Angat Pilipinas Desert Convention 2015

30 Sunday Aug 2015

Posted by Dexter Panganiban in Personal Financing, Speaking Engagement

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I would like to report that Angat Pilipinas Desert Convention 2015 was a success. The financial literacy seminar went well as planned in 4 corners of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Al Hasa, Jeddah and Al Khobar. The seminar was attended by more than 200 OFW in 4 locations. I can share more information in Riyadh because I am one of the speakers in the event.

In Riyadh we were visited by Mr. Rustico SM De La Fuente, Labor Attache, Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines, PHILIPPINE OVERSEAS LABOR OFFICE (POLO), Riyadh Saudi Arabia and glad to hear from him that they have appreciated the advocacy that Angat Pilipinas Coalition for Financial Literacy is doing. They have also shared that POLO’s Reintegration Preparedness Program has two major components, Financial Awareness and Entrepreneurship Development.

The seminar was presented by 4 speakers namely Aldwin Resureccion, Odessa Liwanag, Kristine Rodriguez and yours truly. We had our Volunteers, Belle Olaso – Photographer, Paolo Laxamana – Technical Support and Laarni Resultan – Registrar.

We had a great seminar as we have received positive comments from the attendee. There are some attendee came from almost 130 kilometers from Riyadh Saudi Arabia.

There was part of the event that we asked the attendee to group themselves and share with each other on how OFW are being scammed and here are what they have shared:

People get scammed because of TRUST, there are times that they are just trusting without checking the legality of a certain company that is being referred to them.
People get scammed due to GREEDY, when people saw lots of money in Social Media they could easily get hooked in the advertisement even it is publicly announced that it is a scammed company.
People get scammed due to IGNORANCE, people try to get into an investment without first learning the ins and outs of it. People dive to investment without knowing that there are RISK in investing.

We have even received suggestions through our survey which I will share later.

OFW became interested also with Stock Market and Pooled Funds, which might be the subject of our future seminars. Hope that future seminars will be attended by more and more OFW.

I would like to thank all the attendee of the seminar and I hope we have help them in their financial planning. Below are some pictures taken from different parts of Saudi Arabia.

Website: Angat Pilipinas Coalition for Financial Literacy Seminar

Taking Advantage of the High Exchange Rate

24 Monday Aug 2015

Posted by Dexter Panganiban in Personal Financing

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exchange rates, OFW, OFW Investment, Stock Market

As an OFW, I am used of sending money to the Philippines with an exchange rate of 1 USD to Php 44. But there was a turn of events in the world economy that is why from last month I can see an exchange rate higher that Php 45. I know that some OFW are happy on what is happening because higher exchange rate will mean higher money will be received by their relatives. But is it really true that money value will be higher on this days? Actually it is not because the higher the exchange rate the lower the economy, It is indirectly proportional. The PSEI (an economy indicator of Philippines) keeps on going low.

The following scenarios might be experienced

Higher cost of commodities due to higher cost of raw materials
Most of the items that uses imported materials will definitely have higher prices.
The higher tuition fee.
Fare hike, due to the cost of maintenance auto parts
Low investor in the Philippines

So how will you take advantage of the situation?

If there are some surplus money due to exchange rate it is better be placed in an investment. If you are paying your land or house amortization at an amount of Php 44,000 before you need to send USD 1,000 to pay off your monthly amortization. Now if you send the same USD 1,000 it will be converted to Php 45,000 therefore you will have a Php 1,000 surplus. The surplus would be better placed in an emergency fund or be placed in the stock market or an equity fund. Economist knows that this will be temporary. Therefore, if you put your surplus money into an investment, the moment that the economy recovers and exchange rate become lower, your surplus money will grow.

I hope OFW will take advantage of the situation and not just spend money in wants.

