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Apa yang anda faham berkenaan unit amanah ?

Di Malaysia lebih dikenali sebagai unit trust (UT), di luar negara dipanggil MUTUAL FUNDS. To me, konsep UT seperti konsep dana khairat kematian di kebanyakan masjid-masjid, dimana ahli-ahli yang mempunyai matlamat yang sama, menabung dalam satu tabung untuk tujuan membantu ahli yang ditimpa kemalangan. Ini namanya Tabaru’ dan salah satu konsep Syariah penting yang digunapakai dalam Takaful (insuran Syariah). Persamaan dengan UT, dimana pelabur-pelabur yang mempunyai objektif yang sama (dari segi untung dan risiko) melabur dalam suatu tabung, diurus oleh pengurus dana (fund managers) melabur untuk keuntungan bersama dikalangan pelabur-pelabur.

Bezanya UT dengan Hedge Funds, pengurus dana UT tidak berkongsi sebarang untung atau rugi dari pelaburan dana tersebut. Kebiasaanya mereka menerima fee yang tetap. Di dalam Hedge Funds, pengurus dana akan berkongsi sama untung dan rugi tersebut.

Analogi yang lebih mudah, pengurus dana UT sebagai Driver. Tabung dana UT sebagai kereta or “vehicle” pelaburan dan pelabur-pelabur sebagai penunggang kereta. Dimana pula fungsi Unit Trust Consultant ? Unit Trust Consultant sebagai “co-driver’ kereta tersebut. Suruhanjaya Sekuriti sebagai JPJ yang mengawal selia keadaan kereta dan undang-undang jalanraya.

Melalui analogi Unit Trust sebagai “vehicle” atau kereta, kita lebih dapat memahami mengapa pelabur-pelabur akan memilih kereta mewah dan selamat. Seumpama tabung UT yang besar, kurang risiko tapi memberi kepuasan (dari segi kelajuan, perjalanan selesa, ruang yang cantik). Kereta-kereta mewah biasanya memberi perjalanan selesa sebab absorber (turun naik harga), system brake (stop loss system) yang mantap, cc yang tinggi (lebih laju capai matlamat dan mudah untung) dan kebiasaannya harga yang lebih (mahal tapi berbaloi). Ramai yang sanggup berbelanja lebih untuk memiliki kereta mewah sebab “pride of ownership” bangga memandu kereta yang hebat disamping sebab-sebab di atas tadi. Indahnya lagi Unit Trust sebab pelabur tak perlu berbelanja lebih untuk menaiki kereta mewah, hanya pelaburan pokok minima RM1,000 dan tabungan bulanan RM100 dah mencukupi.

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Assalamualaikum w.b.t

Bertemu kembali di bulan Ramadhan yang mulia ini. Sempena bulan yang best ini, saya ingin mengingatkan rakan-rakan dan unit trust consultants supaya mengingatkan pelabur-pelabur kita supaya mengeluarkan zakat. Although zakat boleh dibayar sepanjang tahun (kecuali zakat fitrah), many people use bulan Ramadhan untuk kiraan “haul” – tempoh 1 year.

Apa faedah berzakat ? Ini bukan soal faedah, malah this is a question of our Rukun Islam – pillar yang ke 4 (Mengucap dua kalimah syahadah, solat, berpuasa di bulan Ramadhan, berzakat dan menunaikan haji di Mekah bagi yang mampu). Although zakat is viewed as a Charity Obligation, I think its important because it is salah satu pillars of Rukun Islam and all Muslim should embrace it entirely. In addition, it is centered on excess wealth to be used for benefit of the poor and needy.

So, I’ve decided to write basic information, cara mana zakat can be calculated based on the Islamic Financial Planning Zakat Module and the Puzat Zakat Selangor portal and articles. Terdapat beberapa jenis zakat, lets begin with how to compute zakat on Unit Trust investment. This zakat is part of Zakat Saham as is computed @ 2.5% atas harga semasa (nilai pasaran) semua saham dimiliki di hujung tempoh haul termasuk keuntungan tunai sepanjang tempoh haul (or tolak kerugian tunai).

