by Helmi Hakim | Nov 1, 2007 | Investment
6 out of 10 Singaporeans are seriously worried about having too little money in their old age, but only 1 in 10 has actually saved for retirement in the past year.
These are among some alarming statistics to emerge from an HSBC global survey of people’s attitudes towards ageing and retirement.
The survey covered more than 21,000 adults in 20 countries and territories, including 1,000 adults aged 18 and above in Singapore.
Many of the findings are rather alarming.
Some 40 per cent of those surveyed here said they have never saved specifically for retirement and 62 per cent have never sought information on retirement planning.
8 in 10 said they have not made a will, despite the fact that almost the same proportion of the respondents are aged 30 and above.
Almost 80 per cent said they have never made arrangements for care in their old age, although more than half of the respondents are aged 40 and over.
This trend sometimes makes me ponder and think….
As a financial associate, I see this statistic as a proof that there are a lot of people out there who will need my service, and here I am to render my service to you.
If you are one of the, you can call me or drop a message for me to meet you and conduct a full scale financial needs analysis with you 🙂
by Helmi Hakim | Oct 27, 2007 | Motivation
There was once a junk dealer who made his living by picking up things other people had thrown away.
He lived in a run down house on his own.
Everyday he would go out early in the morning and return late at night.
He had no relations or friends, as he was a loner.
One day he fell sick and never recovered. He passed away and since he had no close relatives, the police entered his house to investigate.
They found the whole house littered with old furnishings and assorted items from
his past.
However, to their surprise, the police discovered more than $100,000 in old bills packed in small boxes throughout the house.
SUCCESS PRINCIPLES
The question is why would a man with $100,000 cash in his possession lived like a beggar, and chose to keep his money stashed-away in old boxes, which were not properly kept in a safe place?
He probably feared that he would lose his money someday and therefore lived like a pauper.
The truth of the matter is that money is only an idea manifested on paper with ink on it.
It is only useful and of value when it is being used.
Money is not meant to be hoarded, but rather to be used, enjoyed and circulated.
Money is neutral, and it is neither good nor bad.
Whether it is good or bad depends on how it is earned and used.
by Helmi Hakim | Oct 25, 2007 | Motivation
Do you realize that you have more potential that you think?
There was once an old Indian who was poverty stricken.
But one day, he strike it big when oil was discovered on his land. He became wealthy overnight and decided to reward himself by buying a Cadillac touring car.
In those days, the Cadillac touring cars had two spare tires on the back.
The old Indian wanted to be different and so he placed four spare tires at the back of his car.
He bought himself a beautiful suit and hat.
Everyday, with a cigar in his mouth he would drive into the hot, dusty, little Oklahoma cowboy town nearby.
He wanted to show off his new car. He waved and spoke to everyone that he passed by, on the right and on the left.
He sometimes turned all the way around to speak to the folks.
The strange thing is that he never ran into anybody or over anybody. He never did hit anybody or anything.
Guess why?
Directly in front of that big beautiful car, there were two horses – pulling it!
SUCCESS PRINCIPLES
There was nothing wrong with the car, but the old Indian never learned how to start the car engine.
Inside the car were a hundred horses, but the old Indian was only using two horses on the outside.
Most of us make the same mistake of looking outside of us when we already have within us the necessary power to move us forward.
Scientists said that we only use about 10% to 15 % of our full potential.
Therefore, it is up to us to tap into our own potential and awaken the
sleeping giant within us.
by Helmi Hakim | Oct 21, 2007 | Motivation
Today I am going to share with you how to catch monkeys. 😛
The way to catch a monkey is to use a box with a small opening at the top- big enough for the monkey to slide its hand inside.
Inside the box are nuts to lure the monkeys.
The monkey will grab the nuts with its hand and forms a fist. When the monkey tries to get its hand out, the opening will be too small for the fist to come out.
The monkey has a choice to either let go of the nuts in order to escape or to hang on to the nuts and get captured.
It is sad that the monkey will hold on to the nuts and risks being caught.
SUCCESS PRINCIPLES
The monkey was caught because of its greed.
Most of us behave like the monkey. We hold on to old things and ideas that can no longer help us to succeed.
We fear the uncertainties the future may bring and so we refuse to change.
We are comfortable with where we are and what we have, so we prefer to remain there. To move forward in life we have to let go of the past and move ahead in faith.
We may even have to break traditions.
Let the dead bury the dead, just press on!
by Helmi Hakim | Oct 20, 2007 | Motivation
There was a wealthy man who wanted to choose a husband for his only daughter.
One day he invited the eligible young men from the whole town.
During the occasion, when everyone was present he made an announcement, “Today, I am going to choose a husband for my daughter.
Anyone who can swim across this pool can have my daughter’s hand in marriage and inherit half of my wealth. The only challenge is that the pool is full of alligators.”
With that announcement everyone present was silent.
Suddenly, there was a loud splash, and in a matter of seconds a young man swam across the pool to the other side.
Everybody cheered at the heroic feat of the young man.
The wealthy man walked towards the young man and congratulated him.
The young man said, “Sir, I am not interested in marrying your daughter. What I
want to know is the name of the person who pushed me into the pool?”
SUCCESS PRINCIPLES
There are various types of motivation, and the one that is related to the above story is “fear” motivation.
Sometimes, to bring out the best in us or in others, we have to use fear motivation. We have potentials within us but we need to stir it up with motivation and inspiration.
However, fear motivation will only work in the short term, because people will get accustomed to it in the long run.
