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Showing posts from July, 2023

Is MY EPF better than our CPF?

 This present CPF was "suan" by Late Ex DPM Toh CC. I think the EPF is better.  It is more flexible. 1.  Far higher but unsustainably high interest rate at 8.15%. 2. Full withdrawal allowed at age 55.   3. Case by case basis, it can be  withdrawn before age 55. 4. One can choose not to withdraw after age 55 to enjoy the high interest rate; withdrawal of annual interest is allowed.  You keep what you earn. If one is able to save RM1M, annual interest earn is RM1,000,000 x 0.0815 = RM81,500 (eye-bogging sum). 5. EPF can be withdrawn for home repayment. ~~~~ From ChatGPT:  Malaysia EPF Explained: The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) is a retirement savings scheme in Malaysia.  It is a compulsory savings plan for employees, where both the employer and the employee contribute a portion of the employee's monthly salary to the fund. The main objective of EPF is to help Malaysian workers save for their retirement. Here are some key points about Malaysia's EPF Contribution : Bo

Am I stressing by heart during exercise ?

 1.  Is it OK to exercise near max heart rate? The American Heart Association recommends exercising with a target heart rate of   50 to 75 percent of your maximum heart rate for beginners, and for moderately intense exercise .  You can work at 70 to 85 percent of your maximum heart rate during vigorous activity. 2. How long is it safe to run at max heart rate? Max Heartbeat rate (MHR) is based on 220 - your_age. Since your max heart rate is attained by the most strenuous level of physical exertion your body is capable of, it is only sustainable for very short periods of time.  For the average person, this likely falls somewhere between 10 seconds and 1 minute. 3. Can I run at 95% max heart rate? Vigorous: 77% to 95% of MHR The vigorous heart rate zone is from 77% to 95% of your maximum heart rate.  You are now in the vigorous-intensity zone. You will be breathing very hard and able only to speak in short phrases.   This is the zone to aim for when training for endurance. 4. Does max h

Malaysian endowment? I also bought

you know lah.  I also got Malaysian endowment too with TM 20-year policy; 1. Tokio Marine 20-year endowment bought with  MY bank Total premiums paid: RM300k, guaranteed yearly.  I also got Malaysian endowment too with TM 20-year policy; 1. Tokio Marine 20-year endowment bought in MY bank Total premiums paid: RM300k, guaranteed yearly payout of RM10.5k for next 19 years.  On Year 20, get back maturity amount sum: RM300k+.  2. The policy fund performance Benefit Illustration (BI) is illustrated at 5.5% and 8%.   Unbelievable but that roughly matched EPF at 5.35% @2023. 3. The Policy is transparent ; it shows you: - how much premium used for rider coverage, - its death & TPD payout grows to x1.5 - it's agent fees n charges 4. To maximise return , one should reduce premiums used for rider protection; in this case, use your children as Policy Assured ; this is to keep rider premiums as low as possible to max investment return to the policy which we pay. 5. I can also make partial

Our Job is best investment

When I first started working, that was about 35 years ago, my eldest brother then gave me this advice. "Focus on doing your full time job well;  it will be your best investment". Looking back, his advice may be still valid and true for me. Just a bonus in one year, one can even save the trouble to make small profits bites (say $250 per month) in trading for more than years. Unless it is for purpose of mental exercise play play.  But usually such trading need to spend many nights to monitor which can lose some sleeps.

You can run betterer than me?

 I free-free extracted some runs from past few months of May- early Jul 23.  My observation from this data extraction: 1. It seems that I am now not able to clock 7+min/km which I used to in early 50s, before Covid.  The extra ~10-year reduces my allowable max heartbeats by ~10beats/min. 2. And be it 5km or 13km, my pace now is fairly consistent at 9+min/km. 3. I am pacing myself not to exceed my max heartbeat of 161 beats/min.  In so doing, 7~8min/km was things of the past. 4. Even if I can achieve 7~8min/km, it will be at my expenses of doing a worthiness stress test on my heart. 5. At age 59, I need to be mindful not to run like a 40-yo, even if I can still clock 7+min/km. But I need to add that my runs timing included a few traffic road stop/waiting-time. My next longer run would be the StdChart full-Marathon on Dec 23.  But let's hope that I can stil complete within the 7.5 h cut-off time; my 5th full marathon.

Endowments are really bleaked & scary?