Note that Syarat-syarat to fulfill :

1. Muslim

2. Bebas

3. Milik sempurna (EPF/KWSP scheme investment tak payah zakat)

4. Cukup Haul (tempoh setahun)

5. Cukup Nisab (nilai RM pelaburan melebihi nisab or threshold semasa year 2011 iaitu RM10,650)

Contoh : An Unit Trust invesment (cash) in Public Ittikal

units = 15,000      dan     harga semasa = RM0.9004 seunit

Nilai pasaran semasa = 15,000 x RM0.9004   = RM13,506

As RM13,506 melebihi Nisab RM10,650,

so zakat yang perlu dijelaskan = 2.5% x RM13,506 = RM 337.65

Note :

1. the nisab of RM10,650 is from Pusat Zakat Selangor

(contact person for zakat saham Encik Wira 03 – 5522 7849 and Pn Siti Fatimah 03 – 5522 7868)

2. in practice, ramai yang guna nilai terendah dalam tempoh haul. Akan tetapi mengikut PZS, nilai semasa dan harga unit amanah/saham semasa digunapakai untuk pengiraan zakat.

3. zakat saham termasuk juga simpanan wang di bank. Jika melebihi nisab semasa RM10,650, maka kesemua simpanan di bank akan dizakat pada kadar 2.5%. Sekiranya simpanan tersebut di bank konvensional (bukan Islamic), maka bahagian faedah (riba’) perlu ditolak dari nilai semasa simpanan tersebut. Which means bahagian sumber yang tak halal, tak perlu dizakat ! So, be careful.

Lain-lain zakat saya ringkaskan dan boleh download disini.

Read on illustration of “Lain-lain zakat” in the following paragraphs….

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Soalan : Banyak-banyak pelaburan, pelaburan apa yang risk-free ? Takde risiko ?

hmmmm… hmmmmm… hmmmmmmm…

Jawapan : None exist in this world !

(Pelaburan yang risk-free only exist when you beribadah dengan Allah – you invest time, effort and maybe money. Guaranteed return (pahala & berkat) at NO risk. But as I said that’s beyond this dunia)

Coming back to earth… I came across this interesting disection of RISK. How each investment (some mere savings) carry inherent risk. (Ref NST July 17, 2011 page 6 “life & times” section by Yap Ming Hui). Table below illustrate the breakdown of risk in various assets and investments.

Bila seseorang buat pelaburan, terlalu pentingkan pulangan, untung dan return on investment (ROI). We tend to lupa that Risk and Return goes hand in hand. The higher the return, the higher the risk. The table above may enlighten us why investment in stock market carries high risk (risk market, interest rate/funding rate, default, tax, event & opportunity).

Apa maksud semua risiko tersebut ?

Begini….

1. Risiko “Market” – turun naik harga sesuatu aset.
2. Risiko ” interest rate” – boleh juga dikaitkan dengan “funding risk” (especially if in Islamic Banking) adalah kerana apabila kadar funding naik, harga bon dan sukuk turun, especially yang mempunyai tempoh matang yang panjang.
3. Risiko “default” – potensi pelaburan jadi “junk” atau hilang nilai sama sekali.
4. Risiko ” inflation” – adalah kehilangan nilai wang atau purchasing power (kuasa beli) apabila untung (walau pun tinggi mana) diterima dalam tempoh masa depan yang jauh.
5. Risiko ” tax” – cukai ke atas untung pelaburan. Di Malaysia untung pelaburan saham tidak dikenakan “gains tax” tetapi untung pelaburan hartanah, ada “property gains tax”.
6. Risiko “Credit” – potensi pengeluar pelaburan (corporate) jatuh creditworthiness mungkin hampir muflis dsb.
7. Risiko “currency” – risiko turun naik dua matawang berbeza. Kebiasaannya untuk pelaburan luar negara yang dinilai semula dalam Ringgit Malaysia.
8. Risiko ” Political” – kiranya keadaan huru-hara, pilihanraya, perang.
9. Risiko “Event” – potensi sesuatu kejadian tidak diingini berlaku seperti SAR virus, Tsunami dan pelbagai malapetaka lain.
10. Risiko ” Opportunity”  kehilangan peluang pelaburan yang boleh memberi ROI yang lebih lumayan.

