Who am I? & What are you doing?

In a personal message


Wong Wee Fah 黄伟華 “Martin 你在新加坡是做房地产的吗？”

Martin Sim “Hi Wee Fah,
Firstly nice to speak with you. my apologies as my computer does not have chinese input.
I am an investor who is actively looking for like minded people to pool money with us for and/or source and recommend bigger and better investment opportunities that really is worth the investment. Property is just another stream to create residual income. Hence, we are opportunity driven less so by sector or country.
Cheers,
Martin”


THANK YOU for the question Wee Fah. Helps me clarify my position somewhat.
Furthermore, to anyone reading in. The knowledge is free (for now), while others are charging. Again, anyone ANYONE can make money from this, rich, poor, young, old, employed, unemployed, man, woman.…anyone.
I urge all to register by sending us through PM or email your name, contact and email.


And for those who did google me, (people did! small YA ^^)
I...
dont built custom guitars,
dont do personal coaching in UK,
dont stream free MP3 on the web,
dont know nuts about chinchillas and hamsters, or how they procreate,
do not stay in Philippines,
aint the bloke who is reportedly grumpy and and unsexy,
nor the 2SG relating on one of his "defining moments"
(unfortunately) am not the Martin Sim kissing his blushing bride
and lastly, wasnt the Ang Mo Kio resident who complain about unsightly rental ads at bus stops.

Try Martin Sim Investor, you will see me.....

I am having a Great Morning! Hellos to ALL!

What Spielberg And Buffett Have In Common

by Mike Litman

Derek Jeter is the famous shortstop on the New York Yankees. Imagine if tomorrow they told him he had to become a pitcher, he most likely would be average or worse, right?

Stephen Spielberg is one of the world's greatest film directors. Imagine if tomorrow they told him he had to make his living as a chef, most likely he'd be average or worse, right?

Warren Buffett is the world's greatest investor. Imagine if tomorrow they told him he'd have to make his living as a golfer, most likely he'd be average or worse, right?

Remember this:

We were all born for a certain ASSIGNMENT.

A 'position' in life that our unique talents and skills can serve the greatest amount of people and reap us incredible prosperity.

The closer we are to this POSITION, the place where success is practically guaranteed, the greater our likelihood of massive success.

But, no, no, no.... I say, 'Hold on Mike.' Why do most people never aim to locate their ASSIGNMENT, the PLACE that their success can come naturally and in great abundance?

Here's my answer. INVESTMENT.

'Mike, what do you mean?' Let me explain.

Most people don't INVEST the time necessary to locate their position they were born for.

Most people don't INVEST enough in themselves to cultivate their natural strengths.

Most people don't INVEST enough in discovering how to create a cash windfall in turning what they enjoy doing into a business.

Imagine a snowstorm in Chicago in the middle of winter. You can have that same avalanche of 'cash flakes' flying into your bank account EVERY day, interested?

Or. Imagine this.

You're 91 years old. You're sitting on the front porch of your home. You start thinking about so many of the great things in your life, but then a regret finds its way into your mind. You get sad because you never turned something you enjoyed into an empire of profits. You rock back on your chair and you sigh. A tear could form, if you let it. You never jumped on the bus called the 'Financial Freedom Express'.

You were born with a gift, wrapped and all. A unique gift. Now it's your job to find it, build it, share it, or you can enjoy the regrets on your front porch.

Will you sit on the bench or step up to the plate and hit one out of the park? That decision is yours, not mine.

[Update 2] Are you your parents' financial photocopy?

My folks, I think, did Ok for themselves. Not the best financial planners but boy did they have the lifestyle. I would attribute property investing as half the income that supported their lifestyle. So it has always been in my mind, investing is a MUST!

Over the course of the last 6years (that I seriously explore and use financial tools), I realized some differences that financially educated (For convenience, "FE") and uneducated ("FU" no pun intended) parents pass on to their kids. I'll bet that's where many of us got our first financial guidance from. If one's parents was financially educated, they would pass on sound knowledge. Vice versa. So, how financially smart are your parents? Should you be unlearning some of the wrong stuff and open to new ones?

