Category: business

  • Malaysia’s Employer-Sponsored Medical Benefit Costs Expected To Increase 12% In 2022

    Malaysia’s Employer-Sponsored Medical Benefit Costs Expected To Increase 12% In 2022

    Insurers in Asia are experiencing above inflation rises in the cost of employer-sponsored medical benefits programs over pre-pandemic levels, according to a report by Mercer Marsh Benefits (MMB). According to findings in MMB Health Trends, costs in Malaysia decreased by 3% in 2020, but increased by 8% in 2021. Insurers are expecting medical costs to further rise by 12% in 2022 – six times the predicted general inflation rate for Malaysia, the third highest increase in Asia, the report noted.

    The MMB Health Trends report surveys 210 insurers globally, including 74 in Asia, and identifies key trends influencing the future of employer-provided medical benefits. The results show that five countries in Asia experienced higher medical trend rates than the regional average (8.8%) in 2021, namely India with the highest medical inflation rate of 14%, followed by China (12%), Indonesia (10%), Vietnam (10%), and the Philippines (9%). Overall, 81% of insurers in Asia indicated an upward trend in medical claims activity in 2021, even though 53% of insurers reported lower medical claims than pre-pandemic levels.

    Malaysia’s Ministry of Health has estimated that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) cost the Malaysian economy RM 12.88 billion in terms of productivity losses arising from absenteeism, presenteeism or premature death in persons of working age per year.[i]. 

    The MMB Health Trend report reveals that cancer (55%), diseases of the circulatory system (43%), and COVID-19 (36%) were the top cost drivers of medical claims in Asia in 2021, while respiratory diseases (47%), gastrointestinal diseases (36%) and COVID-19 (34%) are healthcare conditions that experienced the most frequent claims.

    Joan Collar, Asia Regional Leader, Mercer Marsh Benefits, commented: “Costs have soared despite lower levels of medical treatment than before the pandemic, a trend exacerbated by deferred healthcare treatments that for many have resulted in more adverse outcomes, leading to higher costs. Reducing NCDs remains a key priority for employers for the health of their employees and their business. More than ever, employer-sponsored medical benefits should be viewed as an investment in employees’ well-being. Employees who feel their employer cares about their health and well-being are more motivated, productive, committed, and loyal.”

    Gaps remain in mental health coverage though inclusive benefits increase

    Of all global regions, the report identified Asia as having the most inadequate coverage in relation to mental health, with only 34% of insurers providing coverage for outpatient treatments in mental health, and just 21% providing coverage for preventive mental health measures. Moreover, 32% do not offer any coverage for mental health services, reflecting a huge protection gap between access to benefits against the burden of mental health risks.

    However, the study shows that 33% of insurers are making changes to facilitate more inclusive medical plan designs by allowing coverage for the non-permanent or full-time workforce with 54% either adding or considering extending eligible expenses that are more inclusive for women.

    “Employers need to develop a mental health strategy to enhance the overall well-being of their employees and refine their benefits strategy accordingly to align it to their diversity, equity, and inclusion goals and the different needs of their employees. With a sharp rise in the number of employees experiencing burnout and fatigue, this has become a workplace imperative. Employers need to deploy investments and resources to ensure they maintain a mentally resilient workforce,” Ms. Collar added.

    The Mercer Marsh Benefits (MMB) is the service value proposition that Marsh brings to its clients. MMB is not an insurance product. In India, an insurance product can be provided only by a registered insurance company. Insurance is a subject matter of solicitation.

    About Marsh

    Marsh is the world’s leading insurance broker and risk advisor. With over 45,000 colleagues operating in 130 countries, Marsh serves commercial and individual clients with data-driven risk solutions and advisory services. Marsh is a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC), the world’s leading professional services firm in the areas of risk, strategy and people. With annual revenue nearly $20 billion, Marsh McLennan helps clients navigate an increasingly dynamic and complex environment through four market-leading businesses: Marsh, Guy Carpenter, Mercer and Oliver Wyman. For more information, visit mmc.com, follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter or subscribe to BRINK.

    [1] The Impact of Noncommunicable Diseases and Their Risk Factors on Malaysia’s Gross Domestic Product (2020). Putrajaya, Malaysia: Ministry of Health Malaysia.

  • 4 Tips For Millennial On Accumulating Wealth

    4 Tips For Millennial On Accumulating Wealth

    For many millennials striving for success in their careers, starting their own family and seeking to build up a nest egg for a comfortable retirement, the journey of wealth accumulation can often be fraught with challenges and pitfalls.

    Many think that wealth accumulation is just having lots of money. In fact, “having money” and “wealth accumulation” are two different things.

    Having money allows you to pay for your expenses but it is typically spent shortly after it comes in. The latter goes a step further – it is taking disciplined steps over a period of time to achieve wealth accumulation. Here are some tips for the millennial on how they can accumulate wealth.

    Saving, Saving, Saving!

    For wealth accumulation, you need cashflow. The very first step is to set a financial goal and stick to it! Once you are clear about your objective, the next step is to be disciplined enough to achieve your money goal.

    A good suggestion is to use “automation”. Automation adds built-in discipline to your financial life and reduces the likelihood that you will forget your objective or spend money on things you do not need.

    You can set up automatic deductions from your paycheck bank account to send money directly to another savings account, unit trust or investment account. By automating these payments, you are making sure that you are paying yourself first.

