Investment Tips from the crisis from Dollardex
1. Don't kid yourself about your risk tolerance
We all know to set our risk level before building a portfolio. But do we fool ourselves into believing we have nerves of steel - and take on too much risk? Shares or commodities always look great during a bull run, but it's easy to forget the downside risks are still high - and arguably get higher as markets reach new peaks.
Examine your own situation and your appetite for risk in a very honest and non-macho fashion. There are no prizes for holding the riskiest portfolio but potentially lots of heartache for over-risky portfolios. No investor should have the majority of their assets in shares or equity funds if they are the type of person who gets nervous every time the indexes turn red.
There are ways to lessen market timing risk, such as to regularly invest your money into the market with a monthly plan. Remember too, if your investment timeframe is short you should seriously consider lowering the risk on your portfolio.
2. Don't panic when markets crash
If you do decide to have a risky portfolio, with more than a small proportion in cash, then it can be a double mistake to panic during a crisis. Although markets are not guaranteed to recover, they usually do. If you sell at the point of crisis you will miss out on the recovery phase. A panicky investor tends to buy high, and sell low - just the opposite of a good investment strategy.
Remember that shares earn more than cash (the risk premium) because they are risky. You should expect ups and downs (not just ups). The best investments over the long term are almost always the most volatile. So if you decide to invest in emerging shares, which have grown much faster than shares in developed countries, also expect them to be most prone to large drops.
3. Understand diversification and risk management
Diversification is one way of smoothing risks and returns, and we've all heard the old saying that you must never put all your eggs in one basket. However, as some investors have found out over the last twelve months, during a crisis many supposedly uncorrelated assets do not provide much diversification protection. Stocks and bonds sank together.
Diversification can be misunderstood and too much expected of it. When we think of two assets that are highly uncorrelated we are tempted to think of them both moving in opposite directions during a crisis, hence buffering our portfolio from losses. This may not be true. For example, the returns of the assets in the chart below are almost perfectly uncorrelated, yet the general trend is still in the same direction. You can imagine how these assets might behave in a crash - both would plummet and the "diversified" investor gets no downside protection.
Don't be pressured or lured into making an investment decision. Any investment that sounds too good to be true, probably is. If a product promises or hints it can obtain above average returns then there must be a catch. The catch could be a more volatile return, an obscure risk condition that one day could bite you, or a too favourable reliance on past performance data.
Great Advice from DollarDex for investment.
Showing posts with label work at home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label work at home. Show all posts
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Work Life Balance for Singaporean Women
Source: Robert Half
http://www.roberthalf.com.sg/portal/site/rh-sg/menuitem.b0a52206b89cee97e7dfed10c3809fa0/?vgnextoid=164b7052d3571210VgnVCM1000005e80fd0aRCRD&vgnextchannel=6dff20fa5e38f110VgnVCM1000003041fd0aRCRD
Highlights:
* Work-life balance the top priority (59%) for female accounting and finance professionals
* 68% of participants expect to progress their career in the next five years
However, 45% do not think they will reach a senior management position, such as a Directorship, within finance and accounting
* Only 49% of participants claim their organisations have a formal equal opportunities/ diversity policy
Singapore, 21 May 2009 – Female accounting and finance professionals in Singapore today have strong aspirations to move up the corporate ladder; however, obstacles still line their paths in an environment where fair and equal opportunities for women are not yet entirely entrenched. Work-life balance is importantly also the top priority for women and the key to attracting and retaining female talent in this increasingly challenging environment.
These are the conclusions of Singapore’s first detailed survey of women within the finance and accounting profession in Singapore, jointly launched by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (“ACCA”) and Robert Half Singapore (“Robert Half”). Conducted in March 2009, the survey polled over 700 female finance and accounting professionals across all age groups from a wide range of organisation type, size and industry sector.
The survey found that many women in accounting and finance in Singapore see themselves as career mobile and hold ambitions to develop beyond their current role. When asked where they see themselves in five years, 68% expect to advance their careers, with 32% saying in a new role with their current employer and an even higher 36% citing a senior position in a different firm. The majority of the respondents from the 35 years or younger (44%) age group expect to move on to a more senior role with a different employer, suggesting that younger female workers in general have higher job mobility and are strongly motivated to advance their careers.
However, against the backdrop of a highly mobile female workforce, the survey found that support for female workers in career development and leadership development is currently not forthcoming in many organisations. 27% of respondents claim they do not receive any training support from their companies, with those from the 36 to 45 years age group receiving less support than their peers. During the last 12 months, 64% of respondents had not attended a leadership course and those employed by smaller organisations were less likely to do so than their counterparts in larger firms.
