SAVING vs INVESTMENTS

It is important to understand the distinction between savings and investments. Savings relate to such instruments as fixed deposits and saving accounts in banks. Essentially, savings is generally adequate if the objective is to keep your money abreast with the rate of inflation. Unfortunately, it will not allow you the luxury of growing your assets above the rate of inflation.

Investments, on the other hand, will allow you to grow your wealth, sometimes way above the rate of inflation. For example, where savings will gather interest rates of around 5 - 6%, it is not uncommon to learn of rates of return of 12% or more when it comes to investments. For those who were fortunate to get into blue chip stocks when the KLCI was 260 points in 1998 and then sold their blue chip shares in 1999, their return was whopping 200% or more in 1999. However on hindsight, such windfalls cannot be planned and it is only possible when the investor has accepted the accompanying risk that comes with the investment.

Poor Dad vs. Rich Dad

My Poor Dad Says My Rich Dad Says

"My house is an asset." "My house is a liability."

Rich dad says, "If you stop working today, an asset puts money in your pocket and a liability takes money from your pocket. Too often people call liabilities assets. It's important to know the difference between the two.

"I can't afford it." "How can I afford it?"

The statement "I can't afford it" shuts down your thinking. By asking the right question, you mind opens up and looks for answers.

"The reason I'm not rich is because I have you kids." "The reason I must be rich is because I have you kids."

"I'm not interested in money." "Money is power."

"When it comes to money, play it safe - don't take risks."
"Learn how to manage risk."

"Pay myself last." "Paid myself first."

Rich Dad always took a percentage off the top of any income he earned. He put this money into an investment account that went toward purchasing his assets. Poor Dad spent all his money first and never had any remaining for investments.

"Believed that the company you worked for or the government should take care of your financial needs." "Believed in financial self-reliance and financial responsibility".

"Focused only on academic literacy". "Focused on financial literacy as well as academic literacy".

"Learned only the vocabulary of academia". "Learned the vocabulary of finance – "Your words are the most valuable tools you have."

"I work for my money." "My money works for me."

"Thought that making more money would solve his financial problem". "Knew that financial education was the answer to his financial problems":

"It's not how much money you make that's important – it's how much money you keep and how long you keep it."

Benarkah unit amanah satu pelaburan selamat?

Bagaimanakah untuk mendapatkan senarai saham ‘halal’?

Senarai saham halal bursa tempatan atau sekuriti yang diklasifikasikan sebagai sekuriti patuh syariah ada dikemaskini dari semasa-kesemasa oleh Majlis Penasihat Syariah Suruhanjaya Sekuriti Malaysia. Senarai lengkap tersebut boleh diakses di laman www. sc.com.my (cari di bahagian Islamic Capital Market). Terdapat 871 saham halal mengikut senarai tersebut yang bertarikh 28 April 2006, merangkumi 85 peratus daripada keseluruhan sekuriti yang didagangkan di Bursa Malaysia.

Adakah unit amanah satu bentuk pelaburan yang selamat?

Unit amanah adalah seperti pelaburan-pelaburan lain, di mana prestasi adalah ditentukan oleh keadaan pergerakan pasaran yang berubah-ubah. Bagi mengimbangi kesan kuasa dan ketidaktentuan pasaran, pengurus unit amanah selalunya mengamalkan kaedah meminimumkan risiko pelaburan dengan cara meluaskan tebaran risiko di mana komponen portfolio dana amanah adalah dipelbagaikan untuk meliputi serangkaian luas pelaburan aset dan corak pelaburan. Kepelbagaian kadang-kala meliputi campuran kelas- kelas aset seperti saham, bon-bon dan instrumen pasaran wang. Sekiranya terdapat sebarang kejatuhan aset tertentu, kenaikan harga dan nilai aset lain dapat menampung kerugian tersebut.

Patutkah saya menggunakan wang pinjaman dari institusi kewangan untuk menambah kuasa melabur?

Elok sekiranya kos meminjam adalah rendah. Namun ia boleh memberi masalah apabila kos meminjam meningkat berbanding pulangan dividen dan bonus yang diterima. Unit amanah sinonim sebagai satu skim tabungan jangka panjang, oleh itu tabungan yang konsisten secara bulanan atau suku tahunan adalah wajar, walaupun dalam jumlah yang kecil; “Sedikit-sedikit, lama-lama jadi bukit”.

Boleh jelaskan penggunaan harga belian/jualan dan ‘NAB’ yang tertera di media.

Harga yang dipaparkan ialah harga beli/jual bagi pihak pengurus dana kepada pemegang unit/pelabur seperti anda. Oleh itu, harga belian yang tertera (bid) ialah harga yang anda gunakan untuk menjual unit, manakala harga jualan (offer) ialah harga di mana anda membeli unit.