    Cut Expenses

    Cutting unnecessary expenses is the key to living below your means, so you can reach your financial dreams. Challenge yourself by resisting expenses that are most tempting. For example, you might:

    • Cook at home every day for a month instead of eating out;
    • Refrain yourself from buying any new clothes or handbags for six months;
    • Avoid window shopping as that will cause unnecessary spending;
    • Say no to cinema and other entertainment places for six months; and
    • Cancel or delay your annual trip to another year.

    Imagine how much money you could save if you are successful in overcoming the above challenges. You could easily have an additional RM10,000 to RM20,000 to add up to your savings.

    Multiple Streams of Income

    You need cashflow to build wealth, and the best way to generate that extra cashflow is to earn more money. In Robert Kiyosaki’s book ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad’, he mentions four types of income streams: Employee, Self-employed, Business Owner and Investor.

    For the first three sources of income, you are exchanging your time for money. It is a form of active income whereby you need to be “actively” working for money.  However, please do not underestimate these sources of income, as it can be useful when you want to utilise this as a leverage power to accumulate your wealth.

    You may buy your first property with this financial leverage. And if your investment is a positive cashflow, you would probably end up owning the property for free as your rental income is able to pay down your mortgage loan.

    The last source of income –  Investor – is the status that people most closely associate with wealth. This is where “money works for you”. As an investor, you earn the best kind of income possible – passive income by investing in assets such as stocks and properties.

    Why is it the best? Because you earn money while you were sleeping! If you can generate enough passive income, you may never need to work again in your life. In short, you can retire early.

    Get Rid of Your Bad Debt

    In the journey of wealth accumulation, we also want to identify the obstacles preventing us from achieving our financial goals. One big obstacle could be having too much debt. However, not all debts are bad – there are good debts and bad debts.

    Good debt is money you borrow at a low interest, with which you could make a higher rate of return, such as your mortgage rate. Bad debt, in contrast, is consumer debt. For example, money you borrow at a high interest rate to buy things that do not produce income or grow in value such as cars, electrical appliances, furniture and even luxury trips.

    The price of bad debt is the impact of compounding rates of return working against you instead of for you. If you have credit cards or bank loans costing you 18% or more a year, that’s 18% compounding against your retirement.

    The Bottom Line

    In summary, wealth accumulation does not happen overnight, it is a gradual and a disciplined process that requires proper planning and execution.

    Nevertheless, It is always good to have a licensed financial planner to guide you in setting up a blue print for your financial journey. They are generally able to help you to make better investment decisions and make sure your money is being deployed in the best manner.

    About the Author

    Pauline Yong is the CEO of Sigma Wealth Sdn Bhd. She is a CFP® (Certified Financial Planner), a licensed financial planner with a Securities Commission license (CMSRL) and a Financial Advisor Representative (FAR) licensed by Bank Negara.

    She has published five investment and financial planning books and writes regularly for various publications. Pauline is also a regular commentator on stock market outlook for City Plus FM radio station.

  • Retirement Planning, Why It Is Important From An Islamic Point Of View

    Retirement Planning, Why It Is Important From An Islamic Point Of View

    Malaysia is a country whose most professed religion is Islam. As of the latest statistics, there were approximately 19.5 million Muslims or 61.3% of the total Malaysian population.

    From another perspective, in 2019, it was estimated that the Malaysian population aged over 65 years stood at 6.7 percent. Malaysia is currently facing the prospect of an aging population, and the latest statistical data predicted this to be happening as soon as in 2030. 

    In a simplification, Muslims are the majority in Malaysia, and we are looking at the more significant rate of retirees as the year goes.

    However, are we truly ready for it? According to a recent survey by the Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency (AKPK), more than 50% of Malaysians may not be financially ready for retirement. While the figure alone is already scary, what been happening, in reality, is even worse.

    We start to see the senior citizens who now need to continue working despite their retirement and against their suitability due to financial constraints and weak to no financial planning. Those with completely empty retirement savings within not even a few years without accomplishing anything contributing toward financial freedom – to name a few.

    Why Islam Encourages Us To Plan Their Lives In All Aspects?

    Muslim asian retirement planning

    Islam encourages Muslims to plan their lives economically and financially to achieve the objectives of Shariah (Maqasid al-Shariah). As Islam governs all aspects of life, it takes full cognizance of how Muslims gain and spend their money, including wealth. 

    Even though the child should look after their parents, especially when the recipient becomes too old and incapable of sustaining themselves, however, with a good understanding by the parent that their children are responsible for their own families, too. 

    The need to plan one’s retirement becomes more evident as the years pass. Retirement planning becomes more significant as the financial impact and demands of modern society take their toll on the grown children’s lives. Then once the cost of living increases, the ability of the children to care for other people other than their immediate families will become increasingly difficult. 

    Hence, one should consider the Islamic retirement planning tools and processes as one’s preparation to be independent financially when one is old or retires from one’s job.

    Aspects Of Islamic Retirement Planning

    Retirement planning is one of the elements of Islamic financial planning and wealth management. Retirement planning is a process that includes a comprehensive review and analysis of retirement income, retirement goals, and investment strategy.

    The purpose of retirement planning is to coordinate the financial resources available so an individual can plan for a financially secure retirement or reduce financial risk during retirement.

    Role Of A Financial Planner

    Financial planner planning

    To build a retirement planning is not an uneasy task. That is due to while everybody has an opinion on how to plan their financial needs, the truth is, a wholistic plan from a financial planner point of view, it should start with assessing the future income needs of an individual.

