Jan 24, 2010

Balancing risk and reward

When investing money, consider your need and ability to take risk

The other side of the coin is when investors get so caught up chasing high returns that they ignore the risk element.

So it’s worth trying to understand what your personal risk profile is before investing your money.  Read more... (1401 words, 0 images, estimated 5:36 mins reading time)

Jan 24, 2010

Strategies of a financial adviser

Options and CPF may offer better returns than stocks and fixed deposits

Urban, The Straits Times

“It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.”   
­ – Charles Dickens

Is the recession over? Are happy days really here again? Paraphrasing Dickens, my answer is, “For people who are prepared, 2010 will be the best of times. For many, 2010 will be the worst of times.”

The following are a few of my predictions and reasons behind them…

Prediction #1:  The real estate market will crash again.  Read more... (1335 words, 3 images, estimated 5:20 mins reading time)

I refer to the well-written report “Authorities armed to the teeth” (Jan 13).

The Government is to be applauded for providing the relevant authorities with more power to tackle the growing loan-sharking problem before the opening of the integrated resorts. Gambling and loan-sharking go hand in hand.

There was a serious recession last year, so illegal money lending grew as the unemployed searched for funds. There is only so much that a person can borrow from friends and relatives. For some, loan sharks might even be their first choice of lender as it saves them the embarrassment of approaching people they know.  Read more... (367 words, 0 images, estimated 1:28 mins reading time)

The Star/Asia News Network

I feel depressed and lost because my husband is bad-tempered and selfish. He doesn’t respect my feelings or advice and does whatever he wants. When I need him, he’s not there for me. We have lots of arguments because his friends, hobbies and family are his priority.  Read more... (898 words, 5 images, estimated 3:36 mins reading time)

In Sunday school I was taught the parable of the pharaoh of Egypt and his dream of seven fat cows being eaten by seven skinny cows. Deeply disturbed, the pharaoh sought the interpretation of his dream. A young slave boy interpreted the dream to mean Egypt would have seven years of plenty to be followed by seven years of famine. The message: Prepare for the lean years during the years of plenty. The pharaoh prepared Egypt for the lean years and led it into an era of prosperity.  Read more... (1331 words, 1 image, estimated 5:19 mins reading time)

Jan 11, 2010

S’pore workers put in longest hours: Survey

They top international poll of 13 economies; MOM’s figure is 45.9 hours a week for 2008

The report puts them at the top of 13 economies in the group’s Global Wages Report for 2008-09, surpassing even the notoriously hardworking Japanese and Taiwanese.  Read more... (990 words, 0 images, estimated 3:58 mins reading time)

Jan 10, 2010

Calling the shots from the grave

Besides dividing up the estate, making a will gives a person a ‘voice’ after his or her death

Money

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SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica

Hmmm. You think it’s a coincidence? Costa Rica is one of the very few countries to have abolished its army, and it’s also arguably the happiest nation on earth.

There are several ways of measuring happiness in countries, all inexact, but this pearl of Central America does stunningly well by whatever system is used. For example, the World Database of Happiness, compiled by a Dutch sociologist on the basis of answers to surveys by Gallup and others, lists Costa Rica in the top spot out of 148 nations.  Read more... (816 words, 0 images, estimated 3:16 mins reading time)

Jan 7, 2010

What makes Singaporeans happy

Singaporeans are happy when the Government rolls out a family-friendly Budget. Singaporeans are annoyed by service staff who are not passionate about their work or cannot speak English well. Depending on the performance of their investments, Singaporeans may love or loathe coffee shop talk about the stock and property markets.  Read more... (755 words, 2 images, estimated 3:01 mins reading time)

Jan 6, 2010

Don’t put all your bets on IRs for a rebound

Services will be the star, but it’s unclear how big a role resorts will play

The buzz surrounding Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa has intensified recently, as the resorts gear up for their big openings while Singapore readies itself for a robust 2010 recovery.  Read more... (1090 words, 1 image, estimated 4:22 mins reading time)