Nilai Aset Bersih (NAB) ialah nilai kesemua aset dana ditolak keseluruhan tanggungan dana pada satu-satu masa penilaian , manakala NAB seunit pula ialah NAB dana itu yang dibahagi dengan jumlah bilangan unit dalam edaran pada masa penilaian. Angka ini penting kerana ia diguna sebagai panduan untuk menentukan harga belian dan jualan yang dikira setiap hari oleh Pengurus pada penutup hari perniagaan Bursa.

Apabila saya ingin menjual unit-unit pelaburan, adakah saya perlu menunggu sehingga wujud pelabur yang ingin membeli?

Tidak. Pengurus dana ialah pihak yang akan membeli semula unit-unit anda, mengikut terma dan syarat yang terkandung dalam prospektus sesuatu dana itu.

Apakah yang patut saya lakukan sekiranya pasaran saham menjunam?

Harga saham akan sentiasa turun atau naik kerana ini adalah lumrah pasaran, namun pada jangkamasa sederhana ke panjang ia akan naik. Anda tidak perlu lakukan apa-apa, harungi keadaan tersebut atau sekiranya berkemampuan tambah pelaburan sewaktu pasaran menampakkan kestabilan. Seperti yang sering disarankan, pelaburan unit amanah adalah untuk tempoh jangka sederhana/panjang.

Adakah dana bon Islam hanya pada nama? Saya berpendapat ia masih bersekongkol dengan riba’ kerana mendapat hasil coupon rate yang tetap.

Bon Islam ialah instrumen kategori sekuriti pendapatan tetap yang merujuk kepada pinjaman yang diberi oleh pembeli bon kepada pihak yang menerbitkannya. Konsep ini sama dengan operasi bon konvensional dimana peminjam akan mendapat bayaran berkala beserta keuntungan. Namun prinsip yang digunapakai ialah berlunaskan syariah dan kita mempunyai pelbagai pilihan cara terbitan seperti ‘Murabahah’, ‘Musyarakah’, ‘BBA Islamik’, ‘Bai Inah’, ‘Bai Al-Dayn’, ‘Sukuk Istisnaa’ ' dan ‘Sukuk Ijarah’.

WATCH YOUR LIFE

*Your life - your likes - you decide!!!*

A long time ago, there was an Emperor who told his horseman that if he
could ride on his horse and cover as much land area as he likes, then the Emperor would give him the area of land he has covered.

Sure enough, the horseman quickly jumped onto his horse and rode as fast as possible to cover as much land area as he could. He kept on riding and riding, whipping the horse to go as fast as possible. When he was hungry or tired, he did not stop because he wanted to cover as much area as possible.

Came to a point when he had covered a substantial area and he was exhausted and was dying. Then he asked himself, "Why did I push myself so hard to cover so much land area? Now I am dying and I only need a very small area to bury myself."

The above story is similar with the journey of our Life. We push very hard everyday to make more money, to gain power and recognition. We neglect our health , time with our family and to appreciate the surrounding beauty and the hobbies we love.

One day when we look back , we will realize that we don't really need that much, but then we cannot turn back time for what we have missed.

Life is not about making money, acquiring power or recognition . Life is definitely not about work! Work is only necessary to keep us living so as to enjoy the beauty and pleasures of life. Life is a balance of Work and Play , Family and Personal time . You have to decide how you want to balance your Life. Define your priorities, realize what you are able to compromise but always let some of your decisions be based on your instincts. Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of Life, the whole aim of human existence.

So, take it easy, do what you want to do and appreciate nature. Life is fragile, Life is short. Do not take Life for granted. Live a balanced lifestyle and enjoy Life!

Watch your thoughts ; they become words.

Watch your words ; they become actions.

Watch your actions ; they become habits.

Watch your habits; they become character .

Watch your character; it becomes your destiny..


Smile in pleasure, smile in pain; Smile when trouble pours like rain; Smile when someone hurts U, Smile coz someone cares 4 U. Keep Smiling:)

Public Mutual sells RM1b units of fund

KUALA LUMPUR: Public Mutual Bhd has sold about RM1bil worth of units in Public China Ittikal Fund (PCIF) during the offer period which ended Dec 10.

Chief executive officer Yeoh Kim Hong said the company had increased the fund size to five billion units to cater to the overwhelming demand for PCIF.

“The fund received good response as this is the first China Islamic fund in the country that offers investors the opportunity to ride on the solid growth prospects of the greater China region,” Yeoh said in a statement.

Yeoh said PCIF would invest a minimum of 70% of its net asset value (NAV) in the greater China region namely in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan stocks.

In an earlier statement, Public Mutual said it had increased the size of Public South-East Asia Select Fund (PSEASF) to five billion units from 1.5 billion units due to strong demand from investors.

PSEASF is an equity fund that seeks to achieve capital growth over the medium to long term by investing in a portfolio of investments in Asean markets. – Bernama