INVESTING – What, How, Why, When?

Many of us, when we reach a certain age, we always think about investing. In the world today, there are so many ways to invest. Lots of people today are drawn to the appeal of investments, which can mean either substantial rewards or painful losses. Let me share with you some. I welcome anyone to share their feedbacks and ideas as well to my email - enquiry@nelsontks.com

So how do we go about when starting to invest? One of the ways is to read books and magazines. From local magazines, one can get to know more about local stocks. You can also get to know about stocks from talks, seminars and workshops conducted by various training organizations. Friends, family members and relatives can give you good advice too. You can also get to know new companies through your own research through SGX or stock market website(s). Most commonly, the internet allows anybody who has internet access to research any necessary information needed before making any investments.

The different form of investments is namely property, gold, commodities, insurance, stock market, Forex, unit trusts, setting up own business, etc. A good investment in stock and insurance products is one that appreciates or provides a good income over time. Unit trust and mutual funds take money from people and invest them in a variety of assets. With as volatile as the stock market can be, you never know where it may leave you. For Gold investing, it is not a buying a piece of the gold bar to lock in a safe. There are many ways to own gold and most of the time, you do not see the actual gold at all. For instance, Singaporeans can buy gold by using their Central Provident Fund Ordinary Account savings to invest in gold savings accounts or gold certificates. Their value mirrors any rises or falls in gold prices. When investing in commodities with companies, you could be exposed to more risks. With most gold investments, you worry mainly about the price of gold. With these commodity stocks, other factors, such as how well the firms are doing, come into play. Some investments are safer, some are riskier, so what you select has to be inside your comfort zone.

Even though it is impossible to predict the changes of the market, as you build your investment portfolio, you'll learn to accept the losses and await the success waiting around the corner. No one can control the market, but you are able to manage what you invest in. Study the “products” and know what you are putting your trust and your money in. Losses are a part of investment, which means you can't afford to make too many rash decisions, especially when you're starting out. Only invest what you can manage. Always remember not to go into debt just for the sake of investing.

Doing Business in SINGAPORE - Regional HQ

Today SIN has many overseas companies having operations here. Many of them leverage on SIN connectivity and industrial capabilities to expand their business globally.

Why overseas companies should consider setting up their regional HQ in SIN:

Economic Performance

• no. 2 worldwide as the city with the best investment potential for 16 consecutive years

• world leader in foreign trade and investment

Competitiveness & Business Environment

• 1st for having the most open economy for international trade and investment

• world’s easiest place to do business

• the most competitive country in world

• best business environment in Asia Pacific and worldwide

• Asia’s most “network” country

Business Legislation and Efficiency

• 1st in the world for having the best protection of intellectual property

• least bureaucratic place for doing business in Asia

Labour

• maintains top position in BERI’s Labour Force Evaluation Measure

• 7th in the world and 3nd in Asia for having the most motivated workforce

• among the top 5 in Asia for the best skilled labour

• labour regulations are the most business conducive in Asia

• has the best labour/employer relations in Asia

Expatriate Living

• foreign talent rank Singapore as Asia’s best country to work in

• first choice for Asian expatriates

• best place in Asia to live, work and play

• Singapore’s immigration laws for foreign talent highly-regarded for being business-centric

Government

• 5th in the world and 1st in Asia for having the least corruption in its economy

• most transparent country in the world and Asia

Expatriate Living

• foreign talent rank Singapore as Asia’s best country to work in

• first choice for Asian expatriates

• best place in Asia to live, work and play

• Singapore’s immigration laws for foreign talent highly-regarded for being business-centric

Low corporate tax rate – 17%.

Singapore's corporate tax rate is further reduced if a company qualifies for tax incentives, and all companies will now enjoy partial tax exemption on the first S$300,000 (US$196,141) of chargeable income. Therefore, the effective tax rate of many companies may be lower than the headline rate of 17 per cent.

Foreign income exemption

Foreign-sourced income is taxed only when it is repatriated back into Singapore. In addition, tax is not levied on foreign-sourced dividends remitted back into Singapore provided the dividends are received from a country with a headline corporate tax rate of at least 15 per cent.

Wide tax treaty network

Regional headquarters here can tap Singapore's extensive tax treaty network with over 50 countries to benefit from the reduced withholding taxes on dividends, interest and royalties. Tax treaties can also help to reduce instances of creating a taxable presence in foreign countries. Companies heavily involved in cross-border deals will find this useful to mitigate double taxation.

