2013 is coming to an end

Its the end of the year again. A time for reflection and a time to give thanks. I will like to thank all my clients and friends that have supported me and believed in my service. Not only have you made my life and work more meaningful, you have also made you and your families lives more meaningful. This is the start of a mutually beneficial relationship which I want to maintain. Please feel free to call anytime. Will catch up again soon.

I will also like to apologise to those that I may have not been able to help getting insurance. I have tried my best. But there are other services I can help you with.

Reflecting upon my life till 2013, it has been an amazing journey. I can still remember the day I bought my first policy long long time ago...

The phone sounded and I picked up to see who called. It was a good friend and ex colleague whom we did many crazy things together. He called suggesting a coffee seaaion. Sure!

At the coffee session, he told me he has joined an insurance company. I felt betrayed thinking I have been lead into a coffee session to be sold an insurance policy. But as a friend I will also want to see him do well. I told him, Bro just prepare a savings policy of $250 a month. He said ok.

We met again to do the paperwork and before we signed he said he will have to present the product. No need, I said. I am doing this to support you, sign where?

But Tang I have to explain the policy first... sshh sign where?

Did the paperwork and we had coffee and talked about life. And till today, I feel thankful towards him. I never beleived in insurance because my dad told me bluff people one.. cheat money one. I had my pre concieved idea that its bull.

It all changed when in 2000 I did my Certificate in Life Insurance, the only paper you need then to be a financial representative of an insurance company. I started to realise and see the need for financial planning. But in 2009 I did not just see the need, I experienced it.

I woke up one morning with a tingling sensation in my shoulder: first thought.. stroke! Immediately booked my $300 plus medical checkup and waited 2 weeks for my results. Doc said that in an emergency we will call you within 2 weeks and please come down immediately, if not just come back in 2 weeks time.

The results were consoling yet damaging at the same time. I have no cholestrol (surprise!) but have minute traces of blood in my urine, fatty liver, slightly high reading of sugar in my blood and is obese (not surprising) Doctor advised exercise.

Whew! Not stroke, realised it was probably my new sleeping posture which prevents my snoring. I find out if I slept on my side I don't snore, so the tingling sensation was from me sleeping on my shoulder the whole night.

Better increase my coverage, I thought. I was a trainer then in an insurance company and I applied to upgradr my shield plan which was still at a public hospital A ward. Rejected!!! I have been denied coverage in a private hospital by their company I work with!!! I tried other companies and it was either a reject or premiums loaded. I resigned to my fate and got my coverage with loading and all.

If only I had gotten my coverage earlier. If only I had not felt so invincible then. I could have covered myself more. Sigh! If only I knew the numbers to this weeks 4D and ToTo.

Well, if you are at the moment healthy and fit, please do not be complacent about it. Nature has made us to last only for a limited time before we deteriorate. Even a car engine don't run forever. Just like when the car breaks down we want to push it into the best mechnic to get it repaired. And that cost money. Imagine when we start breaking down...

These cost can be eatimated and planned for and there is no better time then now. My sincere hope that your resolution for 2014 will include: start a financial plan or speak to a financial adviser.

Happy New Year! In advance.

Family Impact Analysis

Let us look at our family, do we run our family like a business? Let us look at how similar a family is compared to a business. Businesses is about profit and loss. Its about bottom line. Its about being responsible to their shareholders. 

So who are the shareholders of your family and are you being responsible for them? Parents, kids, spouse and anybody who may have a vested interest. The profit or loss in your home will be taking your combined household income minus all expenses. 

Businesses have balance sheets every month to ensure they are still running on profit. If they know they are running close to a loss, they have measures and strategies to cut cost and bring the business back into the black. They know their fixed expenses and cash flow needed every month. They project how much expenses may be needed in future to sustain the business. They have risk management strategies to ensure that profitability and net worth of business is not compromised.

Do you know if your family is running on a profit or loss? Do you have a strategy if your family is running on a loss? Do you have projections for the future so that you know the family is sustained? Do you have risk management strategies to ensure profits and net worth are not compromised in your family?

Businesses also understand that they have to invest their liquid assets to allow their money to work harder for them. They may think of doing other businesses to diversify their exposure in their core markets. They may also employ asset management companies to invest their monies. They leverage on these companies' expertise in markets and sectors they may not be familiar with.

Are you letting your monies sit in liquid assets? Is your family's assets being invested to allow it to work harder for you? Is your assets diversified to reduce your exposure in one market?

If you have not thought about the above you may like to consider doing a Family Impact Analysis. Think about all the possible risk that may affect your family. Think about the probability of the risk happening. Think about the impact on the family. Then if you want a better understanding, complete the below questionnaire with your name, email and phone number