Correspondingly, a significant number of female employees (45%) do not think they will reach a senior management position, such as a Directorship, within finance and accounting. Indeed, 39% of the respondents said their Board of Directors do not have any female representation, with approximately one third (31%) citing that only 1-20% of their board members were female directors. Reasons for this imbalance allude largely to existing gender inequality within their organisations, with comments such as “Such positions are usually given to men” or “There are very few women at the top management levels and these continued to be male oriented”.
The lack of equal opportunities for women is also underscored by the fact that only 49% of participants claim their organisations have a formal equal opportunities/diversity policy. Much obviously still has to be improved on this front, as a sizable 32% do not have such a policy in place, while 21% of respondents are simply unaware if it even exists in their organisations. When asked where an equal opportunities policy would have the greatest impact, 30% said on organisation culture, while a combined 28% saw it as a tool to attract and retain both new and current female employees.
Lastly, but very importantly, even in today’s challenging economic market, female employees are clearly still seeking more balance and flexibility in their lives and the relationship between work and family commitments. According to the survey, work-life balance is the top priority (59%) for female accounting and finance professionals, with respondents ranking flexible hours (61%) and the ability to work from home (51%) as the top flexible benefits that organisations needed to offer to attract and retain female employees. So important is it that the majority of respondents (53%) would leave their current job for one that offered an improved work-life balance, even if it means less pay.
However, contrary to their desire to enjoy an improved work-life balance, an overwhelming 74% of respondents said they are now working longer hours compared to a year ago. The main reasons cited were increased responsibilities (34%) and an increase in workload (24%). Seven percent cited organisation growth which could imply that while business is growing, extra resources are not being brought in to cope with the growth. On average, female accounting and finance professionals work 46.1 hours with those who are married without children working the most number of hours (46.4 hours per week) and those married with children working the least number (45.8 hours).
Mr Tim Hird, Managing Director, Robert Half, comments, “The results of our survey underscore the challenges that female professionals face in Singapore. While women continue to seek greater career advancements, barriers to progression evidently still remain in the workplace today. With Singapore still facing a shortage of skilled professionals despite the weak job market, it is more important than ever that organisations put in place practices to ensure that the funnel of female employees moving up the corporate ladder continues, or risk losing valuable members of the team.
Corporate leaders need to start planning for the eventual market recovery and understand the implications of a talent shortage as we emerge from the recession. Removing these barriers and improving access to flexible benefits is the first step in ensuring that top female talent are not just brought into the workforce, but most importantly, retained.”
Concludes Mrs Penelope Phoon-Cohen, Country Head, ACCA Singapore, “With better education possibilities and career opportunities, women have made a difference to the workplace in the last 50 years and now play an integral part in today’s workforce. As the advancement of women continues in Singapore, it is crucial to understand and ensure that gender equality and fair opportunities exist for female employees. Today, the world is facing unprecedented circumstances. Bringing to the table their unique characteristics and qualifications, women, like their male counterparts, play an important role in tackling the challenges of an increasingly complex economic landscape, and in rebuilding confidence to move businesses forward into the future.”
http://www.roberthalf.com.sg/portal/site/rh-sg/menuitem.b0a52206b89cee97e7dfed10c3809fa0/?vgnextoid=164b7052d3571210VgnVCM1000005e80fd0aRCRD&vgnextchannel=6dff20fa5e38f110VgnVCM1000003041fd0aRCRD
Highlights:
* Work-life balance the top priority (59%) for female accounting and finance professionals
* 68% of participants expect to progress their career in the next five years
However, 45% do not think they will reach a senior management position, such as a Directorship, within finance and accounting
* Only 49% of participants claim their organisations have a formal equal opportunities/ diversity policy
Singapore, 21 May 2009 – Female accounting and finance professionals in Singapore today have strong aspirations to move up the corporate ladder; however, obstacles still line their paths in an environment where fair and equal opportunities for women are not yet entirely entrenched. Work-life balance is importantly also the top priority for women and the key to attracting and retaining female talent in this increasingly challenging environment.
These are the conclusions of Singapore’s first detailed survey of women within the finance and accounting profession in Singapore, jointly launched by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (“ACCA”) and Robert Half Singapore (“Robert Half”). Conducted in March 2009, the survey polled over 700 female finance and accounting professionals across all age groups from a wide range of organisation type, size and industry sector.
The survey found that many women in accounting and finance in Singapore see themselves as career mobile and hold ambitions to develop beyond their current role. When asked where they see themselves in five years, 68% expect to advance their careers, with 32% saying in a new role with their current employer and an even higher 36% citing a senior position in a different firm. The majority of the respondents from the 35 years or younger (44%) age group expect to move on to a more senior role with a different employer, suggesting that younger female workers in general have higher job mobility and are strongly motivated to advance their careers.