My email to Mr Ooi to give my comments on this Sunday INVEST article " Avoid buying unsuitable investment products " dated 16 Jul 2023. Thank you for your above Sunday article in "INVEST" Section in The Straits Times. I always enjoy following your Sunday INVEST articles. May I share my opinion about what you shared. 1.  I have bought a total of 19 saving endowment policies, bought since 2011 at age 47. 2. They are a mixed of: a. 7 x new endowments bought directly from insurers, amounting to: Total premiums paid: $100k + $115k + $42k + $20k + $30k + $60k + $100k = $467k (fully paid from year 2011 to 2023)   b. 2 x new leveraged endowment policies from Great Eastern; Premier Life Generation series (PLG1 & PLG3), bought before 1 Jul 2021 (where MAS intervened in the endowment BI illustration).  Total premiums = $150k + $250k = $400k; of which cash paid was $42k + $73k = $115k c. 9 x Traded Insurance policies which I started at age 57 in 2021. Total premiums pai

Consideration for MY property Purchase

Consideration for MY property Purchase 1.  Avoid mixed devt; it is difficult to demarcate Hotel, Residential & Mall for Strata Title issue.  Best choice is JB (& Melaka) as more food choices & rentals. (KL & Penang are too far for me to travel, although it's property may have good return value. Need MM2H or else need to return home monthly to renew Visa extension.) 2. Before Strata Title issue, Unit has to pay State Consent every 2-year @RM5k (recently raised from RM3k) to keep unit ownership interim.  When purchasing, bargain for one time payment for State Consent; no need renewal. But easily than said, Developer may not warrant it after 3-year Latent Defect Period (LDP). Not even through legal statements, unless it's first State Consent Certificate does not have expiry date.   Earlier year, new property buy may have such privileges such as Deferred Interest Bearing Scheme (DIBS) loan absorption by developer during construction phrase; so one doesn't

My endowments: steady passive income

How my Endowments provide me with a steady stream of passive income which augment by CPFLife and CPF interest payouts. RESALE ENDOWMENTS I had built up 10 Resale endowments, total premiums expected to invest ~$300k since 2020, bulk of premiums are paid within a span of 4-years. Total projected maturity payouts is $410k, (as I also reinvested the Cashbacks @~3% annually into the policies).   When you buy the traded insurance, you need to choose properly. Because I DCA buys these traded insurance, I have built up some relationships with the few Agents whom can help eye-ball and tailor to my needs. ~~~~ NEW ENDOWMENTS On top of these 10 layered Resale endowment, maybe more to be bought,  I have also another lot of 9 new endowments bought from 2011 to 2021 (bought directly from various Insurers).  My last final annual payment is Oct 2023.  This "new endowment Tap" will pay me another source of passive income for retirement, in addition to my Resale Endowment payouts. ~ To-date,

H&S Lifetime Coverage Premiums

H&S Lifetime Coverage Premiums Annual premium for a youth to cover H&S for life.  They have to pay annually for life coverage.   Premium increases with age). So, if their Medisave Account has $12,000, their Annual Premium deducted from their Medisave will be paid by the 4% Medisave Account. With $12,000 in CPF-MA, it will earn $480 p.a. interest. $12,000 * 0.04 = $480. ~~~~~~~ The other 2 default cost deducted by G are lifetime premiums for MedishieldLife and CareshieldLife coverage. ~~~~~~ 1. CareshieldLife will commence when the youth reaches age 29. Premium is still reasonable low at $200~300 p.a. rising with age.  This is to protect 3ADL of 6 (Activity of Disability Living) payout. https://www.greateasternlife.com/sg/en/personal-insurance/our-products/health-insurance/great-careshield/6-activities-of-daily-living.html ~~~~~~ 2. Medishieldlife premium start as early as age 1. https://www.moh.gov.sg/healthcare-schemes-subsidies/medishield-life/medishield-life-premiums-and-sub

My 10th Resale Insurance in 2023

I have just committed to buy this 10th resale insurance.   Resale Insurance are second-hand surrendered policy. This original new policy started in Mar 2019, it was surrendered.  I will buy over in Aug 2023: Aug23 initial lump sump premium: $24,142 Mar24: premium: $6,019 p.a. Mar25: premium: $6,019 p.a. Mar26: premium: $6,019 p.a. Mar27: premium: $6,019 p.a. Mar28: premium: $6,019 p.a. Total premium invested: $54,237 Upon maturity in Mar 2029, Guaranteed payout: $61,620 Projected maturity payout: $66,764 calculated xirr: 5% (rate of return) This is my 3rd resale insurance bought this year. This policy is transacted by 3rd party (with TES Capital).  The transfer will be signed and transacted at the Insurer Branch; so it was safe and official. ~~~~~ These 10 Resale Insurances (Total Premium = $294k) will generate a total combined maturity payouts of $410k. These premiums were paid from 2017 to 2032.  A total of 11-years to generate profit of $410k - $294k = $116k (projected). Total gai

Can Jonker Street uncle retire with S$500 p.m.

Someone asked me if Outram Park uncles can retire with $500 per month. I would say likely enough. 🤷‍♂️ Another chipped in: $500 per month for Jonker Street uncles, I am sure more than enough one. Yet another says: "Poor in wealthy Nation can be a wealthy in poor Nation?" ~~~ So I check for Jonker uncle singly monthly expenses: S$500 ×3.4 = RM1700 p.m. Medical: free Home maint/rental: RM800 Car maint = RM200 Remaining bal: RM1700 - RM800 - RM200 = RM700 for meal. RM700 ÷30 days = RM23 daily for meal. Maybe got chance?  But believe me, their locals can survive by roadside make-shift hawker food.