Alhamdulillah. Since year 2007, I have been privileged to advise thousands of Singaporean Muslims on planning their finance in Singapore.
And of course, there were many concepts
that I used to make my financial planning presentation more vibrant, relatable and meaningful. 🙂
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(Alhamdulillah. Blessed to have the opportunity to share my financial planning ideas recently with our Brothers and Sisters in Pasir Ris Punggol.)
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I love to use Malay Idioms (Peribahasa) in my financial planning presentations.
I love Malay Idioms because they are evergreen and full of wisdom that transcends ages.
Peribahasa that were commonly used during the P Ramlee time of our Pakcik Pakcik, Makcik Makcik
Still applicable today in the “Instagram/Tik Tok”year of 2021.
And will be also be applicable in the future years to come!
Insya’Allah! 🙂
Amongst them,
these are the 7 most popular Malay Idioms that I use to help my clients plan their finance better in Singapore.
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1) Sediakan payung sebelum hujan
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Prepare yourself an umbrella before it rains.
In my professional opinion, you must not only prepare yourself an umbrella before it rains.
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You must make sure that your umbrella is BIG ENOUGH so that you and your family don’t get wet when it rains.
In financial planning context,
how do you prepare and ensure that your “umbrella” is BIG ENOUGH to protect you and your family when in need?
Firstly ensure that you have at least 3-6 months of emergency funds in your bank account at all times.
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If you spend $3000/mth.
$3000 X 3 months = $9000
You need to ensure that you always have $9000 in your bank account at all time.
Why?
If you fall sick, you need to see the doctor.
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To see the doctor, you need money. You dont want to susahkan your family members by borrowing their money.
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And tomorrow, nauzubillah if suddenly you got retrenched,
at least you can survive 3-6 months while looking for another job…..
Got some space to breathe. Not kancheong!
This is very important my friends.
Because we don’t know how long this Covid19 pandemic is here to stay! So make sure that you have 3-6 months emergency funds with you at all times! 🙂
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Secondly, you need to make sure that both you and your family are comprehensively covered with a HOSPITAL INSURANCE PLAN.
In my many years experience as an Islamic Financial Consultant in Singapore,
I realize not all people are in debts due to poor financial management.
Some of them are due to victim of circumstances.
Family and loved ones hospitalised and saddled with hefty medical bills.
And they started maxing their credit card debts to pay those bills.
The reason why they did so because they weren’t eligible for any financial assistance based on their income.
They then face difficulties in paying off their credit card bills.
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My friends. A simple hospital insurance plan can help save you from this kind of situation.
A hospital insurance plan can help cover your bills.
(I was hospitalised in year 2019 due to a viral infection.)
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Alhamdulillah my hospital bills of $29,144 were taken care by my hospital insurance plan!
If I did not have a comprehensive hospital insurance plan in place, I can look you in the eye and tell you. Koyak beb my pocket! 🙂
2) Alah bisa, tegal biasa
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Alah bisa, tegal biasa.
Something difficult will become easier if we always do them repeatedly.
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As an Islamic Financial Planner, I always share with my clients that there are 2 types of money habits.
Good Money Habits
Bad Money Habits
Examples of Good Money Habits
Save 1st, then spend.
Have enough emergency funds
Have Hospital insurance plans.
Prudent and responsible financial management
Examples of Bad Money Habits
Boros. Spend more than you earn. Borrow other people $$$ and never pay back.
Pay your bills late
Failing to plan for your future
Sometimes when we have been so used to BAD MONEY HABITS for many years of our lives.
It becomes difficult to CHANGE that bad money habits to good money habits.
I always share with my clients. Alah bisa, tegal biasa.
Something difficult will become easier if we always do them repeatedly.
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Alaaaaaahhhh….. It is like when you first learnt to ride a bicycle.
You lose your balance, you fall.
You rise up back!
You fall again and again…But you never give up!!
Soon riding a bicycle becomes a 2nd nature to you.
Anytime anyone gives you a bicycle, you can ride it easily.
Alah bisa, tegal biasa.
At first difficult…..
You do it repeatedly… After that, it becomes easy and becomes a 2nd nature to you!
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My friends,
From my research, if we do something 21 days repeatedly, a new habit will be formed…
I want to help you install a POSITIVE money habit!
Everyday we go out.
We spend money.
We spend money at the market. We spend money at the coffeeshop.
We spend money at the shopping malls. For the next 21 days, what I want you to do is that I want you to leave the dollar notes in your wallet.
