Wow. Time flies. It has been 7 months since I posted a list detailing the history of cash calls for REITs.
I have just done an update to the list:
1). Added in new cash calls that happened within this period
2). Rearranged the list by alphabetical order
3). Added in past private placements which I have missed out
4). Created a page/tab to contain the information *points above* (or click here if you are using your mobile and am unable to view the page/tab)
From this point forward, any changes to the list will be reflected in that page/tab instead of a particular blog post. Still, I will update readers of any changes via blog postings.
I have some ideas to improve on the information presented, but it will take some time. As always, if there's any inaccuracies in the list, do drop me a comment. Thanks!
Sunday, March 19, 2017
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Correction: POSB Invest-Saver's monthly contribution amount can be readily tweaked!
Apparently the POSB staff made a boo boo.
In my post on Optimizing my POSB Invest-Saver Plan, I shared that changes to the monthly investment amount only takes effect on the next next month. This information was provided to me by the POSB staff.
However, a few days later.......
The following screenshot from my iBanking account shows otherwise.
This is good news. I can now "optimize" my indexing.
There's another point to be noted though. On the night itself (9 March 2017) when I made the change in contribution amount from $200/month to $100/month, the monthly contribution amount is still reflected in the system as $200/month. I did not pay attention to when exactly was my change request updated in the system. Who knows? It could have been the next working day (10 March 2017).
Whatever the case, when I do tweak my monthly contribution amount in the future, I'm going to set one buffer day for the changes to be reflected in the system.
Cheers
UN
In my post on Optimizing my POSB Invest-Saver Plan, I shared that changes to the monthly investment amount only takes effect on the next next month. This information was provided to me by the POSB staff.
However, a few days later.......
The following screenshot from my iBanking account shows otherwise.
There's another point to be noted though. On the night itself (9 March 2017) when I made the change in contribution amount from $200/month to $100/month, the monthly contribution amount is still reflected in the system as $200/month. I did not pay attention to when exactly was my change request updated in the system. Who knows? It could have been the next working day (10 March 2017).
Whatever the case, when I do tweak my monthly contribution amount in the future, I'm going to set one buffer day for the changes to be reflected in the system.
Cheers
UN
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Changes to Travel Smart Rewards
I received an email notification from Travel Smart Rewards today. For existing Travel Smart users, do take note of the following:
Travel Smart Rewards will be transformed soon! In 1 April 2017, a new Travel Smart Rewards will be launched on a refreshed portal with new features and games. As an existing user, you will be automatically transferred to the new system. All you need to do is to update your personal details, and we will reward you with additional perks. A personalised link to update your details will be sent to your existing email address next month.
For the current Travel Smart Rewards, the last day for earning of points is 17 Mar 2017. Please use up your current Rewards points by 31 Mar 2017. You can either convert them to cash (1,000 points = $1) or play the game for chances to win more cash prizes. Unused points after 31 Mar 17 will be auto-played and winnings will be credited to your registered bank account or CEPAS card.
More details on the new Travel Smart Rewards scheme will be announced in the next few weeks. Stay tuned for the exciting changes ahead!
Happy commuting!
Travel Smart Rewards Team
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Optimizing my POSB Invest-Saver Plan
I started out my investing journey in March 2015. Back then, I was very much influenced by the works of commercial financial bloggers.
"Buy STI ETF" they say.
"You sure can't go wrong with this. 8% returns per annum! Furthermore, you get instant diversification with 30 brand name counters which everyone knows!"
Books I read seemed to lend credence to this sentiment. After further research and being marginally aware of the drawbacks of passive indexing, I started plonking down $200 each month into the POSB Invest-Saver Plan.
Fast forward to now. The economy is not good and yet the market is going higher and higher. I ask myself. Am I going to mindlessly dollar cost average (DCA) my Nikko AM STI ETF investment higher, or should I take a more active approach in my passive indexing?
As it is nearing the 12th of the month (debit date for the POSB Invest-Saver), I have come up with a tentative plan:
If Nikko AM STI ETF > $3.00, invest $100 per month
Else, invest $200 per month
(I intend to use some technical indicators to provide a less arbitrary/more granular approach, but it's still on the drawing board.)
As Nikko AM STI ETF is currently at $3.19, here are the steps which I have taken to effect the change in monthly contribution:
1). Via DBS iBanking, select "More Investment Services" in the "Invest" header. You will see something like the screenshot below.
2). Select "Set Up Exchange Traded Fund Regular Savings Plan (RSP)." It's alright even if you have an existing Invest-Saver Plan. Your new application will supersede the previous arrangement you have with the bank. In the screenshot below, you can see me applying for a $100/month plan.
Annndddd......it's done!
P.S. I just learned that any changes to the monthly investment amount only takes effect on the next next month (e.g. I'll pay $200 and $100 on March and April, respectively). Ugh, so much for "optimizing." Time to learn how to time the market. >.<
"Buy STI ETF" they say.