    Followed by financial objectives need to be established so that the retirement plan would have a clear target on how much future come to need to be achieved. Also, the retirement plan must align with the projected future income. 

    The most crucial part for the Muslims here is to ensure that shariah compliance must be taken into account. It is essential to make sure the retirement plan is free from prohibited elements, especially riba. 

    Even if one claims that they are ready for retirement period and have a clear set of financial and lifestyle visions and goals, it is always encouraged for them to seek advice from experts such as Licensed Financial Planner.

    That because only a financial planner specializing in that area, to giving any pieces of advice or a financial planner, can be aware of several common missteps that many fall victim to, even those with a plan. 

    Retirement Hazard

    caution retirement planning

    Many fields might fail to notice by one person when it comes to retirement planning. The most common mistakes made when we talked about retirement planning are lack of preparation of finances related to the impact on one’s health, misjudging how long one or one’s spouse will live, presuming a longer working life. Many take lightly how to prepare for and live in retirement. 

    To conclude, the retires worker’s situation is different from his previous situation during the working time with a specific income. Hence, everyone must prepare for their retirement by planning. In other words, planning one’s retirement is similar to planning against the risk of premature death.

    The preparation should be holistic from the financial planning overview. It should be avoided element that is prohibited in Islam such as riba, gambling, gharar, etc. The planning should also prepare for the religious obligation that, as Muslims, we need to perform hajj, payment of zakat, and the recommended donations, helping the poor and needy. 

    About the Author

    Nuraishah Hanani Abdul Ghani is a Certified Islamic Financial Planner with a demonstrated history of working in the banking industry.She has a strong finance professional background with a focus in Islamic finance and is a graduate from Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah (UniSHAMS) in Ba (Hons) Islamic Finance and Banking, Master in Chartered Islamic Finance Professional (CIFP) from INCEIF and Certified Islamic Financial Planner (IFP) from IBFIM.

    We at Smart Investor and Wealth Vantage is committed to help you better manage your financials. Get a free consultation from an expert by filling in your details here: https://www.smartinvestor.com.my/SIxWealthVantage

  • Housing Loan In Malaysia: What Is Debt Service Ratio (DSR) And How To Calculate DSR?

    Housing Loan In Malaysia: What Is Debt Service Ratio (DSR) And How To Calculate DSR?

    Most of us are now more concerned about the rising of housing prices in Malaysia. Sometimes, we fear that with the rise in the housing price Malaysia will affect our dream to own a house.

    Well, are you thinking of applying for a housing loan in Malaysia to buy the property you dream of? But, did you know whether your application will most likely be approved or not? It’s easy. You don’t have to worry. Before applying for a housing loan, you can do some self-checking of your loan eligibility based on the Debt Service Ratio.

    What Is Debt Service Ratio (DSR)?

    Simply put, DSR is a calculation made based on your income and your commitments. From here, the banks will calculate your DSR and see whether you can afford the loan you are applying for. It has its own formula and keeps in mind that each banks vary its DSR limit.

    In terms of a housing loan in Malaysia, this formula helps the bank to get to know your commitments which then will be considered whether you’re eligible for the loan you’re applying for.

    It’s based on your monthly net income and the total commitments that you have to pay every month. For instance, your car loan, student loan, personal loan, and any other loan that you need to commit monthly for payment. The bank will see and decide whether the loan you’re taking is within your financial limit.

    At the end of the day, the bank has to be very selective and careful. They’re not doing some charity work but a profitable institution. DSR is one of the main factors that banks use to determine your borrowing power.

    Your DSR is then compared to the bank’s maximum DSR limit. If your DSR is within the limit, then you’re one step closer to get your housing loan approval.

    Remember! Every bank has its own DSR limit. DSR is not the only criteria for a housing loan to be approved but it is one of the main factors that banks consider.

    How To Calculate DSR For A Housing Loan?

    As explained above, DSR is calculated based on an individual’s net income. Whatever income that you gained after the deduction of income tax and EPF, then it will be divided by your total monthly commitments such as car loan, personal loan, PTPTN (student loans), credit card bills, and the housing loan that you’re applying for. From there, it will be multiplied by 100 to obtain Debt Service Ratio in percentage.

    The formula is,

    DSR = (Debt / Net Income) x 100

    It’s very useful for you to calculate your DSR before applying for a housing loan in Malaysia. This will help you consider whether or not you’re pursuing a housing loan application.

    For a better picture, let’s take RM7,000 as your net income. Your monthly commitment in total is RM3,000 while you’re now applying for a housing loan with a monthly payment of RM1,200. Both will sum up to RM4,200.

    Divide the figure (RM4,200) by RM7,000, then multiply that by 100 and your DSR is 60%. Most of the banks in Malaysia has DSR limit at 60% to 75%.

     

  • Retiring Early Thanks to Financial Independence, Have You Heard Of The FIRE Movement?

    Retiring Early Thanks to Financial Independence, Have You Heard Of The FIRE Movement?

    If you were to ask the average millennial about how early they would be able to retire, chances are you would get varied responses. However, it is unlikely that any of them would be aiming to retire before the age of 50.

    That is where the concept of FIRE comes in.

    What Is FIRE Movement?

    It stands for “financial independence, retire early” and is a growing movement worldwide. In short, proponents of the movement aim to save a large portion of their income (up to 70% or even more!) and aggressively invest in order to hit a set number they feel comfortable with for retirement.

