Which Way To Go, Bank Deposit Or Mutual Funds

Which Way To Go, Bank Deposit Or Mutual Funds

Many of us Filipinos who are thinking of preparing for the future is putting our money in the bank. Thinking that this is the safest way to do it since we can easily pull out the money in times of need. In fact some of those who save in the bank and wanted to grow their money invested in time deposits.

The usual interest range now a days in a savings deposit is from 0.1% to 0.4% depending on the type of bank. The top commercial banks in the country are giving the lowest interest rate while those local rural banks are giving higher interests.

In time deposits, the usual range of interest rates per annum is from 0.5% to 2% only, depending on the bank you are depositing, the period of time and the amount of deposit. The returns of our time and savings deposit are guaranteed. But it is subject to tax.

Although our deposits in the bank are intact, there is this thing that silently rob your money. It is called inflation. The inflation rate now is much higher than the interest we earn in the bank. The inflation rate is 3% which means that the real value of your money is losing a minimum of 1% per annum.

So if we really want to grow our money and be prepared for our retirement, for our children's education, or for our dream house or our dream travel, we should put our money in financial instruments that could combat inflation and boost its value like mutual funds.

In mutual funds, your money will grow to about 5% to 10% annually, and sometimes higher. In fact, in 2014 some mutual funds earned a resounding 14% to 19%. And even though the said interest rates are not guaranteed because it will depend on the performance of the stock market, and your money's return is not guaranteed as well, if you put it there for a long time, it will surely grow. The longer the time it is invested in mutual funds, the higher the growth of your money.

So which way to go, bank deposit or mutual funds?

The answer is both, and we can enjoy the best features of both.

For the money that we will keep for emergencies and for our immediate needs, the best way to keep it is through bank deposit. It is safe in the bank and the best thing is we can immediately withdraw it in times of needs.

But for money that you want to set aside for the future, shall we say 5 years to 10 years or more, mutual funds is the best financial instrument. So if that money is intended for your children's education in the next 10 to 18 years, or for your graceful retirement in the next 20 years, or for your dream travel in the next 5 years, or for your dream house in the next 8 years, it's wiser to put it in mutual funds.

So if you haven’t started your financial planning, and you haven’t invested yet in mutual funds, call your financial advisor (some people call them insurance agent, or life insurance agent) now. I’m sure they will be more than happy to assist you. Or if you don’t have one, you can contact me. Please see the contact info at the upper right side of this website.

Financial Planning and Financial Literacy Should Begin At Home.

Yes, financial literacy and financial planning should begin at home. Parents should teach their children not only to save and be thrift but also to be financially independent and prepare for life's eventualities.

Lets take the story of Mary Rose Fausto, a former investment banker and now a Personal Finance Guru. Mary Rose Fausto started training her three sons to develop financial skills at an early age. In fact her sons were already making balance sheets for their allowance while still in grade school. Being a "mommy-ger" she taught her sons that balance sheet though a very simple tool, does wonders. 

She told her sons that “the balance sheet is just your assets minus liabilities equal to your total net asset value,”. He said that by raising his children with good financial values, she is actually arming them with economic self-defense against the harsh realities and uncertainties in life.

She also taught her sons that money and values are not mutually exclusive. That financial goals should be aligned with core values. By instilling them good money values, she's confident that his sons will never be hungry ever.

Today her sons are all financially independent and they are investing their own money wisely.

So if you did not learn financial planning at home, it is important to take the first step towards learning financial literacy now. And as you start learning, teach your children as well. Because like an investment, the basic foundations of financial knowledge can grow exponentially over time. Soon they will become financially smart and they will learn to place their money in smart investments and you will be confident that no matter what, they will never be hungry ever.

At the end of the day this will give you and them peace of mind and the satisfaction that comes with financial security.

Note:
You can read Mary Rose Fausto's story written and published by Shadz Loresco at rappler entitle: "Motherhood and money: Rose Fausto on raising high-FQ kids"

Becoming a Financial Advisor is a vocation.

Becoming Financial Advisor is a vocation.

Most people call us insurance agents, or life insurance agents. We call ourselves Financial Advisor, as the financial world also calls us. That's how different people call us.

In the late 2012, i got my first life insurance.  And after that, I was recruited to join the insurance business as Financial Advisor. So in the second quarter of 2013 i became a financial advisor. Honestly speaking, or shall we say frankly speaking, I became a financial advisor because of the income potential. Yes, becoming a financial advisor is a good way to earn, especially if you know what you are doing. I talk to people to get a life insurance with investment component with only one thing in mind, to earn additional income.

Until one of my close friends became my client and in less than a year of getting that policy he suddenly died. That was the time when I am about to quit as a financial advisor. It was a painful death for the family because he's the only son. Her mother, a widow, have just retired from her job and spent her retirement improving and expanding the house, so that if she needs to go to her final destination, she has something to leave for her son. So just imagine how painful it is when her son suddenly died.

We in the barkada also felt his mother's pain because we are also close to his mother. To make the long story short, we all grief deeply to his death.

After the interment, I helped his mother filed a claim from the insurance company, in fact one of the barkada who is the most close to our friend who died also helped us in getting the necessary documents since he is also a financial advisor in another company. And after a few months of waiting, the company informed us that the cheque is ready. So during one of our financial planning events in Bogo City, Cebu we finally awarded the cheque to my friend's mother.

During the awarding, just right then and there, I felt something good, it's a strong feeling that I can never explain.  It really felt good knowing that you've done something that can ease the pain of a grieving person. Especially when she thanked me for it.

From that moment on, I realized that becoming a financial advisor is not just about earning money, there is a noble mission embedded on it. It is a noble cause, its a calling, it is vocation, it is now my vocation.

As financial advisor, our mission is to educate people on financial planning, helping them save and invest their hard earned money, help them prepare for the eventualities in life, protect families, protect their dreams, and most of all help make their dreams a reality.

All you financial advisors out there, go forth and lets do our mission.


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Image from wohc.org