Some time ago, I broached the subject of why more ladies than men at gatherings, Ronald Koh asked if I have too much time on my hands. Yes, RonK was right, I do have free time. And, in reality, it seemed so. many ladies are active in social activities. And some in charity activities.
Nowadays, I find more men coming into this forum. We have KT, Tim L, AndrewK, Ronald W and Steven C as regular contributors on everything under the sun. Yew Kwong, Ron-Oz, RonK, Robert Q, Ron Lai, Jonathan, DouglasC, Roland, Dan H, CharlesW are also regulars, and now we have the more business oriented men joining us.
We had some other men joining us before on this forum, but dont hear so much from them for a while.
Is the forum too strict? Should we relax a bit? I think we should aim to have more men. Our membership show at least 40% men. Maybe, business chitchat is the way. Guys, business talks are ok. They are not taboos. This thread hopes to encourage more men to create new ideas for SilverHairsClub.
Terence Seah
Lest Terence be misunderstood by the gals that he’s being sexist, no this is not the case. Women are are no less capable of giving their take in a serious discussion like business start-ups. They too can and have the knowledge/expertise to share their biz ideas, and I say this in dead seriousness with a dead-pan face.
To me, what is lacking arent sound biz proposals but financing – how much of one’s nest-egg is one willing to part with if, considering our age, the risks are many and tha gains are not immediate and never so certain.
I understand that a fellow SHCian started with selling hotdogs but ended with trading financials at scorebot for what appears to be a less lengthy work hours, and with higher risks, larger returns.
Dear Terence
I remembered quite sometime ago, I asked of you the percentage of male/female in SHC, and finally here is the answer of 40 percent male.
I would say request the lady-members to coax their hubbies or male friends to join SHC, in this way, at least we may reach the equal percentage of both sexes, and Danz will have no problem in the dancing circle.
RonLai
Yes Ron Lai, that will be the day! I am quite doubtful about the 40% we have in SHC. Getting 20% right now already a daunting task!
It also the job of male member to persuade their male friend to join SHC. I wonder when we can have a promotional event to attract new members. How about printing name cards for us to distribute to potential new members!
Danz
Dan, RonL,
Maybe it’s is an excuse, but I find it hard to allocate time for dancing, even though I do love disco dancing. It would be great for more men to lead or join the social activities.
But, think about it, I am beginning to believe SilverHairsClub has to initiate new activities to bring in the men. Would a a car rally help? Or motorcycle racing? Or a night out having a booze? Setting up a travel club or retirement project? And maybe maybe serious starting of a business?
I am even believing that SHC promotions are not bringing in enough boys. 50:50?
Men, what would you suggest?
Terence Seah
Hi Tim #1,
I suspect too, that financing of new entrepreneur business project may be an issue, especially for SilverHairs. If members do have a business project in mind, and think that a partnership with another SilverHair makes sense, please share the idea. I am game to take some equity stakes. And, we do have some experienced guys and gals who can assist too. Business ideas are supported on this forum.
Terence Seah
Dean Danz
Depending on the project and theme that would attract a good balance, particularly professional ones.
I am pleased that the just launched 31 May Durian and Serendipity Trail attracts an almost 50:50 participants, now has reached its quota.
SHC has to have a focus professional, investing and business platform and culture to attract such groups in the midst of social activities and chit chats.
Out there are many such platforms, so SHC is “competing” for the attention of such interests groupings.
Good that our ladies bring their partners along!
Warmest regards
KYL, Andrew
Sorry, it should be Dear Danz
Hi all,
At our D n D 2008,
a quick glance at the ballroom the attendance was
80%Ladies:20%Guys
…Where have all the “thorns” gone,
Far..far away.
Terence, AndrewK,
In the badminton session, men always more than woman. In bowling almost a good mix.
Car rally, are you referring to car convoy up to Malaysia?
I am thinking of starting the chess cafe, probably using the premises at 18 Bali or Han’s at Great Eastern. Probably only the guys will turn up. Unless there are gals keen to play chess. (Oops! This time I got the spelling right!)
Hi Danz
Golf, business and investing : professional guys of different leagues and categories from micro, mini to….. global.
High finance …. a totally different niche league.
Speculators….another group, usually the largest group.
Well thought or thoughtful project/theme(s) with substance and meaning, usually will get a good balance of calibre, capacity and scope.