Bagaimana seseorang pelabur boleh menurunkan kadar risiko pelaburan mereka ? Pelbagai strategi seperti :

1. Asset Allocation atau diversifikasi pelaburan – sejumlah wang diagih-agih kepada beberapa jenis pelaburan. Misalnya 30% bond dan 70% saham.
2. Membuat tempoh pelaburan bersesuaian dengan “bila kecairan diperlukan”. Misalnya simpanan yuran pembelajaran anak (masuk IPTA lebih dari 5 tahun dari sekarang), boleh dilabur dalam pasaran saham (blue chips) dan unit amanah defensif.
3. Amalkan “Dollar-cost-averaging” iaitu melabur secara sedikit-sedikit dalam suatu tempoh yang melebihi 3 tahun. Cara ini, setiap transaksi pelaburan akan dibuat dalam keadaan dan harga berbeza dan akan dapat kebaikan “purata kos” yang rendah dalam tempoh jangka panjang. Sangat sesuai untuk pelaburan unit amanah.
4. Membuat transaksi pelaburan melalui sumber (konsultan, bank, punca) yang boleh dipercayai dan mempunyai qualification yang wajar.
5. Jangan terburu-buru melabur dengan tips-tips PERCUMA atau yuran kemasukan yang rendah. Ini mungkin “alamat” pelaburan tersebut kurang sambutan dan terpaksa dijual “cheap sale”…. AWAS !

Okay… sampai sini dahulu ceritera tentang risiko dan sedikit sebanyak strategi-strategi mudah yang boleh digunapakai.

17-07-11 and 71 registered participants…

Awesome Sunday !

Our Makan-Makan & Grand Brainstorming session was exciting and full of energy. The many sharing by selected EXPERTS was definitely inspiring and moving. The combo of many senior Unit Trust Consultants as committee members, gave variety of flavour and ideas to such a meaningful event.

Kudos !

Well done to the January – June 2011 top performers from Just+Caliph+HC. We recognized the following Unit Trust Consultants for good sales performance.

• Top Agency Supervisors (> 1 year) by Personal Sales Jan – Jun 2011

Rank 1 – Nazri, Rank 2 – Hazah, Rank 3 – Raimy

• Top Agency Supervisors (< 1 year) by Personal Sales Jan – Jun 2011

Rank 1 – Shahril, Rank 2 – Musriano, Rank 3 – Cikgu Huzairi

• Top Agents Personal Sales Jan – Jun 2011

Rank 1 – Huda, Rank 2 – Habibah, Rank 3 – Shaharuddin

• Top Personal Producers (overall) by Personal Sales Jan – Jun 2011

Rank 1 – Jaslinah, Rank 2 – Suraini, Rank 3 – Musriano

• NSC Qualifers (FREE overseas Vacation)

Los Angeles – Jaslinah

Tokyo – Suraini, Musriano, Suzana, Farah, Arif, Siti, Izat, Yusof, Hasimah, Syed Ali, Liyana, Cikgu Huzairi, Zarina, Suhaila, Aznita

Guangzhou – Shahril, Zaharah, Aishah, Raimy, Julianna, Zarina (nazri), Rohida, Azam, Mazzura, Nazri

We played teamwork & sales strategy games.

We mind mapped our actions and pen our Game Plan for the rest of the year. The importance of these lies in knowing WHAT we want, strategize HOW to achieve them, WHEN to achieve them.

We usually go through our daily routines like a hamster running in the “wheel” within its cage. So routine, so mundane and so focused on that one thing – running.  Until one day we just fall out of the “rat race” due to exhaustion.

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Seen this art (above) before ? ….Seen this guy (below) before ?

He’s Leonardo Da Vinci, the artist who was so fascinated with human anatomy, dimension, ratios and almost everything else we can just imagine. (Some disputed he’s “inventor” skills and labelled him as the “best illustrator” ever lived. He drew and painted phenomenal masterpieces and works of art).

What strikes me during the Islamic Financial Planning Certification is that the Pentagon (segi lima) can also be found in the Pentagon of Islamic Financial Needs depicted below :

These two illustration gave me my Step 1 in my Sales Presentation. And many a times, my audience “looks” appreciative of the simplicity in the explanation and how nicely all these Islamic Financial Tools fall in place; giving a clearer and definitely more sensible holistic approach to Financial planning of a Muslim.

Hope you like ‘em !

Selamat menyambut bulan Ramadhan..

cheers…

(note : LDVinci dikatakan bukan seorang pencipta but banyak melukis semula hasil kreaviti dari China, yang partly comes from the Islamic Scholars and investors)

Anda suka berangan-angan ? Anda sentiasa perasan ? Memang syok berangan bak kata orang “Angan-angan Mat Jenin”. Memang setiap yang di idam mesti berputik dari angan-angan.

