AIA LIFE MATTERS INDEX SURVEY 2006

Malaysia ranked first out of four Asian countries surveyed in terms of parents wanting to send their children abroad

Malaysian parents only saved a mean average of RM48,573 for their children's tertiary education, although they should have saved a mean of RM72,827

Malaysians desire bigger families as 56% intend to have three or more children

Malaysian parents are more likely (33%) than parents in Hong Kong, Thailand or Singapore to plan on sending their offspring abroad to study

Malaysian listed Australia as the No. 1 destination for study

"The Life Matters Index statistics show that many parents in Malaysia still lack information and knowledge about planning for their children's future"

Source: New Sunday Times (17 Dec. 2006) p.H16

technorati tags: education fund children financial planning

Why I Invest in Public Islamic Dividend Fund?

"The stock market will likely remain bullish going into 2007, driven by more merger and acquisition (M&A) activities, the Ninth Malaysia Plan and higher crude palm oil (CPO) prices."

"Citigroup Investment Research managing director and head of regional strategy Markus Rosgen said the current M&A activities featuring privatisation of listed assets should free up billions of ringgit looking for new investments."

"Following the M&A and privatisation moves, Citigroup finds Sime Darby Bhd among the most inexpensive blue-chip stocks with attractive dividend yields, estimated at 6% in financial year (FY) 2007 and FY08."

"DiGi.Com Bhd also has high dividend yields, estimated at 7.9% for FY07 and 8.5% for FY08."

"SP Setia Bhd is also attractive with estimated 6% to 7% dividend yields in FY06 and FY07."

Source: The Star. (14 Dec. 2006).KL bourse likely to stay bullish

Public Islamic Dividend Fund(PIDF)was launched by Public Mutual in February 2006 to benefit from the Malaysian stockmarket’s current gross dividend yield of 4.2%, that is the highest gross dividend yield registered over the past 7 years. The local bourse’s dividend yield compares favourably to 12-month domestic fixed deposit rate of 3.7% and is higher than the dividend yield of most regional stock markets.

PIDF is a Syariah-based equity income fund which aims to provide income by investing in a portfolio of stocks that complies with Syariah requirements and which offer or have potential to offer attractive dividend yields.

With the equity exposures that generally range from 75% to 90% of its NAV, PIDF allows the investor the opportunity to participate in a diversified portfolio of Syariah approved blue chip stocks, growth stocks and fundamentally undervalued stocks that distribute or have the potential to distribute reasonably attractive dividends. The Fund may also invest in Islamic debt securities to generate additional return.

Currently, PIDF total return to date is 16.19%. Citigroup prediction of bullish market and estimation for the next year of more than 6% dividend by blue-chip stocks makes PIDF an attractive fund to buy.

Good to Know

When prevailing interest rates rise, newly issued bonds typically offer higher yields to keep pace. When that happens, existing bonds with lower coupon rates become less competitive. That's because investors are unlikely to buy an existing bond offering a lower coupon rate unless they can get it at a lower price. Thus, higher rates means lower prices for existing bonds. Conversely, when interest rates fall, an existing bond's coupon rate becomes more appealing to investors, driving the price up.

WHY WOULD I WANT TO BE A UNIT TRUST CONSULTANT?

Because you would be entering a green field industry in Malaysia with awesome upside potential.

As at end March 2004, India’s equity penetration rate (which can be defined as the combined value of all assets managed by a country’s unit trust industry DIVIDED by its total equity market capitalization) was 12% (sources: Association of Mutual Funds in India, and the Bombay Stock Exchange). The UK’s was 34% (sources: London Stock Exchange, and Investment Management Association, UK).

Ours? A meager 10.84% (As at end March 2004. Source: Securities Commission). Couple that with Malaysians having RM6 in fixed deposits for every RM1 we have in private unit trust funds. Translations: There’s room to grow:





source:Bank Negara Msia, Monthly Statistical Bulletin March 2004 : The Edge-Lipper Fund Table, 10/05/2004.


OK, BUT WHY WOULD I WANT TO JOIN PUBLIC MUTUAL?

Because we’re the biggest and best!

We’ve raked up more than two decades of fund management experience in the challenging Malaysian environment. Along the way, we’ve won a string of fund management awards; from just 1999 through to 2004, we brought back 27 of those - including 10 in year 2004.


As at 31 March 2004. Source : The Edge-Lipper Fund Table, 10/05/2004

We’re majority-owned and formidably backed by the solid Public Bank Group.