However, against the backdrop of a highly mobile female workforce, the survey found that support for female workers in career development and leadership development is currently not forthcoming in many organisations. 27% of respondents claim they do not receive any training support from their companies, with those from the 36 to 45 years age group receiving less support than their peers. During the last 12 months, 64% of respondents had not attended a leadership course and those employed by smaller organisations were less likely to do so than their counterparts in larger firms.
Correspondingly, a significant number of female employees (45%) do not think they will reach a senior management position, such as a Directorship, within finance and accounting. Indeed, 39% of the respondents said their Board of Directors do not have any female representation, with approximately one third (31%) citing that only 1-20% of their board members were female directors. Reasons for this imbalance allude largely to existing gender inequality within their organisations, with comments such as “Such positions are usually given to men” or “There are very few women at the top management levels and these continued to be male oriented”.
The lack of equal opportunities for women is also underscored by the fact that only 49% of participants claim their organisations have a formal equal opportunities/diversity policy. Much obviously still has to be improved on this front, as a sizable 32% do not have such a policy in place, while 21% of respondents are simply unaware if it even exists in their organisations. When asked where an equal opportunities policy would have the greatest impact, 30% said on organisation culture, while a combined 28% saw it as a tool to attract and retain both new and current female employees.
Lastly, but very importantly, even in today’s challenging economic market, female employees are clearly still seeking more balance and flexibility in their lives and the relationship between work and family commitments. According to the survey, work-life balance is the top priority (59%) for female accounting and finance professionals, with respondents ranking flexible hours (61%) and the ability to work from home (51%) as the top flexible benefits that organisations needed to offer to attract and retain female employees. So important is it that the majority of respondents (53%) would leave their current job for one that offered an improved work-life balance, even if it means less pay.
However, contrary to their desire to enjoy an improved work-life balance, an overwhelming 74% of respondents said they are now working longer hours compared to a year ago. The main reasons cited were increased responsibilities (34%) and an increase in workload (24%). Seven percent cited organisation growth which could imply that while business is growing, extra resources are not being brought in to cope with the growth. On average, female accounting and finance professionals work 46.1 hours with those who are married without children working the most number of hours (46.4 hours per week) and those married with children working the least number (45.8 hours).
Mr Tim Hird, Managing Director, Robert Half, comments, “The results of our survey underscore the challenges that female professionals face in Singapore. While women continue to seek greater career advancements, barriers to progression evidently still remain in the workplace today. With Singapore still facing a shortage of skilled professionals despite the weak job market, it is more important than ever that organisations put in place practices to ensure that the funnel of female employees moving up the corporate ladder continues, or risk losing valuable members of the team.
Corporate leaders need to start planning for the eventual market recovery and understand the implications of a talent shortage as we emerge from the recession. Removing these barriers and improving access to flexible benefits is the first step in ensuring that top female talent are not just brought into the workforce, but most importantly, retained.”
Concludes Mrs Penelope Phoon-Cohen, Country Head, ACCA Singapore, “With better education possibilities and career opportunities, women have made a difference to the workplace in the last 50 years and now play an integral part in today’s workforce. As the advancement of women continues in Singapore, it is crucial to understand and ensure that gender equality and fair opportunities exist for female employees. Today, the world is facing unprecedented circumstances. Bringing to the table their unique characteristics and qualifications, women, like their male counterparts, play an important role in tackling the challenges of an increasingly complex economic landscape, and in rebuilding confidence to move businesses forward into the future.”
Sunday, March 7, 2010
How to Make An Extra $500 a Month
How to Make An Extra $500 a Month
Excllent article By: Audra Lim
Most spend their lives chasing it, while others never seem to have enough of it.
Money.
The Holy Grail that supposedly brings with it promises of everlasting happiness, pleasure and excitement.
While those promises aren’t entirely true, it is always nice to have a little extra cash, just for that decadent Ritz Carlton Champagne brunch and Javanese aromatherapy massage or simply to squirrel away for a rainy day.
We know exactly how comforting some extra cash feels like, so here are three great suggestions on how to make a solid $500 extra a month:
1. eBay
Who hasn’t heard of eBay? Practically synonymous with earning money online, eBay is the place to go to sell stuff you have been keeping but have no use for, such as bags, clothes, books, accessories and that old grandfather clock that has been sitting unappreciated in the corner of the living room. Remember, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. Or, you could buy something cheap and resell it there for a small profit. You can also use eBay’s Daily Deals (http://deals.ebay.com/deals) to pick up items that are going cheap for a limited time only, or visit Ebay, Craigslist, garage sales, flea markets, closeouts and the like for things you think may sell.
