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Why you should not buy IPOs As Sheng Siong is launching its IPO next month, I expected a few calls as whenever an IPO is launching. And if you are my client, you know my answer. I decide to write this article so everybody can benefit...

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Questions to ask your Financial Adviser Every Sunday morning when I read the newspapers, I always see articles or advertisements regarding "Financial Advisers". Nowadays, just like the once prestigious word "Banker", which is misused in the...

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Revision to Nomination of Insurance Nominees Regulation With the onset of the Mental Capacity Act ("MCA") coming into effect on 1st March 2010, the Insurance (Nomination of Beneficiaries) Regulations 2009 ("the Regulations") will be amended to effect 2 changes: The...

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The ABCs of the Financial Advisers Act The title, Financial Adviser, is always mis-used in the industry and misunderstood by the consumers. On 10 October 2002, the Financial Advisers Act came into effect and all financial institutions are...

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Moratorium Underwriting by Aviva It is a common that insurance companies do not cover pre-existing condition. Typically, pre-existing conditions will be excluded with little or no chance of them being covered, even after a number of treatment-free...

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AIA launched their first disability income protection plan

Category : Financial Product Update

AIA has launched Premier Disability Cover on 2 July 2012, their first disability income plan.

AIA Premier Disability Cover is a disability income protection plan, which provides you with protection in the event of a disability due to illness or injury, resulting in your inability to work and earn an income.

Comparing to its rivals, AIA has introduced some First-to-market features:

First of all, AIA guarantees benefit payout regardless of any future changes to your income or payouts  received  from other disability income policies, while to other insurers, such changes will affect the benefit payout.

Secondly, the plan provides you with an income, in the event you are unable to work due either to an injury or illness, regardless of employment status at the point of claim. This is crucial especially if disability happens during unemployment, it becomes double whammy with loss of income and additional living expenses.

The plan is open to anyone aged before 16 and 60 years on their last birthday. Applicants do not need to be employed to apply. Housewives and retirees may also apply with a maximum monthly benefit of $2,500.

Thirdly, AIA has introduced Payback benefit of up to two times the monthly benefit to replace lost income during the deferment period and additional lump sum payout of 24 times the insured amount should you suffer from Catastrophic disability. Such benefits are not available from other insurers currently.

The plan also has higher limit for Rehabilitation Benefit and Death Benefit

Overall, I would say the plan is supposed to be more comprehensive comparing to other disability income products in the market and of course you should expect a relatively higher premium.

Will “Perpetual Bond” become the next Lehman Minibond?

Category : Financial Product Update

OK, let’s just call this Perpetual Security “Perpetual Bond” in Singapore context, for the same purpose to call “mini-bond” a bond, for the same purpose to call “structured note”  ”structured deposit”, for the same purpose to “confuse the public”.

The surge of “perpetual bond” issuance in Singapore is just nuisance. More perpetual bonds were sold here in the first three months of this year than in the previous decade and a half. and Singapore is probably the only place where you can buy a perpetual security through an ATM with a press of a few buttons.

As reported in a Wall Street article recently,

Across Asia, brokers are pushing to sell increasingly complex products to the region’s expanding ranks of investors, especially wealthy ones. These types of products appeal to those hungry for yield who normally focus on stocks and real estate but are worried about falling equity markets and the sudden shortage of initial public offerings.

The only people who really understand the product and the risk is the small group of product designers, and they don’t fully brief salespeople

Though the unprecedented run of perpetual bond sales in Singapore has caught the attention of MAS, “the central bank’s scrutiny is preliminary, and there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing on the part of the banks or companies involved in the recent flurry of perpetual bond issues.”

This reminds me of Lehman Brother minibonds. Eventually it will become a Caveat emptor (Buyer Beware) case again if things turn ugly. I am sure the financial institutions will be better prepared this time given the valuable experiences from the recent financial crisis.

How about individual investors? I guess history will repeat by itself.

Tokio Marine to Revise TM Wealth Enhancement (EnRICH)

Category : Financial Product Update

It is ironic. Fixed deposit rollers always complain that the interest rate are too low yet they are most reluctant to commit longer period to preserve better return. The common misperception is that they can always shop around for the best deal whenever their one year fixed deposit is due.

The hard truth is that with years of falling interest rates, it has become increasingly challenging, if not impossible, for product providers to maintain short-term savings products with comparatively high returns.

Following the rate revision of NTUC Growth Plan, Tokio Marine Life Insurance will be replacing the current TM Wealth Enhancement (EnRICH) with a revised version with effect 2 July 2012.

This is a 5-year single premium participating endowment plan. The return was reasonable but I am sure the revised version will offer a less yield.

AIA Platinum Legacy Series

Category : Financial Product Update, Life Insurance

In keynote address at Life Insurance Association 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner, Ravi Menon, Managing Director of MAS said:

Saving for the future, investing for returns, and protecting against risk – these are the fundamentals of managing our finances.  Yet so few of us do it well.  We are far better at earning an income than investing it and protecting against risk.

