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Posted by Ivan

My attention was caught by the Forbes Asia March 24, 2008 issue with the cover page title starring out “1,125 Billionaires”. Flipping through it immediately gave me the names of the Top 20 richest people in the world, wanna know who they are? I am sure you would like to find out. New faces to this year’s leagure included 3 Russians and 1 Indian. Success in life at most times are equated to riches at least to many people. How much can one amass over the years, it makes one wonders. While many would argue as to riches as an indicator that is key to such measurement of success, one cannot deny the fact that riches do come hand in hand with success in life.

Forbes has kept the world informed of those that have really made it to the Billionaires club. In the latest Forbes Billionaires 2008, some interesting facts do come up;

- Bill Gates ceded the title of richest to his friend Warren Buffett, after several years in the position
- People from other parts of the world is fast catching up
- Number of billionaires kept increasing and now exceeded 1000 with 226 new comers
- People making to the list now is inceasingly coming from the younger age group. 50 of the billionaires are under the age of 40
- Average age of billionaire is 61 down from 62 the previous years. This has been dropping with more younger age making to the club
- Top 20 richest, previous years dominated by the Americans are now seeing Russian and Indian making to the list
- 2 years ago, half the top 20 billionaires were from the U.S. Now there are only 4. India and Russia now also have 4 each
- One in six billionaires are resident of Moscow, New York or Hong Kong
- The Asian are fast catchng up

With such riches, it must be mind boggling, what to do with so much of wealth and one wonders how the rich lives out their lifestyle. It made my mind run wild that wealth created and in control at the hands of those few people who have the well-being of the world and its people at heart, can do so much. And many of the richest have indeed, led and played their part in this area. I am just hoping that these people will continue to be blessed with much good fortune and lead a healthy and lengthy life, so that whatever goodness they are doing, will continue and expand in the years to come.

Many would frown on such degree of wealth, but come to think of it, what’s wrong with it. It is only a means to something and so long as one has within his heart the spirit to share with the rest in need, and for the good cause. How I wish I can have ability and start imagining the good that I can bring to this world.

Find out the Top 20 Billionaires of the World by clicking at http://www.forbes.com

Where do you think the richest hangout, wanna know a bit of their lifestyle. Check this out at http://www.forbes.com/2008/04/30/billionaires-london-moscow-biz-billies-cz_cv_0430billiecities.html

Yours truly,
Ivan

Feel free to share your feedback on the topic by clicking the Comment below.

Posted by Ivan

Gone are the days of and lining up and queuing long lines to conduct one’s banking needs and services. Today, the tag line is “Click is replacing the brick.” And with the advent of the internet that started it all, banking has ten on a new meaning, with most banking needs now made available and can be performed via electronic means anytime, anywhere and anyhow.

A check around the banks in town will tell you that electronic banking is now the order of the day, if the Bank does not offer electronic banking or its associated product and services such as e-debit, credit cards for convenience banking services, it is unlikely for the organization to remain in business for long.

Today’s banking services can be performed over a myriad of devices and channels, be it at the conventional branch teller service center and outlets or a range of so-called e-channels comprising the ubiquitous self-service devices such as ATMs, Cheque Deposit Machines, Cash Deposit Machine, Kiosks, Telephone Banking, Mobile Phone Banking, Web/Internet Banking, Interactive Voice Center or Call Center.

Customers have never had it so good, with such a multitude of channels to suit their needs and preferences. The associated ATM, Debit and Credit Cards with linkages to the respective accounts at the financial institutions, have also foster much quicker, speedier and convenient banking services that can be performed in the comfort of the home or remotely so long as there is an internet or telephone connection.

Apart from this, banks have also come together and collaborated in a lot of ways, to facilitate inter-bank and cross-institutional transactions and payment. Such collaboration has also seen the effort being extended to cross countries at the regional level. For example, ATM accounts for some banks now offer cross-country withdrawal from ATMs for countries such as Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, China etc.

Banks and financial institutions have invested tremendous amount of money into building such infrastructure and likely to continue in the near future. And different banks have also lined up their own respective initiatives and programmes to out-do each other to capture the share of wallet of the customer. One cannot deny the fact that today’s banking is so much more convenient and easy compare to the olden days. Such convenience is likely to improve further with most banks lining up many projects to improve customer convenience, satisfaction and overall service excellence.

What have some local banks done about this?

Find out More >> AsiaBanking&FinanceJun/Jul2008

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Posted by Ivan October 7, 2008

Going through some of my old emails, I stumbled upon one article that was sent to me some time back. And going through it, it make me realize that what life has so much to offer, it is only for us to see and seize the opportunity. It makes me wonder that one must be grateful for whatever we are endowed with, while striving for the best.

