The performance of different investment options are beyond the control of investors. Followers of Modern Portfolio Theory believes that there are 2 types of risks – Systemic and Non-Systemic (or aka un-systemic). Non-systemic risks can be minimized through diversification. Nothing can be done about Systemic risk. In that sense, one can do something [...]

Following the announcement of the changes to CPF LIFE and the release of some indicative numbers for the 4 CPF LIFE schemes, a question quickly came to mind: How does the commercial annuity compare to CPF LIFE? The following is a comparison of CPF LIFE and a leading commercial annuity.

The criteria [...]

Acting Manpower Minister Mr Gan Kim Yong announced in parliament yesterday on the changes to the national annuity scheme. The number of choices is reduced from 12 to 4 – called LIFE Basic, LIFE Balance, LIFE Plus and LIFE Income. The following table illustrates the different amount of payout for a 55 year [...]

Most young Singaporeans would engage interior designers (ID) at least once in their lives as they get their first HDB flat after marriage or after reaching 35. They hope to have their dream home with the help of the designer.

During the initial design phase, the ID would offer his views and [...]

The current financial crisis has been dubbed ‘unprecedented’ by many.People and organizations from all walks of life ranging from individual to institutional investors, town councils to Sovereign Wealth Funds, employee to business owners, have been impacted to a different extent. Great challenges have arisen in terms of Wealth Preservation and Distribution.

Since the electric tariff increased by 21.5% for October 08 to Dec 08, there has been increased attention on the price of electricity, especially during the current economic downturn. Following the drop in oil price, the tariff will decrease by 24.7% for the Jan 09 to March 09 period. There was an advertisement [...]

Happen to come across a CPF advert on Today: First Step to a bigger nest egg. The advert states that  ”Transferring his savings from his Ordinary Account to his Special Account allows savvy investor Jason Kuek to earn higher interest on his CPF savings“.

The advert describled the uncertainity in the job [...]

Amendment: My apologies. SMRA floor rate of 4% is applied for 2 years from 01 Jan 08 to 31 Dec 2009 instead of 2010. Thanks B yee for highlighting

There has been frequent advertisement by the CPF Board on transferring CPF OA to SA recently. One of the ‘advantages’ of doing so is [...]

CPF Board has announced that the CPF Ordinary Account (OA) interest rate for Jan 09 to Mar 09 will be 2.5%. The interest rate for Special, Medisave and Retirement Accounts (SMRA) will be announced in December. My calculation shows that the SMRA interest rate should be at the minimum 4% as the [...]

PM Lee has finally broken his silence over theLehman-linked structured note debacle, assuring the investors that the issue will be handled “fairly and properly”. Separately, the MAS has said there there is an imminent review of the structured-products industry which will address issues such as better descriptions and labelling of products, “as well as [...]