As an affluent individual, you already have the knowledge and abilities to make good income and may have accumulated substantial wealth. However, your challenge always lies in protecting this wealth for the next generation and ensuring the growth.

This becomes especially more difficult today when interest rate is extremely low and stock market is uncertain.

If you are comfortable with US dollar exposure,  the AIA Platinum Legacy series plans may come in handy.

AIA Platinum Legacy is a universal life insurance and the premium is typically paid on a lump sum basis. Universal life plans offer whole of life death coverage are different from traditional whole life insurance products, whose cash value is dependent on the investment performance of the insurer’s life fund. Instead, the cash values of universal life products are dependent on so-called ‘interest-crediting rates’ declared by the firm. Most of these plans come with a minimum guaranteed interest rate.

AIA Platinum Legacy offer a guaranteed minimum crediting interest rate of 2% for life time. 2% is contractual minimum. In reality, even with the current near zero interest rate environment, it is still offering 4.5% interest rate now.

One key advantage is that a universal life policy is not an off-the-shelf product. It can be tailor-made to suit the needs of you. Moreover, you can surrender your policy or make partial withdrawals to cash out the accumulation value even after first year (with much less penalty comparing to traditional whole life insurance where you get back nothing for the first two years). You can also choose to settle the premium with Multipay.

If you choose No Lapse privilege feature, it keeps your policy in force even when the accumulation value becomes zero or less than zero (subject to minimum premium requirements being met).

The product was enhanced since May last year with the following features:

  • Guaranteed crediting rate on the Initial Premium for the first 7 years;
  • No Lapse Privilege to age 111;
  • New A+ country grouping for Singapore residents;
  • Shorter Surrender Charge period and lower Surrender Charge;
  • Accelerated Terminal Illness benefit;
  • More premium payment choices.

You can contact me if you are interested in this product.

HDB issues Fixed Rate Notes

Category : Financial Product Update, Fixed Income

In a recent Straits Times article  ”Huge demand for corporate bonds this year“, the author highlighted “Corporate bonds may be rather unexciting to some, but they are selling like hot cakes so far this year – and this month is shaping up as the busiest yet.”

On 25 Apr 2012 Press Release, the Housing and Development Board (“HDB”) has issued Notes under its S$12 billion Multicurrency Medium Term Note (“MTN”) Program.

The issuance comprises two series of Notes:

  • S$360 million 5-year Fixed Rate Notes (the “Notes”) with a coupon of 1.165% per annum payable semi-annually in arrear. The Notes were issued on 24 April 2012 and will mature on 24 April 2017.
  • S$800 million 10-year Fixed Rate Notes (the “Notes”) with a coupon of 2.185% per annum payable semi-annually in arrear. The Notes were issued on 25 April 2012 and will mature on 25 April 2022.

Given the creditability of HDB, the coupon rate is rather pathetic. This kind of offer is more suitable for institutions than retails for different reasons.

I have been consistently receiving queries from clients for “higher interest products”. Recently Hong Leong Finance is promoting a 3 year fixed deposit with mere 1.7% interest rate but attracted much attention.

What is interesting is that in the same day newspaper, the headline news was “Inflation hits 5.2% in March“. I always wonder how do people cope with inflation by putting money into fixed deposits.

Can you retire with $1,100 per month?

Category : Financial Product Update

According to Aviva’s Survey on Consumers Attitudes to Saving (February 2010 to November 2011), fewer members meet CPF’s Minimum Sum requirement of S$131,000 each year.

Even if you do have $131,000 CASH at your retirement age, based on CPF Minimum Sum Payout Calculator, you will merely receive a monthly payout of S$1,100 for about 20 years, from age 65 onwards.

By the time you turn 65, can you afford to retire? Can you sustain the lifestyle you hope for with just S$1,100?

From my experience, most people procrastinate retirement planning because they are confused by complicated financial products. Most people do want to save some money but end up paying unnecessary insurance protection charges. Worse still, the return of the policy often sour in tough financial environment and policyholders suffer from empty promises which are “Non-Guaranteed” from onset.

As a result, so many people just keep on rolling their money in fixed deposit which pays only a fraction of the inflation rate.

I am glad to see that Aviva has recently launched a new product MyRetirement which is positioned as a “Capital Guaranteed” product with Guaranteed returns up to 2.38% per annum. Though I would not count on 2.38% as it is based on an entry age of 17 with eight years premium payment term where customer will receive monthly Guaranteed Retirement Income of S$1,000 from age 65, I do feel such disciplined saving plan with multi-year income distribution is critical for retirement planning. Moreover, the compound effect of the return can be significant as shown in the example below:

Adam Tan, age 35 would like to retire at age 65 (Age Next Birthday) and receive a monthly Guaranteed Retirement Income of S$2,000 per month, for 10 years. Since he is currently working, he would like to complete his payments quickly. He decides on the eight year premium payment term of MyRetirement. Here is how:

Adam would pay a monthly premium of S$1,378. This translates into total premiums of S$132,288 paid over 8 years (S$1,378 x 12 months x 8 years). He will receive a Total Retirement Income of S$630,591 consists of the Guaranteed Monthly Retirement Income S$240,000 and Projected Maturity Payout at 5.25% projected investment return (S$390,591).