Soalnya, adakah angan-angan kita memberi inspirasi kuat untuk kita bekerja kuat ? Adakah ia memberi motivasi strong enough for us to take smart-calculated risk ? Adakah angan-angan anda boleh membantu orang lain ? Sekiranya jawapan anda benar, memang pun, boleh, maka inilah ciri-ciri angan-angan yang sihat dan insyaAllah jika dilayan boleh membawa lebih kebaikan dalam hidup seseorang.

Angan-angan takkan ke mana, if no follow-thru – no action taken. So check and tafsir your dreams, mimpi, angan-angan – are they worth it ?

Nak tafsir mimpi anda ? Cuba tanya Mat Jenin dan Mat Dreamy (Doctor @ Grey’s Anatomy) :

Jadi pilih dan hanya layan impian yang berfaedah. Tak salah berangan-angan  asalkan “Angan-angan Mc Dreamy”.

Mat Salleh kata…

“Its good to build castles in the air, now go put some foundation under it !”

I read a recent article in Personal Money magazine this month – MAJOR MILESTONE IN A PERSON’S LIFE and it states the following :

1. First Job
2. Getting Married
3. First Property (home)
4. Have Baby (s)
5. Caring for Aged Parents
6. Children’s Higher Education
7. Start own business
8. Mid-Life Crisis
9. Preparing for Retirement
10. Real retirement

Which got me thinking of a shorter journey – what if we look at our Unit Trust Biz, where can we place MILESTONEs as a Unit Trust Consultant ?

What are milestones anyway ? Milestone usually marks the end of a stage (tahap) that marks a completion of a phase or job – typically marked by a high level event which signifies endorsement (pengiktirafan) of job done. I believe the following TANDA BATU can shed some light and gauge our progress as a Unit Trust Consultant.

1. Sit for Unit Trust exam
2. First sales transaction
3. First downline recruited
4. Promotion to Agency Supervisor
5. First Overseas Trip (Los Angeles, New Zealand, etc)
6. First time “your face published” in newpaper (due to item 5.)
7. First RM1,000,000 deal (in 1 transaction)
8. First time walk on stage to receive Award during Annual Dinner
9. Promotion to Agency Manager
10. Promotion to Group Agency Manager

Why are milestones important ? Yes, it is endorsement of progress, achievement and how a person developed. It serves as a benchmark indicates the quality of performance – once achieved we feel puas hati, seronok and probably bangga dengan pencapaian diri. Its about GENUINE recognition and the feeling of “I have arrived !”.

More importantly, it is like building blocks to allow a person to achieve even higher standards. Once dah rasa makan sedap, you know how it taste and feels, and you would always remember “that first bite” and want more and more of it. Up to a certain level, you get jelak and want to eat something else.

And even more important, once you’ve MATURED and GROWN, you realize that its the journey and NOT the milestone itself that is more important. As we learn from doing and experiencing many things during the journey, we learn and unlearn skills and gather knowledge. Yes we may occasionally stumble and fall, it may be painful but you will remember and try not to repeat the mistakes. We sharpen our instincts and gut feel. We know who to trust, who to rely on and who are your true friends and partners. Its all in the game ! That, my friends, are the facts of life…

Listening to Lee Sheng Chow of Urut Tradisional PB, this morning on BFM 89.9 Radio, I realised and totally agree “To be happy, you must first learn to be grateful”. Hanya bila kita rasa bersyukur, barulah kita boleh rasa happy.

Is this the formulae of happiness ?

You can listen to Lee Sheng Chow at http://www.bfm.my/open-for-business-lee-sheng-chow-urut-tradisional-pb.html

Lee Sheng Chow is the first person commercializing the blind urut tradisional, more than 20 years ago, in Malaysia. His business is located in Brickfields and houses blind masseurs, man and woman. What so special about Sheng Chow you may ask. Plenty ! He has vision even though he became blind at age 21, starting the blind traditional massage business, putting his entire savings in the business, struggling in the early years to market and secure clients. He is a paralympic swimmer until today and by the sound of it, am sure he is physically fit. And ditakdirkan, has a handicap daughter – bed ridden and able to eat only soft diets.

Inspite of all these, Sheng Chow remains chirpy, optimistic and speaks of a larger purpose in life. I ask you, how many of us can still look at life, if Allah challenges us, testing our faith ?