Steps on How to Start Investing in Stock Market as an OFW

27 Saturday Jun 2015

Posted by Dexter Panganiban in How To

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

How To, Investing, Stock Market, Stocks

Are you an OFW and you want to start being involve in Stock Market? It was 3 years ago when I started investing via Stock Market and at that time I am really enthusiast to be involved in investing, but I don’t know what to do. So if you were in the same position as I am 3 years ago, this post might help you.

So if you were in the same position as I am 3 years ago, this post might help you.

Be informed that It is mandatory that the documents we need to submit into the broker (a company that will deal with different big companies on your behalf) are original documents, This document shall have our original signatures and original forms filled with your responses. Before submitting those documents, it would be better to send the scan copy of all the documents to your brokers. Before starting your application please make sure that you know the following details:

TIN Number
Bank Account Details (This is where they will deposit your money upon withdrawal)
At least 2 ID’s with your signature (Passport could be one of them)

So here are the steps that you need to do:

Download the forms from your brokers
Scan your ID’s
Fill up all the forms and Scan the documents (Make sure your signature in the form is the same as your signature shown in your ID)
Send the scan documents with all your id to your broker
Wait for their reply and approval of all your documents
If there are any comment, rectify the comments and then send again through email for checking.
If everything is fine, send the documents via courier.
They will give you an account
Upon receipt of your account details, you may now load up your account with money via bank transfer or remittances. The money that you have deposited can now be used to buy stocks from different company.

So that’s it, when your deposited amount is loaded in your brokers account, you may start buying stocks of different company. Hope this simple instruction can lead you to your investing journey.

Investing Even in Debt?

20 Wednesday Aug 2014

Posted by Dexter Panganiban in Personal Financing

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credit card debts, emergency fund, Mutual Funds, Stock Market

Image Credit : investprogram.org

Seminars about investing and YouTube videos about investing are now easily accessible. Facebook post and updates talks about investing and savings. In reality it makes our drive to invest as soon as possible more.

So what if you want to start investing and yet you are filled with credit card debts, Will you start investing in Mutual Funds or stock market even if you are in a big financial mess? For me it’s a big NO.

What I meant is that paying of your credit card debt or any debt is the start of your investing. While paying your credit card, you will start the habit of saving a portion of your salary or income to pay off your debt. Normally I recommend 70, 20, 10. 70 % of your income is for expenses, 20% of your income is for your investment and 10% of your income for your Tithes or Love offerings. Use the 20% to start paying off your debt.

When time comes that you have paid off your debt, you will then be in a habit of saving a portion of your salary. The same amount that you used to pay your credit can now be used to build you emergency funds. After the emergency funds then you can go into Mutual Funds or even stock market if you can take the risk.

The idea is that you should not be investing in Mutual Funds or Stock Market if you don’t have Emergency Fund and still in debt because if time comes that you need money due to emergency, chances are you will get your investment even if it is still losing.

So be wise in your investing decision. In addition you need to set your goal prior to Mutual Funds or stocks investing. Knowing your goal will determine the amount of risk that you can take. Knowing your risk, may allow you to determine the type of investment portfolio will you go.

So be wise and Happy Investing. Study first before investing.

PSEi Closes at 5,971.05, So What is Your Plan?

24 Monday Jun 2013

Posted by Dexter Panganiban in Stock Market

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Ben Bernanke, Diversification, Equity funds, Investing Goals, Long Term Investment, Plan, PSEi Index, Stock Market

Pinoy Investment Guide Logo

Investors have mixed reactions on what was happening on the market nowadays, The PSEi broke the 6,000 level today which closes at 5,971.05 with -3.41% decline from t’s close on Friday. Many believes that the next support will be at 5,800. Questions like “Should I cut Lost?”, Should I transfer my position?, should I close down my computer?, Should I sell “Company x” stock or not? , This are just common questions you can see in any forum about investment.

The market was down for almost 1 month and it all started last May 22 upon Ben Bernanke announcement for possible tapering of the QE.

As an investor we need to have goals and plan in every investment that we make. We need to understand that stock market is not meant to be for short term. In time like this if you buy stocks, you could get more stock with same value of your money last month. Peso Cost Averaging is a great methodology in investing.

