All posts – Page 6 – CFP, representing Financial Alliance

it happens

It’s been a long time since my last post. I had a good holiday, a good break and I am all recharged. So honestly, I should be writing a much happier post and wishing everyone happy new year instead of plastering this awful, unhappy red note.

However, in light of recent events… I just (really) have to say this instead. Shit happens.
Sometimes, awful things happen to ourselves. Sometimes, it happens to the people we love and care for. And when it does, all we can do is to wait for the bad situations to lift. All we can do is believe that it will all be better in time. The bright side is that things will eventually get better.
And this, I believe, would be my #1 advice for 2015 – believing that things will get better.

The #2 advice would be to take on measures to minimise the impact (& regret) when it actually happens. It’s 29 days into 2015- If your new year resolution is to get fitter and healthier, start exercising now. If you have been wanting to go for a body check up but haven’t, do it. If your new year resolution is to save up for a dream vacation, then start saving and book that ticket soon. If your wish is to be more loving, then put it into action and actually show it to the people around you (you don’t want the regret of missing that opportunity to tell someone you love them).

So that’s all folks, 29 days late but better late than never – happy 2015.

(And stay tuned, I will be back with the usual more lighthearted posts. Till then ;))

Can you be the perpetual driver for your life?

There are various ways to appreciate this quote, and generally, all for the better. For me though, the quote got me to ask a slightly different question:

If you were to lose all of your wealth today, can you still get (drive) to where you (eventually) want to be?

If the answer is yes, then I think there’s alot to celebrate for…
Because it means a pretty good quality of life – you do not need money to make you happy.
And it is also likely a sign of youth, strength & ability – that you can always start over again and bring yourself to where you want to go.

What’s your answer? Can you be the perpetual driver of your life?

For your peace of mind, appoint a guardian

For many parents, leaving behind your orphaned child would be the worst nightmare. It is a scary thought to entertain – to have a kid grow up without her parents’ love. However, what would be worst is if there were no proper/suitable guardians to care for her needs and ensure her future.

And tragedies leaving behind orphans do happen. It could be a road accident, or a holiday trip that went wrong. Or it could be illnesses that whisk lives away, one after another. Whichever it is, we would want to ensure that the impact of such a nightmare is reduced to a minimal. And that is why we need to entertain the thought? “What would happen to my orphaned child?”

Continue reading For your peace of mind, appoint a guardian

3 Steps to Liberation (breaking bad money habits and starting better ones)

Recently, I spoke to a client (a teenager) on her spending habits. This is her description on how she feels on a monthly basis:

Countless research and poll have shown that it is much easier to overspend with this mode of payment because when we sign off the plastic, we do not experience (visually) that we are spending- our bank account value does not decrease, the cash in our wallet remains as it is. Sometimes, we are even lured into a false sense of security of having more money, for example in the case where friends return you their share of the expenses charged to your card – but which becomes money which you eventually spend (on yourself). Sometimes, we convince ourselves that we are enjoying the rebates/discounts of the credit card company – which is all true until when the bill date draws nearer and we realise that we have spent more than what we should have.

Then, the dread comes. The fear of paying the bills is not uncommon. A poll conducted by gobankingrates.com (US site on interest rates of financial services) shows that of the various financial tasks, people dread paying the bills the most.

This vicious cycle is more than just an emotional roller-coaster. The cycle itself does not promote good habits because we spend before we save. What we really need, is to cultivate a healthier habit. And here are 3 steps that will lead you to that.

Continue reading 3 Steps to Liberation (breaking bad money habits and starting better ones)

A great doctor may be able to cure a sick man but it is when he is equipped with the relevant resources that the same doctor can cure 100 others.

Disclaimer: this is an almost self-centered piece because I am going to explain why I am the ‘To-go-to’ advisor if you have an insurance need. And I would love for you to read this simply because it is about making a stand, for the platform that I am on.

Over the course of last week, 6 of my friends/clients asked me about retirement & investment planning and it is comforting to know that these people really do trust me and my opinion on the matter.

However, I got the feedback from 2 of that 6 friends that I am not their Top-Of-Mind person to go to when it comes to Wealth Protection solutions (e.g: health & life insurance needs). That is, I am viewed as the person who can help them “grow” their wealth but not the one whom can help them “protect”their wealth. I was curious to know why and in the end, I realise it is simply a matter of perception (not even because they have husbands/best friends/sisters/bro-in-law in the same line) I was quite bothered.

Because Financial Alliance actually partners with 12 life and 28 general insurers.
This means that I can

1. Find the insurer who can cover you for what you want, at a better value
Meaning to help you receive more for the same dollar paid or pay less for the same coverage received. E.g: Being able to pay $1000 instead of $1,500 for your insurance.

Continue reading A great doctor may be able to cure a sick man but it is when he is equipped with the relevant resources that the same doctor can cure 100 others.