Where does Sheng Chow gets his strength and determination ?

What about us – Unit Trust Consultants. Where is that source of energy and inner strength ? How does one grow it over time ? Probably it starts with “the right attitude” and “the right kind of D-N-A” that each unit trust consultant must have. Check and ask – do you have the following : ?

Each of us must find that “sense or purpose” – mengapa kita di dunia ini, untuk apa, untuk siapa ?

Memang kita tak perfect, tetapi DNA di atas boleh di “inherit” dan “dipelajari” dengan berkawan dengan rakan-rakan yang mempunyai DNA Super Sales Consultant. Positive energy is contagious (berjangkit).

As you know that even Superman has his weakness – krypton will make him weak. As with Super Sales Consultant, we may be weakened by certain genes.  So if nak tambah super power anda, jauhkan diri dari the following negative genes :

So amacam ? Boleh jadi Super Consultant tak ? Saya yakin anda boleh. Jika anda mahu….

Amongst the many, many benefits of being a unit trust consultant are the FREE overseas holidays every year. I have made a promise to myself to qualify for these awesome trips every year.

Places I’ve been to since joining the unit trust business :

year 2005 – Venice, Italy and Vienna, Austria

year 2006 - Istanbul, Turkey

year 2007 – Athens, Greece

year 2008 – Istanbul, Turkey (again)

year 2009 - qualified for Hokaido

year 2010 – choose South Korea (qualified Dubai)

year 2010 – Spain (Top 25 GAM’s retreat)

year 2011 – Auckland & Rotorua, New Zealand

(22nd NSC Qualifiers (year 2011) – 298 UTC New Zealand, 575 UTC Beijing, 841 UTC Phuket)

year 2012 - Los Angeles, USA (tahun depan babe !)

The journey has been both rewarding and fulfilling. A combo of work and play.

Now, why must each unit trust consultant qualify for these trips every year ?

Becoz……

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Pirates of the Caribbean – On Stranger Tides (POTC), Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) jumped off the cliff in the quest to find the “Fountain of Youth”. Hmm the scene is so similar to a bungy jumping experience I recently had at Taupo, New Zealand.

And I’m gonna tell you why. How does swashbuckling & cliff jumping from POTC 4, bungy jump at Taupo and our unit trust business look so familiar ? The more I think about it, the more similar they all look and feel.

And guess what ! I’ve done them all…

Our recent New Zealand trip (with Public Mutual Berhad) gave me the chance to experience first hand how bungy jumping – a “fast forward” version of overcoming fear in any business venture. And last night, watching Pirates of the Caribbean in 3D, gave the opportunity and further insight into this whole new experience. (FREE trip to Los Angeles in 2012 – interested ? call Jas @ +012-2037003 / +017-3104171).

Bungy jumping is an opportunity to conquer our fear and experience the thrill of feeling gravity (free fall) by taking calculated risk (security features – rope, harness, qualified facilitators) via a fast forward motion.

Unit Trust business is an opportunity to conquer our fear and discover our talent, and experience the thrill of managing our own business and natural growth (growth of business driven by market forces) by taking calculated risk (taking charge of our financial security vs makan gaji learning from experienced Unit Trust Consultants, guided by Code of Ethics and Industry Regulation) via a day-to-day motion.

Very “serupa” right ? ..The main difference is the time taken to experience them – bungy requires 20 minutes preparation for that 2 minutes thrill, whereas unit trust business allows you time and has a lasting effect. And both bungy and unit trust business can be perfected by going through the motion and practicing the art over and over again. We decide how we jump, we decide how our unit trust business should flow and grow. Unfortunately, the cost of bungy jumping of NZD200+ and time constrain did not allow us to “perfect” the art but suffice to say “Yes ! I just did it”.

For those yang terlepas peluang to bungy jump, go watch Pirates of the Caribbean – On Stranger Tides and try imagine & feel “what made Captain Jack Sparrow jumped off the cliff”, “why he had to do it”, “why it was important to pursue it”….. Remember to watch the 3D version to feel the depth of Depp.

See Jas jumped the bungeeee.