Potential earnings: $200 (assuming you sell 20 items at a profit of $10)
2. Sprees/ Bulk Purchases
Singaporeans love shopping, especially if they know they can get a good deal. Many popular items originate from overseas though, and sometimes it is too troublesome, too difficult or costs too much in shipping fees to purchase. In steps the Spree and Bulk Purchase organizer, who typically buys things in bulk from a particular brand or shop overseas, and earns a small profit by selling these value-for-money items at spree websites like http://community.livejournal.com/sgspree/, http://www.topsites.sg/tag/spree and the Singapore Motherhood forum.
Potential earnings: $200 (assuming a profit of $4 from each order, with 50 orders)
3. Earnings from Hobbies
Think about your favourite pastimes. Is there something you are good at, or something you know a lot about? Capitalise on these interests and skills. If you are handy with arts and crafts, make things and sell them on Etsy.com, a site that specializes in handcrafted products and supplies. If you are a Ansel Adams-wannabe and love taking photos, put them up on iStockPhoto.com, where publishers can search for photos using keywords – and you get a percentage if your photo is purchased. If you think you are an expert at finding the most suitable toy for your baby as she grows, write articles and post them online at sites such as AssociatedContent.com, where articles are typically paid US$4-10 each. Or better still, set up your own website and sell your writings as e-books. What you get is quick income with not much further work on your part!
Potential earnings: $100 (assuming you sell 20 items/articles etc at a profit of $5 each)
There are so many other ways to make money, including baking organic wheat-free chocolate cakes from home, providing freelance writing, or public relations, or accounting, or data entry or marketing or design services — and how about giving mobile manicures from your spiffy Kangoo van? As with any other job, many of these ideas take time and effort to turn into fruition, but once you get past that learning curve in terms of understanding e-commerce and market demand, it becomes a cinch to make that extra $500 many times over.
Have any other great ideas to help other women make extra cash? Share with us!
http://womenurock.blogspot.com/p/contact-us.html
Excllent article By: Audra Lim
Most spend their lives chasing it, while others never seem to have enough of it.
Money.
The Holy Grail that supposedly brings with it promises of everlasting happiness, pleasure and excitement.
While those promises aren’t entirely true, it is always nice to have a little extra cash, just for that decadent Ritz Carlton Champagne brunch and Javanese aromatherapy massage or simply to squirrel away for a rainy day.
We know exactly how comforting some extra cash feels like, so here are three great suggestions on how to make a solid $500 extra a month:
1. eBay
Who hasn’t heard of eBay? Practically synonymous with earning money online, eBay is the place to go to sell stuff you have been keeping but have no use for, such as bags, clothes, books, accessories and that old grandfather clock that has been sitting unappreciated in the corner of the living room. Remember, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. Or, you could buy something cheap and resell it there for a small profit. You can also use eBay’s Daily Deals (http://deals.ebay.com/deals) to pick up items that are going cheap for a limited time only, or visit Ebay, Craigslist, garage sales, flea markets, closeouts and the like for things you think may sell.
Potential earnings: $200 (assuming you sell 20 items at a profit of $10)
2. Sprees/ Bulk Purchases
Singaporeans love shopping, especially if they know they can get a good deal. Many popular items originate from overseas though, and sometimes it is too troublesome, too difficult or costs too much in shipping fees to purchase. In steps the Spree and Bulk Purchase organizer, who typically buys things in bulk from a particular brand or shop overseas, and earns a small profit by selling these value-for-money items at spree websites like http://community.livejournal.com/sgspree/, http://www.topsites.sg/tag/spree and the Singapore Motherhood forum.
Potential earnings: $200 (assuming a profit of $4 from each order, with 50 orders)
3. Earnings from Hobbies
Think about your favourite pastimes. Is there something you are good at, or something you know a lot about? Capitalise on these interests and skills. If you are handy with arts and crafts, make things and sell them on Etsy.com, a site that specializes in handcrafted products and supplies. If you are a Ansel Adams-wannabe and love taking photos, put them up on iStockPhoto.com, where publishers can search for photos using keywords – and you get a percentage if your photo is purchased. If you think you are an expert at finding the most suitable toy for your baby as she grows, write articles and post them online at sites such as AssociatedContent.com, where articles are typically paid US$4-10 each. Or better still, set up your own website and sell your writings as e-books. What you get is quick income with not much further work on your part!
Potential earnings: $100 (assuming you sell 20 items/articles etc at a profit of $5 each)
There are so many other ways to make money, including baking organic wheat-free chocolate cakes from home, providing freelance writing, or public relations, or accounting, or data entry or marketing or design services — and how about giving mobile manicures from your spiffy Kangoo van? As with any other job, many of these ideas take time and effort to turn into fruition, but once you get past that learning curve in terms of understanding e-commerce and market demand, it becomes a cinch to make that extra $500 many times over.
Have any other great ideas to help other women make extra cash? Share with us!
http://womenurock.blogspot.com/p/contact-us.html
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