Tuesday, November 16, 2010

USB Charger

I bought this USB charger from a shop in Queen Street for $15. It allows me to charge many mobile devices. I have charged by Android phone, iPod and Flip video-cam using both electricity and laptop. It worked without any problem.

I have approached the supplier to buy a bulk order. I can sell it for $12 per unit ($10 for order of 3 or more units). If you are interested, please reply to this survey.  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YYDFXJT. If there is sufficient demand, I will place the order.

Articles in SGEP

Is Singapore heading in the right direction? What changes do you like to see in Singapore? Read the articles that are collated in the Singapore General Election Portal.

SCMP:Bank officer charged over minibond investments

http://www.lbv.org.hk/content/pages/posts/bank-officer-charged-over-minibond-investments10555.php

A bank customer service officer appeared in Eastern Court yesterday accused of inducing five customers to invest HK$1.26 million in Lehman Brothers' minibonds.

Chan Lai-ha, 51, did not enter pleas to five charges of fraudulently or recklessly inducing others to invest money. The case is adjourned to December 1 for transfer proceedings to the District Court.

The minibonds, issued or guaranteed by the US bank which collapsed in September 2008, are a type of high-risk, credit-linked derivative - a financial instrument that derives its value from an underlying security.

On March 17, 2004, Chan allegedly induced Stephen Wong Man-ka to invest US$50,000 in Minibonds Series 9 by claiming that he would not suffer any loss of the principal amount, and that the investment did not carry any economic risk of loss. By making similar claims, she allegedly induced Ip Man-ye and Leung Chu-pang to invest HK$200,000 in Minibonds Series 15 on December 28, 2004.

On March 9, 2005, and December 1, 2007, she allegedly induced Ip to invest US$10,000, and Huyhn Tu-chau to invest HK$400,000.

The fifth charge alleges that Chan, on February 1, 2006, induced Li Ruilan to invest HK$200,000 in Minibonds Series 35, by claiming that the issuers of the product were the following - HSBC Bank, Hutchison Whampoa, the MTR Corporation, the People's Republic of China, Standard Chartered Bank, Sun Hung Kai Properties and Swire Pacific.

Chan is also accused of telling Li that in the unlikely event of a credit event occurring, she would only suffer a loss of a portion of the principal invested. Each offence carries a maximum penalty of HK$1 million in fine and seven years in jail. 

Living on accumulated savings - DIY

This article explains how a retiree, with adequate savings, can invest in a low cost investment fund and make monthly withdrawals for living expenses. There is no need to suffer a large deduction from the accumulated savings by investing in a life annuity.

http://tankinlian.com/admin/file.aspx?id=283


John Bogle - Investing in indexed fund

Why it is bad to pick a high cost, actively managed fund:
Why it is better to pick a low cost indexed fund
Investors look backward to pick the good funds,  but they will be wrong.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAui2s6dPi4

Warren Buffet on Low Cost Investment Fund

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEX81lGhMwM&NR=1

Dave Ramsey on Life Insurance I

Truth about life insurance investing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCD7dgT17Rg&feature=related

Many people have a long term need for life insurance ....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7VOZnJy7lE&feature=related

Suze Orman - Life Insurance is a bad investment

Here is Suze orman's view about life insurance as an investment. It is a bad investment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vnN9liFWaE

Suze Orman said that life insurance is bad for consumers, because of the high commission and other charges. Actually, it is not so bad in America, as there are tax advantages to offset the high charges. There is no tax advantage in Singapore, so life insurance is exceptionally bad in Singapore. It is made worse by the high deductions that are probably higher than in America.

Is a life insurance agent helping consumers by selling them a bad product? What type of friend is this?

FISCA talk - Insuring your Financial Security

Here is the powerpoint of the talk. It will replace the previous title "Consumer Guide to Insurance". The talk will be made available in December or January. Those who are interested to attend this talk are asked to give their particulars in this survey. Those who have registered for the previous title need not register again, as the topics are quite similar.