Regional HQ incentive

Companies which are conferred the RHQ status enjoy a concessionary tax rate of 15 per cent for qualifying income arising from headquarters activities and operations carried out from Singapore. Those awarded IHQ status enjoy even further attractive tax rates of between zero and 10 per cent.

Not Ordinarily Resident scheme

Employees who travel extensively can benefit from this scheme to reduce their personal Singapore income tax if specified conditions are satisfied. For those on tax equalization, this scheme will help to reduce the operating costs of the regional headquarters company.

Writing-Down Allowance (WDA) for Intellectual Property (IP)

Regional headquarters which use Singapore as an international IP holding location may claim WDA for the cost of acquisition of the IP.

Proactive Regulators and Agencies

Many countries in the region are in the race to be the choice regional holding or headquarters location. In the face of such competition, the responsiveness of our government is key to ensuring that Singapore continues to stay ahead in the race to be the preferred regional headquarters hub.

To have a successful business, one has to:

•          Maintain focus on core businesses

•           Effectively managing technological change

•           Continue expansion of our South-East Asia presence

•           Balance & work together as one group, while maintaining the strength of their individual product lines

•           Become a better self-managed organization by becoming more responsive to change, more adaptive to the environment, and more dynamic.

Singaporeans Getting Too Busy - GOOD or BAD?

In reference to my topic. It’s just something on my mind for the longest time as a Singaporean. I see it with my own eyes every day. I am even part of this day to day survival game. Let us discuss the good and the bad.

THE GOOD:

With more people working and contributing, this would boost the country’s economy at a greater pace. People are earning more; both the men and the ladies. There are more flashy cars on the roads nowadays and you can see mid-aged men and ladies driving these cars. You have your 2 doors Audis, BMWs, Mercs, what have you. The people are getting more educated. A diploma is considered “low end” already. When you throw a stone, you will definitely hit a degree graduate. You must be able to be a scholar or a masters or PhD holder to stand out. (No disrespect to those who have little or no education because I do see many of them doing well and making it big in their lives and career.)

THE BAD:

People are so involved in building their career, they forget about the things in life that makes them happy besides money. They do not date. They do not go into relationships as it might jeopardize their career advancement. And because of this, they do not get married, they do not have babies. Hence causing the aging population to rise and the next generation to decrease. With the economy improving, the costs of living goes up as well. Those that are not doing well will suffer and it pains me to see them in these situations. I just want to help whenever I can. With more cars on the road as well, it causes more jams, COE price to increase, more accidents, and more time spent and wasted on the road – as the saying goes, time is money. I see most people going to gym at 9pm after work. This shows that they are working till late and only have time for themselves after 8pm. With that much little time even for themselves, what more for family, friends, hobbies, etc.

CONCLUSION:

In conclusion, we all should learn how to juggle both work and life. Do what is necessary. Make the right decisions in life and do not live to regret in the future. Always look far and long term.

Success Doesn't Come Overnight ; Keys to Success

Let me share my personal experience on why I think success doesn’t come overnight and some of the key factors to success.

I will be turning 30 this year. During my younger days, like most teenagers and young adults, we have dreams of making quick bucks or fulfilling our childhood dreams to be a lawyer, doctor, policeman, etc. What was yours? Mine was to be a footballer. Just because I grew up watching Manchester United and idolizing who else, David Beckham. In my Primary School days, I used to play football regularly under the block with my neighborhood friends. As I grew older, I got the honor to represent my schools and play for semi-professional clubs and also to represent the Army when I was serving my National Service. I got the opportunity in my late teens to train and hopefully play for a professional club. I could not take the almost 7 days per week training, the fitness training, etc. It takes much more than just scoring goals and taking the glory or for goalkeepers like me, making a spectacular save.

What I am driving at on the above? To be successful in what you want in life. One has got to have most of the below qualities. Trust me, with these qualities, you are on your road to success.

1/ Passion – You got to be passionate in what you want in life. There’s nothing wrong with those who work hard just for money. This shows you have the passion to make money.

2/ Commitment – By sharing my experience above, one can tell you need the commitment to train, learn and to gain the experience and skills needed to what you want to achieve in life.

3/ Focus – You need to be able to focus on what you really want in life. If you are young, it’s ok to explore options and to find out what you really want and focus to excel on it. I used to make the mistake of wanting to do everything and end up being the jack of all trades but master of none.

4/ Support – You need to mix around and have the right people by your side during these times. People like your family, close friends, colleagues, associates, contacts. Mixing with the right and positive people will also help you to have the right thinking and move on the right track.