Cheers,
Tim, Terence,#1
Tim,you have a good point there. I’m sure there are many women who do have substantial nest eggs to see them through the later part of their lives but, not being young anymore, are reluctant to ‘gamble’ with all of what they have.
If they do invest, they would have been cautious enough to diversify and to set a maximum limit to the amount to be speculated with.
I’m quite sure that Terence, like you, do not think that women are ‘blur, blur’ ;-) with regards to financial matters. I would say that they are more careful and protective of what they have.
Terence,
with regard to the bigger number of female members, one reason could be, women have always been more sociable than men. Many men shun big social gatherings preferring to have their smaller cliques of ‘buddies’ to have their own discussions and chats, be it car rally, motor cycle racing, booze, business or gossip.
Take KT Wong and Dennis Har for example. They have been members of SHC for a long time now, but do we see them at most of the social gatherings?
I don’t think it’s the lack of ‘male’ activities that’s the reason. I think the problem lies with the men themselves.
So, Terence, I think you are going to have a hard time trying to increase the percentage of male members. Good luck to you, hehe.
Oops Terence. #4 Apologies.
I just realised that you wanted the men’s opinions and suggestions.
Hahaha!!
My dear Mary @11 & 12
It shouldn’t stop you from giving your opinions even if it’s meant for the men to suggest.
We will always welcome your views or any from the opposite sex. Hey, SHC is a non-sex club, right?
Hi Dan,
Chess may be a men’s activity. When you have a chess date, let’s try to harness more guys. Would you like to start a new Post on chess? I would participate too.
Terence Seah
Hee Kenneth, I’m sure you meant to say ‘non-sexist club’ right? ;-)
Oops, better get out before Terence gets hot under the collar.
I don’t think we will be able to really understand the problem unless we can determine what the guys like to do. And that is easier said than done, as the likes and dislikes of people can vary widely.
From the little I have figured so far, the lower participation rate among the guys in SHC activities seems to cut across the board.
for instance, of the 67 who indicated their interest in going to hotboys kelong, 21 were guys (31.3% and 46 (68.7%)were ladies. Eventually, of the 33 who will actually make the trip, 11 (33.33%) are guys and 22 (66.67%) are ladies.
The enrolment for the origami classes stands at 8 (19.5%) guys and 33 (80.5%) ladies. Although the guys are in the minority in both activities, this seems to suggest that men seem to be more attracted to outdoor activities, as compared to creative pursuits.
Perhaps, as I believe I have mentioned before, what we need to do is to do a proper study on what SHCians (not just the guys) really want, instead of making speculative guesses. Establish what attracts the guys more. Try catering more to these attractions and we should stand a better chance of increasing the macho membership. Well, I hope. :o)
My two cents,
Ron
PS: The kelong trip has an attrition rate of 50.8%, with 34 of the original 67 dropping out. Can someone tell me: is this usual for SHC activities? Frankly, I found the attrition rate surprising.
Hi RonK,
Well, I guess, it is easy to put your name down. But when it comes to payment, people have to think twice, so head count drops. Furthermore, people have other commitments which did not surface earlier on. It again depends on one’s priorities.
Thanks MaryC. You, other ladies as well, are most welcome to share yr views.
I shall now get back to biz as I continue my discussion on what this topic is : biz.
It’s heartening that the Govt will spend $8 billion on projects to pump-drive the economy which shd weather us thru a US depression if she goes beyond a recession which is already a sure thing now.
Funnny tho that the world is still looking up to the US as the Leader of the Pack, and that when she sneezes, the whole world must catch the cold.
Granted that the US is the main trading partner with many economies but why cant they see that the trading is on a “credit” and “trust that I am bigger than big” basis when, with the unfolding of the CDO debacle and the collapse of Ehron, Worldcom b4 that, she isnt anymore. With heavy borrowings resulting in defaults, to me, she is a goner for a long while, at least.
The Asian & Middle Eastern economies are thriving. China, India, Qatar, Dubai and Saudi Arabia…they’re, in showbiz parlance, the Heavenly Kings. Why dont we take the Leap of Faith with them?
Why shd the stockmart be guided & influenced by Dow Jones’ performance, by any Fed rate cuts, write-downs by US companies ? Why dont economists and traders accept the so obvious stark truth and substantially discount any impact from the US economy?
Almost 2 months ago on 24 Jan when the STI read 3050, I predicted that the STI will be lower in 3 mths’ time. The STI closed at 3056 yesterday, a whisker higher than the 24/1 mark.