And take out all the coins and put in a tabung…
(If you don’t have a tabung, you can start with biscuit tin first! Most importantly, start doing it today! )
Do it for 21 days consecutively and Insya’Allah you will find yourself installing a new POSITIVE money habit!
Saving money everyday becomes a 2nd nature to you. Alah bisa, tegal biasa! 🙂
3) Sedikit sedikit, lama lama jadi bukit
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Literally, bit by bit, after a while, it becomes a hill!
Do small things. Repeat over and over again until it becomes big.
Some people complained to me.
“Helmi. Difficult lah for me to save money. Kais pagi, makan pagi. Kais petang, makan petang.”
How to save money?
I always share with them. No money today does not mean no money forever! 🙂
So how can you kickstart your journey to save money bit by bit and until you have a substantial amount?
Introducing you the 52 week Money Challenge
For those who do not have emergency funds in your bank account,
you can do this as part of your new year resolution to be self sufficient.
1st week, save $1. 2nd week, increase.You save $2 for that week.
Following week, increase some more $3 for that week. Sedikit sedikit, lama lama jadi bukit.
By end year 2021, you would have saved $1378 Cash!
Add this money to the money you save in the tabung for strategy No 2,
you will start to realise that Alhamdulillah you have finally saved up your 3-6 months emergency funds!
4) Genggam Bara Api Biar Sampai Jadi Arang
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Genggam Bara Api Biar Sampai Jadi Arang.
When you are doing or starting a challenging task, you need to pursue it until you have reached your goal.
My friends, A lot of people can begin something.But not many can finish it.
One of the characteristic of successful people.
They begin something and they make sure they see it through the end. They finish what they started!
My friends, There is no magic pill that you swallow and suddenly you have a lot of money.
Success comes in a package of hard work.
Rejections.
Failures.
Mistakes.
Criticisms. All the sacrifices that these super successful people go through.
And the most important thing is never give up.
Work until you achieve your goals.
You do things nonchalantly, you will get meagre, lacklustre and nonchalant results.
My friends,
Success takes time. No one in this world gets married today and gets a child tomorrow.
It involves process. Be patient.
and trust the process.
People who give excuses. Their lives will be full of excuses.
You give your best, you get the best!
Successful people begin something and they make sure they see it through the end. Genggam Bara Api Biar Sampai Jadi Arang!
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5) Melentur Buluh Biarlah Dari Rebungnya
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Literal translation “To bend a bamboo, start when it’s a shoot.”.
Teach your child good money habits when they are young.
Example…
To me, this is not the right way of educating our children on money.
Stop doing that.
If you have been doing that….
Save first and then spend.
When you inculcate this good money habit of, “Save First, Then Spend” to your children.
When they grow up and start working, that is what they are going to do when they receive their paycheck.
Save first and spend! Alhamdulillah….
We fulfil our obligations as a financially educated parent.
And what is the most beautiful part?
They will then educate their children of the same money principles, “Save Money First and then Spend.”
Masya’Allah…. You are inculcating good money habits not just for yourself or your children. You are inculcating good money habits for your generations to come!
Melentur Buluh Biarlah Dari Rebungnya! 🙂
6) Ukur Baju Di Badan Sendiri
Ukur Baju Di Badan Sendiri.
Spend according to your kemampuan (affordability)
My friends,
we need to differentiate between needs and wants. Needs… Keperluan. Wants… Kemahuan.
Needs is MUST HAVE.
Essential. Something that you must have to survive.
Wants is something good to have.
Not essential for survival.
Example of needs… House, transport, insurance, food
Example of wants…
Staycations, Entertainment, Designer Clothes, Dine at expensive Restaurants
My friends,
In order to be financially stable, we must be prudent with how we spend our money….
Don’t Spend Money that you don’t have to impress people you don’t like.
Ukur Baju Di Badan Sendiri. Spend according to your kemampuan (affordability)
7) Air Dicincang Tidak Akan Putus
Air dicincang tidak akan putus.
‘Blood is thicker than water’.
I am a firm advocate of this peribahasa.
Because why?
Because I always believe that there is rezeki in silaturahim.
We know the financial planning strategies already.
At the same time we know that rezeki is all from the source. Allah S.W.T.
If our parents are still alive, we are very lucky.
Always ask blessings and doa from our parents. They are our keramat hidup. Redha dia, redha Allah.
And maintain good relationship with others.
If sometimes, you quarrel with others, do your very best to forgive and mend that relationship.
I know its difficult, but do your best.
Seek forgivesness and mend ties.