"You sure can't go wrong with this. 8% returns per annum! Furthermore, you get instant diversification with 30 brand name counters which everyone knows!"
Books I read seemed to lend credence to this sentiment. After further research and being marginally aware of the drawbacks of passive indexing, I started plonking down $200 each month into the POSB Invest-Saver Plan.
Fast forward to now. The economy is not good and yet the market is going higher and higher. I ask myself. Am I going to mindlessly dollar cost average (DCA) my Nikko AM STI ETF investment higher, or should I take a more active approach in my passive indexing?
As it is nearing the 12th of the month (debit date for the POSB Invest-Saver), I have come up with a tentative plan:
If Nikko AM STI ETF > $3.00, invest $100 per month
Else, invest $200 per month
(I intend to use some technical indicators to provide a less arbitrary/more granular approach, but it's still on the drawing board.)
As Nikko AM STI ETF is currently at $3.19, here are the steps which I have taken to effect the change in monthly contribution:
1). Via DBS iBanking, select "More Investment Services" in the "Invest" header. You will see something like the screenshot below.
2). Select "Set Up Exchange Traded Fund Regular Savings Plan (RSP)." It's alright even if you have an existing Invest-Saver Plan. Your new application will supersede the previous arrangement you have with the bank. In the screenshot below, you can see me applying for a $100/month plan.
P.S. I just learned that any changes to the monthly investment amount only takes effect on the next next month (e.g. I'll pay $200 and $100 on March and April, respectively). Ugh, so much for "optimizing." Time to learn how to time the market. >.<
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Allocating edu-chest resources
I have done some additional thinking after my two posts on the Skillsfuture Qualification Award and the Post-Secondary Education Account. These are resources for us to utilize, to upgrade ourselves in the face of even greater uncertainty in the job market.
Besides the SkillsFuture credit, I have found other resources which could be used as well. As a whole, this pool of resources could be conceived of as an "edu-chest", a war chest of sorts to deploy for education/professional development purposes. In this piece, I will delimit "education/professional development courses" to refer to courses which range in cost from a couple of hundreds to maybe a couple of thousands.
Is there any optimal way in which the edu-chest could be used? Which resource should be used first, to give us the greatest bang for the buck?
Before proceeding, I have to highlight some assumptions I have made while writing this piece. First, you are under 30 years old. If you are above this age, you have one less resource to play around with (PSEA). Second, your company offers you a "decent" level of employee benefits. Third, you are as bo liao as me; some of the resources could be utilized for non-educational/non-professional development purposes.
Without further ado, I present the resources available:
1). SkillsFuture Credit
2). Employee training benefits
3). Company flexible benefits
4). Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA)
5). SkillsFuture Qualification Award
SkillsFuture Credit
If you do not know by now, the government has provided all Singaporeans aged 25 and above a sum of $500 to be used for learning purposes since January 2016. The government will be periodically topping up one's SkillsFuture credit at regular intervals (see MOM's website here). There is a lot of misinformation circulating around. I have heard from some that the $500 is a one-time thing. However, if you refer to the link above, that's not true.
I assumed the top-up will be done annually. However, don't quote me! I have yet to find any references to year 2017's SkillsFuture Credit top-up. Readers, if you do know, drop me a comment. Thanks!
As the SkillsFuture Credit is not interest-bearing (unlike the funds within the PSEA account), I am inclined to prioritize its use over the PSEA funds. If the top-ups turn out to be annual, I might not even have to use my PSEA funds at all if the courses I am interested in are affordable enough.
Since the credits are given by the government, you have the freedom to select the type of courses you would like to attend. Hence, you have the option to use the SkillsFuture credits to beef up your work-related skills or to pursue a side interest you are keen to develop. Remember, you have the flexibility here.
Employee training benefits
This are the training courses that your employer sends you to. As your employer will send you on training courses that are directly relevant to your job, you have less flexibility in determining the type of courses you enroll in.
I'm not sure how often your employer sends you for courses. Obviously, the more, the better right? (Okay....maybe it's just me who thinks that way....).
Company flexible benefits
Fine, fine. I know most people will use the flexible benefits on holidays and what not. For me, I choose to spend it on education/professional development.
Since flexible benefits are guaranteed renewable each year, use it fully! Prioritize using it over the SkillsFuture Credit as well as the PSEA funds. After all, flexi benefits are tied to your employment. Once a person ceases to be an employee, the organization will immediately cut off the flexi benefits.
Again, like the SkillsFuture Credit, you have the flexibility to use the flexible benefits in whatever way you want, provided it is within the stipulations of your company.
Post-Secondary Education Account
I have blogged about the PSEA account before, so I won't be explaining what it is here. The only thing that is worth highlighting is that the PSEA funds are interest-bearing. Therefore, I would encourage you to use the other non-interest bearing options first. This will allow your PSEA funds to compound for as long as possible.
If you overdo the education/professional development thing, you will eventually have to touch your PSEA funds though.