If we are clear in our minds that the Spore economy is, as opposed to what I thot in jan, by & large insulated from a US recession (and fallouts), many listed companies on the SGX trading under 3 cents and languishing in the doldrums are ripe for the picking via a General Offer or a back-door listing thru a reverse take-over.
That’s when money (or assets/resources) speak volumes. And that’s where those among us with the money (resources) could seriously consider taking this opportunity to seize the market at its trough.
Do you hv the $ to spend or assets to pump in? I and others equally proficient can do the leg-work and fix up the mechanics.
To borrow Terence’s maxim : please raise your hands.
tim
Dear RonK
Both fundamental and creative attract a certain group of men, albeit ladies too.
There are many choices today available : from e, physical, mental, intellectual, sports, creative, arts, art, science, languages, technology, travels, hobbies, foods, places of interests, fellowship and professional groups, leisure, investing, business and various indoors and outdoors activities.
Discerning ones would focus on a few in each aspect of living, working and playing. Indeed, it is already handful.
The latest Pengerang cycling trip has equal share of guys/gals leh.
Hi Dolly,
I think it would be nice if we can find a guy with the same properties and qualities as you. Am going to be on the look out in the next 12 months. Then, maybe maybe, we can have more men activities.
Terence Seah
You are right, cycling is one of guys’ LOVE. The best cyclists including bike/motor racing are males.
So a good balance will occur!
Accounting is a lady’s domain now, almost 80%. 30 years ago, it was man (80%) the other way round.
In investing and high finance it is man’s dominion, usually the highly mathematical ones, same with speculators.
Value investors, including our TH whose theme is investing in value, are both science and art type. Also a man’s sphere.
Hi Terence,
Why less man joining SHC? maybe the statistic of our guy population vs their age grp may give an insight … I see few of those fr 45 – 50, could be most of the ppl in this grp are tide up with their work and family. So create more interest group esp thos finacial or whatever man-like kind will attract them?… I personal think wont help much, reason being if these ppl would like to join they will sure voice out what they want. and also As mentioned by Andrew, there r also other platform (and also pte club) to compete with us.
Another reason could it be not enuff broadcasting abt SHC. I came to noe abt it from Dolly, guess same to some of our guys here. So should we look into a systematic way of introducing SHC whether be it in the internet or other places(eg cc), or thru health/family/finance/etc magazine … of course $$ is the concerned…
So far I see most SHCians are towards English educated, they write and speak gd English, Dont forget we hv another big population (esp 60 n above senior) they could be Chinese/english educated, they can speak/read but may be not that gd in writing (not sure will scare them when they see those English with big big vocabulary flying here n there nowaday), and they dont come to internet often, so are we going to count them in too? So what kind of memebers are we targetting? Only when u noe what u want then u can find way to get it.
My comment is rather long I better stop here, in fact I still hv thing to say..hehe, tell u next time… pardon me if u cant understand my English
Jane
Hi Terence and all,
Just to add my 5 cents worth ,within 5 mins, i hope, while taking a break.
Maybe we are not projecting a tough image in certain areas we do, example like bowling, cycling, walking. But I guess it will take time to build up and I am sure we are on the right track.
For example in Badminton, if you go to any CCs or Safra courts you will very serious men players more than ladies. Only in our sunday group is our ratio 50/50.
Some comments I heard from the serious men players about our group is that (‘you all seemed to be playing very well , “for your age group”). So most men at our age group are interested in serious activities in most games they play either in badminton, running, bowling and golf,etc.
So other areas of why man are shying away, are that more men are bread winners still working, more men died earlier (due to working to be bread winners) and the rest are busy either with serious sports/pastime/hobbies or with ladies of greener qualities.
So hopefully the quality and level of competence of our activities can be attrative enough to attract more men to come in. Just last week a couple of badminton enthusiast ask me the first question ‘how well do we play’. When i told them we are quite good and serious, only then they did feel like joining in.
Ok,bye get back to work, by the way are they are serious ‘Trekker or Mountain climbers or backpackers who want to travel adventurously ??.
Hi,
In term of sport activities, I think ‘level of competency’ to attract ppl to join, can be viewed in another aspect too, if ppl dont noe or less gd in the sport they like and they find SHC has such interest grp and have friendly and experienced member to coach/share experiences, they may consider joining.
