Hello Mr Tan
I am only 45 but am not a risk taker. I wish to invest lump sum $30K from CPF-OA to accumulate till age 62 to draw out monthly in future. Should I take a guaranteed annuity now?
J
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Dear J,
I suggest that you invest in our Growth plan, which offers a guaranteed return of about 2%. With bonus, it should earn slightly more than 4%. You this FAQ: Growth
You should also consider investing in our combined fund. Although it has higher risk, the risk can be minimised by investing in a large, well diversified fund and invested for the long term (ie 10 years or longer). You can turn risk to your advantage. Read this FAQ: Ideal
You can convert your investments into a life annuity at age 62 or later. I will get an insurance consultant to advise you.
Tan Kin Lian
Friday, December 15, 2006
Logic9 books as Christmas gifts
A friend approached me to buy 30 pieces of the Logic9 pocketbooks. She finds Logic9 to be interesting and wanted to give the pocketbooks to her grandchildren as a Christmas gift.
Another friend, who runs a nursing home, bought 30 pieces of Logic9 pocketbooks to give to her employees, also as a Christmas gift.
If you are interested, you can buy them at any of the NTUC Income branches. If you buy 10 pieces of more, you enjoy a discount (i.e. $4 per pocketbook).
Another friend, who runs a nursing home, bought 30 pieces of Logic9 pocketbooks to give to her employees, also as a Christmas gift.
If you are interested, you can buy them at any of the NTUC Income branches. If you buy 10 pieces of more, you enjoy a discount (i.e. $4 per pocketbook).
500 people attended the Logic9 Day
About 500 people attended the Logic9 Day held at HDB Hub, Toa Payoh. This was a good turnout for a weekend. The conference room was full for the first 3 sessions.
The attendees enjoyed the 3 tips given by me on how to solve the Logic9 (Sudoku) puzzles. Most of them were aware about the 1st tip (i.e. "find the missing number"). They were surprised to learn the next two tips (based on patterns).
I intended to hold another Logic9 Day at Income Center, Bras Basah Road. We will charge an admission fee of $5 and provide 2 pocketbooks (worth $10). And the free tips.
The attendees enjoyed the 3 tips given by me on how to solve the Logic9 (Sudoku) puzzles. Most of them were aware about the 1st tip (i.e. "find the missing number"). They were surprised to learn the next two tips (based on patterns).
I intended to hold another Logic9 Day at Income Center, Bras Basah Road. We will charge an admission fee of $5 and provide 2 pocketbooks (worth $10). And the free tips.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Feedback from a customer on our website
Mr Tan,
I am a 29-year-old working professional. However, in terms of financial investments, I am only a layperson.
As a hardworking and thrifty person, I am very concerned about investing my hard-earned money in cash and from my CPF Account.
In a bid to improve my own knowledge so as to understand investments better in future, I trawled the Internet & learnt from various websites.
I am very impressed by the NTUC Income website which provides very clear advice. I am now thinking of investing my very hard-earned money with NTUC Income (I am already a client with an NTUC Living Policy but now am thinking of making further investments by investing in the Combined Funds with cash and CPF monies).
From a layperson in this area, the website has helped greatly in my education in financial management. The details of the various funds are also provided in the pdf documents online, including the yields over various periods and the top holdings of each fund.
I am also deeply impressed that there was a link to your Blog. Seldom does a CEO find time to actually be at the ground level to connect with so many clients. It must be very busy for you. This is helpful and humble of you.
I wonder how you find the time to actually attend to the many queries that must have reached you since you provided your email address on the web, including the queries that you published on your blog.
The queries and the suggestions that you have published on your blog provide insights for laypersons like myself.
The reassurance that you have personally given to others like myself and the other interesting anecdotes that you provide, such as on customer service in other industries and the level of service in Dubai, provide insights in other areas to many Singaporeans as well.
Merry Christmas.
TMJ
I am a 29-year-old working professional. However, in terms of financial investments, I am only a layperson.
As a hardworking and thrifty person, I am very concerned about investing my hard-earned money in cash and from my CPF Account.
In a bid to improve my own knowledge so as to understand investments better in future, I trawled the Internet & learnt from various websites.
I am very impressed by the NTUC Income website which provides very clear advice. I am now thinking of investing my very hard-earned money with NTUC Income (I am already a client with an NTUC Living Policy but now am thinking of making further investments by investing in the Combined Funds with cash and CPF monies).
From a layperson in this area, the website has helped greatly in my education in financial management. The details of the various funds are also provided in the pdf documents online, including the yields over various periods and the top holdings of each fund.
I am also deeply impressed that there was a link to your Blog. Seldom does a CEO find time to actually be at the ground level to connect with so many clients. It must be very busy for you. This is helpful and humble of you.
I wonder how you find the time to actually attend to the many queries that must have reached you since you provided your email address on the web, including the queries that you published on your blog.
The queries and the suggestions that you have published on your blog provide insights for laypersons like myself.
The reassurance that you have personally given to others like myself and the other interesting anecdotes that you provide, such as on customer service in other industries and the level of service in Dubai, provide insights in other areas to many Singaporeans as well.
Merry Christmas.
TMJ
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Visit the Business Center
I met a few senior civil servants over lunch. They asked for my advice on the insurance and savings plans for their children. They are reluctant to talk to an insurance agent.
They felt that the insurance agent is more interested to recommend products that are attractive to the agent, and not to the customer.
I suggested that they visit the business center and talk to my salaried consultants. They welcomed this suggestion warmly.
I explained that the insurance advisers from NTUC Income are not pushy, and will recommend products that give good value to the customers. They will explain on our FAQs. They felt more assured and welcomed the approach taken by us.
They felt that the insurance agent is more interested to recommend products that are attractive to the agent, and not to the customer.
