Sexual Wellbeing Survey

Durex, a condom maker, conducted a Sexual Wellbeing Survey in 26 countries on 26,000 people from Aug-Sep06 and publish the report in April 07.

Some some parts of the report with you
* 42 per cent of all Singaporean lovers find their sex lives exciting.

* Nearly half (48%) of those aged over 55 practise oral sex and more than a third act out sexual fantasies.

* Singapore men have had average eight partners, Singapore women 3 partners.

* Globally men have 13 partners while women have 7 partners on average.

* Asians spend less time in intercourse and rarely get orgasm and work is more important for Asians than sex.
* Greeks are most sexually active people while Japanese are least sexually active people. Greeks have sexual intercourse 164 times a year while Japanese have only 46 times. Global average is 106 times a year.
* Nigerians have most fruitful sex life (78%) while Japanese are least enjoying their sex life with just 10% are leading joyful sexual life.
* Indians are quick in ending their sex session (13 minutes) while Nigerians are averaging 24 minutes per session.

How to lead good sex life?

1. One should have good physical and emotional health.
2. Control chronic diseases like Diabetes and Hypertension.
3. Control stress by practicing meditation and yoga.
4. Good body chemistry with partner.
5. Consult with physician about your sexual health problems.
6. Experiment with your sex life by practicing new ideas, positions.
7. Emotional attachment with your partner is crucial.
8. Don’t forget your sex life is in your hands.
Active and enjoyable sexual life is crucial for good wellbeing.

Inappropriate Advice (2)

The 2nd Inappropriate Advice that I heard is from NTUC Income with their revosave plan.

Step 1:
Ask "What is your fixed yearly expenses?" Eg, Road-tax, Car Insurances, Life Insurances, etc
Eg: $2,500
Step 2:
Based on your yearly expenses, we have a savings plan that can pay off your yearly fixed cost, let you have a free insurance and at the same time, savings. For $2,500 cash-back, your insurance cover will be $50,000 and your yearly premium is only $3,600
Step 3:
Not bad, I pay $3,600, get back $2,500 yearly, free $50,000 insurance cover and yet able to save. I'll get it!!!

Why Inappropriate Advice?
1) If ones have intention to save $3,600 and get back $2,500 yearly, the person might as well save $1,100 a year. Why lock yourself up with a $3,600 plan and the adviser make a big commission.
2) If one withdraw his cashback yearly, the eventual yield on maturity is less than 2%. With such rate, might as well save in bank.
3) Best returns for such plan is to invest and withdrawal option should be chosen only in years of hardship or real needs to the money.
4) Not sure if the customer knows that he will get significantly lesser money than he put on maturity if he chose withdrawal option yearly.

Inappropriate Advice (1)

I learnt 2 sales tips from experienced and so called "MDRT" advisers. I'm sorry to say that these are inappropriate advices. I hope consumers will wake up their ideas!!! I'm disappointed when I learnt that such advices were given out by them.

1st one from Prudential

Step 1:
Convince them how good our China-India Fund is. Average returns 20%. Its rising, don't miss the boat. China is booming with 1 billion people.
Step 2:
Invest $50k into the fund. Presuming average returns only 5% p.a, you will make $2,500/yr. If 10%, your returns will be $5,000/yr. If 20% repeats this year, it will be $10,000.
Step 3:
Your profit is more than enough to buy into our Regular Premium Prulink Assurance plan with premium of $2,500/yr with a high coverage. If your returns is $10,000, you would already pay off 4 yrs of your premium.
Step 4:
Convince your customer that they will have a free policy(Prulink) when they invest their lumpsum of money in our funds.

Why Inappropriate advice?
1) China-India fund, being emerging markets are highly volatile. It returns 20%, it can drop 20% also. Many advisers avoid telling about risk but focus on returns only.
2) We advice people to invest, not "Speculate" or "Gamble" all our money like this. We should diversify properly after understanding investors profile and rebalance regularly.
3) Yes. The profit can be withdrawn for personal use. But why go and sign up that Prulink assurance and give that adviser another policy to make big commission.
4) The high cover in the Prulink assurance comes with a cost, esp when they reach 50 yrs and above. It is not a 2-in-1 policy. Go and buy a term policy instead if you wants cover.