Nobody knows when the market will rebounce, there might be some technicians that are telling things but nobody knows what investors will be thinking tomorrow or on the next few days or even months.

If you think that you cannot handle your lost, then make a cut lost. If you are for long term, then the market correction that we are experiencing today would not mean anything 10 years from now.

The best thing to do in time like this is to increase our cash flow so that we can have something to invest. Diversified your asset so you will not be much affected by the volatility of the market.

Bear in mind that we gain from stocks not only from price appreciation but also from dividends.

Here some reminders before joining stock market or equity funds:

Equity Funds and Stock Market is not for Short Term but it is for Long Term
You need to be insured prior to Investing
You need to have Emergency Fund before investing
You need to be bad debt free before investing
Money invested in stocks and equity should not be withdrawn within 5 years of your investment.
Do Peso Cost Averaging
Equity and Stocks is a High Risk Investment but with a probability of High Gain

My YTD was reduced to +3.82%, but at least I am still on the gain side for this year.

PH Stock Index All Time High at 7,313.46 breaches 7,300 for first time in history

14 Tuesday May 2013

Posted by Dexter Panganiban in Stock Market

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Equity funds, Highest gain, Mutual Fund, OFW Investment, PSEi, Stock Market

PH Stock Index All Time High at 7,313.46 breaches 7,300 for first time in history

Once again PSEi set a record of an all-time high at 7,313.460 a day after the election. It only means that investors have trust on the recently concluded election. In addition a new intra-day high was likewise hit at 7,349.95. It is 30th record breakout for the year and the 91st under the Aquino administration.

This sign is really good for investors because they could see gains from their investment. People who are not yet investing will not really feel the effect of the economy.

I believe that it’s high time for people to go to Investment. If you don’t know how to read graphs, and if you do not understand how the stock market works, I believe that is now high time to learn about this things. If you want to start you can go to banks or Mutual Fund Company and ask about equity funds.

Equity funds performance depends on the stock market movement. Just make sure that you know the risk that you will face in going to stock market.

Investing in stock market could give you a really high profit but likewise it could also give you a very high lost. The higher the Risk the Higher the possible gain and the lower the Risk the lower possible gains.

Your investing appetite will determine the type of investment that you will push through.

If you invest in equity funds, you will not bother about fundamental analysis and technical analysis of a certain stocks. But likewise you will not also have any part in decision making about which stocks to pick or to sell.

The beauty in stock market is that you control your investment but if you do not know this things better go to equity funds then learn about stock market.

Happy investing and I hope that many OFW will start investing and not just waster their money in gadgets and useless wants.

Mitigating Risk Via Diversification, Mentioned in The Bible

11 Thursday Apr 2013

Posted by Dexter Panganiban in Personal Financing, Stock Market

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Banks, Bible, Construction, diversified portfolio, Holdings, Industrial, Mitigating Risk, Risk, Stock Market

Ecclesiastes 11:2, clearly says that our investing should be diversified, so whatever happen to one, the other can compensate for the lost. When we do investing, a thorough study should be done in each investment that we make. Research is the main thing. All investment has it’s own risk but if we study it very well, we will be able to see that each investment has different risk. We might find a risk in a type of investment like mutual fund but it is not a risk when it comes to real state.

What a Wise Person Does

11 Invest your money in foreign trade, and one of these days you will make a profit. ²Put your investments in several places—many places even—because you never know what kind of bad luck you are going to have in this world.

³No matter which direction a tree falls, it will lie where it fell. When the clouds are full, it rains. ⁴If you wait until the wind and the weather are just right, you will never plant anything and never harvest anything. ⁵God made everything, and you can no more understand what he does than you understand how new life begins in the womb of a pregnant woman. ⁶Do your planting in the morning and in the evening, too. You never know whether it will all grow well or whether one planting will do better than the other.

