If you’ve watched TV – one of the prominent advertisements you might have noticed is that of a skin care product that helps you ‘defy age’. But one of the tools that will definitely help you retire beautifully is by having investments that will take care of your financial health.
During the panel moderated by New Perspective Media’s Managing Partner and co-founder Dr. Karen Remo, titled ‘How to retire beautifully: Plan your retirement ahead and start investing now’ at the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition (PPIE) 2019, two women leaders who have invested in several properties and investments in the Philippines and the UAE took to the stage to share their tips on how OFWs like them can achieve their dreams of retiring and enjoying life back home.
Start early
Sanofi’s Communications and CSR Director Jorhie Alban shared that an asset that many OFWs have is time – and it’s always a good practice to start early when investing. “You have to start early and there are three reasons behind this. First if you start early, you’ll maximize your return on investment (ROI) early. Makikita mo yung return na before you retire, may ROI na agad. Next is if you start early, you’ll start making mistakes – and making mistakes is the most valuable, and ‘pricey’ accomplishment you can get. When I learned my mistakes, that’s the time I became more careful. Number three is if you start early, you will have the flexibility, the choice, and the freedom – and that’s the most important,” shares Alban.
Alban furthers that starting early also gives more room for mistakes: “I’ve made mistakes in the span of 20 years. I have tried many investment instruments and have failed several times. I have seen my investment personality has evolved over the years. For me ang pinaka parameter ko na ngayon is if I were to invest on something, can I liquidate this or convert this into cash within the next six months? Kung pwede ko tong magawa then yes – if not, then no.;”
She also adds that in every investment you will take, you should align that with your values. “Over the years when I have decided what investment personality I will assume, an important thing that I learned is to really invest in things that are aligned with your values. Kasi before, gusto ko lang kumita so I invested on things na hindi aligned sa values ko and you will not feel good,” said Alban.
Alban now has a wide investment portfolio of more than 20 properties and businesses in the Philippines and the UAE.
Step ladder to success
Bareen International Hospital Sales and Marketing Manager Joanne Rico urged Filipino expats to be guided with their investment plans through the ‘step ladder’ method. “Hindi yan agad-agad na magigising ka at ma-i-isipan mo agad na bukas bibili ka na ng condominium e gagawin mo na agad. This is a more practical approach.
“Una, punuin mo muna ang emergency funds mo – kasi the moment na magkasakit ang family member mo or magkaroon ng natural calamities, all these funds that you’re spending for your investment will be pulled out kasi ibibigay mo siya for emergency. You have to have at least 6 months of your salary as your emergency fund,” said Rico.
She then furthered that the next step would be to get yourself insured: “After that, cover yourself with insurance. Kasi if something happens to you and you’re the breadwinner of the family – what happens to your family? So dapat covered ka and then after that isa-isahin niyo din ang family niyo lalo na ang matatanda, pag nagkaroon ng sakit, mapupunta din ang pera niyo sa pagpapagamot.”
Rico then assured everyone that filling those two baskets will then open the opportunity to invest in your chosen investment tool, like property for instance. “You have to check what encourages you to invest – and that would be your personality. In my case ang personality ko kasi – gusto ko nakikita ko yung investment ko, gusto ko nauupuan ko siya. Pag nakikita ko, dun ako na e-encourage. So pag nakakabili ako ng property, ng condominium dun ko ma-f-feel na wow, it paid off!,” shares Rico.
Rico is now a proud owner of more than 10 different kinds of investment tools including condominiums, stocks, mutual funds, business and more.
