There is a difference between the operations of a pension fund and a provident fund. A pension fund promises fixed benefits to the pensioners and may face a deficit when the value of its assets fall below its obligations. This is explained here: http://www.cnbc.com//id/45307724 In a p...
It is important to define what is meant by "private lives". In cases where people have jobs with normal working hours, the boundaries are usually clear between their private lives and their work. The bus driver becomes an employee when he starts his working day and reverts to being a ...
I retired from NTUC Income on 28 February 2007, after heading this cooperative for 30 years. I now run a consultancy company. See www.tankinlian.com. I write this blog to give my views on insurance, investment and financial planning for the benefit of consumers. You can contact me at ...
I retired from NTUC Income on 28 February 2007, after heading this cooperative for 30 years. I now run a consultancy company. See www.tankinlian.com. I write this blog to give my views on insurance, investment and financial planning for the benefit of consumers. You can contact me at ...
The Prime Minister has announced that the CPF contribution rate for older workers will be increased gradually. I suggest that the PM take a bold step and revert to a uniform contribution rate to all workers, regardless of age. Older workers who are not productive (due to age) has alre...
It is sad that our education system has produced people who act in a selfish manner, as explained in this article. http://singaporedesk.blogspot.com/2012/02/selfish-reasons.html This is the outcome of a competitive model. By stressing "excellence", we encourage our young to compete at...
Most of the political leaders and top civil servants in Singapore were scholars. They were brought up in a competitive school environment and did well in their studies to earn scholarships. They were placed into top positions and saw the world from their perspective. I thought of the ...
Facebook is worth over USD 100 billion, according to analysts who are forecasting the results of the IPO. I do not find the business model of Facebook to be sustainable. I expect that their value will fall sharply over the next few years. I do not see how they can find a revenue strea...
Groupon shares plunge after posting disappointing financial results http://money.cnn.com/2012/02/08/technology/groupon_earnings/index.htm?section=money_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fmoney_topstories+%28Top+Stories%29 I find that their busi...
Workers are afraid to lose their jobs, so they work longer hours. This is a bad system as it leads to a poor quality of life and makes it more difficult for the unemployed to find jobs. Read this report: http://www.cnbc.com//id/46253669 The solution is better protection of workers. La...
In running my small business, I have to use the online process of government agencies, such as ACRA, CPF, MOM and IRAS to submit requests and returns. I find the process to be quite complicated, as I am forced to go through many webpages, and read a lot of information (that do not app...
Every Govt in the world would latch on climate change as a whipping boy, they themselves are the actual culprits contributing to the bizarre change. The relentless chase after the economic $ transforms into destroying productive agricultural farms and green lung forests to build concr...
I retired from NTUC Income on 28 February 2007, after heading this cooperative for 30 years. I now run a consultancy company. See www.tankinlian.com. I write this blog to give my views on insurance, investment and financial planning for the benefit of consumers. You can contact me at ...
An American told me that 30 years ago, the banks will give a mortgage to the borrower to buy a house for not more 3 years of the income of the breadwinner (and the income of the working spouse is disregarded). The bank also required the borrower to make a down-payment of 10% for the h...
This letter was sent to Today paper on 1 Feb 2012 (but not published yet) Reduce cost of doing business Mr. James Ang (Crutch mentality in businesses, 1 Feb) said that our business federations should not just lobby for subsidies, grants and tax incentives, but get their members to inn...
Singapore has many strange rules to determine who qualifies for certain benefits. Here is an example about the income ceiling that qualifies for a BTO (built-to-order) or subsidised HDB flat. http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/11/bto-flat-income-ceiling-rules-why-include-commissions-but...
The online processes of several Government ministries are terrible - they make life difficult for the public. I have bad experience with the Ministry of Manpower in respect of getting work passes and making CPF top-ups. My friend told me that he had a lot of trouble in submitting an a...
I retired from NTUC Income on 28 February 2007, after heading this cooperative for 30 years. I now run a consultancy company. See www.tankinlian.com. I write this blog to give my views on insurance, investment and financial planning for the benefit of consumers. You can contact me at ...
This letter was sent to Today paper on 1 Feb 2012 (but not published yet) Reduce cost of doing business Mr. James Ang (Crutch mentality in businesses, 1 Feb) said that our business federations should not just lobby for subsidies, grants and tax incentives, but get their members to inn...
Dr. Toh Chin Chye and CPF withdawal age Education - equality or excellence? Excellent speech by Dr. Toh Chin Chye Welcome immigrants to Singapore Japan electronic giants post a loss High respect for Dr. Toh Chin Chye Give better treatment to visitors International Advisory Panel of MA...
I retired from NTUC Income on 28 February 2007, after heading this cooperative for 30 years. I now run a consultancy company. See www.tankinlian.com. I write this blog to give my views on insurance, investment and financial planning for the benefit of consumers. You can contact me at ...
I retired from NTUC Income on 28 February 2007, after heading this cooperative for 30 years. I now run a consultancy company. See www.tankinlian.com. I write this blog to give my views on insurance, investment and financial planning for the benefit of consumers. You can contact me at ...
This is an excellent speech by Dr. Toh Chin Chye. He is a leader with conviction and can think on his own. A wonderful person., http://www.tremeritus.com/2012/02/04/1983-parliamentary-debate-revisited-dr-toh-blasted-goh-chok-tong-on-medisave-scheme/ I agree with his views about Medisa...
All that we could say the PAP is using the same instant tree planting tactic to solve immediate problems, to plug up the holes quickly. Are they tinkering with the "scotched earth policy", making money fast irrespective of any ill effects that arise out of such short sighted policies....
Even a private B plan will cost you a bomb at this age. You also require underwriting. At your age I doubt you don't have medical conditions. It is better to stay where you are. If you are hospitalised choose a C ward and get subsidy. Deductible and co insurance is not big for medishi...
In the CNA Talking Point episode "Policing The Internet", MP (Tampines GRC) Baey Yam Keng claimed that the Ministry of Law sees the internet as another platform for real world criminals to operate from, and people need to be protected from fraud, cyber-bullying, etc. The timing of gaz...
I remembered that Dr. Toh took a strong stand against the PAP government's very unpopular 'Graduate Mother' scheme which gave priority to the primary one registration of their children in 1984/1985. He argued convincingly that we should not use human intelligence to set education poli...