⁷It is good to be able to enjoy the pleasant light of day. ⁸Be grateful for every year you live. No matter how long you live, remember that you will be dead much longer. There is nothing at all to look forward to.

As an example doing a diversified portfolio in stock market is the best thing to do, if you want to mitigate some risk. In choosing stock, you need to choose from different sector. As an example, you might have some stock from Banks, Construction, Holdings, Industrial and more. Normally this different sectors will not perform the same. There will be gain in one sector and losses at other.

Image Credit : vineyardlifejournal.wordpress.com

Ecclesiastes 11:4 says that we should not wait, but we need to act now. Procrastination should not be performed. And Ecclesiastes 11:6 it says that you need to be constant investor. In stock market there is what we called cost averaging. So it only means that you can buy anytime, even low or high it doesn’t matter. But of course this could only be applied to Long term investors and not for traders.

We will all go to the end of our life, we need to be a happy investors and not a stressful investor. Investing aims to make our life better and not to make our life in a misery just because of stress in the stock market.

If people will just follow what was mention in Ecclesiastes and just believe that God can do everything about your plans then be at peace whatever happen to your investment. If diversification fails it only means that the whole economy is going down. So do your part share what you have learn and make people financially literate but not greedy.

Be wise and learn the ins and out of investing. The riskiest thing is when you do not know anything. Happy Investing.

Make sure to join our newsletter to be updated in this blog. Fill up those form at the side.

IMG (International Marketing Group) Review and Reasons in Joining

08 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by Dexter Panganiban in Daily Dose, Personal Financing

≈ 32 Comments

Tags

Family Financial Security., Financial Freedom, IMG, Insurance, International Marketing Group, Mutual Funds, Non-life Insurance, OFW, Real State, Saudi Arabia, Stock Market, Truly Rich Maker Group

First of all I need to introduce you to IMG which means International Marketing Group. IMG is a marketing company that is dedicated to serving the financial needs of individuals and families from all walks of life. They also conduct FREE Financial Literacy Seminar to educate people on how to manage their money. In Philippines, members can get the full set of FREE seminars in the Head Office.

Even I am in Saudi Arabia, I have completed the 2 FREE Seminars customized for OFW which is being conducted by IMG wealth Academy. I am also being mentored by Fely Santiago, of the IMG – Truly Rich Maker Group.

Yup, IMG also exist in Saudi Arabia.

IMG helps people makes critical financial decisions that can help move them from where they are to where they want to be. The 2 seminars give details about the importance of 6 steps to Financial Security.

Through the seminar, listener would be able to understand about the importance of financial planning and how your present situation could affect your future.

I have learned through that seminar that, there is a high percentage of OFW, which are not financially literate and ended up working in Saudi Arabia for a long time without any goal in life.

There were also times that an OFW who resign from his work in Saudi Arabia, ended up having a misery life because he was not able to prepare for his future. It is also sad to know that there are some Filipinos who work in Saudi Arabia for a long time, 15 years perhaps, and retiring poor in Philippines. Those OFW did not think about their future but instead, spend all their money on wants and not on needs needs. It is one of the reasons also why I joined IMG, to have a planned financial future.

In IMG they make sure that your practice what you preached.

This is the Common Pinoy Financial Mistake as mentioned in the seminar:

Overspending / Not Living Within One’s Means
Credit Mismanagement
Overly conservative in Investing Money
Lack of Financial Education

Our mission is To Make Your Family’s Dream into Reality. We are committed in helping families achieve your dreams, through our business opportunity, as well as our products and concepts.

Actually IMG is a one- stop shop, for every Financial Investment Vehicle that Filipino may need. Ranging from Insurance, Mutual Funds, Stock Market, Real State, Non-life Insurance and more.

You could actually earn form your own investment portfolio.

I could actually see a big business potential with-in this company, members will not only be financially literate, but will also be financial secure during retirement age.

IMG is teaching individual on how to have a strong foundation about financial security.

