即刻做言行起，因为复利效应会发酵，助您一臂之力，使您在退休时获享更多的养老金。若条件许可，应签购定期投资计划或储蓄方案以确保朝正目标前进。时候，以知悉晚年有所保障的悠然心情，充满自信，昂首阔步地踏入黄金岁月，安渡一生。

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Why is a will important?

Estate planning is important because what you do now will help spare your loved ones from additional responsibilities in the future, especially when they should not be expected to make difficult decisions. While no one is required to draft an estate plan, a good estate plan will help you navigate complicated state and federal laws and provide for your heirs as you choose, not as the government decides. An estate plan typically incorporates the basic principles of asset protection and control.

A will is a guiding document often included in an estate plan. A will is one of the best ways to ensure your estate is settled and distributed according to your wishes. A properly drafted will designates specifically who will receive your assets. It may even prevent unanticipated disagreements after your death. A will created ten years ago, however, may no longer hold the protections it did at the time it was drafted. It is important to regularly update your will to verify its applicability with current law.

For those who choose to draft a will, there are many options available. It is a good idea to consult with an attorney, especially one that specializes in estate planning, to make sure your will is current and takes full advantage of the various tax codes and laws. Basic pre-printed and ready-to-fill-in wills are available, but quite often these documents will not provide you with the needed level of customization. Your will is an opportunity for you to decide upon the disposition of your assets, and a properly drafted will allows more flexibility.

After creating a will and keeping it current with varying laws, there is still one more common reason to update your will — changes in your life. Marriages, children, divorces, major increases or decreases in your net worth are all reasons to revisit and possibly revise your existing will. Drafting and maintaining a will is time well spent both for you and your heirs.

ING I-INCOME

ING I-Income can make a difference to your financial Security that lasts a lifetime
Invest into a solid financial plan today and reap the benefits of a secure future tomorrow. ING I-Income can make a difference to your financial future.
It is a plan that comes with a guarantee is yours to enjoy even up to the age of 82.
What are the benefits offered?

Insurance protection
• You will get extra protection on top of your insured amount for death4 and total permanent disability4 caused by accidents.
• Upon death, an added 25% of the initial insured amount will be given as funeral expenses.
• Covers death and total permanent disability. Coverage will be increased to 110% of the initial insured amount from 11th policy year onwards..

Guaranteed annual cash payments
• Each cash payment is 4% of the initial insured amount and is guaranteed throughout the policy duration.
• Payable yearly from the end of 10th policy year up to its maturity at age 82.
• As an example, for an initial insured amount of RM 100,000; the annual cash payment will be RM 4,000.

Dividend payments
• Annual cash dividends are payable yearly into your policy from the end of 2nd year onwards. You can either cash it out or accumulate it to earn interest with ING.
• Apart from the annual cash payments, your policy also gives you the opportunity to earn more in the form of non-guaranteed dividends.
• Meanwhile terminal dividend is payable only upon policy termination or maturity.

Conversion Privilege
• Premium duration is for 20 years.
• However if you exercise the Conversion Privilege (to convert the policy to Fully Paid-up3), the premium payment term will be shortened to 10 years.
1 Also known as Interim Cash Payment in the policy contract.
2 Terms and conditions apply.
3 All riders attached (except for CTPDB rider covering for disability) will be terminated when Conversion Privilege is exercised.
4 Coverage for accidental death is up to age 70 while accidental total permanent disability is up to age 65.
This write-up only contains a brief description of the product. It is recommended that you read the ING I-Income brochure and request for a copy of the ING Quotation System Illustration to know more about this plan. For a detailed explanation of its benefits, exclusions, terms and conditions, you are advised to refer to the policy contract.

PUBLIC MUTUAL NEW FUND : PUBLIC ISLAMIC ALPHA-40 GROWTH FUND

Alpha is defined as excess returns obtained as a result of certain investment strategies undertaken by a fund. One of the strategies for a fund to achieve alpha or excess returns is via ‘focus investing’ which involves maintaining a concentrated portfolio of stocks that are expected to outperform the broader market over time.
In contrast to general equity funds which hold a broader portfolio of 60 stocks or more, funds which practice focus investing provide investors with the opportunity to participate in higher potential returns over the medium to long-term due to the concentration of stocks. In general, these funds are suitable for investors with higher risk profiles as the fund’s concentrated portfolio may result in increased volatility over short-term periods.

Public Islamic Alpha-40 Growth Fund (PIA40GF) is an Islamic equity fund that seeks to achieve capital growth by investing up to a maximum of 40 Shariah-compliant stocks listed in the domestic and regional markets. The fund is able to adopt a more focused investment strategy and achieve potentially higher returns as it concentrates its investment in a portfolio of not more than 40 stocks. To achieve increased diversification, the fund may invest up to 30 percent of its net asset value (NAV) in regional markets.
On the economic front, Malaysia’s economy is expected to rebound by 6.8 percent^{1 in 2010 from a contraction of 1.7 percent1 in 2009 following a recovery in the manufacturing and services sectors. However, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth is envisaged to moderate to 5.2 percent1 in 2011 as export growth moderates. However, on the domestic front, investment and consumer spending is envisaged to be resilient amidst an environment of accommodative interest rates, rising disposable incomes and favourable demographic trends.}

The Employee, Self-Employed, Business Owner and Investor

Who do you want to be? An employee, self-employed, a business owner or an investor?

