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Why You Should Attend The SMART Investment & International Property Expo 2015

Take control of your financial future and join many others in the SMART Investment & International Property Expo. With over 11 years of organizing investment expo in other parts of Asia, SMART Expo has invited hundreds of industry experts in their fields to provide useful advice and motivational talks to investors.

This year, Singapore will be its first stop in Asia, followed by Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai in later parts of the year.

There are different seminars held in this 2 days event, so whether you are someone who is looking for investment opportunities or one who wants to learn more about investing, you will definitely benefit from the insights shared by these quality professionals.

Property investment

If you have been following the news, you would have been aware of a slew of currency swings that are happening in the market.

The U.S. Dollar has been appreciating ferociously against other major currencies like the Euro, GBP and AUD.

Fortunately, the Singapore Dollar has strengthen against a basket of currencies. With a stronger S$, it makes properties investing abroad attractive as it costs less in dollar terms. This has been reported in the Straits Time recently and some of the overseas properties in Malaysia, Australia and Britain are popular among Singapore’s investors.

Some economists says that the central bank will likely keep its stance of letting the Singdollar appreciate against other currencies in the April meeting, albeit at a lower pace. This could be a good opportunity to leverage on for property investors.

If you one who plans to buy a retirement property or a weekend home to retreat to across the Causeway, look forward to Mike Chau’s seminar on “Why is Landed Property the Preferred Investment Choice in Iskandar, Malaysia for 2015?” on 28 March 2015 from 13:00 to 13:45. Mike is the managing director of eBizway Research Sdn Bhd and has invested in the Iskandar since 2008.

With the decline of the Aussie dollar, parents who are planning to purchase a property in Australia for their children who wishes to study or work abroad may find it a better deal now. Christian Numa from LK Property Group will share with you some tips and hindsight on how and why you should invest in properties in Melbourne – the World’s Most Liveable City. And Omar Butt from Find My Work Space will talk about the burgeoning marketing for flexible workspaces in the city.

You should also not missed Vina Ip’s talk on “Dirty Truths and Profitable Secrets to Building Wealth Through Properties” on the second day of the seminar. Vina is a founder of Property Club Singapore, and she blogs at PropertySoul.com where she shares her property investing experience on how she grows her wealth from one to five property in 4½ years. In 2014, she published a book “No B.S. Guide to Property Investment.” and was sold out in Kinokuniya and Times bookstores within 8 weeks.

If you are already planning to invest in some properties, there is a good selection of overseas properties that you can check out during the event.

There are many other seminars conducted by senior level industry experts giving their expert advice on property investment and how to succeed in the property market. If property investment is what you are interested in, check out the seminar’s timetable here: http://www.smartexpos.com/2015/MarSG/timetable.html

Personal Finance & Investment

Who say the SMART Expo is all about talks on property investments? For keen and young investors, look forward to some of the talks from renowned traders and professionals as they show you how to detect market trends, basics of assets allocation and how to create an ideal portfolio.

Jeff Sun is a professional trader and specialises in high probability trading strategies in index futures and equities trading of Singapore and US shares. He will show you his hindsight on proper risk and money management strategy and how to turn your portfolio into profits every month using some trading principles.

With over 15 years of experience in stocks, 11 years with options and futures and 8 years in Forex and CFDs as a full time investment manager, Terrence Tan will give you an overview on how to create a profitable portfolio yourself and how to achieve financial freedom without the need of experts.

For new investors, learn how to diversify your portfolio with Calvin’s enriching talk on “How To Setup Basic Asset Allocation“. Find out how each investment vehicles can make up an ideal portfolio from the experience of a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP) holder. It is also worth mentioning that Calvin has managed deal size of over US$2 billion dollars as an investment banker in New York. He is now the managing director and co-founder of DrWealth.com.

Feng Shui and Fortune Telling

If you are a believer on Feng Shui, don’t miss the talk from Grandmaster Chang Qing Yuan where he share with you some Feng Shui Tips and Forecast for the year 2015. Being an expert in the fraternity, Grandmaster Chang is known for his practice of “Finger Divination” which allows him to accurately predict current and future issues of an individual. He also boasts the likes of looking at the fortunes and Feng Shui of some of the millionaires and billionaires in China and Taiwan. Grandmaster Chang will speak in the first day of the seminar, from 12pm.