Because why?
Because there is rezeki in silaturahim.
(Me and my family)
This is my family. Alhamdulillah, they are super supportive of what I do. I regard them as my strength.
As my BIG WHY to persevere in what I do! 🙂
Air dicincang tidak akan putus! 🙂
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I would like to wrap my presentation with a serangkap pantun.
Kusangkakan panas sampai ke petang
Rupanya hujan di tengah hari
Berjimat cermat bila ada wang
Supaya tenang di kemudian hari
Thank you my friends! 🙂
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Now… I hope you have benefited from my personal sharing, 7 Malay Idioms To Help You Plan Your Finance Better in Singapore…
If you are seeking a mentor, coach, consultant to share with you practical aspects on how you can plan your finance, the shariah compliant way in Singapore, I am always ready to help you.
One of my personal goals for year 2017 is to hit my first MDRT (Million Dollar Round Table), the shariah compliant way.
By reaching out to Muslim families in Singapore who like to plan their finance, the halal way. The shariah compliant way.
That is my personal goal. To achieve your own personal goals, you need strategies.
Here are 3 important questions you have to ask yourself first to uncover proven, confirm to work strategies that can help you achieve your goals.
1) What new knowledge/skills do you need?
2) Who can help you achieve your goals?
3) How do you achieve your goals faster?
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1. WHAT new knowledge/skills do you need?
There is a saying, “INSANITY is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
Which means you cannot just rely on whatever knowledge and skills you have now.
Life is a constant learning journey: the arrogant is he who thinks he knows or has everything he needs to succeed.
Once you start to seriously move towards your goals, you’ll realize you’ll need new knowledge or skill.
Sit down for a moment and really think through this question.
What new knowledge/skills do you need? 🙂
Personally for me to achieve my MDRT, these are the new knowledge and skills that I need.
I need to acquire knowledge on how to attract qualified leads. It can be online or offline strategies.
I need to upgrade my knowledge on Islamic Finance. Sure, I took an Islamic Finance module during my degree
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And Islamic Finance Certification with Australia Centre For Islamic Finance few years back.
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. . It is time to refresh and upgrade myself with a new Islamic Finance certification for year 2017! The industry is changing rapidly, and getting an additional certification will bolster my knowledge and effort to advice my clients better.
2. WHO can help you achieve your goals?
There’s a famous saying: No man is an island.
We cannot possibly do things on our own.
Our knowledge, skill and understanding of the world is limited. We will need help. With the example of saving up, who do you think can best help you achieve your goals?
Maybe you can approach a financial planner (or me! hehehe).
And together we work out the best plan to to achieve your goal. 🙂
Or perhaps your spouse can help keep you accountable. If you know you can’t be disciplined to save, then she can be the ‘unofficial’ banker.
This might mean going to her every month and asking her to help hold on to the money you plan to save.
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For me personally, to achieve my MDRT, I look for qualified people that can help me achieve my goals too. I surround myself with these people.
– This year itself, I have signed up for Ethica’s Certified Islamic Finance Executive™ (CIFE™) course.
Ethica’s Certified Islamic Finance Executive™ (CIFE™) is a globally recognized certificate accredited by scholars to fully comply with AAOIFI, the world’s leading Islamic finance standard.
Till date, I do not know of any practicing financial planner in Singapore who are trained AAOIFI compliant certifications. AAOIFI compliant is the de facto standard in over 90% of the world’s jurisdictions. Let me be the FIRST amongst the 20,000 financial planners in Singapore! Insya’Allah… 🙂
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– I have also signed up, for an online marketing 2 days practical workshop, where I will learn more on facebook marketing. Many of you today, my blog readers are already my clients.
You get to know me over the internet after reading my blog posts or viewing my youtube videos.
Insya’Allah, I will find qualified people to help me, in my mission to spread the goodness of Islamic Finance to our fellow Singaporeans.
Let us make every single step to find rezeki in the world, an ibadah. May our efforts benefit us in this world, and hereafter. Insya’Allah…
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– Next week, I am meeting my lawyers to discuss further on trademarks, that I will register for my signature programs, “Unlock Your Money” session and “Your Financial M.A.P.” session.
I first learnt about trademarks and copyrights, when I was a full time student in Ngee Ann Polytechnic many years back.
I took Business Law as one of the modules, while undertaking Diploma In Accountancy.
Little did I know, many years later, I would be liaising with lawyers to register my own personal trademarks. Exciting!!! 🙂
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– I have also reached out to my Arab teacher in Egypt, where I will continue back learning Arabic Language via Skype with him every Monday, after Subuh prayers.