Perhaps this link could give you more idea about the company – http://img-corp.com/company.php

I know I have lots to learn from the company, but I believe that I have made a step towards my Family Financial Security.

I have been in Saudi Arabia for 10 years, and If I only became financial literate long time ago, I would be probably a millionaire and a big time investor by now.

I always believe in Proverbs 19:21

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails

As well as Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

That is why I know that being financially prepared is the will of the God. God doesn’t want us to be poor during our retirement age.

Do you want to learn more about the IMG and Wealth Academy and how you can attend the FREE Financial Literacy seminars? Then just enter your details below, and I will contact you as soon as possible. If you are not within my vicinity, I will let our IMG associates contact you as soon as possible.

You could be in any part of the world.

And as I detailed my journey to Financial Freedom, I will continuously update our readers of my journey to Financial Security.

Red Market Last Week, Is Your Investment Affected?

17 Sunday Mar 2013

Posted by Dexter Panganiban in Daily Dose, Personal Financing, Stock Market

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Bear Market, Financial Literacy, Highest gain, Investing, Riskiest Investment, Stock Market

It’s Sunday, and no trading day, a day that was agreed by many in the Philippines as the day of worship and is the time to contemplate with our Lord. Remember that we are just a steward of his blessing and whatever the Philippines is experiencing about its great economy is God’s plan for Filipinos.

Last week Philippine stock market have experienced a “Red” mark. (Just for information “Green” means gain and “Red” means lost). According to the news , it was due to the weak banking sector that makes the market “Red” last week. Many have taken their profit due to non-availability of good news as cited in the news. Remember that I have told you that news could affect the price of the stock. So what was your strategy last week?

Many might ask, is this the start of the so called “bear market“? Do I have to sell my MBT? BDO? or other stocks? As always it is still the decision of the stocks holders. Nobody is responsible for your stock but the owner. Let me also remind all of our readers that stock market is the riskiest investment in the market but also an investment instrument that could give the highest gain. More risk means more possibility of gain. Below is my take in those question.

50% of my portfolio is in banking sector so, my portfolio was affected. But did I sell last week? My answer is “NO”. I believe it is just a correction in the market. But this also reminds me of “diversification”. My portfolio should be diversified so that when 1 sector like banking is affected, my whole portfolio will not be affected.

I also believe in Long Term Investment that is why I am not affected with the ups and down of the market. It’s all about mind setting.

If I had more funds, I would be buying more since I believe that the majority of the blue chips stocks are now on sale. This is a very good opportunity to buy since an investor could buy more stocks with the same amount that he could be spending about 2 weeks ago.

We will see if the market will still have its correction tomorrow.

To those OFW who have not yet started investing, you need to think again and always remember that we need to be prepared for our family future. But first of all you need to have Emergency Fund before investing and control your expenditures buy knowing about Good Debt and Bad Debt. Increase your financial literacy.

God provides, and this is 100% true and God will give His provision to those who have vision.

Proverbs 22:3

The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

To those who have just visited this site, I would recommend you watching the full session of the Pesos and Sense and know how to start investing in the stock market

Image Credit : Philstar.com

How to Stay Updated With Your Portfolio News & Events?

12 Tuesday Mar 2013

Posted by Dexter Panganiban in How To, Stock Market

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Google Alert, News Update, Stock Indicators, Stock Informations, Stock Market

We all know that one of the indicators of the stock market price is the NEWS that is being discussed on a particular day. A good news might make the stock market price higher while the bad NEWS might make the stock price lower.

An investors increases his investment as long as he found out that the company is in a good position because he is increasing his trust in the company.

As an example, a news about an accident happened in a Mining area will definitely affect the stock price of a particular mining company.

A change in the Board of Director also affects the price of a stock market either positive or negative.

Today, I will teach on how to be updated on the news that floats around the internet about your chosen company. As an example if you want to be updated on what is going on at Century Properties Group (CPG), you may create a Google Alert for all the news that is being posted in the internet.