If you are heading to the Expo on the second day, there is also a Feng Shui and Astrology talk by Master Trainer Kevin Foong. Kevin Foong is the founder of Kevin Foong Consulting Group and is devoted to using the “Four Pillars of Destiny 子平八字” to provide Life Readings.

Besides Feng Shui, you can also get your fortune told by Chinese Masters on both days of the event. Get a brief consultation to find out more about your future wealth prospects, health and how the interior design of your house affects Feng Shui.

Whether you are a seasoned investor or someone who wants to gain some insights from the professionals, there are so much activities and events to look forward to.

There will also be a lucky draw conducted during the events, and you can win exciting prizes such as digital cameras, watches, vouchers and gift cards.

For full terms and conditions: http://goo.gl/DJ4xMx

Mark your calendar and keep your weekends free next week as we look forward to see you at the event!

Address: Hall B, Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands
Date: 28 – 29 March 2015
Time: 11am – 7pm

* Pss.. if you are the first 150 registered visitor who attend the expo from 11am – 12pm, there is also a chance for you to redeem a $10 NTUC voucher.

(Money Digest Singapore is proud to be the strategic partner of SMART Investment & International Property Expo 2015.)

Secrets That Are Possibly Hidden By Your Life Insurance Agent

Not all life insurance agents are trusted advisors. So, the simplest way to prevent being exploited is to seek for an independent agent that will save you time and money. Here are the other secrets that your Life Insurance Agent may be keeping from you…

1. THEIR INCOME IS BASED ON COMMISSION

The agent’s income is solely compensated from the commission. It is one of the possibilities for the agent to have a personal interest that leads to you buying the highest premium possible equating to their highest commission possible. Thus, it may change his/her perspective of things, as well as the type of products clients are introduced to.

2. CASH VALUE WILL NOT BENEFIT YOU RIGHT AWAY

Yes! Cash value will build-up. But it takes about five years to have the cash value equal to the amount you paid for the whole life insurance.

3. BUY TERM AND INVEST THE DIFFERENCE

The term insurance is significantly less expensive than the whole insurance. This is why you can buy term then invest the difference on mutual funds. In fact, the combination of term and your investment for mutual funds may be less costly that the whole life insurance.

4. YOU MAY NOT NEED CHILD LIFE INSURANCE AFTER ALL

Renowned experts namely: Dave Ramsay, Suze Orman, and Neal Frankle are on a arguing against buying life insurance for kids.

“The only reason you need life insurance is if anyone is dependent on your income…please, you new parents, do not let anyone talk you into buying a life insurance policy on your child.” said Suze Orman.

Image Credits: State Farm via Flickr

According to them, if your child is not at the risk of a serious illness and you are financially stable to cover foreseen medical bills then, you are better off without it. Instead, save up for your child’s education until tertiary level.

Money Management Tips From Around The World

Diversity is rich in meaningful insight that extends to financial values and money handling practices. Know more about the 5 money strategies from around the world that you can use in your everyday life…

1. CHINA: MAKE FRUGALITY YOUR MANTRA

China has a strong culture of saving. Being raised by Chinese parents, you will feel that saving at least 50% of your income is normal. In fact, China’s government has saved about 51% of their GDP in 2013, according to the International Monetary Fund. Make frugality your mantra by saving electric bills through charging your hand phone at work and by unplugging everything after usage.

2. ASIA: TRY TO BARGAIN ON ANYTHING

I cannot be the only one who constantly asks if there are discount options or if there is a better price offer. In Asian countries, negotiating is a common practice especially for those who are purchasing in the market or flea. Whether it be computers, bed sheets, or apples…there is always a better price and all you have to do is ask politely.

3. GERMANY: SHY AWAY FROM CREDIT

Germany has a deep aversion towards debt and an emphasis on responsibility. This is why they prefer to pay cash than credit. Having to pay with the money you already have is a wise decision that is accepted by most. This preference for cash is evident as they use one of the most valuable currency denominations in the world – the €500 note.

4. JAPAN: VALUE ONE’S MONEY

In Japan, money is handled with respect and is kept clean and crisp. This is why it is common to give cash as a gift, especially for significant life events such as weddings and funerals. Interestingly, they value money so much that they sell anti-bacterial wallets to sterilize the bills. Treating money with profound respect helps the saver to resist the urge of spending.

5. GUATEMALA: ASK FOR THE FAMILY’S OPINION

Most countries of Spanish decent have close family ties.

Image Credits: Alfonso Lomba via Flickr

This is why before making huge purchases or monetary decisions, some Guatemalans ask for their family’s advice. This is a good tip because you never know who has a connection, a friends-and-family discount, or even an extra of the item so you do not have to purchase.