Cheers, Jane
I do enjoy reading how Dolly writes, in vernacular English which almost all of us can identify with and grow to love it. It’s hilarious and themessage usually gets across effectively.
It would be very nice if one day SHC cd accomodate writing in Chinese.
RonW, I am game to join you to do the adventurous. We both can swim so shall we cross the Johor Straits one day but dont forget yr passport which can be bundled atop our heads to keep dry.
KT, this is a serious biz talk topic so where are you? What’s yr take on the US economy and its repercussions?
Hi RonK
Your #16 “is this usual for SHC activities”, I say not really so, to find out the real cause of the drastic fall in number 76 to 34 i.e. more than half? Let me put forward to you, the most likely scenario: too many updates of the same thread. If you can only put forward one thread and update the confirmed-payment to the respective participant on the same thread, it will not cause confusion to the not-yet paying participants. The not-yet paying participants would have seen only your NEW thread, showing only the latest updates, i.e. only a few paying participants, so disheartening (thinking only so few participants, forgetting the orginal “67”, the payment maybe forthcoming for you to update)
Anyway is a good show by you, so much hard work being done, in order to get the thing going….
congratulations.
HAPPY FISHING
RonLai
Terence/Tim, thanks for the compliment n 4 dat, I hv YewKwong and late Benson 2 thank 4. I always remembered tose earlier days where they helped/guided me so much esp in our first D&D event.
Terence, keep a lookout, I am sure you will find sumday…
Hi Ron at #24 and Jane at #25
You write from your keen eyes and realities of life. Esp Ron, you used your age, wide and deep experience to an advantage.
At CSC, we have 8 badminton courts, they are fully booked on Fridays and weekends. 2/3 players are boys and men from all ages. Same with 4 tennis courts, mostly boys and men.
It is the competency and interests levels of sports, work, vocations, professions, and hobbies that attract different kind(s) of men.
…This is a serious biz talk topic so where are you? What’s yr take on the US economy and its repercussions?
In one word KAPOK! LOL
Terence
There is a saying, “If Mohammad can’t go to the mountain, let the mountain come to Mohammad.”
Joy
Hi Steven at #30
You studied Economics right?
What are your take on US and its world wide implications?
Hello Steven at #30 and response at #32
In your thinking:
1) Have all sub-prime CDO write downs completed?
2) What are the 3 key issues issues confronting US and their financial, social and economic impact in Asia and Singapore?
3) What would you recommend?
Cheers,
Hi Mary at #11
What are you economic and financial views too?
Believe you have studied Economics and well versed in accounting and finance too?
Please share your thoughts.
Cheers,
Hi Andrew,
Perhaps you can help me. I was trying to find out about FRS 16, treatment for Property, plant and equipment (PPE) and I could not get pass the pages for an answer.
While FRS16 is obligatory since 2005, is the need to revalue any property, (used in the ppe context) also obligatory for the company? Specifically, in the case of Isetan, the Wisma property is used as a front for the retail operations, as against an investment property, in which case the FRS 40 will apply, therefore does it mean that they should revalue Wisma’s carrying cost? If so what are the conditions under which they may choose not to revalue the item and what are the penalties if they do not? I hope you can help me in this question.
Cheers
Hi Charles
Like to post this in my pte mail. It is a “financial accounting on technical standards” topics.
Are you are an accountant by profession?
Cheers,
Stevem you huh, you call KT kapok, sekali he comes at you and deep fry you into keropok then you know.
Seriously, in my #18, I threw in a red herring, believeing that KT and his kind will hv something to say. Sadly, he’s conspicuously absent for days…must be with the HarHar man seeking a way out of the Jade Tech GO that wasnt.
Well, I deliberately took a simple simplistic view there. To just disengage the US in one fell swoop is easier said than done. Since the end of WW2, Big Sam has been dominant in the world economy. The huge web wovened for more than 4 decades cant be unwound just by the economies now looking away, at China, India and the booming Middles Eastern nations.
The US global investment is colossal and if her companies turn belly up, the impact, while not to cause a tsunami, will still drown the coastal grass. Fear breeds more fear and the contagion effect canniot be underestimated. So many continue to look over their shoulders at the US altho the number shd be dwindling.
I am thankful that Terence, whom I shared with within hours of my that posting, has kept mum and together with me, see what contrary views may come out of it.