In my opinion, the best time time to learn or memorise something, is before you sleep, and after you wake up.
Learning Arabic Language has been very tough for me.
It is no easy feat. :/
Pray for me that I will istiqamah in my journey to learn how to read, understand and speak Arabic Language with confidence. Insya’Allah! 🙂
3. HOW do you achieve your goals faster?
Alright, you’re almost ready to make your goals come true.
So the 3rd question you should ask yourself is how do you achieve your goals faster?
I like to add some buffer, whenever I set my goals.
So even though, I target to achieve MDRT for year 2017….. I shall target to achieve my MDRT by 31st October 2017, which happens to be my birthday! 🙂
But how? Easier said than done! 🙂
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I remembered, one of the quotes of wisdom, by a Singaporean entrepreneur, Sant Qiu, “Whatever you can do, you can do it bigger, better, faster…… with the right team. So assemble the right team as early as you can and achieve bigger, better results faster.”
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You might have heard about Robo Advisor.
I am in the process of creating my own personal shariah compliant Robo Advisor.
I will also be engaging para planners.
They will work hand in hand with me to assist me in developing comprehensive, powerful shariah compliant financial planning strategies for my clients in Singapore.
My team will comprise of robots and humans.
We will alter the history of the financial planning industry in Singapore, the way financial planners run our financial practice in Singapore.
By introducing my personal, revolutionary financial planning practice hybrid model- that combines the best of high-tech and high-touch.
It never happen before, and change is inevitable.
In fact, the process has already begun. You might have heard about Takaful.sg
That is one of my fintech intiatives, which is already “live” in Singapore.
Many, many, more exciting things to come! 🙂
So, there I cover 3 important questions you have to ask yourself first to uncover proven, confirm to work strategies that can help you achieve your goals.
1) What new knowledge/skills do you need?
2) Who can help you achieve your goals?
3) How do you achieve your goals faster?
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If you like to receive undivided attention from me as a financial planner, to help you plan your finance the shariah compliant way in Singapore, you can schedule an appointment with me here. Or just whatsapp/SMS me direct at 96520134.
Because of my busy schedule, I can only accommodate additional 5 slots every week, so do click the link, and schedule an appointment with me now.
At times, when I discuss wealth management strategies with my friends, they say it’s difficult to make money the shariah compliant way in Singapore.
It’s easier in Malaysia.
In Indonesia. In Bangladesh. Or in Saudi Arabia.
But not in Singapore.
As a Muslim financial consultant who specialises in helping Muslim families plan their finances the shariah compliant way in Singapore, I am here to debunk such limiting beliefs.
I sum in up with my secret ABCDEFGH formula… I learnt it from my friends, fellow financial practitioners, and then innovate it further to ensure that it is customised and suitable for Muslims in Singapore.
With only the price of a plate of nasi lemak with crispy chicken wing ($5/day),
or $150/mth, you can kickstart your investment plan.
You can start planning your finance the shariah compliant way in Singapore.
Yes… With that $150/mth you can have access to shariah compliant stocks in our shariah compliant fund.
Shariah compliant stocks like….
Apple Inc
Microsoft Corp
Intel Corp
Google
Adobe
Harvey Norman
You DON’T have to fork out hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy shares.
Yes! At a price of a plate of nasi lemak with crispy chicken wings ($5/day)
OR only $150/mth,
you can begin to invest in shariah compliant fund that consists of these shariah compliant stocks. Super affordable right? 🙂
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Better Returns
You and I know that there is this thing called inflation.
It means that the value of your money erodes. Your purchasing power reduces.
Simply to say, your plate of nasi lemak with crispy chicken wings that costs you $5 today, will DOUBLE in price 10 years down the road.
The only logical choice that you have is to invest.
Make your money work harder.
Invest and grow your money to hedge and beat inflation.
And while you are at it, why don’t you do it the shariah compliant way?
Arrange “Your Financial M.A.P.” session at Takaful.sg for FREE.
And I will share with you more of my simple, easy to follow and proven financial strategies, that can help you get an effective PROFIT rate of between 3-5%/annum for an investment time horizon of 20 years.
That is better than leaving your money under your pillow or perhaps for some of you, in
your Khong Guan biscuit tin.
Do it with me.
And do it the shariah compliant way at Takaful.sg
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Coverage
Gone are the days, where when we mentioned coverage, we have to do it the conventional way.
Today you can have Death, Total & Permanent Disability AND Critical Illness coverage, the shariah compliant way.
