You have attended my signature program, the “Unlock Your Money” session, where I share practical strategies on managing your cashflow, allowing you to have more money in your pocket every month.
Right now, I would love your help. I am developing an educational platform to share more on Islamic Finance in Singapore, in a form of video format. I need your feedback and suggestions. View the video below to hear me out on my plans that will benefit anyone who is interested to know more about Islamic Finance.
After that, I appreciate it if you can drop a comment below on the topics you would like to personally benefit from my sharing sessions in the future. Insya’Allah…. 🙂
My wife and I went to a baking class last week, to learn how to bake macarons.
Some of my colleagues, were telling me,
“Aiyah… Why go for class? Just go to youtube and see how to make it!”
On that very day, when my instructor demonstrated to us in class, the procedures, step by step, I was telling myself… “Not bad… Mix here. Mix there, and its done! It looks pretty easy! :)”
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However, when it comes to our turn to do it on our own, I began to face difficulties. I started beating the egg white using the handheld mixer, while gradually adding the sugar, bit by bit .
I didn’t know when to stop beating the egg whites. When to add the colouring? When to add the almond mixture? Fortunately, the trainers were there to guide and show me how to test the texture of our batter, step by step, before adding the rest of the ingredients, one by one.
Even to stir the batter using a spatula has a technique to it! 🙂
From a stressful situation, it became a joyful experience for a novice baker like me, who has never operated a mixer before in my life. The experts were there to guide me and my wife. 🙂
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and finally the final product! 😛
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While learning to bake macarons, I listened to the experiences of my classmates on how they tried to learn to bake macarons on their own and failed.
The trainers shared useful tips with us. Example, the egg whites have to be refrigerated for 3 days, the particular type of food colourings to use and many other tips that I won’t be able to discover unless I learn it from a professional baker.
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When I returned home and consolidated my thoughts, I can relate this to my profession as a financial planner. Many times, our prospects out there thought they can manage their money and their portfolio on their own. They think they don’t need help.
When they face financial problems, they try to troubleshoot on their own. When they want to buy insurance, they try to do it on their own, without seeking advice from us, the financial professionals.
At last, what happens? Many were faced with helpless situations when in need. They don’t understand what they bought. Things that insurance doesn’t allow them to claim, they try to claim. Things that insurance allows them to claim, they don’t claim.
Worse – some lost their money in get-rich-quick schemes that promise them attractive returns in a very short period of time.
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After advising thousands of Singaporeans out there on personal finance since year 2007, I genuinely feel that everyone should seek professional help when it comes to managing their own money.
Qualified financial advisors like us, harness our skillset to troubleshoot, save and bail individuals from disastrous financial situations. I personally have created proven systems on how anyone can instantly have more money inside their pockets every month, how you can accumulate money fast and how you can grow your money in a shariah compliant way in Singapore..
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My friends… If you want to make superb macarons, you look for a professional baker. If you want to learn how to speak Arabic, you look for an Arabic Language teacher. If you want to learn more about Islamic Finance, you look for a financial planner who is trained in Islamic Finance.
Isn’t that simple to understand? 🙂
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And oh yes, talking about macarons – next week, I will be heading to Paris with some of my colleagues for our incentive trip award. I will sample the authentic French macarons there and test them out! Yes. Time to sample authentic macarons made by professionals!
Enjoy your day! 🙂
Alhamdulillah, my name is featured in Straits Times for being one of the top financial consultants in Income and belonging to the prestigious Income Summit Club. 🙂
I would like to thank my clients who have supported me in my journey as a financial consultant to promote cooperative insurance and shariah compliant fund in Singapore. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for believing in me! 🙂
p.s. By the way, if you wish to discover a simple & halal way to create a positive monthly cashflow and calculate your net worth for FREE, then please click here…
I travel a lot for my holidays and get quite worried reading the headlines of what is happening around the globe. Hence, I put forth some risk management strategies that I personally use when travelling overseas.
