Hi Mr. Tan,
I've just read your blog on land banking scam and though I would share a email that I sent to ST a while back when they had a relatively positive article on land banking back in 2007. I feel ST has not been as investigative as they should have been and many times, have articles that doesn't give a complete picture of investments , almost to the extend that it would appear they dare not provide any additional information or view other that so called "experts" with vested interests.
LETTER TO STRAITS TIMES JOURNALIST
I wonder if you have done a proper investigation into the whole land banking issues, especially about companies like X since there has been numerous discussion about scams by them in the internet ? A simple search on the internet will throw up lots of information about such scams and how these scams works even if the titles or funds are put into escrow until the sales completed.
Your article by not addressing such issues does a great dis-service to the general public. I hope that ST will follow up with the investigative style that expose the previous NKF and that that has made us Singaporean proud of ST.
http://mywealthplanner.wordpress.com/2006/10/28/profitable-plots-investing-in-land-banks-1/
While I have tried to put reply to this article in the forum, I feels that this is insufficient for those readers that do not make use of the internet as much.
I would appreciate if yourself or your editor could look into this and do a proper follow up articles. And in view of the large amount of money changing hand just because of a simple article like this . I've also got calls from various companies trying to sell the land banks ideas and doing some "talks" over this weekend and having read your articles, I'm wondering if the timing of these calls is co-incident or deliberately timed to be after your article.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Exessive exposure?
In portfolio management, it is important to spread the investments and avoid having large stakes in certain investment. This is called concentration risk.
A stake of more than 5% is considered high. A better level should be not more than 3%.
I am somewhat surprised to read a report in Bloomberg about the following investments:
> GIC invested $18 billion in UBS and Citibank, representing 6% of its portfolio of $300 billion
> Temasek invested $5 billion in Merill Lynch, represented 5% of its portfolio of $100 billion.
Perhaps the total portfolio managed by GIC and Temasek is more than the amounts indicated. If not, the above investments would be considered as excessive.
A stake of more than 5% is considered high. A better level should be not more than 3%.
I am somewhat surprised to read a report in Bloomberg about the following investments:
> GIC invested $18 billion in UBS and Citibank, representing 6% of its portfolio of $300 billion
> Temasek invested $5 billion in Merill Lynch, represented 5% of its portfolio of $100 billion.
Perhaps the total portfolio managed by GIC and Temasek is more than the amounts indicated. If not, the above investments would be considered as excessive.
Joke: Temperamental
Tom: Ther's one word that describes my wife: temperamental.
John: In what way?
Tom: She's fifty percent temper, and fifty percent mental.
John: In what way?
Tom: She's fifty percent temper, and fifty percent mental.
Buy ID7 from Business Center
Dear Mr Tan,
I am a recent graduate and have been in the job market for about a year now. I would like to thank you for your advise with regards to insurance and fianncial planning which have been very insightful. I have had many friends over the past year who have tried to sell me ILPs from the various insurance agencies. Your blog has truly been a good guide in making the right decisions.
I am interested in the flexilink plan and ID7 plan from NTUC. Could you please refer me to NTUC Income agents who are still willing to offer these plans? I had written directly to the NTUC business centre with regards to my interest in ID7, but I had not received any reply from them.
Your advise is much appreciated.
REPLY
I suggest that you visit the business center and talk to a salaried consultant. You should insist on ID7. Do not allow them to sell you another product.
I am a recent graduate and have been in the job market for about a year now. I would like to thank you for your advise with regards to insurance and fianncial planning which have been very insightful. I have had many friends over the past year who have tried to sell me ILPs from the various insurance agencies. Your blog has truly been a good guide in making the right decisions.
I am interested in the flexilink plan and ID7 plan from NTUC. Could you please refer me to NTUC Income agents who are still willing to offer these plans? I had written directly to the NTUC business centre with regards to my interest in ID7, but I had not received any reply from them.
Your advise is much appreciated.
REPLY
I suggest that you visit the business center and talk to a salaried consultant. You should insist on ID7. Do not allow them to sell you another product.
Investing in the stock market
Hi Mr. Tan,
I have limited savings every month ($100 to $200) but I want to invest in the stock market. Is it advisable to invest thru poems share builders plan ? Details at http://www.poems.com.sg/FinancialServices/sbpintrod.asp?value=sbp
REPLY
You can invest through POEMS.
It is better to invest in a well diversified fund, i.e. the STI ETF.
Read these FAQs:
http://www.tankinlian.com/faq/savings.html
http://www.tankinlian.com/faq/investown.html
I have limited savings every month ($100 to $200) but I want to invest in the stock market. Is it advisable to invest thru poems share builders plan ? Details at http://www.poems.com.sg/FinancialServices/sbpintrod.asp?value=sbp
REPLY
You can invest through POEMS.
It is better to invest in a well diversified fund, i.e. the STI ETF.
Read these FAQs:
http://www.tankinlian.com/faq/savings.html
http://www.tankinlian.com/faq/investown.html
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Arguments against a Minimum Wage Policy
The following arguments have been advanced against a "minimum wage policy" in Singapore:
1. Our business will be uncompetitive and will move to other countries
2. This policy is difficult to enforce, specially for small businesses
3. Our locals will be costly and lose jobs to foreign workers in Singapore
4. This policy is against free market principles.
5. The low wage workers are entitled to Workfare supplements
6. It will increase unemployment
Do you agree with these arguments? Are there reasons to support a minimum wage policy?
1. Our business will be uncompetitive and will move to other countries
2. This policy is difficult to enforce, specially for small businesses
3. Our locals will be costly and lose jobs to foreign workers in Singapore
4. This policy is against free market principles.
5. The low wage workers are entitled to Workfare supplements
6. It will increase unemployment
Do you agree with these arguments? Are there reasons to support a minimum wage policy?
Joke: A present from the wife
A: Where did you get this nice suit?
B: It was a present from my wife. I came home unexpectedly early from the office the other evening, and there it was - hanging over the back of a chair in the bedroom.
B: It was a present from my wife. I came home unexpectedly early from the office the other evening, and there it was - hanging over the back of a chair in the bedroom.
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