Since the PSEA funds are provided by the government, you are given the freedom to select courses based on your liking. You do not necessarily need to pursue courses that relate to your work.
SkillsFuture Qualification Award
I've also blogged about this before. To recap, you are entitled to some cash reward if you complete some courses recognized by WDA. Before enrolling into courses, just do a simple check with the course provider or WDA as to whether you are entitled to the cash reward upon course completion.
If have? Go for it.
If don't have, are there any similar courses that you could consider which will net you the cash reward?
If you don't really fancy the alternative, then forgo the alternative lah! Sure got opportunities in the future to take courses one mah!
Do note that the SkillsFuture Qualification Award is a one-time thing.
You can use the SkillsFuture Qualification Award for anything. Maybe additional courses? :X
That's all for now. In my next post, I will be sharing how I allocate these resources in my life. In the interim, do share if you know of any other resources which I have not considered. Thanks!
Besides the SkillsFuture credit, I have found other resources which could be used as well. As a whole, this pool of resources could be conceived of as an "edu-chest", a war chest of sorts to deploy for education/professional development purposes. In this piece, I will delimit "education/professional development courses" to refer to courses which range in cost from a couple of hundreds to maybe a couple of thousands.
Is there any optimal way in which the edu-chest could be used? Which resource should be used first, to give us the greatest bang for the buck?
Before proceeding, I have to highlight some assumptions I have made while writing this piece. First, you are under 30 years old. If you are above this age, you have one less resource to play around with (PSEA). Second, your company offers you a "decent" level of employee benefits. Third, you are as bo liao as me; some of the resources could be utilized for non-educational/non-professional development purposes.
Without further ado, I present the resources available:
1). SkillsFuture Credit
2). Employee training benefits
3). Company flexible benefits
4). Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA)
5). SkillsFuture Qualification Award
SkillsFuture Credit
If you do not know by now, the government has provided all Singaporeans aged 25 and above a sum of $500 to be used for learning purposes since January 2016. The government will be periodically topping up one's SkillsFuture credit at regular intervals (see MOM's website here). There is a lot of misinformation circulating around. I have heard from some that the $500 is a one-time thing. However, if you refer to the link above, that's not true.
I assumed the top-up will be done annually. However, don't quote me! I have yet to find any references to year 2017's SkillsFuture Credit top-up. Readers, if you do know, drop me a comment. Thanks!
As the SkillsFuture Credit is not interest-bearing (unlike the funds within the PSEA account), I am inclined to prioritize its use over the PSEA funds. If the top-ups turn out to be annual, I might not even have to use my PSEA funds at all if the courses I am interested in are affordable enough.
Since the credits are given by the government, you have the freedom to select the type of courses you would like to attend. Hence, you have the option to use the SkillsFuture credits to beef up your work-related skills or to pursue a side interest you are keen to develop. Remember, you have the flexibility here.
Employee training benefits
This are the training courses that your employer sends you to. As your employer will send you on training courses that are directly relevant to your job, you have less flexibility in determining the type of courses you enroll in.
I'm not sure how often your employer sends you for courses. Obviously, the more, the better right? (Okay....maybe it's just me who thinks that way....).
Company flexible benefits
Fine, fine. I know most people will use the flexible benefits on holidays and what not. For me, I choose to spend it on education/professional development.
Since flexible benefits are guaranteed renewable each year, use it fully! Prioritize using it over the SkillsFuture Credit as well as the PSEA funds. After all, flexi benefits are tied to your employment. Once a person ceases to be an employee, the organization will immediately cut off the flexi benefits.
Again, like the SkillsFuture Credit, you have the flexibility to use the flexible benefits in whatever way you want, provided it is within the stipulations of your company.
Post-Secondary Education Account
I have blogged about the PSEA account before, so I won't be explaining what it is here. The only thing that is worth highlighting is that the PSEA funds are interest-bearing. Therefore, I would encourage you to use the other non-interest bearing options first. This will allow your PSEA funds to compound for as long as possible.
If you overdo the education/professional development thing, you will eventually have to touch your PSEA funds though.
Since the PSEA funds are provided by the government, you are given the freedom to select courses based on your liking. You do not necessarily need to pursue courses that relate to your work.
SkillsFuture Qualification Award
I've also blogged about this before. To recap, you are entitled to some cash reward if you complete some courses recognized by WDA. Before enrolling into courses, just do a simple check with the course provider or WDA as to whether you are entitled to the cash reward upon course completion.
If have? Go for it.
If don't have, are there any similar courses that you could consider which will net you the cash reward?
If you don't really fancy the alternative, then forgo the alternative lah! Sure got opportunities in the future to take courses one mah!
Do note that the SkillsFuture Qualification Award is a one-time thing.
You can use the SkillsFuture Qualification Award for anything. Maybe additional courses? :X
That's all for now. In my next post, I will be sharing how I allocate these resources in my life. In the interim, do share if you know of any other resources which I have not considered. Thanks!
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