Some real-life examples I came across:

FU teaches: "Don't trust other people with your money. Or trust only yourself with your money."
This is a half-truth statement and many people follow! May I ask, How great a progress are you going to make alone? Heard of the phrase No man is an island?
FE: Dare to trust. Be sharp about the company you keep and always use a contract to protect your interest.

FU teaches: "Want to be successful in life, learn how to depend on yourself."
It is great to instill independence and doing your best from a young age. But being strong alone is insufficient; against the weight of the world no one man has enough strength. Again, No man is an island.

FE: So yes, be independent and excel, and align with other successful people, who compliment and strengthens you, to function as a team. Leverage on/ and off each other to make greater progress.

FU teaches: "Don't let others steal your ideas. Keep it to yourself. Don't share freely."
What good is an idea not materialized? There are many brilliant people out there keeping their brilliance to themselves. How does keeping your idea to yourself make you rich?
FE: Share your ideas, only then can you progress and improve. Get the right people on-board to help you materialize your ideas.

FU teaches: "Work hard, spend less and save your money."
Seriously doesn't that sound like something people who are tight for money would tell you?
FE: Work smart, plan on what you can afford to spend and how you can spend more. Learn how to be creative and invest your money.

FU teaches: "Save your money for retirement. Enjoy life when retired."
Isn't that pretty sad? To enjoy life only nearing one's end?
The truth is most people succumb to temptation and enjoy as soon as possible anyway. Rake huge bills from their lifestyle expenses, which leads to them being caught in a vicious cycle. Yes?
FE: While working, start investing. No capital, be creative & learn how to leverage. Attain financial freedom as young/soon as possible. Then enjoy life.

FU teaches: "Investing is risky. Best to leave your money alone."
Investments does carry risk. But given what is happening in the world today, down the road we are going to see serious demand/supply issues and great inflation problems. Dual middle income households alone might no longer be enough onwards. With the free and easy stimulus and inability to rein in stimulus, Currency itself is at risk. Not investing is a bad idea.
FE: Investing carries risk but is necessary. Currency is overly diluted.

Lastly,
FU (And many financial institutions, FI aka Financial idiots) teaches: "High returns = High risks"
This is as far from the truth as it gets. Put an untrained driver at the wheel of a car, the vehicle is a danger to all. Change the driver to a skilled professional, he can drive on two wheels and still make you feel at ease.
FE: Being financial uneducated = High risk

Added on 14 Jun 2010 (& I am shocked to have to add this!),
FU teaches: "Savings."
Until today, as in RIGHT NOW, people are STILL talking about how much they have saved. OMG! http://forums.salary.sg/investments-net-worth/817-whats-your-net-worth.html You work really hard, make your life all stressful and tiring, scrimp and save for your money to sit in your savings account (or under the pillow) to do... what??
FE: Investments - Capital gains and Cashflow

Until next time.

Your Fellow Investor,

Martin Sim

Previous Updates

1 Taking retirement into your own hands

Article "How should trusts be managed?" The Straits Times Monday, May 17 2010 Page B22 Money section

De-constructing Finance

Hi Ladies & Gents,

Recently, listened to a Private Banker talk about de-constructing financial/ banking products like structured deposits, dual-currencies investments, capital guaranteed funds, CDOs, Unit-trust, Forex tools, Equities, Options, Loans, Insurance, proper money management and much more... He covers every financial product out there and breaks them down along the way for your understanding. The good, the bad and the dirty secrets your banker and insurance guys don't tell you.

For more than 10yrs, this chap was managing a fund size of S$168mil for the uber-rich. Claims to have an epiphany after seeing all the old people pouring out their woes at the speaker's corner after losing their pants. Maybe he really has a heart?

Anyway, from my interaction with him, needless to say, he knows his products really well. It's not everyday you get to tap on the knowledge of a private banker.

And at just S$688 for 3 full days?!