I'll write about the 2nd inappropriate advice few days later.

World's Five Healthiest Food

Leading Health Magazine "Health Periodic" had listed 5 most healthiest food in the world in their recent report. 3 out of the 5 are from Asia. Not bad. Which 5 are listed in it? Let me share...

1. Kimchi (Korea)

Kimchi (or kimchee) is loaded with vitamins A, B, and C, but its biggest benefit may be in its “healthy bacteria” called lactobacilli, found in fermented foods like kimchi and yogurt. This good bacteria helps with digestion, plus it seems to help stop and even prevent yeast infections even prevent the growth of cancer.

2. Olive Oil (Spain)

Antioxidant-rich olive oil protects against heart disease by controlling LDL, or bad, cholesterol levels while raising HDL, or good, cholesterol. In fact, it’s such a health boon that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lets olive oil producers put a heart-health claim on their labels.

3. Soy (Japan)

Protein-packed soy is high in isoflavones, estrogen-like substances linked to the prevention of cancer and osteoporosis. But its biggest draw may be the dozens of studies showing soy is good for your heart

4. Yogurt (Greece)

Yogurt promotes intestinal and vaginal health, improves lactose intolerance, builds stronger bones, enhances immunity, lowers blood pressure, and may even have anticancer and weight-loss effects.

5. Lentils - India

This “superfood” gives you protein and cholesterol-lowering soluble fiber, as well as about twice as much iron as other legumes. And lentils are higher in most B vitamins and folate, which is especially important for women of childbearing age because folate reduces the risk of birth defects. Plus, U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers discovered that the pigment in Beluga black lentils acts like an antioxidant and helps protect against heart disease, cancer, and the aging process in general.

10 jokes abt man and woman

Stress Reliever # 1
Wife : You always carry my photo in your handbag to the office. Why?
Hubby : When there is a problem, no matter how impossible, I look at your picture and the problem disappears.
Wife : You see, how miraculous and powerful I am for you?
Hubby : Yes, I see your picture and say to myself, "What other problem can there be greater than this one?"

Stress Reliever # 2
Girl: When we get married, I want to share all your worries, troubles and lighten your burden.
Boy: It's very kind of you, darling, But I don't have any worries or troubles.
Girl: Well that's because we aren't married yet.

Stress Reliever # 3
Son: Mom, when I was on the bus with Dad this morning, he told me to give up my seat to a lady.
Mom: Well, you have done the right thing.
Son: But mum, I was sitting on daddy's lap.

Stress Reliever # 4
Wife to husband: "What's your excuse for coming home at this time of the night?"
Husband to wife: "Golfing with friends, my dear."
Wife to husband: "What? At 2 am?!"
Husband to wife: "Yes, We used night clubs."

Stress Reliever # 5
Interviewer to Millionaire: "To whom do you owe your success as a millionaire to?"
Millionaire: "I owe everything to my wife."
Interviewer: "Wow, she must be some woman. What were you before you married her?"
Millionaire: "A Billionaire"

Stress Reliever # 6
Girl to her boyfriend: One kiss and I'll be yours forever.
The guy replies: Thanks for the warning.

Stress Reliever # 7
A husband was asked: Do you talk to your wife after sex?He replied: Depends, if I can find a phone.

Stress Reliever # 8
Man to wife on wedding night: Are you sure I'm the first man you are
sleeping with?
Wife replied: Of course honey, I stayed awake with all the others!

Stress Reliever # 9
A wife asked her husband: What do you like most in me - my pretty face or my sexy body?
He looked at her from head to toe and replied: I like your sense of humour.

Stress Reliever # 10
Father to son after exam: "let me see your report card."
Son: "My friend just borrowed it. He wants to scare his parents."