I suggested that they visit the business center and talk to my salaried consultants. They welcomed this suggestion warmly.
I explained that the insurance advisers from NTUC Income are not pushy, and will recommend products that give good value to the customers. They will explain on our FAQs. They felt more assured and welcomed the approach taken by us.
Customer is stuck with structured deposit
Mr Tan,
I enjoy reading your blog it is very informative. Hopefully we can still read your blog after you left NTUC.
I have bought structured deposit from a bank in 2004. It was terminated in 2005 and my funds was transferred to purchase another structured deposit on the advise of the bank representative. He explained that the bank is revising the rate for the benefits of customer.
I was told to pay a replacement cost of 15% as I had terminated early. I was not getting the interest rate of 3.18% because the interest rate has gone up. I was also told it is a different kind of structured deposit.
I felt so cheated. How can I seek redress or highlight my experience to others so that they will not be trapped into a similar situation.
The product with the word "deposit" is misleading fom a layman's view. We always think that a structured deposit is like a fixed deposit.
Structured Deposit has some form of risk like unit trust, and is also tied to some interest rate which is too complicated for public to understand. Where is the transparancy of the product?
CS
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Dear CS
I suggest that you seek the advice of the MAS, Consumer Association (CASE) or of the Association of Banks regarding the unsatisfactory advice given to you by the bank representatives.
Tan Kin Lian
I enjoy reading your blog it is very informative. Hopefully we can still read your blog after you left NTUC.
I have bought structured deposit from a bank in 2004. It was terminated in 2005 and my funds was transferred to purchase another structured deposit on the advise of the bank representative. He explained that the bank is revising the rate for the benefits of customer.
I was told to pay a replacement cost of 15% as I had terminated early. I was not getting the interest rate of 3.18% because the interest rate has gone up. I was also told it is a different kind of structured deposit.
I felt so cheated. How can I seek redress or highlight my experience to others so that they will not be trapped into a similar situation.
The product with the word "deposit" is misleading fom a layman's view. We always think that a structured deposit is like a fixed deposit.
Structured Deposit has some form of risk like unit trust, and is also tied to some interest rate which is too complicated for public to understand. Where is the transparancy of the product?
CS
---------------
Dear CS
I suggest that you seek the advice of the MAS, Consumer Association (CASE) or of the Association of Banks regarding the unsatisfactory advice given to you by the bank representatives.
Tan Kin Lian
MENA region
What is the MENA region? It is the Middle East and North Africa. This region comprise mainly of people from the Arabic culture.
The Middle East includes the countries of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Syria and Jordan. North Africa includes the countries of Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.
After leaving NTUC Income, I expect to be active in the MENA region, to develop insurance based on the concept of the "Insurance Company for the 21st Century".
Find our more from: IC21
The Middle East includes the countries of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Syria and Jordan. North Africa includes the countries of Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.
After leaving NTUC Income, I expect to be active in the MENA region, to develop insurance based on the concept of the "Insurance Company for the 21st Century".
Find our more from: IC21
Monday, December 11, 2006
Best Low Cost Funds
Who offers the best low cost funds? Find out more from:
Ask Dr Money
If you invest in a low cost fund, you will get a higher return, after deducting the charges.
Ask Dr Money
If you invest in a low cost fund, you will get a higher return, after deducting the charges.
Invest in a unit trust or investment fund?
I was asked, "Is it better to invest regular savings in a unit trust (which does not have an upfront sales charge) compared to an investment-linked plan (where up to 18 months of premium are deducted to pay commission to the agent?"
Here is my reply: "The upfront charge from NTUC Income is about 6 months. This is less than half of the sales charge from similar plans provided by other insurance companies."
The unit trusts have higher annual fee. The fee, including trailer fee to the adviser, can take away between 2% to 3% from your investment yield in each year. This additional charge can be quite costly to you. If you are investing for 10 years or longer, it is better to buy a ILP plan from NTUC Income.
Here is my reply: "The upfront charge from NTUC Income is about 6 months. This is less than half of the sales charge from similar plans provided by other insurance companies."
The unit trusts have higher annual fee. The fee, including trailer fee to the adviser, can take away between 2% to 3% from your investment yield in each year. This additional charge can be quite costly to you. If you are investing for 10 years or longer, it is better to buy a ILP plan from NTUC Income.
Why invest in a large well diversified fund?
Someone asked me why I recommend investing in a large well diversified fund. It can only provide an average return earned by the market. He feels that it is better to select a good fund manager that can perform better than the market.
I replied: "It is difficult to select a good fund manager. There are a few thousand managers to choose from. If you choose a manager with a good track record in the past, you are not sure that they can perform better than average in the future. You pay a higher fee, and may not get a better return (after deducting the fee).
By investing in a large, well diversified fund, you enjoy the following:
- low fees, due to economic of scale
- diversification (so that you are not affected by a few poor performing stocks)
If you can get an average market return on global equity, you are likely to do well over the long term. By investing for many years, you enjoy some good years and some bad years. The average has always earned more than bonds or cash over a 10 year period."
Lesson: Invest for the long term in a large, well diversified fund.
I replied: "It is difficult to select a good fund manager. There are a few thousand managers to choose from. If you choose a manager with a good track record in the past, you are not sure that they can perform better than average in the future. You pay a higher fee, and may not get a better return (after deducting the fee).
By investing in a large, well diversified fund, you enjoy the following:
- low fees, due to economic of scale
- diversification (so that you are not affected by a few poor performing stocks)
If you can get an average market return on global equity, you are likely to do well over the long term. By investing for many years, you enjoy some good years and some bad years. The average has always earned more than bonds or cash over a 10 year period."
Lesson: Invest for the long term in a large, well diversified fund.
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