Have you ever said you’re going to set aside an X amount of money every month, only find yourself woefully low on funds and hoping you’d get by till the next pay cheque? You can give yourself any amount of excuses you like. Oh, it was your best friend’s wedding, …
4 Ways to Save in the Digital Era
We’ve all been there before: at first, we were just absentmindedly scrolling through our Instagram feed when we come across a beautifully made travel bag or trendy sneakers posted by a brand account. Next thing we know, we’ve placed our order and we’re ready to make a purchase. Everything happened …
4 Ways to Manage Personal Finance as Millennials
When it comes to personal finances, millennials often struggle. Older generations sneer, saying that the youth’s money problems stem from their own spending habits, from frequent eating out to coffee shops. That criticism has some merit. A recent survey conducted by Bankrate show that the average millennial eats out or …
Budgeting: Balance Your Spending
“My money keeps spilling out like water.” Many of us have experienced the frustration of having too many expenses to track. We have to pay for housing, utilities, taxes, transportation, food, the list goes on. Sometimes we can’t catch a break despite bringing in a reasonably good income. It’s normal …
Types of Investments
If it is long-term financial security you are after, you will have to start investing – and better sooner than later. Here is a quick guide to the different types of investments: 1. Time deposits A time deposit is a bank deposit with (i) a higher interest rate than a …
Investing in a Post-US Election World
Prior to US Election Day 2016, most polls had projected a Hillary Clinton victory. So to say that the eventual result was unexpected seems fair. The shock impacted the markets even before the official winner was declared. As Donald Trump’s victory became more and more assured, gold prices soared; the …
8 Steps to Creating a Smart Financial Plan
An illuminating Straits Times article published early this year revealed the results of a poll conducted by the Financial Planning Association of Singapore (FPAS). Some unexpected and uncomfortable finds were disclosed. Only a third of Singaporeans had a comprehensive financial plan. Only 11% felt knowledgeable about financial matters. Most felt …
3 Reasons Why Peer-To-Peer Lending Should Be In Your Portfolio
Peer-to-Peer (P2P) lending is a fixed-income instrument. The concept of how it works is that individuals lend money to Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs). It is somewhat like crowdfunding, where people pool money to give it to a company that they want to support. However for P2P lending, they lend …
The Most Overlooked Principle of Investment in a Weak Economy
In my years as a consultant, I have advised and been mentored by many brilliant individuals including the CEO of major corporations and household names. Risk / return ratio was always the centerpiece of major decisions. While regulators and financial institutions are taking up more responsibility in the post-crisis world with Dodd-Frank and …