New Stock Indexes from 1st Jan 08

Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), Singapore Exchange (SGX) and FTSE Group have jointly developed a new Straits Times Index (STI) as the Singapore stock market's main benchmark and created a family of new FTSE ST indices that will complement the STI.

What are these Indexes. I can share.

STRAITS TIMES INDEX (STI)

The revamped STI will comprise 30 blue-chip companies on the SGX Mainboard ranked by market capitalisation as at 31 August 2007

CAPITALAND
CAPITAMALL TRUST
CITY DEVELOPMENTS
COSCO CORP SINGAPORE
DBS GROUP HOLDINGS
FRASER AND NEAVE
GENTING INTERNATIONAL
HONG KONG LAND
JARDINE CYCLE & CARRIAGE
JARDINE STRATEGIC
KEPPEL CORP
KEPPEL LAND
NEPTUNE ORIENT LINES
NOBLE GROUP
OLAM INTERNATIONAL
OVERSEAS CHINESE BANKING
SEMBCORP INDUSTRIES
SEMBCORP MARINE
SIA ENGINEERING
SINGAPORE AIRLINES
SINGAPORE EXCHANGE
SINGAPORE PRESS HOLDINGS
SINGAPORE TECHNOLOGIES ENGINEERING
SINGAPORE TELECOM
STARHUB
THAI BEVERAGE
UNITED OVERSEAS BANK
WILMAR INTERNATIONAL
YANGZIJIANG SHIPBLDG HLDGS
YANLORD LAND GROUP

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FTSE ST INDEX SERIES

The STI will be complemented by a new family of FTSE ST indices that will consist of 5 benchmark and 13 industry indices, including a new theme index to represent China stocks listed in Singapore. The new indices, by tracking the different sectors of the Singapore market, will help investors make better-informed investment decisions.

FTSE ST Index Series
1. FTSE ST Mid Cap Index
2. FTSE ST Small Cap Index
3. FTSE ST All Share Index
4. FTSE ST Fledgling Index

Sector Indices
1. FTSE ST Oil and Gas Sector Index
2. FTSE ST Basic Materials Sector Index
3. FTSE ST Industrials Sector Index
4. FTSE ST Consumer Goods Sector Index
5. FTSE ST Healthcare Sector Index
6. FTSE ST Consumer Services Sector Index
7. FTSE ST Telecommunications Sector Index
8. FTSE ST Utilities Index
9. FTSE ST Financials Sector Index
10. FTSE ST Technology Sector index
11. FTSE ST Real Estate Index
12. FTSE ST Real Estate Holding and Development
13. FTSE ST Real Estate Investment Trusts

Theme Index
1. FTSE ST China Index

Common Types of Structured Deposits

Structured Deposits are Banks Consultants' Favourite when it comes to investment for Aunties and Uncles. The catch for these Uncle, Aunties is the word "Guaranteed". This investment instrument either guarantee some interest, usually as low as 1-2%p.a over a period of 5-7yrs or guarantee the principle on maturity.

What is a Structured Deposit?

A structured deposit combines deposit and an investment product, where the return is dependent on the performance of some underlying financial instrument such as market indices, equities, interest rates, fixed-income instruments, foreign exchange or a combination of these.

Common Types of Structured Deposits

1) Equity Linked Deposit

* Equity-linked deposits are linked to stocks, or a basket of stocks, as determined by the issuer or to an index such as S&P 500

2) Bond Linked Deposit

* Bond-linked deposits are linked to bonds (for example, Singapore Government Securities).

3) Interest Rate Linked Deposit

* Returns for such deposits are usually linked to a formula that makes reference to a specific floating interest rate

* The payouts on such deposits may also rise or "step up" at pre-determined points in time if the deposit is not redeemed by the issuer

4) Credit Linked Deposit

* Returns on this type of deposit is not linked to the performance of a financial instrument, but rather the occurrence of what is known as a "credit event" (for example, if a specified company becomes insolvent or defaults on its loans)

* Part of info extracted from MoneySense Website: www.moneysense.gov.sg

Hari Raya Puasa

Our Muslim friends celebrated Hari Raya Puasa yesterday. Just like to share with you the meaning behind this festival.