Well, not bad, I hv Steven’s kapok and JaneW’s population ratio & districution.
Hi Andrew K,
I am not a professional accountant. My ‘job’ if that is what you are asking is to manage my small money to make enough for my family’s expenses, and hopefully to grow it as well.
The AGM is next Thurs and I need to be equipped. Many thanks.
Dear Charles
What AGM are you referring to?
As a shareholder or …… ?
Hi Andrew K,
Isetan AGM, next Thur, as a shareholder. Are all these relevant?
Thanks
Hi Charles
Depending on your objectives and width/depth of financial accounting and management literacy, and what you are seeking during an AGM of a listed company.
Am sure you would have Isetan Annual Report(AR) and published financial statements with notes to the accounts. You can read about the accounting standards, policies and guidelines in the AR.
Hope above help you to look inside the AR for answers to your questions at #35.
You may also find a mention of FRS 36 – Impairment of assets too.
Warmest regards
Andrew
Hi Andrew,
Ok. Thank you very much. I can see you are a great help.
With warmest regards to you too.
Not at all, Charles.
Cheers,
Hi Mary at#11 and Steven at #30
Re : my requests from #32 to #34
Believed you both had studied Economics and or Accounting at least during your A levels.
1) What are your take on 3 key issues with US economy and its financial debacle; what would be their impact on Singapore ?
2) Are the sub prime CDOs asset impairment write-offs completed yet?
3) What would you recommend for fellow SHCians / Singaporeans ?
Like to hear your views and advice please.
Cheers,
Hi Guys,
Busy.
These few days trying to muscle into the running of the streets in Kg Glam area.
We are trying to blend into the crowd. We considering name changes. Selamat Seah, Mas Marcus, Dennis Khan….
Now Philia is turned into middle east with Marco Polo spice route menu from Yunnan to Mediterranean. Try the shisha with the Lebanon food. We have belly dancing too. Dennis is lead dancer for Ladies’ Arabian Nite.
Hee hee
Friday saw me addressing a full crowd in the inaugural meeting for the association of automated traders in Singapore. Packed house at SGX auditorium. From hedge funds to lay investors. Why is everybody struggling to earn a higher rate of return through alternative investment/trading plans?
“1) What are your take on 3 key issues with US economy and its financial debacle; what would be their impact on Singapore ?”
“2) Are the sub prime CDOs asset impairment write-offs completed yet?”
Great reluctance in instituional lending and low deployment for funds lead to the paradoxical situation of low interest rates in a high inflation regime. Fixed income such as retirement funds is being hammered on all sides. CPF/banks interest rates pay 1 to 2.5% when true inflation rates for many runs double digit. Funds are depleting at an net inflation gap of -10%+ pa. Stronger S$ to try cap inflation means uncompetitive exports and reverse investment flows. You don’t have to worry anymore about rising cost of living. You won’t be able to afford most anything anyway. Jobs will be lost. Still think you can work till you die to make ends meet? Next life maybe.
“3) What would you recommend for fellow SHCians / Singaporeans ?”
Invest for greater than 15% pa or die standing… literally.
Cannot eiit.
“1) What are your take on 3 key issues with US economy and its financial debacle; what would be their impact on Singapore ?”
There is no take; only give. The other guy takes.
USD/SGD is long term weak. No brainer to be bargain hunting for operating assets in US market
KT
You did not answer at all, merely tai chi and repeating my 3 questions.
Perhaps Steven @30 and Mary @11 who had been silent will speak up to my request @ 44 very soon.
Cheers,
Hi all,
Maybe business and more serious issues bring in MORE men to correct the imbalance of sexes in SHC.
From observn, most participants of the events or activities are dominated by women.
…..Gym Workout/Swimming
Posted by Dan Huang under Forum General
[49] Comments
( This post has been put on hold. )
Danz is busily now focusing on danzing and could not run the two events simultaneously. Steven is not a SAFRA member although I would like to apply but was rejected becos I did not do NS but still a Sporean. May I suggest if any one of you from SHC who is also a SAFRA member ,pls. volunteer as EO of this healthy event?
If you think you could help,pls.raise up your hand – Terence famous quote. This Gym and Swim activity will definitely draw in more MEN and SHCians are FREE to do their own workout. We could have 1 hr. weight training at the gym followed later by 1 hr of leisure swimming to destress.
Held only on regular Sat/Sunday weekly session.