The Lure Of Income Investing

We have often heard of the term “Income Investing”, but what is it and why it should concern you? Income investing is essentially investing into assets that produce income for you. This could range from investing in stocks that reward investors with dividends, purchasing a residential property and renting it out, etc. I particularly want to zoom into the stocks side because that’s what I have been doing and more people can benefit from this article because owning a property requires a good amount of capital, which not everyone may have at their dispense.

Why Income Investing?

What if I told you that your money has the capacity to grow at a “fixed” rate irregardless of market conditions. Would you be interested? I want to introduce you to dividend stocks where companies pay out dividends that could range all the way to double digit dividend yields if bought at low prices. The benefits of investing in dividend stocks is that you enjoy potential capital growth as well as get to take home some cash every year or even every 3 months.

Picture this, you bought Stock X at $1.00 and based on past dividend history, it has consistently given off $0.05 of dividend per year. This translates to 5% dividend yield per year. What it means is that even if the stock price goes to $1.10(Scenario A) or $0.90(Scenario B), you’ll still get your $0.05 per year. If you consider in terms of returns, for Scenario A, it would mean that you made a 15% return for the year and for Scenario B, it would mean just a 5% loss (-10% + 5%). Your capital gain/loss is amplified or mitigated by your dividend yield.

Fixed Deposit or Dividend Investing?

Some of you may be contemplating between FDs and Dividend Investing. I will leave it up to you to decide at the end of the day, but I will show a comparison between the two.

Fixed Deposit

Lump sum/Progressive capital investment with a minimum lock-in period.
Principle amount usually guaranteed.
Some allow you to take home a small sum every year while deducting it away from your principle amount. Meaning less compounding power.
Fixed but relatively low interest rates and long lock-in period with penalties for early surrender.

Dividend Stocks (Increase risk, increase return)

Increased risk, although not necessarily high if due diligence is conducted.
Potential capital gains.
Possibility of increasing dividend yields through increased dividends or averaging down the share price.
No lock-in period, no minimum sum.

For people who aren’t interested with stock markets at all or don’t know how to select companies may prefer the fixed deposit option. However consider this, when you take on a little more risk and spend time to learn and understand companies, you can mitigate the risks you take. There may be losses, but for the same period of say, 25 years, with dollar-cost averaging or other strategies that you may apply, you’ll likely see returns that fixed deposits can never offer you. And besides, have you ever heard of anyone getting rich by putting their money in fixed deposits alone?

5 Financial Steps You Must Take After Getting Your First Job

So you got your first full-time job after graduating…what happens next? You may be lost and unfamiliar with the new responsibilities ahead. So, it is best to keep your finances in check. These steps will help:

1. ALLOCATE YOUR FINANCES BY BUDGETING

List down your expenses (i.e., fixed and variable), your income, and debts. Be aware of your cash flow for at least 2 weeks to help you set up a budget. Do not panic if you still have to pay your student loan because a budget will help you plan your income allocation.

2. REDUCE YOUR STUDENT LOAN

Do not wait until the lender notices you have graduated, start now. The earlier you start making payments, the more you will save. Furthermore, if you have a private loan that you took out when your credit score was lower, there is a potential to borrow again at lower rate.

3. THINK ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL GOALS

You may be living from paycheck to paycheck at the first few months but how about 4 years from now? Think about your long-term financial goals and start planning your budget accordingly. You may consider buying a house, traveling, or having kids, so start setting aside some money every month towards your goals. This will lessen the load and the stress.

4. CONSIDER BUYING THE INSURANCE YOU NEED

Insurance maybe in the back of your mind because you are young, healthy, and you got your life ahead of you. But, it will be the best thing you have ever invested on once accidents and unforeseen things happen. It is cheaper to buy insurance now while you are young because the risks are low. Many employers offer group life and group disability insurance, so it is more affordable and cheap enough to consider.

5. OPEN YOUR RETIREMENT ACCOUNT

I stressed this issue so much before and I will say it again. The best time to start your retirement savings is before you hit 35 years old. Wouldn’t you want to have a relaxing life with no financial worries once you retire?

Image Credits: 401(K) 2012 via Flickr

Then, set aside at least 5-10% of your income per month for retirement fund. Also, avoid debt as much as possible and get educated about your finances. Know how and why you should save for retirement before your mid-30s here.

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