You can adjust the coverage, that you want.
And the plan comes with a shariah compliant underlying fund.
In addition to that, an aqad contract can be done to remedy Maysir (Speculation) and Gharar (Uncertainty).
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Diversification
With a limited amount of money, you can diversify your funds.
Yes… With that $150/mth you can have access to shariah compliant stocks in our shariah compliant fund.
Shariah compliant stocks like….
Apple Inc
Microsoft Corp
Intel Corp
Google
Adobe
Harvey Norman
You know the old saying, “don’t put your eggs in one basket”.
Again. Arrange “Your Financial M.A.P.” session at Takaful.sg for FREE.
And I will share with you my simple yet effective shariah compliant diversification formulae.
In addition, to the diversification strategies, I shared above.
It is customised specifically for Muslims who live in Singapore.
Schedule a session now! 🙂
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Easy Investment
A lot of my clients invest in stocks.
When I mention invest in stocks, I really mean it.
They do their homework.
They download the companies annual report.
And read the director’s statement.
To understand the companies direction better, they do a SWOT analysis on the companies.
Fundamental Analysis. Calculate the profitability, liquidity and investment ratios….
Vertical, horizontal analysis on the financial statements.
Calculate the intrinsic value of the particular stocks. Immerse themselves with further technical analysis.
100 days moving average, 150 days moving average. Many, many more time consuming researches…
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In the end, I looked at them sympathetically and asked them… “Tired or not???”
Most replied with a look of despair on their face, “Of course tired lah!!”
And I probed them further, “Where do you find time to do all those time consuming research?”
Most replied when they came back home after 10 full hours of office work.
Go back home.
Straight to their computers.
Staring at the screen.
Busy punching numbers into their excel spreadsheets.
Stared hard again at the flickering charts on the screen.
Every. Single. Night. Vicious cycle. And it continues on and on.
I told the, why not choose the easy way?
Dollar Cost Average… Put money monthly every month, and top up when the market price goes down.
Still can make a good, fair share of Halal profits.
And, now imagine.
All the time, you save, from having to spend countless hours of research,
you begin to spend it on your wife and kids,
your love ones.
(Myself with my wife, enjoying ourselves during our honeymoon at Morocco)
That is why I love this formula.
Easy Investment = More Quality Time With Your Love Ones = Happier, Blissful and More Fulfilling Life
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Flexibility
You can choose to take premium holiday.
Meaning today you start with the shariah compliant investment plan.
In the future, if unfortunate circumstances, cause you to be financially tight, you can stop paying the premium for a while.
And resume back when you are financially OKAY.
You can also adjust your premium accordingly.
Now you start your shariah compliant investment plan @ $200/mth.
In the future, when your pay increases, you can always increase to $500/mth or vice versa.
Super flexible right? 🙂
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Great Support System
Let me share with you a little secret.
Almost half of my clients who engaged me for shariah compliant investments have finance training background.
They either have a Diploma or Degree in Accountancy/Finance.
Or professional certifications like ACCA etc2.
The reason why they choose investing with me, is because of Great Support System.
We leverage on the expertise of professional fund managers.
Remember the scenario I shared above.
Today, you screened a stock, and you deemed it shariah compliant.
Another 6 months down the road, the stock may no longer be shariah compliant.
Because shariah compliant is not just “No Pork, No Lard”.
There are certain financial ratios that we have to abide to.
Where can we find TIME to analyse it every single month?
Precisely. Leverage on the expertise of professional fund managers.
There is so much, I have to share on the beautiful part of Great Support System.
But I will not divulge it here in my blog. Because some of them are my trade secrets.
Trade secrets that differentiate me from the rest of the 20,000 financial consultants in Singapore.
Arrange “Your Financial M.A.P.” session at Takaful.sg for FREE.
And I will share with you how you can benefit personally when you engaged me as your financial consultant.
Your partner to help you grow your wealth, the shariah compliant way in Singapore.
Insya’Allah. 🙂
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Halal
There is really a lot of strategies for you to earn your money.
No point make money, when it’s not Halal. Your rezeki is everywhere.
In the subsequent blog post, Insya’Allah, I will share with you in greater detail on shariah screening methodologies that is currently used in the world.
For now, we stick with these simple, yet powerful formula.
So, next time, if anyone tell you that it’s difficult, to plan your finance the shariah compliant way…
Tell them this simple, yet powerful ABCDEFGH secret formula.
See you around soon. Jazakallah Khayran! 🙂
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.
