Do not sign a form without understanding

Hi Mr. Tan,
I am a 24 year old fresh graduate who has just started working. Recently, I was looking around for a whole life insurance (without an investment linked policy attached to it) and approached a company to ask for a quotation. I asked repeatedly for the proposal document to be sent to me before deciding to sign anything, but the agent had asked me to sign the application first. 

I wish to ask if it is a norm in the industry to sign any insurance document on the spot, or is it unreasonable for me to request for the full document before signing anything?


REPLY
You should not sign any document without knowing what it is. There is no such thing as a "norm" to sign a legally binding document blindly. You should consider lodging a complaint against the agent for unethical conduct. Let me know if you wish to take this step. I will help you to write the complaint.

If you are buying an life insurance policy, you should ask for the benefit illustration. You should read my FAQ on "benefit illustration" to get the key points to look out for - i.e. the distribution cost and the effect of deduction.

Go to www.tankinlian.com/ask.aspx and search for "benefit illustration".

See things in perspective

Dear Mr. Tan,
SM Goh ask Singaporeans to see things in perspective. Perhaps, someone can tell him to see things from our perspective. We have to work long  hours to earn just enough to pay for the high cost of housing and to travel in crowded trains. I will respect him, if he come and join us in the crowded trains, and then we can see things with the same perspective. 


JL

Einstein's Quiz

Albert Einstein created a quiz that has puzzled many people for a few decades. I saw it in the Reader's Digest more than 30 years ago. I could not solve it at that time. I have since discovered the technique of solving the quiz. It requires a systematic approach. By learning this approach, you will also learn how to solve other problems in a systematic way. Read this article:

http://tankinlian.com/admin/file.aspx?id=164

Live on interest income

A retiree needs to earn a decent interest rate to get sufficient income to live on. With the low interest environment, they have to consider other types of investments, rather than bank deposits. But, they face the risk of being sold a toxic product that can cause the total loss of their capital.

For the past many decades, the savvy investor already knows the way to make invest money to get a good yield without taking high risk. They choose blue chip shares (which are relatively secure) that pay high dividends. And these shares also have capital appreciation.

Read the FAQ on "high dividend yields" at www.tankinlian.com/ask.aspx

Tangram apps on Apple Store

Good news for owners of Apple iPhone and iPod


The free versions of Tangram are now available in Apple Store

Look for 

Easy Tangram Lite

Bright Tangram Lite

Shape Quiz (Easy and Bright versions) will be available soon.

Please download from App store and give me your feedback. Pass the word around for your friends to try.

Watch these videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69jdiwk5D-g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PulLLabMZyg

The tangram apps are especially fun for children, but they are also challenging for adults and seniors (good to exercise their minds).

The free version has 10 shapes. The paid version (with 100 shapes) will be available from 1 October 2010.

Blog: NTU Chartist

Hi Mr Tan,

I am the owner of the blog www.NTUchartist.blogspot.com . This is a site where I share my views of the economy, opinions of events and even business ideas with fellow netizens.

I was wondering if you would mind adding my link on your blog?

Daniel

www.NTUchartist.blogspot.com

Property bubble

Malaysia also face the same challenge of preventing speculation in property.

Car and flooding

This reader has an innovative idea on how to save your car from flooding of the basement car park.

http://www.tankinlian.com/Information.aspx?CatID=15

http://tankinlian.com/admin/file.aspx?id=168

Mortgage Loans

Posted at request of Vinod Nair, www.SmartLoans.sg

So you're looking at buying a property and come to realize that you need to get a home loan as well. You call a banks' hotlines, only to speak with a generic customer service rep who's not specialized in home loans. You then wait to be directed to someone who IS a mortgage specialist in the bank, and then have to comprehend a whole lot of mortgage jargon. Even when the banker gives you the rate packages available, you're not sure how exactly it matches up to the other banks and whether you're getting the best deal. Then you call the next bank and go through the same process again. 

New Home Loan

SmartLoans.sg is Singapore's first Online Mortgage Comparison Platform that allows consumers to directly compare rates and packages from all major banks. All the latest rates and packages are consolidated and available directly onSmartLoans.sg. Our Home Loan Wizard allows you to calculate monthly and cumulative interest payments, and rates them from lowest cumulative interest to highest. You can also set your interest calculation period from 1-3 years also if you plan to refinance your loan in the future.

Mortgage Refinancing

If you currently have an outstanding mortgage, you can save thousands with SmartLoans.sg. The refinancing calculator helps you calculate exactly how much you stand to save if you refinance your home loan to any of the current packages. 

Other Loans

SmartLoans also helps you get the best deal for Commercial Property Loans, Renovation Loans, Cash Out Refinancing,Education Loans and Business Loans. 

Check out www.SmartLoans.sg now!

Land at Gerrards Cross, UK

Hello Mr Tan

A company is currently offering land in Gerrards Cross in the UK to investors via Friday evening sales events at some of the major hotels in Singapore and Malaysia. Apparently if you buy land at these  events you may get a free Apple IPad computer. 
According to this Freedom of Information request below the land being sold  is green belt and protected until at least  2026. South Bucks  say they have enough land to meet housing requirements until that time.  
I wonder if this information which is clearly in the public domain and must be known to the marketeer, is being disclosed to investors at these events ?  
SF

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    'Status Of Land In Gerrards Cross' that you made to South Bucks
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    http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/status_of_land_in_gerrards_cross#incoming-112225
    When you get there, please update the status to say if the response
    contains any useful information.
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    you, the original requester, to evaluate them.