5/ God – If you have a religious belief, it would be the best. For me, I always believe in God and that he always make all things possible. When in a difficult situation, just pray. Because when there’s no one around to listen, you know God will always do so.

Today, I can gladly say that Thank God for these 5 key factors, I am on the road to success. I am doing what I am passionate about – that is Business. I have a good work life balance and am glad to be still given the opportunity to still play semi-pro football.

Abercrombie & Fitch (Singapore) - Review

Last Friday (2/3/2012), I decided to make my way to town as I have not been there for quite awhile. I just had to visit the Abercrombie & Fitch store as I heard many mixed reviews about it. Below is my reviews on Abercrombie & Fitch (Singapore).

Store Review:

At the entrance, there was a gigantic poster of a well-defined body of a male model. Heard reviews elsewhere that it was offensive to many but I personally found it very attractive and somewhat different as compared to the other brands. Also greeting me at the door were 2 young looking male models, wearing the shirts of A&F, which I found nice and eventually my fiancée got me one in which I wore today (picture insert below). I was told by a close friend of mine that many did not like the interior of the store because it was too dark and seemed like a disco club. I agree that the place was too dark and there was no sense of direction and one can get lost in the store. There was only one cashier, which is at the basement of the store. Fitting room for guys is also only available in the basement if I am not wrong. And if your sense of smell does not fail you, even a person with blocked nose should be able to smell the strong cologne sprayed throughout the store. If you do not enjoy the smell of this cologne, I would think that you will not stay long in there. The staffs in the store are very friendly, helpful and cheerful, dancing to the tune of the music being played and assisting you in all your needs.

Fashion Review:

Collaged styled fashion like that of the kind of clothes Prince William & Harry will wear. The material of the clothes is good, smooth and comfortable. The designs stand out from the normal designs you will find in most departmental stores. The color of most clothes is bright and hence it will standout when you wear it on the streets. Well suited designs for the young generation who are in their late teens to the mid-30s for both men and ladies.

Business Review:

You either like it or not. It will favor the younger generation as the older generation are more conservative to this concept. Hence majority of the clothes and design are catered for the younger generation. The staffs hired are young, good looking and well trained. The store will give a very good first impression to the young and trendy. The company is focused on its target audience and knows what it wants. The company will not change its concept much just to suit the locals but make locals change their concept to like this brand – A&F.

Conclusion:

The negative publicity actually turned out to be the positive for the company. People actually want to check this place out due to its ‘negative’ vibe. The main purpose for any store is to attract the crowd and increase the sales revenue, which is actually what this company has achieved. I am already looking forward to my second visit to A&F Singapore. How about you?



A&F Shirt I got as a gift.



Profile of Nelson Tan

"The way to being successful is to

be passionate in what you do.”

A Singapore Citizen. Nelson started his corporate career in the Logistics industry with Atlas Logistics Pte. Ltd. (http://www.atlaslogistics.sg/). In Atlas Logistics, he is now holding the position of Assistant General Manager. He worked towards creating marketing strategies, to the generation of sales leads, to negotiating and closing deals. His strength is to identify new business opportunities, new markets, new partnerships with other businesses, new ways to reach existing markets, or new product or service offerings to better meet the needs of existing markets and then to go out and exploit those opportunities to bring in more revenue. He corresponds regularly with overseas counterparts in the Southeast Asia, USA & Europe sectors to develop business and improve strategic alliance. He also does proper monitoring and analyzing for the posting and cost analysis. He also monitor the cash flow and using the same to predict future financial trends. He reviews and evaluates cost reduction opportunities open to the firm and develop good working relationships with professionals such as bankers, auditors or statutory organizations for the benefit of the organization.

 

Nelson is also a footballer and an actor. Having built and established himself as a successful businessman, he is actively involved in contributing back to the sports & arts industry, where he found interest in since he was young. He has played professional football since the age of seven with several clubs till date. He has also found interest in the arts and media industry by featuring in local dramas, television commercials, host of events, print advertisements and short films.

 

Nelson's academic qualifications include a Masters of Business Administration from James Cook University (Australia) and a Bachelor of Electrical & Electronics from Northumbria University (UK). He is a passionate, hardworking and confident individual with good communication skills. He has a strong business acumen, has a kind heart and always willing to serve the people. He understands the competitive landscape and has strong research skills. He has excellent quantitative and analytical skills.

 

Nelson believes the best in people and companies and is committed to helping them discover how they can succeed in life and the industry through the abundance of info provided in his E-Books (http://www.nelsontks.com/). His desire is to help this generation of people and companies understand what is needed of them to excel and move ahead positively.