Finalized dates are on 19, 20 & 27 June 9-5pm

Go flip the newspapers, normally a 2.5day course the 'Gurus' are charging anywhere from S$3000+ to 5000. Some of which you should stay away from! At S$688 this chap is really trying to do charity. Rental alone would be a bomb. & Staffing? Think he earned too much from the people who are financially uneducated that got slaughtered, trying to give back to society now.

My opinion; really sound knowledge and before he comes out of his Jerry Maguire moment, sign on and make friends to continuously tap on his brains!

I wished he set this up 4years ago, save me many literal headaches & heartaches. Those interested email back. I don't earn a penny from typing all these. Do take the opportunity to get some financial education as this affects your lives! You don't have to speculate or invest afterwards. Just open your eyes to what's going on in the world today.

Your Fellow Investor,

Martin Sim

PS: Here's one tip I was stunned to learn:

Did you know if you rollover amount on your credit card your bank is charging you 24% on the full amount on the bill for that month and not on the outstanding that you have rollover?

Free plucking of my interests. Sharing knowledge from investors.

Property Investors Club

Equities Investors Network

[Update 1] Taking retirement into your own hands

Hi All,

Martin Sim here. Firstly, I am an active investor who strongly advocates that everyone must acquire the right financial education (from the right people) to manage their own finances. I spent the past 6 years avidly studying various investment instruments. Today, I have crafted my own strategies that allows me to derive residual income. However, things did not always sound so peachy, having gone through bad investments and inherent tough financial times. I notice a whole lot of 'Investors' posting are not really Investors but Businessmen. Hence, these are my inputs as an Investor.

For many years, like most, I adhered to the mindset of work hard, save and spend less. Though from observing my mentors, I knew the importance of investing. "I knew that there are other means of deriving money than solely from an income-based model. Bit by bit, I switched out of my old mindset. I knew to proceed to the next level I must invest and I wanted to pursue investing professionally."

Trust me when I say that my life has been affected in an extremely profound way. Which is the greatest motivation for me to do this, regardless of profit or money.

My primary objective is to draw as many people’s attention towards their financial well-being.
My macro-goal is to create as many profitable and sustainable models as possible, supporting venture philanthropy and worthy causes such as Advocacy against Gambling Addiction and Combat Poverty etc.

“The Human race can live in over-abundance and our Planet’s resources can still thrive. 

It is possible and it is our job as Human Beings to reach that level.”

For Greater Good,
Martin Sim

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Sunday Times Singapore, 25 Apr, 2010, Sunday Pg 39 by Harsha Jethnani
Experts reinforce need to start planning early and not to rely on just CPF savings for income
By Harsha Jethnani

We often hear of the need for retirement planning, yet many Singaporeans may not be getting the full picture. Only half of the people polled in a Nielsen survey last week had actually started making concrete retirement plans.

Even more alarming, the survey found that the average age at which Singaporeans tend to embark on retirement planning is 59.

And only 20 per cent have worked or plan to work with a professional financial adviser.

The survey, commissioned by Russell Investments, polled more than 500 employed Singaporeans aged 35 to 55.

By 2030, one in five Singaporeans will be 65 and older – up from one in 12 today. Life expectancy is increasing, prompting the Government to raise the official retirement age from 62 today to 65 by 2012.

The risk is that most Singaporeans expect to be strapped for money in their golden years, according to the survey, and are preparing for a decline in their quality of life – with more money to go on essentials and less on leisure.
Singaporeans are fortunate to have one definite source of income – CPF savings – but that might not be enough, given that we are living longer and likely to spend more as the cost of living goes up. Aside from your personal savings and investment returns, it is worth considering how to supplement your retirement income through regular payout schemes like CPF Life and private annuities.

CPF savings at retirement
Over the years, the CPF scheme has been extended to cater to our housing, education and health-care needs, says Mr Peter Siong, vice- president of field distribution at NTUC Income. ‘With so many priorities competing for the same CPF dollar, our CPF savings might not be sufficient to provide for our retirement needs,’ he adds. Many will end up asset rich but cash poor, says Ms Viviena Chin, chief executive of Eternal Financial Advisory.