Going to a gym workout or for a dip are a hassle to most of us. Many of us are not motivated to exercise on our own. But with a group of like-minded fellas, the desire is stronger. So, buck up! Let do it to develop our body physique to become more confident,macho,and boost up our self esteem.
Had no fear, no need to train like Arnold Szwzanneger. Train at your own leisure. You will not regret you made the right choice! Of course,health buffs like Lina Ng, Rene Leong,Ah Nee,Nur etc.. and other gals are welcome to join too.
Any SHC cum SAFRA ) member,pls. raise your hand. Hopefully swimming and body building for seniors could be new events in next year SHC Annual Games 09. No need to pass the torch lah. Ha! Ha!
* Venue: Safra Mount Faber.
* Junction of Henderson Road/Telok Blangah Way
* Buses along Henderson Road 124, 131, 145 176
* Buses along Telok Blangah Road 124, 131 & 195 alight at 1st bus stop
Tentative Timing: Every Sunday morning (10.00am – 12.00nn). Those prefering afternoon session from (2.00pm – 4.00pm)
NOT FINALISED YET until EO is found.
SC
Hi Steven at #49,
Wrong thread, start a new thread on gym/swimming.
Like to share your views as requested at #48, #44, #32 to 34 in this thread.
Cheers,
HI WKT,
Here’s my 2 peanuts worth.
Long ago I came to the realisation that everybody has to work. Even the rich have to work. Only difference is they have more choices than us and can work according to their schedule. I doubt if the lifestyles of the rich are relevant here and will try to address the ‘people-like-us” (plus) here in this thread.
It’s clear that the CPF is not working out to be the pension fund for retirees here in Sgp. Thus after all these years we have the govt telling us to work beyond 55 to 62 and now, I think 65. You can even find people working beyond 65, unfortunately.
In fact the govt is now saying you need about $200k after you retire in 65, and not beyond 85, or else you may need a special ‘fund’ for those living beyond 85.
The reason is because the nominal returns of risk-free funds, (eg fixed deposits) and our CPF was insufficient to overcome inflation all these years. Only the HDB flat, is inflation proofed, in the CPF context. That is why if we sell our ‘flat’ or house we will have enough funds for our retirement. Because you cannot do that, (where would you live?) they have suggested that we downgrade, to a smaller flat, or a so-called ‘grannies’ flat, or we annuitise our house. That solution is not so well received as the financial institutions here tend to have a ‘kiasu’ approach to valuing your flat for an annuity and the govt has not stepped in to be a ‘supporter of the last resort’, ie to make further annuity payts should the annuitant live to a 100, and and to fund this extra requirements from a pool of those who LEAVE earlier.
Despite their constant refrain of how well the GIC and Temasek funds are doing, (>17%) and despite a call from a member of the public for these managers to manage the CPF funds so as to get a better return, they have not even raised the cpf returns.
Add to these the amount of excess liquidity churned out by the Central Banks, in particular UK, USA, Thai, Japan etc all these years, the risk free interest rates for our ctry was never a good store of value.
This is the unfortunate situation we now find ourselves in.
To make matters worse, the good growth of the last few years, development of the Indian and PRC economies, not forgetting the other high growth economies like Vnam, Thai Korea etc have fuelled a commodities based boom. Add to that the present research in food-based fuels, hedge funds, Jim Rodgers etc and we have another round of new real and speculative demand for commodities.
So now we have high cost-push inflation, artificial low cost of funds, govt stimulated demand pull inflation and a forthcoming credit crunch. Domestically the govt’s strategy to push the ctry to a higher cost based level with its attendant higher productivity, has not and will not change, save for the cost of goods and services. Ah, also GST.
So where is all these leading to? All I know is higher inflation, possible stagflation, greater disparity of income earners, much more volatility in any markets, be it property, stock or commodities and I am not sure what else.
Of course, the most important question for us is, what do we do? If you have a job, that is your inflation protector. All jobs are inflation protected,(ULTIMATELY), and all jobs are cash-flow positive.
The next thing is not just to work for yourself, but to have your savings work for you, hopefully harder that yourself, so that you can enjoy SHC’s many events. Most of us fail to focus on the latter, preferring to work hard and do well. That is admirable but no harm working our money too.
To work our money requires a clinical assessment or the risks involved. If we can know and define our risks, we can try to ‘price’ our risks, amd we can compare and take advantage or the different risks. This is not as theoretical as it seems.