Each is a significantly different way of viewing oneself. It is possible to be in more than one role too. Robert Kiyosaki describes these roles in Cashflow Quadrant: Rich Dad’s Guide to Financial Freedom as:

Employee

A person who earns money by holding a job and working for someone else or a company.

The majority of a population has an employee mindset. They wake up, work hard, get a paycheck, and go to sleep. There’s nothing wrong with that; it’s a very honorable lifestyle. Unfortunately, it often leaves them financially insecure or, if they’re smart about saving up and investing appropriately, financially secure. While this role used to carry little risk, nowadays, layoffs have removed the guarantees this role used to afford.

 

Self-Employed

A person who earns money working for him/herself.

Some people decide to strike out on their own, to start their own business. They become self-employed entrepreneurs. Maybe they work alone as a freelance designer, business consultant, or financial accountant. Maybe they hire some employees and operate a cafe, a furniture store, or an ecommerce business. Whatever the case, they are now their own boss. Their lifestyle is characterized by lots of hard work and specialization in their chosen field. For their effort, the financial benefits can be greater than that of an employee; financial comfort is a more realistic goal. The risks are higher too. Self-employed entrepreneurs often leverage most or all of their personal savings to launch their business. If it fails, they risk bankruptcy.

 

Business Owner

A person who owns a business that generates money.

Few others decide to become business owners. This is more than just being a self-employed entrepreneur. The business owner entrepreneur has less control than the self-employed entrepreneur, because it involves sharing & delegating responsibilities & ownership with others. In some cases, business owners don’t even work on a day-to-day basis and have a manager run the operation. Although they don’t have to work very hard anymore, business owners need to be intelligent about how they structure their business. Fortunately, this extra free time allows them to strengthen their business acumen, which is where they apply their knowledge, as opposed to specializing in their chosen field. The financial rewards are high – financial comfort and financial wealth are in their grasp. The risks can be high too, though intelligent business owners learn how to shelter themselves appropriately. It is not easy to become a business owner. You have to work smart, not hard, to get here.

 

Investor

A person who earns money from their various investments – in other words, money that generates more money.

Even fewer others become full-time investors, such as angel investors and venture capitalists. The investor role, however, isn’t just about doing it full-time. Anyone can be an investor. It is not just about buying stocks. If you have money in a mutual fund or EPF, you are already an investor. This role is characterized by being able to assess a company’s or industry’s projected perceived performance. The financial rewards vary greatly; very few can make a living just being an investor. Those who do oftentimes got here because they were self-employed, owned a business, or were an employee of a young company that offered significant equity and later became wildly successful (which is extremely rare).

Kiyosaki argues that being a business owner and investor is the way to financial security, comfort, and wealth. I totally agree.

It is not about working hard, it is about working smart. If you can structure your business intelligently such that it can operate without needing you everyday (by hiring and delegating appropriately), you will have extra time to think strategically and carry your business further. Or even have extra time for your family.

And that’s who I want to be. What about you?

5 Facts About Mutual Funds

Mutual funds are a very popular investment vehicle and have a long history worldwide. In fact this investing concept has been around for over 230 years. They are also known variously as managed funds and unit trusts. In an attempt to learn a bit about them let us look at some facts about mutual funds.

Mutual funds are Pooled Investments
Your money is pooled with other investors so that you can access markets with small sums of money and access areas of investment that are usually only the domain of larger investors. Rather than buying shares you buy a number of units. These units are invested in a number of assets which can be shares, bonds, property, cash, as well as international markets, depending on the type of fund you are investing in. Investors with only limited funds are able to invest in mutual funds because of the pooling of their funds with other investors and it is this that makes them so popular.

Diversification
Diversification is possible with small amounts of money and is one of the main appeals of managed funds. The very fact that your money is spread through different asset classes, or in the case of say a share fund you are invested in a number of shares within that one investment, you achieve diversification.

Professionally Managed
The advantage of mutual fund investing is that you have a professional manager looking after the investing. They use their skills and many resources to make decisions on your behalf. This is their area of expertise and what they have trained for. This is great for people new to investing as they can leave it to the professionals while they learn about investing.

The Returns
Returns in mutual funds come from dividends on shares, interest on bonds and fixed interest. There is also a growth component. This is the increase in value of the units. The increase in value of the units is not actually a return unless the units are sold as they can also drop in value wiping out a previous ‘return’. Selling the units locks in the returns. This can be likened to the ups and downs of the share market.

The Prospectus
A prospectus is available for mutual funds and this has certain information to enable investors to make informed decisions before investing. Among other details it includes fees, where the managers are allowed to invest in terms of the mandate of the fund and what returns the fund has made. It is a legal requirement for investors to be provided with the prospectus.