    The aim is to hit this number far earlier than traditional work structures after which they become financially independent and can “retire” or pursue work or projects they are passionate about.

    Proponents of this movement suggest the “4% rule” as a guideline – the goal is to accumulate 25 years’ worth of annual living expenses through various investments, and withdrawing 4% per annum, assuming it generates at least that much in passive income.

    This is unlikely to diminish the portfolio, and individuals that have reached this level can be considered financially independent, with any form of employment or work now optional instead of necessary.

    4 Varieties Of FIRE Movement

    Fat FIRE: This allows individuals to live a more traditional or typical lifestyle, but also requires saving more than the average retirement investor. It usually allows for luxuries like fancy meals, holidays and gadgets depending on the amount saved up.

    Lean FIRE: This model requires a strict commitment to follow a minimalist lifestyle with little expenditure and extreme savings. An individual can achieve this when they have saved and invested 25 times their annual expenses while also spending less than the average person.

    Barista FIRE: This form refers to devotees that do not follow a set 9-to-5 job, but do work in some capacity on a part-time basis to cover necessary expenses that would otherwise have them tap into their retirement nest egg.

    Coast FIRE: This can also apply to followers that have a part-time job, but who have already saved up enough to fund their retirement and living expenses (thanks to compounding investments), allowing them to “coast” towards retirement.

    Julian Ng, co-founder and CEO of robo-advisor Akru, believes that the FIRE movement is intriguing and helps people think beyond the realm of what is considered financial normalcy.

    “I thought it not only had interesting financial planning principles but also life angles,” he remarks, adding that FIRE devotees did not have to stick to the concept of only being able to retire when they are older.

    Ng believes followers of this movement are tired of being stuck in the rat race and want to work towards other goals that offer fulfilment. Corporate highs to be replaced by personal pursuits and leisure. The latest gadgets and cars substituted with experiences and time with their loved ones.

    “I think they plainly want a life. They want to spend time on things that matter like family, friends and their passions. They also value health and emotional wellbeing. In terms of bigger life philosophies, they figured out that they do not need to have caviar and business class all the way. They are a bit minimalist in that sense, although they are also financially very comfortable.” 

    Early Retirement?

    According to Malaysian law, the minimum age of retirement of an employee in the private sector is 60 years of age. There have been calls to raise this number to 65, meaning that the average person could potentially work for over 40 years before calling it quits – hardly a tantalising prospect to most people.

    Although following the FIRE movement potentially offers a way out for weary millennials, not everyone is specifically aiming for an early retirement.

    “Personally, I’m aiming for the FI part of FIRE as I don’t plan to retire early,” says Leigh, the founder of popular investing blog Dividend Magic, who aims to have a passive income of RM36,000 a year, most of which is derived from various investment dividends.

    “I lived a pretty frugal lifestyle even before learning of FIRE. These habits have been instilled in me since a young age and I have actually been telling myself to spend more often, but on things that genuinely bring me joy. And it will have to be happiness that lasts,” he adds.

    This is a notion shared by Lee Sheung Un, communications officer of Affin Hwang Asset Management, who describes himself as a subscriber to a milder version of FIRE.

    “Early retirement is not the end goal for me, but rather achieving financial independence,” he says.

    “Personally, I aim to save at least 40% of my monthly income which is not quite close to the FIRE benchmark to save at least 70%. I am sure it is possible if I really tried, but I also like spending on my own comfort to save time and avoid stressing about the small things.”

    To the average person, the idea of retiring early may sound good on paper, but it is not surprising that many FIRE devotees are not just looking to coast through the rest of their life. Rather, they are aiming for the freedom and time that financial independence unlocks to be able to pursue what fulfils them.

    Achieving FIRE In Malaysia?

    As a concept originating in the West, the burning question for many will be whether it is possible to achieve financial independence in Malaysia.

    Suraya Zainuddin Ringgit Oh Ringgit personal insurance

    “FIRE is not realistic for people living in countries with a wide wealth gap,” sighs Suraya Zainudin, the founder of personal finance website RinggitOhRinggit.com.

    “Mathematically and statistically speaking, the structure simply does not allow the majority of people to reach their financial goals, even modest ones. Unfortunately, Malaysia is one of those countries.”

    However, Leigh believes that FIRE is definitely possible but that it is not for everyone as it can be hard or too intensive to keep up with.

    “We live in a world of spending and instant gratification. Getting a new phone, signing up for gym memberships all costs money. Not everyone is willing to grind all day and put a hold on spending. And a huge problem in Malaysia is that people are not investing,” he observes.

    And while not everyone may be cut out for the FIRE movement, the philosophies and beliefs around it can help to cultivate a healthier understanding and relationship with money, as well as a way to escape traditional ways of thinking.

    FIRE Movement: Theory And Reality

    The points highlighted above shows how investment formulas are great in theory – but we know real life works out differently. Things start to fall apart when you are faced with unexpected expenses, for example.

    What happens if you are suddenly responsible for another dependent – a child, or parent? Or if you lose your job or become incapacitated?

    On the positive side, the financial dynamics might change because you inherit a windfall or enjoy a rapid increase in earnings. Any of these instances will alter the time it takes you to reach your desired retirement age.

    Neil Walton, Head of Investment Solutions says: “We know the concept of FIRE has spurred some to consider downsizing, retiring, investing and changing their lives. But even for those who do not intend to do anything so radical, FIRE provides a useful blueprint for planning. Good investment will sit on a good financial plan, and that is inevitably about building investments over time to provide an income in the future.”