Note The Maturity Payout is non-guaranteed. 476% is based on Projected Total Retirement Income Payouts (S$630,591) over Total Premiums Paid (S$132,288), as per the Benefits Illustration. For details, please refer to the product summary. All figures are Singapore dollars. The numbers in the chart above have been rounded up.

Aviva is having promotion for this product till 31 May, 2012

You can contact me if you need advice on this product.

 

HSBC launches new product – Early Critical Care

Category : Critical Illness Insurance, Financial Product Update

Early critical illness insurance competition has just geared up. After AIA Complete Critical Cover, NTUC VivoCare and AXA’s Early-Payout LivingEnhancer, HSBC is the latest entrant for early critical illness coverage.

Key features of Early Critical Care are

  • Coverage of 28 Early, 27 Intermediate and 30 Critical Stage Medical Conditions – making early treatments possible
  • Additional coverage on 4 Special Critical Illnesses – not commonly offered in the market such as dengue haemorrhagic fever
  • Total of 90 covered illness (including Angioplasty and Other Invasive Treatment for Coronary Artery) – the most* in the market (* Comparing with 4 key insurers that offered products with similar features as at Nov 2011)
  • Peace of mind with lump sum payouts equivalent to 100% at all stages (subject to the respective limits) – the highest* in the market
  • 14 days survival period – one of the lowest requirement in the market
  • Future premiums will be waived till end of term upon an Early or Intermediate stage claim – easing of financial burden
  • Choice of term available – to Age 65 or to Age 85

Just a side track, after the announcement of HSBC selling general insurance business to AXA and QBE, many people think that their life insurance policies are affected. Do note the sale is for general insurance only.

NTUC Capital Plus (CPN29) – Guaranteed 1.4% Interest for 2 Years

Category : Financial Product Update

NTUC has again launched popular limited-tranche 2-years single premium non-participating plan, Capital Plus (CPN29).

Brief outline of the plan:

  • 2-years single premium non-participating plan
  • Guaranteed interest of 1.40%p.a.
  • Provides TPD before age 65 years old (last birthday) and Death coverage
  • Entry age of 16 to 80 years old (last birthday)
  • Minimum single premium of $10,000 up to a maximum of S$1,000,000
  • Simplified underwriting
    • Sum Assured = 105% of Single Premium
    • Sum Assured = 100% of Single Premium (if claim occurs within the 1st policy year)

As this is a limited tranche product, applications to the plan is on a first-come-first-served basis. The product will be withdrawn upon attainment of tranche size. Any excess premium received above the tranche size will be refunded accordingly to customers. As per previous tranches, it is expected the tranche will be filled up very soon.

You can contact me if you are interested in the plan.

NTUC Income Value Pack for the Low Income Group

Category : Financial Product Update

NTUC Income will be launching a Value Pack comprising a low-cost term insurance and Enhanced Incomeshield Plan C specially for the low income group and the uninsured.

This initiative is driven by NTUC’s social purpose and seeks to address the protection gap issues of the low-income group, uninsured and underinsured.  This pack is only sold to those who meet the following criteria:

  • Those living in three-room or smaller HDB flats
  • Those whose household incomes are $3500 or below
  • Those who do not have a life insurance policy

The term insurance is capped at a maximum sum assured of SGD50,000 and is discounted.  The premium values are expected to be very modest given the target market for this Value Pack.

This will be sold only through NTUC Income’s own sales channels (the tied agency force and the business centres) as it is NTUC Income’s Do Good initiative as a Social Enterprise.

AIA Healthshield Gold Max opens to Foreigners

Category : Financial Product Update

Hospital bills in Singapore are constantly on the rise. Medisave Approved Integrated Insurance Plan is no longer a luxury but a necessary component of anyone’s financial health. It is very affordable and covers high sum assured.

However, if you are a foreigner working or living here, being a student, working expatriate or dependent of a Singaporean or PR, a large medical bill can create an overwhelming financial strain on you. Even if you are willing to purchase a medical insurance, the cost is normally much higher.

The good news is that effective from February 15, 2012, AIA HealthShield Gold Max, one of the popular integrated plan,  is now open to foreigners at a slightly higher but affordable premium.

You can apply if you are holding one of the following valid passes:

1. Employment Pass
2. Personalised Employment Pass
3. Entre Pass
4. S Pass
5. Dependent Pass
6. Student Pass or
7. Selected Categories of Long Term Visit Pass.