Segregate your money. Whenever I travel overseas, I segregate my money into 2 wallets.
Some of my money I left it in the safe at the hotel room. Some of my money I kept it in the hidden compartment in my bag. Most important of all, don’t put your money in one place. It is because if you lose them, you will be at your wit’s end.
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2) Photocopy your passport, flight travel itineraries, hotel bookings.
I ensure that I photocopy my passport, flight travel itineraries and hotel bookings.
I also make a back up copy on my Iphone and Ipad, either by snapping a photo or having them in my Iannotate PDF app software. (Of course, my devices are secured with a pin password)
In addition to that, I have an additional copy stored in my google drive.
If I lose my passport or any important travel documents, I will have all the documentation ready, in place.
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3) Have the Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Contact in your mobile phone
Alhamdulillah…. So far, I don’t need to seek assistance from Ministry of Foreign Affairs when I
travelled overseas for holidays.
However in my profession as a financial consultant, I remember assisting one of my friends claims,
when his close family member passed away overseas.
Have the Ministry of Foreign Affairs contact in Singapore at (65) 6379-8800 too, just in case.
Save it in your mobile phone now! 🙂
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4) If you drive in to Malaysia, bring your steering wheel lock.
Yes. I bring my steering wheel lock when I drive in to Malaysia. I know, sometimes we take safety for granted.
As part of my risk management strategy, I use my steering wheel lock to secure my car after I park it.
In addition to that, remember not to park your car at secluded area. If you plan to dine at the restaurants nearby, ensure that your car is in plain sight of your view at all times.
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5) Buy travel insurance
If there is a flight delays, flight is being cancelled, loss of baggage or due whatever reasons, you know that you will have a back up plan in place.
When you go for holidays, you want to let down your hair and have a peace of mind. Buying travel insurance is essential and necessary as part of your risk management strategies when travelling overseas.
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:: Bonus Tips ::
– Read Tripadvisor Reviews of the place you want to go to. Its because some places there are a lot of pickpockets.
– If you went to Europe, intend to buy branded, high end items, bring an additional bag. Shopping bags from designer labels stores attract attention from undesired individuals.
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p.s. By the way, if you wish to discover a simple & halal way to create a positive monthly cashflow and calculate your net worth for FREE, then please click here…
I love the first 2 series of Ip Man movies, and when IpMan 3 came out, I was exhilarated. I was excited too because the movie features additional characters like Mike Tyson, the legendary, American former professional boxer.
I think, this movie is great because, in addition to the fighting scenes which display good martial arts techniques which are imminent in its previous movies, they now also give extra emphasis on good, positive values that we can emulate as a fellow human being.
Here are the 5 valuable takeaways that I get and I will try my best to apply in my life. 🙂
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1. Lead by example
Ip Man is a great leader who leads by example.
He is a selfless person and helps a lot of people unconditionally. He protected and defended the school his son was enrolled, when it was forced for takeover by thugs, who collude with the top police.
With gust and energy, he reminded the police officer that, all that we do is not for today, but for tomorrow. Whatever we do in life, we become examples to our children.
Our children will follow our footsteps. Our children see what we do and they follow us. We need to lead by example.
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I am also reminded by this. I advocate my clients to have proper financial planning.
6 months emergency funds, savings ratio of at least 20% per month, debt service ratio of not more than 30% per month, save your money first before spending. Identify your Needs and Wants.
Selling an ice lemon tea drink at $2, when the cost price is only $0.20 is Halal. Lending your friend $2000 and expecting him to repay you back $2000.20 is Haram because there is Riba. Avoid Riba. Grow your money the shariah compliant way.
I do not want to be label as “cakap tak serupa bikin” which literally means, “say only but never do“. I ensure that I walk my talk and do things that I preach. I lead by example.
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…….. 2. Although you want to perfect your craft, you must spend quality time with your family.
When Ip Man got to know that his wife got cancer and only has 6 months time to live, he dropped everything and had a heart to heart talk with his wife.