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Often mistaken as the New Year for the Muslim, it is actually the 10th month of the Muslim Calendar known as Shawal. Hari Raya Puasa is an occasion for celebration following a month of fasting(Ramadhan).

Prayers followed by a thanks-giving feasts are held in mosques on the morning of the occasion. It is a time of forgiveness within the Muslim community and a time for strengthening of bonds amongst relatives and friends. New clothes, decorated houses and exchange of invitations between friends and relatives commemorate Hari Raya Puasa. Children salam (greet) their parents on the morning of Hari Raya Puasa and ask for forgiveness and blessings.

The celebration of the festival extends to a month where importance is placed on the first three days. During the three days Muslim homes have an "open house" policy where friends and relatives visit. It is also customary during this period that graves of departed souls are visited and they are remembered in prayers.

The Malays would greet each other with Selamat Hari Raya, which means "happy day of joy" and the Indian Muslims would say Eid Mubarak, meaning "blessings of the holy day".

The Muslims follow the lunar calendar as opposed to the solar calendar and therefore the dates on which Hari Raya Puasa falls varies each year.

Visit to Changi Airport Terminal 3

Terminal 3 will be opened for Airlines in Jan-08.

I am one of the lucky ones who are able to go through a guided tour by the Airport Staffs, 2 months before opening.

A nice experience, having to walk through the Terminal all the way to the Aircraft belts. Just like to share some pictures with you.

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The overall feel as you enters the Departure Gallery. Look at the open concept roof that gives in natural lightings.

This is the Sky-train waiting area. There is another sky train in the transit area that goes to T1 and T2.

This is the immigration area in the Arrival Hall. Spacious and green with many plants around.

Checking in your luggages here

The gents where I can see the planes landing even when I'm doing my business

End of the day, I got my free T-shirt, Towel, lunch and a detailed guided Tour.
Its a great morning.

Coffeeshop Talk - $$ fm e Citizens

We had a family gathering yesterday and part of our Conversation below:

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Mum: IRAS recently crack down very hard on hawkers who misreport earnings. Some of them are hauled to court.

Adrian: Ya. Poor them. Some of them indeed under-report their earnings but many of them are simply ignorant on how to report. Some are family businsses and they don't have any accounting system.

Sis: These people sure kana fined one. You think IRAS will care about their problem how they run the biz?

Dad: Lately, I noticed that LTA are tightening up traffic and parking fines. I can see traffic polices at overhead bridges and wardens at every corner.

Mum: I also noticed that there are officers catching people smoking at Coffeeshops and Hawker Centres. Heard that each of them will be fined $200.

Sis: I think the govt need money already. They are trying to get more money from small Citizens like you and me.

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I feel what my sis says knock some senses into me. When the Govt reduces tax for big companies and the Ultra Rich, they will dig into the smaller citizens for more fines, penalties to breakeven. And when they give money, they only give to the lowest income people.

We, in the middle income range are the people who suffers. Only when it comes to election, they will give us something to buy our votes.

The Husband Store

THE HUSBAND STORE.

A store that sells new husbands has just opened in New York City, where a woman may go to choose a husband.

Among the instructions at the entrance is a description of how the store operates: You may visit this store ONLY ONCE!

There are six floors and the value of the products increase as the shopper ascends the flights. The shopper may choose any item from a particular floor, or may choose to go up to the next floor, but you cannot go back down except to exit the building!

So, a woman goes to the Husband Store to find a husband. On the first floor the sign on the door reads:

Floor 1 - These men Have Jobs.

She is intrigued, but continues to the second floor, where the sign reads:

Floor 2 - These men Have Jobs and Love Kids.