  • 10 Common Financial Traps Millennials Fall Into

    10 Common Financial Traps Millennials Fall Into

    Money doesn’t disappear overnight but often it’s the case of losing one dollar at a time. It may not seem like a big deal when you order a Mocha Frappuccino, have a dessert in a nice cafe or subscribing for a long-waited movie, but every little item adds up in the long run.

    Being a millennial as well as a licensed financial planner, there are many financial traps I’ve also succumbed to, and now would like to remind myself (and you too) to stay away from.

    1. Instagrammable Lifestyle

    A cup of RM20 Coffee, a plate of RM30 Big Breakfast, a slice of RM20 cake, these are perfect elements to form a likeable photo, but these are also killing our bank accounts. When we chase a materialistic lifestyle, we might lose control of our finances.

    2. Crazy Shopping When There Is A Sale

    Looking for SALE is an easy job in this e-commerce era. You might wonder why buying things on sale is an issue? This is because no matter how great the bargain, if you purchased something you aren’t going to use, you’re just throwing away your money!

    Ask yourself, “Do I really need this and will be using this frequently?” or “I’m just buying it because it’s on sale?”

    3. Subscription Trap

    The most common marketing strategy nowadays is to encourage consumers to sign up for a “free” trial. You only need to activate the trial by putting in your credit card details to enjoy the service.

    The companies are hoping that people will forget to cancel, and then the monthly payments will just get charged to our account. And way too often, that’s exactly what happens. This happened to me before, and probably has to you as well.

    The effective way to avoid this is to ask ourselves: do we truly need things like movie subscription, music services or fancy gym memberships that keep us paying for months? Reconsider to see if there are cheaper ways of doing the same thing and if the subscriptions are necessary for you.

    4. Full Allocation Of Salary While Planning To ‘Save Later’

    RM300 for the latest flagship handphone, RM100 for a mobile plan, RM200 for a gym membership, RM1,000 for the dream car…  who says millennials don’t plan for their finances? We have our monthly salary “100% well-allocated” into different expenses. However, we might just be forgetful about one thing: Savings.

    The more we earn, the more we save? Unfortunately, it’s usually not the case. The first time I received my salary, I told myself to save up at least 10% every month. One year passed, I was still saving the same amount even though my salary was up more than 10%. I thought it’s due to the market inflation, so I couldn’t save more.

    In the end, I realised it’s due to my own “Lifestyle Inflation”.

    5. Using Credit Cards For Daily Expenses

    Don’t you feel it’s cool to just swipe a card/scan a code and get what you want? While we are living in an era where cashless payments are unavoidable, but the credit card is not our only choice.

    When you use your credit cards to cover the shortfalls in your spending, you can eventually run up a huge amount of debt. Besides, people tend to spend more when they are paying with credit cards. Don’t forget, you still have your debit card!

    6. Making Financial Choices Out Of FOMO

    Another common trap I face is to make a financial decision out of the fear of missing out (FOMO). When we are afraid, we might not consider all of the options available, and might end up making a costly mistake. Besides, millennials tend to have peer pressure to take a big financial step, from buying a new car to purchasing a home to getting married or having a child.

    Just stop! Take a deep breath and think whether you are ready for these moves. Rushing to accomplish these might not benefit you financially.

    7. Simply Investing And Chasing Quick Gains

    We are lucky as we have easy access to investment information compared to our parents. However, simply investing without knowledge, time and discipline can be a financial killer of our hard-earned money. I have seen some of my friends chase after quick huge gains from investments without paying attention to the risks involved.

    It would be folly for us to buy a stock or a property and just pray that it would “go up” without careful analysis. If you have no time to do this, it’s advisable to engage experts to help you instead.

    8. Thinking We Will Be Forever Young

    Many young Malaysians don’t even think about retirement:

    • In our 20s, we think retirement is far away, YOLO!
    • In our 30s, we enter a different life stage, buying a house, getting married, etc, and often we lack funds to save for the future.
    • In our 40s, we need to provide more for the family, e.g. children’s education fund.

    Commonly but sadly, people only recognise their retirement needs in their 50s, which is probably already too late. A warm reminder: the youngest millennials are already 24 years old now, and the eldest are already 39 years old.

    Another major misconception many of us have is that we choose not to buy insurance in order to save money. But this isn’t a wise financial decision. What makes a millennial so confident to think we are risk-proof from medical conditions or personal accidents?

    9. Travel Plans Are Done! How About Your Financial Plan?

    financial planning getting it right
    Image from icharts.net

    Planning for travel is always in our top bucket list, but how about our own financial plan? We spend countless hours scrolling through social media feeds, spend thousands of ringgit on getting the latest gadgets, but setting aside two hours to engage with a professional on planning our finances is rarely in the plan.

    We need this “financial waze” to lead us towards our financial goals in life. Without a financial plan, our financial future is unsecured as we are uncertain what is going on right now and where are we heading to.

    10. We Don’t Ask For Help And Choose To Ignore

    I don’t mean you should borrow money from your friends or relatives. However, most of us will be facing financial problems that we can’t handle well, for example budgeting problems or major financial decisions to make. Don’t try to adopt an “ostrich policy” and pray the problems would resolved by itself.

    Many of us get trapped because we don’t pay much attention to our finances. Every month we receive our pay cheque, pay the bills, and then spend what’s left over (if there’s anything). I understand that money is a taboo subject and we feel ashamed when we’re struggling. But there is so much help out there! Tell someone you trust or talk to a licensed financial planner to let them guide you.