He mentioned candidly that his only regret in life is that, not being better to his wife, because he was always occupied with martial arts, which is his number 1 passion.
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In my enthusiasm, to perfect my craft, my financial planning skills, I used to get carried away.
I packed myself with appointments and more appointments. To me, my work is play. I am not ashamed to say that I enjoy my work as a financial consultant. I love creating new ideas, sharing financial planning concepts with my clients. Sometimes, my appointments end late, past midnight.
Now, I make it a point to spend quality time with my wife, travelling for holidays and enjoy each other’s company. I make it a point to visit my parents and in laws, at least once a week, despite my busy schedule.
(A picture of myself and my beautiful family)
I have to always remember that family comes first.
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3. Have a spouse that supports you in your craft or business
In the movie, Ip Man was challenged by a martial art artist who lay claim that Ip Man’s Win Chun is not authentic.
(Snapshot taken from the movie trailer)
Ip Man ignored the challenge and chose to spend time with his wife. He cooked pigeon porridge for his wife. He took a family portrait with his wife. He learnt how to dance, not something that he loves, but did it anyway because of his undying love for his wife.
Subsequently, he had a heart to heart talk with his his wife and his wife encouraged him to train up and continue the fight with his challenger. Despite her health predicament, she encourages him because she understands what he does and supports him.
Finally when his challenger acknowledged his defeat, Ip Man replied, “There is nothing more important than the love by your side.” In his victory, Ip Man dished out his most precious advice and that is very profound to me.
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I am thankful and I am blessed to have my wife who supports my mission to uplift the financial standards of my community in Singapore. She may not have the same level of inclination and passion for finance as me, but she supports and encourages what I do.
She stands behind me and supports me in what I do. That is all that matters. 🙂
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. 4. Humility is everything
Humility is a trait that Ip Man carries well. He walks away from taunts and is even willing to kneel and kowtow to his enemies so as to keep his family and friends safe from harm.
He has that kind of quiet confidence that speaks, “I know I’m good and I don’t need to trumpet it to the world. I don’t need reporters to endorse me. I am for who I am.”
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There is a Malay proverb that says, Resmi Padi, Semakin Berisi, Semakin Merunduk, which literally means, be like the rice stalk, it bends lower as it is laden with ripening grains. As you gain more power, you become more humble.
There are many successful financial consultants in my industry.
One of my mentors is successful senior financial consultant, Mr Shahul Hamed. He has been in the industry for more than 30 years, yet always humble and always willing to help others when in need. He is charismatic and a man with few words. I envision myself to be like him as I grew myself professionally. Just advance and move forward to help as many people as I possibily can and STAY HUMBLE. Insya’Allah…
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. 5. Mastery of any field is for the greater good
There is a lot of martial artists during Ip Man’s time. However, many hold different opinions on martial art. Some view that winning is everything, and practicing martial arts is for defeating others. Some exploited their skills for money.
Ip Man thinks differently. He thinks that every battle should be fought for the greater good.
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I believe it doesn’t matter whichever industry we are in, we do it for the greater good.
As a Muslim, I am reminded by what Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) advised us more than 1400 years ago, “The best of people are those that bring most benefit to the rest of mankind.” [Daraqutni, Hasan]
Do whatever I can within my power as a financial consultant to share my financial planning knowledge with Singaporeans. Continue to upgrade myself, learn new things, create new financial planning concepts, simplify difficult technical jargons, all in all, for the benefit of my clients. Insya’Allah…
I do hope you enjoy Ip Man 3 movie and learn something from it too. Do share this blog post around. Thank you! 🙂
p.s. By the way, if you wish to discover a simple & halal way to create a positive monthly cashflow and calculate your net worth for FREE, then please click here…
A certified financial consultant, Helmi Hakim has won praise for his patience, perseverance and practicality when solving his clients’ financial concerns. For more information on how you can manage your finances better, contact Helmi Hakim at 96520134.