"That's nice", she thinks, "but I want more."So she continues upward. The third floor sign reads:

Floor 3 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, and are Extremely Good Looking.

"Wow," she thinks, but feels compelled to keep going.She goes to the fourth floor and the sign reads:

Floor 4 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Good Looking and Help With Housework.

"Oh, mercy me!" she exclaims, "I can hardly stand it!"Still, she goes to the fifth floor and the sign reads:

Floor 5 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Gorgeous, Help with Housework, and Have a Strong Romantic Streak.

She is so tempted to stay, but she goes to the sixth floor, where the sign reads:

Floor 6 - You are visitor 31,456,012 to this floor. There are no men on this floor. This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to please. Thank you for shopping at the Husband Store.

PLEASE NOTE:

To avoid gender bias charges, the store's owner opened a New Wives store just across the street.

The first floor has wives that love sex.

The second floor has wives that love sex and have money.

The third, fourth, fifth and sixth floors have never been visited

Future of Financial Advisers in Singapore

Following is an extraction from Former NTUC Income CEO, Mr Tan Kin Lian's blog and my comment in his posting. Its my view of the Financial Advisory Industry in the next 5 to 8 yrs

++ Qte ++

There is a useful role for financial advisers in giving impartial advice to customers. They should be paid a fee for the time spent. Many people told me that they are willing to pay a fee of $200 for financial advice.

The fee of $500 or more that is currently charged by some advisers is too high for most customers.It is possible for the adviser to reduce the fee to $200, if they are not required to spend too much time with the client.

The client can be asked to read a FAQ (frequently asked question) on financial matters before they see the adviser. It will be possible for the adviser to do a good job within 2 hours.

++ Unqte ++

My Comment...

* The above idea is a novel. Most people are unlikely to pay for financial services under current standards.
* Over short term, things will remain as it is. Commissioned agents and Independent Financial Advisors will be here to stay.
* Over mid term, commission structure will be reduced due to competitive forces. Agents will be reduced significantly and a transition in the industry sets in.
* Over long term, 2 types of financial adviser co-exist.
1) Fixed salaried staffs from banks and insurance companies that gives insurance and investment advices
2) Pure Financial Advisory firms with proper investment analysis tools and a very systematic approach in financial planning.

I personally feel that our cohort of Independent Financial Advisors are not really independent and unbias with their views.

High Pressure Sales Tactic

There are some Financial Advisers adopting high pressure sales tactic to get you buy their policies or investments. There are some who simply are not able to do it. Those not able to do such things and being too honest sometimes suffers with lesser income.

I have a recent experience whereby I did complete analysis, recommended proper investment allocation and funds selection in 3 appointments. She eventually did not buy from me but from a bank which she don't even know that she is investing in just 1 meeting. Initially angry with her but later feel that there is a problem. Does the problem lies with me, with her or the Bank adviser? The adviser might have adopted a more creative or agressive sales tactic whereas I rely too much facts and analysis for her.

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What are the tell-tale sign of such agressive sales tactics?

Below are some common phrases used.

1) "You can get the latest camera for free if you sign up!"

The financial product often comes bundled with an irresistible free gift to win you over.
2) "You can get a 10% annual return and enjoy many other benefits."

The benefits and high returns of the product are emphasized while the risks and fees are only briefly mentioned.
3) "This product is offered at a special rate now, for a limited period. You'll be missing out on a good opportunity."

This plays on your fear of missing out on the opportunity to make more money.
4) "Many people have signed up for this. What are you waiting for?"

The "majority is always right" concept is used to make you feel more assured.

How to protect yourself against such High Pressure Sales Tactics?

a) Never make a hasty decision without understanding what is being recommended.

b) Seek independent advice from trusted persons who are more knowledgeable.
c) Beware of sales persons who only promote the benefits of the product.

d) Read the fine print and ask as many questions as you need, e.g. about the risks, fees and charges.

e) Deal with your own emotions. Do you really need the product? If not, learn to say "No" and walk away.