What you are about to see was seen at a Chinese modern dance competition broadcasted on one of China ’s TV stations. One couple won one of the top prizes. The lady has one arm and the guy has one leg. They performed gracefully and beautifully.

The lady in her 30s was a dancer and was trained as one since she was a little girl. Later she got into some kind of accident and lost her entire left arm. She was depressed for a few years. It seemed that someone asked her to coach a Children’s dancing group. From that point on, she realized she could not forget dancing. She still loved to dance. She wanted to dance again. So she started to do some of her old routines. But by her losing an arm, she also lost her balance. It took
a while before she could even making simple turns and spins without falling. Eventually she got it.

Then she heard some guy in his 20s had lost a leg in an accident. This guy also fell into the usual denial, depression and anger type of emotional roller coaster. She looked him up (seemingly he was from a different Province) and persuaded him to dance with her. He had never danced. And to dance with one leg? Are you joking with me? No way. But she didn’t give up. He reluctantly agreed. ‘ I have nothing else to do anyway.’ She started to teach him dancing 101. The two broke up a few times because the guy had no concept of using muscle, control his body, and a few other basic things about dancing. When she became frustrated and lost patience with him, he would walk out. Eventually they came back together and started training. They hired a choreographer to
design routines for them. She would fly high (held by him) with both arms (a sleeve for an arm) flying in the air. He could bend horizontally supported by one leg and she leaning on him, etc. They
danced beautifully and they legitimately beat others in the competition.

I would like to share with you this most magnificent and touching performance I have ever seen! It is a living proof that strong spirit can conquer any physical limitations! View the performance below;

Find out more >>

I hope the video has inspired you to view life more positively and start to take actions to become better.

Yours truly,
Ivan

Feel free to share your feedback by clicking on the Comment below.

Posted by Ivan

Recently, my youngest son was lucky enough to be accepted into the LSE , London to pursue a 3 years degree course. Am I must say that in hindsight, I am thankful that I had unknowingly plan and prepare well to be able to afford the exorbitant cost of sustaining a kid for an overseas course. Some 30 years back, whoever has heard and thought about financial planning and financial freedom.

Back then, I remember that there are only a limited number of higher institutions. But today, there are a long list of so-called universities etc. As a parent, I would say that there are of course a lot more opportunities given that one has the financial resources, for local institutions or twinning programs.

So for young married couples out there with kids that are on their way to higher learnings in many years to come, adequate and sound financial planning is essential. At the fundamental level, there must be initial savings, excess that can be put aside to invest.

I am sure many would say that there is already insufficient to spend, so where to say. My own experiences and my advice to many is that we must start by keeping some savings. And no matter how difficult, one can also try to force himself to say for initial duration. Only when there is such savings, can this amount be applied to investment to grow.

Of late, financial planning has taken on a prominent role in the society, and a good knowledge of the principle behind financial planning is essential for one to making wise decision on such matter. People has been talking about financial freedom and many have offered many steps by steps to achieving financial freedom. Recently, I came upon to read an article that talk about the 5 elements to achieve financial freedom. From it, I can see that the above subject while it applies to all, each has a different perspective dependent on the circumstances one is when and what one wish to achieve out of it. Something that requires a self-reflection of his circumstances, his capability, lifestyle, the economy, his needs and objectives. In it, the expert calls for the application of the following 5 elements to one’s life;

a) Spending - inversely related to our ability to achieve financial freedom
b) Inflation – an important element to determining the purchasing power that one needs to
maintained
c) Return on Investment (ROI) – the lower the ROI required, the easier to achieve the objective
d) Time - it is not just only the amount that one talks about, but the timing of when and how the
funding is required, and last but not least
e) Saving – the more one can save the better and easier to achieve the target objective, a direct
impact to the financial freedom.

So it make sense for one to first reflect on his own circumstances before embarking on the route to achieving his financial freedom.

Find out More >>5 elements to achieve financial freedom” by Yap Ming Hui-NST(5/10/08)

Yours truly,
Ivan

:Feel free to share your feedback on the topic by clicking the Comment below.

Posted by Ivan 

The last few weeks of events and happenings in the business world has raised many eye-brows and caused for grave concern from many.  Just as the world reeled from the world of chaos from terrorism, natural disasters,  the recent few weeks event is liken to an upheaval of economic unrest of untold proportions.   Countries from the US, to the European and Asian  have all reacted adversely to whatever that is happening to the  world of business and economics.