Riddle - what is this object?

The rich man needs it. The poor man has it. If you eat it, you die.

Mobile games on Windows Phone 7

I have developed 4 applications for the Windows Phone 7. This link allows you to view the videos of the applications:
http://www.tankinlian.com/Information.aspx?CatID=12


The applications are:

• 4D Simulator - simulate the 4D draws over 1 year and shows how many times your number (including permutations) appear.
• Toto Luck - take your date of birth to generate random numbers and shows you the 7 Toto numbers that appears most often out of 10,000 numbers in the series.
• One in a Million - takes your date of birth to generate random numbers and shows you the 4D numbers that appear most often out of 1 million numbers drawn at random
• Entrepreneur - allows you to play the game of pricing, marketing and capacity for a product against 9 simulated players over 12 months.

These applications will be made available on Apple and other mobile platforms soon.

FISCA talk on financial planning

I gave a talk on financial planning under FISCA. 50 people attended. The majority of the participants are young people.

FISCA is now able to reach out to young people. It is wonderful, as the young people are likely to be the people who will stand to benefit by being educated and avoid giving a large part of their future savings away in a low yield insurance policy.

I encourage young people to attend the FISCA talk (www.fisca.sg/events) and be educated. You will be able to avoid being misled by an insurance agent who is only keen to earn a fat commission at your expense.

If you meet an insurance agent, who is highly trained and persuasive, this is how you can say "No"
http://tankinlian.com/admin/file.aspx?id=273

You should also listen to the videos from Suzy Orman. Although she made her point in the context of USA, the same points are applicable in Singapore. In fact, the situation in Singapore is worse for consumers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGDgYLCpnDo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vnN9liFWaE

Tan Kin Lian

Medishield and Private Shield

Insurance agents scare consumers about the high cost of medical treatment and ask them to buy a private shield. The consumers are not aware that they will have to pay a higher premium, and when they go for treatment, they have to pay a higher co-payment as well. They will be hit twice. Read these articles:
http://tankinlian.com/admin/file.aspx?id=229
http://tankinlian.com/admin/file.aspx?id=183

The agent also use a number of myths to get consumers to make the decision that is good for agents, but may be bad for consumers. Read this article:
http://tankinlian.com/admin/file.aspx?id=287

Apart from paying a higher premium and co-payment, consumers may be hit hard when their claim for reimbursement is rejected due to unintended non-disclosure. Read these articles:
http://tankinlian.com/admin/file.aspx?id=239
http://tankinlian.com/admin/file.aspx?id=190

The only reason to go for private shield is the chance that the public hospital do not have the doctor to treat your illness. I think that this risk is low and is exaggerated. There should be more than adequate facility to be treated in our public hospital.

Those who are well off can opt to go for private shield. For the majority, where the savings is not adequate, it is better to stay with Medishield.

Tan Kin Lian

Unethical methods used to sell life insurance

The wife of an ex-insurance agents describes some of the unethical methods used by insurance agents to get customers to buy insurance policies that harm them financially. She said that her husband might also be a victim as he was misled by his manager. Read:
http://tankinlian.com/admin/file.aspx?id=297

SGEP

Read the views of the Reform Party and the Singapore Democratic Party on the issues affecting Signaporeans.
SGEP

Revival of protectionism?

Tan Kin Lian expects the US to resort to some form of protectionism to solve their economic and employment problems. How will this impact Singapore?

Ask Mr. Tan

TKL Tips

Go to this website
http://projects.easyapps.sg/life21d/

Click on
Tips on Financial Planning
Tips on Buying Insurance

Dividend yield on Singapore Equities

Thsi website shows the dividend yield on several Singapore equities, especially the larger ones:
http://www.investmentmoats.com/DividendScreener/DividendScreener.php One reason to invest in stocks is to get a dividend yield of 3% and capital appreciation. Many shares meet this requirement.

Expensive technology that did not work

The bus stop outside SMU showed the expected time of arrival of each bus service. It showed my bus to be arriving in 7 minutes. It actually arrived after 1 minute. The expensive technology, using GPS and transmitting to the bus stop, was out by 6 minutes.

Bus or MRT

I took a bus from SMU to my home. It is a direct bus. I was able to get a seat. The journey took 30 minutes. The alternative is to take the MRT and change to a bus, which will take the same time and require more walking.
Many people take the MRT out of habit, but if they learn how to take a bus, it can be more convenient.

Housing loans - SIBOR or SOR rates

Read this explanation on the difference between SIBOR and SOR (swap rates).
http://www.smartloans.sg/pages/the-choice-between-sibor-and-sor-rates