Here are the procedure to start tracking news information using Google Alert:

1.) Go at the Google Alert site (http://www.google.com/alerts ) and fill up the required data where you want to be updated.

2.) At the search Query Space , you may put the word: Century Properties Group

3.) At the result type you may choose to be informed from News, Blogs, Videos, Discussions and Book. Most of the time I choose News, You may also create additional alert from Blogs.

4.) In the How Often Space: You may choose from as it happen, once a day or once a week. Most of the time I choose “As it Happen”, so that I am informed of any choose or blogs being posted in the internet.

5.) At How Many, You have the option to choose All results and Best Results

6.) Then place your email in the space provided

7.) The press create alert

In addition you might want to be part of different Facebook Group, where information is always updated from different helpful members.

This might not be important for long term investors, but I do believe that it is always nice to be informed about the things happening at your stocks portfolio.

If you found it useful you might want to share to your friends and FB groups.

How to Add Funds to Your Stock Broker?

07 Thursday Mar 2013

Posted by Dexter Panganiban in Daily Dose, How To

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

COL Financial, Colfinancial, Internet Banking, Metrobank, Newbie Investor, Personal Finance, Stock Market

First of all, stock broker is the agency who buys stock for us, investor. I have an account with COL Financial and therefore the instruction mentioned herein is based on my experience with COL Financial.

I have told you before that I am an OFW, in Saudi Arabia whenever we send money to Philippines in a single account we have to pay SAR 18 (Approximately Php 200) so if we are not wise enough and we will send our funding through this method we will already loose some of our capital.

So how do I send funds to my COL Financial account? It’s easy I use online banking from my bank in the Philippines. In my case I am using Metrobank as my financial hub. I send money to my Philippine Bank Account (Metrobank) and from there I will distribute my remittances, credit card payment, including funding to ColFinancial. So in this case I am only paying once in sending money from Saudi Arabia to Philippines. But there is a catch, In Saudi Arabia, there is a certain limitation on the amount of money that we can send to Philippines depending on our work permit. In my case I don’t have problem since my visa category have high limitation.

We have also checked the BPI Pinoy online banking and I can confirm that they have the capability of sending funds to COL Financial.

For COL Financial users, you just have to get your user id and place it in the space provided by Metrobank (Subscriber/Account No.) . After your first transaction it will now be located in your banks dashboard and all you have to do Is just to choose this in the option.

So here is the guide:

1.) Press Pay Bills

2.) Go To Special Bills

3.) Look for Col Financial Group Inc. and Enter your account number

4.) Enter your desired amount

5.) Put your phone number and then wait until it will appear in your Col Financial Dashboard (Better expect the transfer to be done within one day)

It would be faster if you will inform Col Financial and send them a screen copy of your payment.

You may also want to check my post in my other blog: How Online Banking System Can help OFW

Metrobank Screen Capture

I have been doing Internet banking for more than 9 years and I could say that I did not face any problem with Metrobank. They are strict when it comes to adding beneficiary since you have to do it on your local branch. But in funding your COL Financial you don’t have to go to the branch in order to add them in you bills payment.

For those asking about bank charges, I have not seen any deduction in any of my transfer to COL Financial.

Complete Pesos and Sense Season 1 Youtube Links

27 Wednesday Feb 2013

Posted by Dexter Panganiban in Personal Financing, Stock Market

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Budgeting, Diversification, Insurance, Mutual Funds, OFW Investment, Personal Finance, Stock Market, Youtube Links

Learning about investing can be done through reading and Watching Videos.

I have informed you before that I am part of the Facebook group called TGFI (The Global Filipino Investors ). The group members is helping me to learn new things about Stock Market as well as importance of insurance. Today I have seen a collection of Youtube links for Pesos and Sense headed by Aya Laraya. I would like to give credit to Khristian Santos (TGFI Admin) for his research for this videos.

I believe that the below mentioned videos is a must see for newbies and those who are starting to invest.