    It is important to have an informed financial plan that can help us millennials achieve financial success. Remember, managing your finance is managing your life.

    Starting by monitoring all the seemingly small expenses. Think carefully before adding new debt, keep in mind that being able to make a payment (swiping your credit card) isn’t the same as being able to afford the purchase. Don’t fulfill your current desire by sacrificing your future funds.

    If you make saving a monthly priority and get the help from a licensed financial planner to work out your plan, you are more likely to enjoy life more abundantly.

    If you’ve spent time to finish reading this, take charge of your life by taking charge of your finances now. Have your personalised financial plan today!

    About the Author

    Ocean Pon is a Licensed Financial Planner with Finwealth Management Sdn Bhd.

    We at Smart Investor and Finwealth is committed to help you better manage your financials. Get a free consultation from an expert by filling in your details here: https://www.smartinvestor.com.my/SIxFinwealth

  • Are You The Real King And Queen Of Your Family’s Wealth Kingdom?

    Are You The Real King And Queen Of Your Family’s Wealth Kingdom?

    As the head of your family and business venture, you are being looked up to as the leader of your family and also the companies you are managing. As a business leader, planning well for the future is something that is expected of you and your management team. As the head of your family, you are expected to exercise the same standard when you plan for your personal wealth transfer as well as your business succession.

    When we talk about business estate planning, there is a popular Chinese saying that you may have heard before. It says that a family’s wealth will not last beyond three generations!

    Interestingly, the Americans also have a similar expression, “Shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations”.

    Backed By Research

    A ground-breaking study conducted by a wealth consultancy firm The Williams Group which involves 3,200 families over a 20-year period, found that 70% of the families tend to lose their fortune by the second generation, while nine in ten families lose it by the third generation!

    The popular explanation behind this phenomenon is that, the first generation works hard to accumulate the wealth. The second generation while growing up, sees their parents’ struggles and have a good understanding of the value of sacrifice and hard work. They appreciate the frugal aspects of their lives growing up and will more likely hold on to their parents’ wealth.

    However, the third generation do not appreciate the struggles and sacrifices of the previous generations. Therefore, they are more carefree and more likely to spend the wealth easily and may end up squandering the inherited wealth.

    Learn From Example

    Credit Photo: Ikea

    There is a shining example that comes to mind when we talk about planning for your business succession and holding on to your accumulated wealth to benefit the future generations. He is IKEA’s founder, Ingvar Kamprad. When this highly respected business leader died in 2018 at the age of 91, he was ranked No. 8 on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

    This is thanks to his control of IKEA’s global retail empire that was valued at US$58.7 billion. Interestingly, his wealth will not be dissipated because of a carefully designed and well-thought through wealth preservation strategy that he had put in place to secure the longterm survival of the IKEA business empire.

    According to a media report, most IKEA stores are owned by the Stichting Ingka Foundation, a Dutch entity with the purpose of
    donating to charity and supporting innovation in design, according to its founding statute. Meanwhile IKEA’s trademarks, brand and concept were placed under the ultimate control of Vaduz, a Liechtenstein-based Interogo Foundation whose subsidiary, Inter
    Ikea, is the global IKEA franchisor. “Interogo Foundation is managed by a Foundation Council, consisting of at least two members and a Supervisory Council, as a principle consisting of seven members.”

    This was disclosed by Anders Bylund, Interogo’s head of communications. He was also quoted as saying, “The Kamprad family members in the supervisory councils have been and shall always be in minority.”

    Meanwhile, Stichting Ingka Foundation, is only partly philanthropic. Its statutes allow for profits to be reinvested in the company, according to Per Heggenes, the chief executive of the IKEA Foundation.

    This smartly designed strategy put in place by Kamprad was designed to ensure that IKEA, is not in the hands of his family members, and thus would long outlive its founder. Trust experts say that the set-up ensures IKEA’s business continuity by making it impossible for any individual, whether a manager or heir, to assume control after Kamprad’s death.

    It Can Be Done

    You can also be the real king or queen of your family’s wealth kingdom just like Ingvar Kamprad, once you have come up with your very own comprehensive personal and business estate planning.

    With an intelligently designed estate plan, your wealth can be fortified with a “legal castle” to shield your wealth from all creditors and vultures, as well as to avoid the probable ugly family feuds and disputes, which will tear up and destroy your family’s wealth kingdom. Your legal fort can be watertight against all types of claims and risks, including director’s or professional liabilities.

    By utilising well established and advanced legal means and structures to hold the ownership of the bulk of your wealth, you will be able to perpetuate your family’s wealth kingdom, and escape the curse of family wealth being dissipated by the third generation!

    You will also be able to protect the interest and well-beings of your beneficiaries and descendants. You get to enjoy serenity and inner peace knowing that when the time comes, your family’s wealth kingdom is intact and it serves the needs of your loved ones.

    Let them thrive from the blessings of your wealth kingdom, rather than suffer from the curse of inadequate planning. Your descendants will come to admire and respect your vision and the decisiveness in getting a comprehensive family’s wealth
    succession plan, just like the late Mr Ingvar Kamprad.