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I’ve always said that if its important enough, it should be documented in Wikipedia. And guess what, after recently hearing David Teoh, CEO of Metrowealth International Group on air (BFM89.9), I googled and true enough, found him on Wikipedia. Familiar with movies – Remp-it, Susuk and Jangan Pandang Belakang Congkak, David’s the guy who produced these movies. According to the intervew on BFM 89.9, David concurrently produces 2 movies per month and likened that his movie making to tofu making. Fast yet full of quality (khasiat tofu). David also discovered talents such as Maya Karin, Lisa Surihani, and many similar faces. And I like he’s quote “Bintang dicipta, bukan dilahirkan”. So, do you believe that talent is developed and not born. I do believe that everyone has talent and special skills which boleh digilap, di develop dan di asah and di perhebatkan. The challenge is “we don’t know what we’re good at, or for ?” So susah sikit nak develop, gilap dan asah.

Which brings me to the question and realization that Katy Perry’s Fireworks song’s lyrics…

“Do you ever feel like a plastic bag. Drifting through the wind. Wanting to start again.

Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin. Like a house of cards. One blow from caving in.

Do you ever feel already buried deep. Six feet under, scream. But no one seems to hear a thing”

So let me reveal our talented Unit Trust Consultants’ ranking in April 2011 which totaled RM3.624m. Good job to our Top 10 Personal Sales produces by rank :

Leaders did well to – MFGAM Jaslinah and MFAM Farah produces Personal Sales RM603,400 and RM319,589 for month of April 2011.

And congratulation to Siti Salehatun, from May onwards you’ve graduated from MFAS School to MFAM High School.

Some of these talents are home grown. Whereas some are half-cooked, we only added some encouragement and conviction.

In my humble conclusion – Leaders should help identify talent and develop their skills, whilst followers (downlines) should be teachable and embrace the relationship pro-actively.

Bon Voyage NSC-JUST Qualifiers ! Selamat berangkat dan bercuti sakan (all paid + 5 star accomodation) to New Zealand, Beijing & Phuket. Well deserved…

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Question : What is a good investment ?

Answer : Pulangan yang tinggi dalam jangkamasa yang pendek.

Question : What does a good investor look like ?

Answer : Like Warren Buffet – discipline, patient & sabar, looks at fundamentals of investment (true value, including the intrinsic or hidden value), willing to take calculated risk (short-term) for good gains (long-term), focus, belief etc

So ask ourselves, can we find “good investment” and be “good investor” ? So, this time around I’d like to share and a little preview into our recent Coaching Session conducted 7 May 2011 by combo of Jaslinah-Ida-Shahrul where we analyse this theory and long-time belief in ASB and ASB Loan. How many of us have blindly accepted the miracle of “feeling rich” almost instantaneously by taking loans and thereafter making so called “wise investment” decision with the loan amount.

Well, dear friends, we have all been deceived for oh so many years. Join me here and let me share with you the myth being busted !

Before that – a quick comparison :

Also note that the ASB dividends – pro rated over 12 months (means each months lowest amount is used to compute dividend) whilst ASB bonus units – pro rated over 120 month.

Also note that ASB has ZERO entry fee or charges whilst Unit Trust in Malaysia usually charges between 5% to 6.5% front loaded fee. This fee is insignificant for investors investing beyond 5 years ie. approximately 1% per year versus prospect returns of 12% or more per year. And often the unit trust comes with personal touch – consultants service at door step, with free valuation and professional advice. Investors are treated uniqe and special under unit trust versus ASB, where investors are merely a pool of investors. In addition many unit trust company package value-added benefits such as FREE Group Insurance, Wasiat & Trust Nomination to investors investing above RM100,000. No limit to RM250,000 per investor as ASB schemes.

So how did we bust the myth of ASB Loan Schemes ?

Two approaches Method 1 – common sense and Method 2 – perfect sense using software (will be discussed in Part 2).

METHOD 1 – Common Sense

Take a scenario. Persoalannya, is it bijak to take loan from bank and invest the amount lump sum (sekali gus) dan bayar bank bulan-bulan. Or is it more bijak to just do investment bulanan yang regular & discipline (seperti amount yang bayar bank) ?

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P. Ramlee song “Dimana kan ku cari ganti… ”

So true. When one passes away, demised or meninggal dunia, yang ditinggal hanya amalan & ilmu yang baik, anak yang soleh dan sedekah, amal jariah. Something along those lines. But also, yang ditinggal – suami or isteri, maybe isteri-isteri dan anak-anak dan yang seumpamanya.