It is partly because of this concern that initiatives like the Minimum Sum Scheme and CPF Life were introduced to reinforce the original intent of the CPF scheme, Mr Siong adds. For higher-income earners, CPF becomes less important as contributions hit an upper ceiling, with the current monthly income cap at $4,500, says Mr Shrikant Bhat, head of wealth management at Citibank Singapore. And for self-employed individuals, CPF is especially limited, he says.

CPF Life
Launched in September last year, the CPF Life scheme gives members regular payouts for life instead of the 20 years under the Minimum Sum Scheme. Monthly payouts are distributed with the amount dependent on your retirement account savings. Higher savings imply higher payouts and vice-versa. The highest payout is about $1,040 a month. The scheme pools the money and invests in long-term special Government bonds to ensure stable returns. By 2013, the scheme will automatically apply to people who turn 55 and have at least $40,000 in their CPF savings. CPF members with $60,000 in their retirement accounts at 65 will also automatically be included.

The scheme is open to those between 55 and 80 and offers four plans which ‘differ in the level of monthly payout and the refund amount that may be left for their beneficiaries’, says Ms Chin. The ideal plan will depend on the particular circumstances at the point of a person’s retirement phase and lifestyle, she adds. Mr Tan Kin Lian, president of the Financial Services Consumer Association, advises retirees not to worry about leaving money for their children and to choose a plan that offers adequate monthly payouts. ‘Most retirees are likely to leave behind a home to the children. This is already the most valuable asset they can leave behind,’ he says.

Private insurers’ payout plans
The CPF Life scheme is favourable for its low expenses and non-profit nature, Mr Tan says. But with a highest payout of a little over $1,000 a month, alternative sources of income are needed to supplement the payouts.

Mr Tan points out that personal savings cannot be invested in the scheme, so it is necessary to have private annuity products if a person wants a regular payout product. ‘Most retirees are more comfortable with periodic payouts, as it offers a regular stream of income, not unlike pre-retirement days,’ Mr Siong says. Late starters tend to choose immediate instead of deferred annuities, says Mr Bhat. Ms Chin says that Singapore insurers generally have less competitive annuity type schemes available. It is essential to understand the difference between various types of life annuities, compare the same type of plan across various insurance providers and ensure that the plan can offer a good return on top of the purchase sum, Mr Tan says.

Endowment plans for retirement
Endowment plans are another option to boost retirement income. Some can provide regular income payouts after the premium payment ends, Ms Chin says. There are also plans that give out annual coupons or regular coupons but these usually result in lower yields, says Mr Raymond Ng, president of the Association of Financial Advisers in Singapore. He says a more suitable option for retirement is a single-premium endowment plan.

This accepts a single lump sum to be invested for a period as short as four years to as long as 20 years. The guaranteed maturity value is usually equal or slightly higher than the principal, with better returns than bank deposits. A five-year plan, for example, can bring a return of 2.95 per cent a year. The lump-sum payouts can then be used to buy other life annuities or saved for retirement, Mr Tan says. The danger here, Mr Bhat says, is that people can start spending beyond their control, thus reducing their lump-sum payouts faster than intended. He adds that it is ideal for a retiree to look at a balanced portfolio of retirement funds involving regular and lump-sum payouts. Mr Tan highlights that it is crucial to ensure that charges on the policy do not erode too large a share of the accumulated premiums.

On a 25-year policy, for example, charges should amount to less than 20 per cent of accumulated premiums. It is also important to check whether you will get a lower guaranteed cash value but with highest non-guaranteed cash value, or vice-versa, says Mr Ng. ‘I would usually favour one plan that is in between the two extremes,’ he adds.

The bigger picture
Ensuring a steady stream of income is not limited to annuity or regular payout type of products. Rental income, stock dividends and bond coupons are other alternatives that provide payouts for a limited term, at least, Mr Bhat says. Starting to save early and assessing your risk capacity are both vital. Mr Siong says: ‘The key to retirement planning is to start early – even from the first pay cheque – to leverage on the power of compounding.’ After all, you don’t want your retirement years to involve struggling. It should be the time to finally enjoy the fruit of your lifelong hard work. harshamj@sph.com.sg