    About the Author

    Lee Khee Chuan estate planning

    Lee Khee Chuan holds a B.A. from National University of Singapore and a chartered financial consultant (ChFC), chartered life underwriter (CLU), CFP professional, and Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI) USA. He is also a licensed financial adviser representative with more than 25 years’ experience in estate planning. He shares a lot more valuable insights at www.estateplanningmalaysia.com

  • Protecting Your Financial Needs at Different Stages of Lives

    Protecting Your Financial Needs at Different Stages of Lives

    Many people do not see the importance of insurance until they need it, or until it is too late for them to do anything with it, and what’s worse, many considers it an unnecessary expense. In reality, however, insurance is more than that – it is a useful financial tool that forms part of our wealth management planning.

    Starting Out

    Our financial needs, income and liabilities vary at different stage of our life, as shown above. Those who are young and single who have just started their working life in their 20s are only interested in investment to grow whatever little money that they have.

    Although it is good to have the desire to start accumulating wealth early, many of them are unaware that the risk of falling ill can happen any time while accumulating wealth.

    Thus, at that particular age, they should also look into wealth protection. If they are still single, they should at least have healthcare planning. 

    What is healthcare planning?  Is it just a medical card?  When someone is sick and have to be admitted to the hospital, do they stay for a longer period of time, or do they recuperate at home?

    For instance, a cancer patient who is undergoing treatment at the hospital might be required to stay at the hospital for a certain period of time. Even after being discharged, they will still be required to go for follow-up treatments, and all in all, the recovery period could take up to a year or more.

    There is a possibility that they might not be able to work like before, and thus, their income will be affected. In cases of major illnesses, besides medical expenses, many will find themselves having to spend their money on daily sustenance, alternative therapies, supplements, and sometimes they might even require a caretaker.

    A complete healthcare plan should include a medical card and critical illness coverage. Do remember that a medical card solely pays for hospital expenses while critical illness insurance pays a lump sum when one is diagnosed with any of the critical illnesses listed.

    A patient can use this lumpsum amount to cover their daily needs resulting from the loss of income as well as for alternative treatments.

    Having a Family

    Happy cheerful Asian family dad, mom and kids having fun and using digital tablet video call on sofa at house. Self-isolation, stay at home, social distancing, quarantine for coronavirus prevention.

    Thirties is the age where many people choose to start a family. At this phase of life, having children will also mean creating an education fund and protecting the family income and assets.

    This is the period when you need to look into family income protection to take care of your most important responsibility – your loved ones. Should anything unfortunate happen to you, you can rest easy knowing that they will be well taken care of.

    That being said, their financial needs – including their daily expenses and funds for their education – need to be calculated. The amount required might be several million ringgit, and most people in their 30s do not have such a large amount of money available.

    In this instance, the cheapest tool is to purchase an insurance for the required sum, which will provide a peace of mind with the knowledge that in case of any tragedy, your loved ones will be protected.

    Take this case study as an example. Mr Tan, 33, is married with two children aged two and five; his wife is a homemaker. Mr Tan, whose monthly disposable income is RM5,000, is the sole breadwinner of the family, and since this is the case, he is worried about his family’s wellbeing should anything happen to him.

    He has estimated that his family needs RM60,000 a year, and wants to ensure that his family is provided for until his youngest child is 22 years old. To achieve this, he would therefore require 20 years’ worth of funds amounting to RM1.2 mil.

    At 33, Mr Tan does not have that much savings. His house may be worth RM1.2 mil, but his family will still need to live in it. Therefore, having a life insurance coverage of RM1.2 mil to cover this risk would be the most effective financial tool.

    Bear in mind that we should review our insurance policies every 5-10 years as our financial status and priorities change. 40-50s is the prime time where we have more assets and liabilities, as well as changes to our lifestyle as we move into our retirement years.

    It is also the time when our income is more stable and we have excess funds to prepare for our golden years.

    Preparing for Golden Years

    We would want to enjoy our retirement days without worrying about whether there is sufficient money to tide us through the years. If we prepare well in our 40s or even earlier, we would not need to worry about risks or expenses that might take away our retirement funds.

    Someone once asked, “What and how to prepare financially in order to enjoy the golden years?” Well, there are three types of expenses that we need to prepare for post-retirement, namely

    • Daily living expenses (which can be from our EPF fund that many of us have accumulated during our working years);
    • Maintenance or medical expenses; and
    • Happy fund.

    Advancements in science has led to an extended life expectancy rate, but while people are now living longer, many are still unaware that older medical plans only insure a person up to the age of 70. Medical hospitalisation is becoming very costly, and therefore, we need to ensure that our healthcare insurance plan covers us until are 80, at the very least.

    Furthermore, as we age, there will be an increased risk of developing health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. Such health conditions require daily medication which is not covered by medical cards and will eat into our retirement funds.

    On top of the daily medications, there will also be other supplements and nutritional needs required to promote better health. These are the maintenance expenses that need to be taken into consideration as well.

    To enjoy our retirement years to the fullest, we need to have a certain amount of money to do the ‘fun’ stuff like travelling and indulging in hobbies. We should start accumulating our lifestyle or ‘happy’ fund as early as possible by growing our wealth through unit trusts, shares and saving plans.

    How we choose from the different wealth accumulation tools will depend on our risk appetite and duration of investment.

    Financial planning at different stages of life is important. Insurance is one of the cheapest tools to manage risk and is only one of the many financial planning tools out there today.

    In addition to protecting your wealth, there are other financial tools in the market, each with its own purpose such as accumulating and growing wealth through savings and investments; and wealth distribution though estate planning.