We enjoy 28% market share of the burgeoning private unit trust sector.

But most importantly because we exist to serve our investors and consultants.


SO, WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?

A lot! Your success as a Public Mutual unit trust consultant depends upon your desire to excel. The highest annual remuneration ever achieved by our unit trust consultants was RM 1, 542, 441!

The highest passive annual income (residually earned from prior sales while that active agent was busy elsewhere selling to new Public Mutual account holders!) paid out to a Public Mutual unit trust consultant was RM 67, 803.

Other neat perks include free holidays, peer recognition, free insurance coverage, and many more.

HOW CAN YOU HELP ME MAKE IT BIG?

We’ll support you with a suite of financial planning and sales tools, best-in-class training, and the greatest range of Malaysian unit trust investment products available under a single roof.


HOW DO I START?

If you are at least 21 years of age, possess a degree or at least SPM qualification and have strong business contacts, you have already met the basic requirements.

Please e-mail if you seriously crave to enhance your personal and professional life

Source: Public Mutual Website

technorati tags: Unit Trust Consultant Public Mutual Business Opportunity Vacancy Job

Numbers for Unit Trust Consultant

0	Your likelihood of making a sale when you don't ask for sale
1	Your goal on the sales chart. To be No. 1
63%	Percentage of sales made after 5th rejection! (that is why you may hear Fives NOs before getting to a YES).
75%	Precentage of salespeople give up after first rejection
80%	The part of success you achieve just by showing up, according to Woody Allen
100	The Average number of calls we need to make to obtain twenty bona fide leads which likely result to three sales.

Wanita perlu sedia membiayai persaraan

Oleh RUSMA IBRAHIM

KEBANYAKAN wanita tidak mampu menyara persaraan mereka. Ramai di antaranya bertungkus lumus cuba mengimbangkan dua peranan sebagai suri rumah, tugas semula jadinya dan pada masa sama terpaksa berdepan dengan halangan untuk maju dalam kerjaya.

Tanggungjawab mengimbangi dua tugas ini kerap memaksa wanita mengambil cuti rehat, ada kalanya cuti tanpa gaji, berhenti kerja selepas berkahwin atau selepas menjadi ibu. Ramai juga wanita berhenti kerja kerana mahu menjaga ibu bapa atau ibu bapa mentua mereka yang tua. Sikap ini menunjukkan ikatan kekeluargaan masih utuh di negara ini.

Semua faktor ini menyebabkan ramai wanita tidak berdikari dari segi kewangan dan ada kalanya sangat bergantung kepada suami masing-masing, ahli keluarga dan anak-anak yang sudah besar untuk belanja hidup. Wanita yang bekerja pula menghadapi cabaran yang lain. Mereka kerap berhadapan dengan masalah kerjaya yang terhad, gaji yang kecil dan akaun simpanan untuk persaraan yang lebih rendah.

Untuk artikel seterusnya sila lihat di Utusan Online

Risk vs Return

Generally, in investment the greater the risk that a person takes the higher the return that he will get. And less risk entails lower return.

Unit trust fund that have a high risk or aggressive risk profile seek to achieve capital growth. This unit trust fund will be mostly invested in the equities or securities of listed companies. This kind of unit trust funds would produce higher return but with higher volatility.

Unit trust funds that have a conservative risk profile will be invested mostly in corporate bonds, government securities and liquid securities like bills and cash. Conservative trust funds seek to provide regular income with less emphasis on capital growth. Although it is low risk, it is possible for these funds to incur capital gain and losses during periods of volatile interest rate. Bond has an inverse relation with the interest rate. When the interest rate increase the bond return will decrease and vice versa.

Unit trust funds that have moderate risk profile will be mostly invested in diversified portfolio of blue-chip stocks, growth stocks and fundamentally undervalued stocks which earn significant dividend income. Moderate investors who prefer capital gain and income would benefit from this kind of unit trust.

Then there are the conservative to moderate risk-reward unit trust funds or another name for it is balanced unit trust fund. The composition of the asset classes may vary according to investor’s risk and return appetite. High risk investor may want to invest in a balanced product that has a higher component of equities, whereas a low risk investor may prefer a balanced allocation in both categories of asset or more bond and cash.

The final decision to invest in what categories of unit trust will depend on your risk profile, and time horizon that you have to achieve your goal. The more time you have the greater risk that you can take. But if your are the one who cannot stand the volatility of an aggressive fund price movement, stick to the conservative to moderate kind of unit trust fund. It is better for your peace of mind.