Yang pergi tetap pergi, yang ditinggalkan masih perlu dijaga kebajikan mereka, supaya tidak ditimpa kesusahan dan kesukaran untuk terus hidup. Many Muslims assume that since the distribution of their estate to their legal heirs follow Faraid Principles, there is no need for them to write a Wasiat. Such ignorance on issues of Syariah distribution of harta pusaka may cause the grieving family members having to go through financial uncertainty. More often than not, absence of will or wasiat leads to family members squabble and fighting over whose the right heir and whose to own what and in what proportion.

PMB provides will and wasiat writing services and it could be FREE OF CHARGE for Mutual Gold investors. Our qualified Syariah lawyers will assist in drafting a reasonably comprehensive wasiat for PMB investors. It can be done in 1 week, as when i did my wasiat. Seriously, its not that difficult but we contemplate, we give excuses and we stay in denial that its not urgent. My dear friends, WASIAT is SUNAT MUAKKAD and I urge you to appreciate these excerpt from the holy Qur’an and our Prophet’s Hadis below to understand the significance and urgency of drafting a muslim’s wasiat.

From the Qur’an, An-Nisaa’:12

“in what your wives leave, your share is a half, if they leave no child; if they leave a child, you get fourth; after payment of legacies and debts. In what ye leave, their share is fourth if ye leave no child, but if ye leave a child, they get an eight : after payment of legacies and debts. If the man or women whose inheritance is in question has left neither ascendants nor descendants, but has left a brother or a sister, each one of the two gets a sixth: but if more than two, they share in a third: after payment of legacies and debts: so that no loss is caused to any one, thus is it ordained by God; and God is All-Knowing Most Forbearing.”

And from the Hadith of Rasullullah SAW :

“it is not permissible for any Muslim who has something to Wasiat to stay for two nights without having his Wasiat written and kept ready with him”

(Hadith riwayat Bukhari and Muslim)

“ Whoever dies leaving a Wasiat, he dies on the path of Islam, dies in accordance to Sunnah, dies in Taqwa (piety), dies in Syahadah (witness) and his death (sins) will be forgiven”

(Narrated by Ibn Majah)

From an Islamic Financial Planning point of view – distribution of wealth can be done via tools such as wasiat and hibah. The diagram below shows the 5 areas of Financial Planning. (Note : Unit Trust is used for wealth creation & accumulation).

A main misconception to many muslims – upon demise, ALL HARTA PUSAKA will be subjeted to FARAID Principles. A truly misleading assumption which causes many muslims’ failure of not preparing their wasiat. Many still insist that if all harta pusaka is Faraid-able, then whats the point of drafting a wasiat ?

(Note : about 16 million muslims in Malaysia but only 200,000 wasiat prepared ie. less than 1% have wasiat)

Truth is, upon demise, 5 steps will have to be followed and that Faraid is the very LAST few step. Refer the diagram below.

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Occasionally we have to sharpen our tools in the shack.

I have designed a new illustration of our funds – all 55 of ‘em. And as i promised (during our coaching session 7 May 2011 when discussing “UT vs ASB vs ASB Loan”), the diagrams can be downloaded here. Just hang on a minute, and appreciate some important points about PMB and PMB funds.

Feature 1 : Number 1

This means

• most awarded Unit Trust Company & Funds (above 100 awards)
• largest Private UTMC RM40b in size of funds managed
• above 40% market share
• largest pool of Unit Trust Consultants
• largest number of accountholders; above 2 million

The Value & Benefits

• Large funds – provides economies of scale ie. able employ best fund managers and best technology & research. Also able to lower cost per transaction (investment, administration, value added features)
• Brand recognition – endorsed by large number of investors due to consistent good performance. Thus, its a well-known and trusted brand. Also that funds are very marketable and easy to sell.
• Sufficient size of funds to invest overseas and engage quality external fund managers and market research
• Continuity and security – Unit Trust Company will be difficult to be taken over by other Unit Trust Management Company (less likely of disruption in funds management and investment strategies & mandate in the hands of different fund managers as in the case of mergers and acquisition). And it is easily recognized by global players and foreigners when investing in Malaysia.