My unfortunate conclusion (speaking for myself only) is that we have no choice, especially now, but to face the risks and address it . If we do not, then the inflation risks will devour us. If we misread the risks, then the market risks will devour us. If we take the middle path, we may either be so paranoid we devour ourselves or we are able to traverse the tight rope.
I did not expect to write such a dismal picture but perhaps ………. I could be absolutely wrong.
Cheers and good night
Charles @ #51
Look at your PIG (Personal Inflation Gap).
PIG is the difference between your personal inflation rate and your income yield. Eg I am seeing inflation rate running double digits. Compare this to best “riskfree” FD (
There is a crash on my last submission #52? Is it receoverable.
Hi CharlesC at #51
Wow! All in one breath! What will your Pri 5 Composition teacher say.
I usually don’t read such chunky writings, but I did read yours. I guess the introduction was interesting. And I can make sense of what you write. I like the way you write, which does not make me feel like “Oh, you so pathetic people!”
Nice. Hope to see you at one of the SHC events one day.
Joy
Hi CharlesC #51,
I can feel you have written this comment from your heart, and that you were able to use easy English to explain the serious financial issues facing seniors in Singapore. Like JoyC, I felt inspired to work harder on this issue, reading what you wrote.
Unlike many other countries, Singapore does have a strong savings plan in CPF and in the HDB flat. I see you have painted an excellent picture, where over the years, our savings have lagged behind inflationary costs. Singapore is expensive and is becoming more unaffordable. And, this is a squeeze on our Silver years.
Many SilverHairs are still working for different reasons. And, one real reason is to catch up with rising costs.
Which comes to the next step, and that is how can we work our savings harder. You were hard when say “we have no choice but to face the risk and address it”.
Among us, there are some rich and famous. Perhaps, they can share with other SilverHairs their suggestions on how to better improve our savings potential. My wish is for these financial professionals to use easy uncomplicated English so that we can understand them. It’s good to take a tip or two from CharlesC.
Thanks Charles for initiating this topic on how we can better our savings potential. I hear you.
Terence Seah
Hi Joy C,
Thanks. I did not realise there were no paragraphs till I saw the posting. Like I always say, my England is no good and my typing is worse. People usually let me off after hearing it.
I write like ‘plus’ or ‘people-like-us’ but I am not gay, I only borrowed the term.
Good that you understood what I wrote. At least there’s an audience. I thought I was shouting from the proverbial roof.
I will be attending Steven’s steamboat dinner at Clementi. See you there or at one of the walks.
Cheerio
Hi Terence,
[You were hard when say “we have no choice but to face the risk and address it”.].
Yes, that is not very palatable but like all life’s lessons, many a time we have to be force-fed.
Part of the problem is that there was no (even now) subject on wealth management (also known as savings mgmt). That is why some varsities now have this subject, but they are feeling their way around the topic, not knowing what content is required. Even UBS has a ‘Wealth mgmt School’ and they are also ‘feeling’ around. I dare to make the statement that many corporate and financial types, after all their years of experience ‘do not know how to invest’ and they have to rely on pte bankers who are also ‘feeling’ around, figuratively speaking, of course.
So where does this put the common man? I also believe that the ‘common man’ (of course, common women are included too, this is getting tiring) have the ability to invest, be they from any background. But they lack confidence because like so often they are brow-beaten by the supposed professionals, who either want to look good or who want to protect their turf.
Going back to the ‘hard’ lesson, if the general populace has not come to grips these last few years with sub-par interest rates (less than 1%) this is the reason for the current malaise.
It is instructive to look at the history and pattern of stock trading the last 15 years when CPF funds were allowed to ‘invest’. It is also a ‘hard lesson’ for most as well as ‘yours truly’, I have to admit. So like I always say, we are ‘plus’ in the common boat, floating in the river, experiencing some white waters now and then.
It was never my intention for anyone to read what I wrote and jump straightaway into the morass of the market. God forbid. I only said, and I repeat, we have to assess the risks as best we can, in our circumstances, with our experience, and if we can cover those risk areas, and have a ‘Plan B’ then can we haul up the anchor, and sail on the waters. Savings mgmt=wealth mgmt=risks mgmt.
I have many more stories to illustrate, but it is not the personalities that are important,but the lesson behind.
Cheers and good night.
Hi Charles
Like to share three lessons learned please?
Cheers,