    About the Author

    Andrea Siew is an Approved Financial Adviser with Harveston Wealth Management Sdn Bhd.

  • It Is A Tough Job Taking Care Of Your Family, Let A Financial Planner Take Care Of Your Finances

    It Is A Tough Job Taking Care Of Your Family, Let A Financial Planner Take Care Of Your Finances

    My wife and I are both accountants. We have two children, one of them is a child with special needs. I’ve always known the importance of getting our family’s financial planning done, but never quite came around to it due to our busy schedule.

    We were lucky to have met Pauline, our Financial Planner. She was interested in finding out our goals and how she could help us to achieve them. After taking the time to understand us, she helped us in assessing where we are now and what actions we need to do in order to achieve our goals. She helped us to come up with our financial plan.

    I’m very happy that we engaged Pauline for her services. Truth be told, it is actually a tedious process to get the plan done. It requires perseverance and knowing how to go through each of the steps. Luckily, with Pauline’s help, she guided us through it and gave us the options and suggestions which helped us a lot during our financial planning journey.

    Once we have completed our financial plan, we now know our financial standing, and what our spending is like. When we first saw our cash flow, we were surprised that we have been running a deficit. Within a month, Pauline helped us to identify the key areas which can be improved.

    Through financial planning, we also realized that some of our insurance plans did not match with our family’s needs. Pauline was non-biased and was very objective in her advice to us. She helped us to streamline and optimize our current policies to meet our objectives. With this, we are able to save a substantial amount of money on insurance premiums alone.

    Pauline also helped us with our estate planning. We initially had our Wills and Trust drawn up. After reviewing it, we realized there were many areas that were left hanging and no longer matched our needs. Pauline highlighted the areas which we never considered before and it was extremely helpful for my wife and me to consider restructuring our Will and Trust.

    This was especially true for our special needs child. This area has always been a major concern for us as we want to ensure that both our children are taken care of, in the event something happens to us.

    I’m glad we did our financial plan with Pauline. Once you are her client, she puts your interest first and lets you know the best way to manage your finances even if it means she’s not going to get anything out of the recommendation.

    This is what I call “professional” and doing her business with “passion” and “from the heart”. She is also very detailed and tactful on how best to resolve the issues by giving us options for us to consider.

    The best thing about getting my family’s financial planning, is that me and my wife are clear on what our needs are and how much we need to save to achieve our goals. We no longer need to second guess like before. After going through this process, I feel that having a financial plan is very important. Especially if you have a family to take care of, or if you are unsure whether you are saving enough for the future.

    About the Author

    Pauline Teoh loves to coach busy professionals to achieve their financial independence. She is a Licensed Financial Planner, Childpreneur Coach and is an expert in Risk Management, Investment Planning and Estate Planning

  • Financial Planning Is Not Only About Having Insurance

    Financial Planning Is Not Only About Having Insurance

    “Losing your loved ones is tough, but having a financial planner in your life does help”

    I am Monica, a widow aged 52 years old. I came from a poor family and didn’t know anything about finance or money management when I was growing up. I have been working hard with my late husband Andy, in the trading business for the past 20 years and we managed to grow our assets along the way.

    Initially we thought that buying a simple life insurance is all there is to financial planning. That was until I was introduced to Stanley back in 2013.

    We were skeptical and delayed our meeting with him as we thought he is another salesman coming over to sell financial products. I am a person who does not believe in investment and financial planning. Instead I believed that holding cash is the right thing to do.

    Stanley spent many hours meeting us and patiently listening to our financial concerns. He is then able to understand and identify our life and financial goals. Stanley shows the financial pitfalls that we are facing and help us to visualize our cash flow and net worth at that time, while being able to identify our financial gap and estate planning concerns on multiple different scenarios.

    After his careful review, he restructured our existing insurance portfolio and managed to increase my late husband’s insurance coverage substantially from what we have based on our limited cash flow. His integrity and process-oriented independent review, and ability to access all types of financial products in the market really impressed us.

    Stanley also advised us to set up a complete testamentary trust in our will for resource preservation. Using resource liquidation strategy, we are able to avoid estate shrinkage and potential resource squandering by anybody who is not good at financial management. I am fortunate to follow the advice from Stanley which makes the estate execution process very efficient.

    My husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2017 and passed away a year later. Stanley did a good job with timely and efficient claims process. I was able to sail through the difficult period smoothly. He even visited my late husband almost every week in the hospital and accompany us until his last breath. Some of the big insurance policies that we bought a few months before the diagnosis date, Stanley is able to help us claim the insurance payout within a short period of time.

    Our family benefited a lot from the insurance payouts. We managed to pay off our mortgages and ensure that our children’s tertiary education is fully funded. Our life and dignity is improved by using the resource optimisation strategy recommended by Stanley on a conservative money management. I am holding a well-diversified investment portfolio and received timely fixed payment to cover our living expenses. We are also being updated regularly on the market’s movement.

    I am glad that Stanley is also able to provide my children with solid financial knowledge. Now all my children have graduated and they are back at my company to help me run the business. Stanley also provided my children with tips on business resource optimisation strategy to weather the pandemic and it has helped us tremendously.

    I am comfortable knowing that we have a financial peace of mind under Stanley’s good hands. We are very much on track to achieve our family’s financial goals!

    About the Author

    Stanley Hon is Practice Group Director at FA Advisory Sdn Bhd. He is a Licensed Financial Adviser, MDRT & Speaker, Will & Trust Specialist.