Feature 2 : Large Number of Funds

This means

• 55 total funds (22 Syariah Unit Trust Funds)
• 21 total funds eligible for EPF Scheme (9 Syariah Unit Trust Funds)

The Value & Benefit

• ample choice to choose
• variety of funds to suit different risk profile and meet different financial planning needs of investors
• easier to apply unit trust investment strategies of – tactical allocation and diversification

Feature 3 : Lower Service Charge of 5.5% cash & 3% EPF

This means

• Easier break even and profit faster from investment
• Quality funds with 5 star quality at competitive cost

The Value & Benefit

• value for money without compromising on quality

Feature 4 : Value Added – various

Example for Mutual Gold & Mutual Gold Elite investors

• Free insurance
• Free will & wasiat writing service
• Free Trust Nomination services

So I guess the grass is definitely GREENER here !

Now, you can have the PMB Funds 2D illustration.

P/S Coaching materials “UT vs ASB vs ASBLoan” still in progress. Sabar ye…

Selamat menyambut Hari Pekerja/Buruh.

Honestly I don’t see why we celebrate this Labor Day. Does the employees feel celebrated ? If not, apakah cara terBAIK untuk majikan celebrate pekerja mereka ? Hmmm – more gaji, less working hours, good office ambience, less office politics & *ss kissing. HA HA HA mana ada majikan macam ni ? Sebab tu the answer is “BERNIAGA” “Kerja untuk Diri Sendiri” “You ! Be your own BOSS”. (Contact me to know how +012-2037003  +017-3014171).

Recently, an interesting question was posted to me – tentang EMAS, Gold or AURUM (scientific name for gold & symbol “AU”). According to the penyoal …some investors cash out of stock & unit trust and rush into buying gold which supposedly promises 30% return a year. For those without the ability to buy gold, they borrow from banks (i suppose taking personal loans or refinance their house loans) to “invest” in gold. Question is – are these wise moves or fools ?….

Honestly I do not have the answer ! If there are so many believers that gold will reach USD2000 level – it may happen as “self fulfilling prophercy” sebab everybody who believes (harga gold akan sampai USD2000) akan continue to buy (invest) in gold until it reached that USD2000 level. Sama juga if there are believers that in MAY – JUNE 2011 GOLD BUBBLE akan pecah (bacalah research “Log-Periodic Oscillation Analysis and Possible Burst of the “Gold Bubble” in April – June 2011″ by Arkayev et al 2010), mungkin akan pecahlah bubble tersebut.

Sebab itu the wise investors will diversify – allocate duit di dalam pelbagai pelaburan – saham dan bon, unit trust, commodity terpilih (gold, silver), hartanah (real estate, tanah, rumah) dan sebagainya. Seterusnya perlu faham, tidak ada investor yang terror sangat sampai boleh dapat 100% or maximum profit in all their investment decisions. Mustahil bin ajaib ! Kekadang perlu terima sikit losses. So long as the profits are greater than the losses, we should be on the right track.

Now, soalan cepu-emas “Kenapa harga emas naik dan terus naik ? Adakah harga emas mempunyai harapan untuk terus naik lagi ?

As I wrote eralier, I do not have the answer but I do understand the reason why harga emas kelihatan seperti naik tanpa tanda-tanda akan burst. Harga sesuatu commodity dalam jangka panjang memang dipengaruhi oleh supply and demand factors. Memandangkan emas suatu commodity yang tidak mudah dicari dan nilainya diiktiraf sedunia, maka demand terhadap emas akan sentiasa melebihi supply emas (carigali & production). Dengan itu bila demand lebih dari supply, maka dalam jangka masa panjang, harga emas sepatutnya “naturally on the rise”. Soalannya jangka panjang itu berapa panjang ?

Malangnya, tak lah semudah itu. Sebab harga emas dinilai dalam US Dollars America (USD) dan soalnya USD sekarang kurang stabil dan affected by keadaan economy USA. Disini, harga emas jangka panjang menjadi “mangsa” kepada economy USA – selagi economy US sluggish dan matawang USD “lemah” (Quntitative Easing 1 & 2 – print more USD paper money), maka selagi itulah boleh dilihat harga emas “artificially on the rise”. Similar phenomenon dengan harga minyak sedunia dan lain-lain commodity denominated in US Dollars.

Lihat gambarajah dibawah – harga emas (1883 – 1999) juga turun naik seperti commodity yang lain. Especially in years 1930, 1971, 1983-85 dan 1997 -99 due the economic recession & financial crisis. Only after year 2000 harga emas mengalami trend harga naik. Tetapi, please also analyse harga emas jangka pendek (tahun ke tahun) – juga turun naik mengikut fundamental semasa.

Harga emas 1995 – sekarang.

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