When I was in my early 20s, I longed to retire at 30. Now that I have reached that marvelous age (plus several years), I realize I need more time. Besides, I can’t imagine not doing what I’m doing now. I would probably be lost without my writing that constantly defines and affirms every day who I am and what are the little things I can do to leave my little mark in this world.

A retirement survey by HSBC called The Future of Retirement in fact showed that many Filipinos would like to work even after they retire.

Boy Javier, an advertising executive, on the other hand, decided to get off the train early. And he is having the time of his life, according to this MoneySense article in the personal finance section of INQUIRER.net.

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Whew, I don’t know about you but I need a break from watching the market. This Lego doll knows how to relax! hehe…

Photo from Agence France-Presse with caption:

NETHERLANDS, Zandvoort : A huge Lego-doll of about 2,5 meters is seen at the beach of Zandvoort, 07 August 2007. Owners of a beachpub discovered the toy this morning. Nobody knows where the toy comes from, the Danish Legoland says they do not miss the Lego piece.

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I haven’t. Honestly. Is that good or bad? There is a lot of things in my reading list right now that includes updates on local and global financial news. I’m sure I will be a nervous wreck when I’m done reading. Media can do that to you! (Ouch, is that you INQUIRER.net?)

Trying to keep a good perspective here, though. I chose the funds I would invest in carefully. I know that my mutual fund is invested in blue chips and not speculative and risky stocks. The fund managers are experts in their fields and have performed well in volatile periods. I think I made a good asset play and I’m saving for the long-term anyway. I have no individual stock investments, that is why stock picking is not a particular headache for a small player like me. The best thing to do for me is to stay my course.

I spent the whole morning collecting data on the stock market so I can show everyone the historical returns of the Philippine composite index. Special thanks to Efren Cruz, chairman and president of Personal Finance Advisers Phils. Corp. for sharing his data. Bloomberg is also another source for PSEi year-end closing figures. Note that the lowest point of the index after the 1997 crisis is still a gain over 1987 levels.

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Are all schemes premised on multiple investors fraudulent?

Chew on that one. Noet Ravalo tackles this question from one of INQUIRER.net’s readers. The reader also asked if there is a way to set up a legitimate business that can fight the stigma that Francswiss created. Read the article here.

Here are my favorite parts:

The real issue boils down to where we draw the line between a scam, a dream that is otherwise not viable and an untapped business opportunity. This is where the regulatory framework comes in. Financial regulations exist to tell us what is allowed and not allowed. Some of these rules may be a “constraint” to the business opportunity but by and large I am convinced that these rules are needed to protect the great majority who need them the most. Why do we need protection? In the scheme of things, investors are at the bottom of the information chain. Since we do not run the business day-to-day, we are farthest in the chain and would therefore miss out on important details or know of these on a delayed basis. For this reason, investor protection is a central tenet in securities regulation worldwide.

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A reader wrote:

Just wanna ask if Pryce Plans is still existing. My sister was paying last week and the bank teller said: “The account number no longer exists”. I have been paying for more than five years now…Gosh, I need your advice guys…Thank you!

Pryce Plans declared funding problems in 2005 and has not been allowed by the Securities and Exchange Commission to sell new products. The company still exists but only to service claims. After I read Beth’s question, I called up the company and the person at the other end of the line candidly admitted that because of the company’s funding problems, some releases are delayed, but claimed that these would be serviced.

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A couple shows a unique way of celebrating getting out of debt. Uhh…I’m not really sure if you should try this at home, but it sure is amazing to see.

We all should be. The main reason is not because it could wipe out our investments, but because many others are getting scared and their jittery actions could rock the boat thereby affecting everyone else.

Imagine a big room full of nervous people running for the exit all at the same time. Think of the confusion during such a pandemonium. People can get hurt whether or not the stampede is running away from a tiny mouse or a huge elephant. That’s how a financial market turmoil can feel like.

On Monday, fears about the US subprime problem triggered losses in markets across the globe. What does that mean for individual Filipino investors? Let me see if I can keep satisfying one reader, who said she reads MoneySmarts because doing so helps her understand business without getting dizzy.

If you are a “prime” borrower, banks run after you to lend you money. You have never missed payments, you have a good job and everything just looks peachy. Sub-prime borrowers are your opposite. In the Philippines, one bounced check and a botched credit card history gives you a permanent scar that’s all but impossible to erase. In the US mortgage market, lenders flush with money coming in from different parts of the world said, “Why not lend to the sub-prime market even if they are risky?” They could charge higher interest from these borrowers and earn more!
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Mixing investments and fun sounds…err…fun, but how is this done exactly? This article from our content partner MoneySense tells you how:

You may want to give the world of collectibles a try like card games, action-figures, comic books, and assorted movie paraphernalia. The past decade has seen a huge growth in the number of people who actively trade and invest in these things. Aided greatly by the Internet, people are buying, selling, and making large profits from stuff that were once thought of as children’s toys.

Confession: I like fun. I love to do fun things. But I must admit I’m a bit chary here. I’ve been rolling my eyes for the longest time at my husband’s collection of X-men and Marvel trading cards and the time he invested in making and updating a sortable database of his “stocks”.

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What do you do when you need money in a hurry?

This guy had it easy. A smudge of driveway sealant that resembled the face of Jesus Christ was found on in his garage, and he sold it on eBay for…$1,525.69. Yep, P70,181.74 for a slab of concrete that doesn’t even cry, change expression or something.

(Photos again courtesy of Michelle Morelos.)

One of my weirdest habits is collecting flyers of “quick sources of cash” and taking note of advertisements on walls and posters. Here are some of the most common:

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Femaad’s experience on accidentally stumbling upon a townhouse on rush sale is a perfect opportunity to start a discussion on home-buying tips, especially now that Filipinos are buying houses both for investment and for old age.

(Photo courtesy of Michelle Morelos).

It also illustrates how liquidity is the twin of opportunity. This is what she shared:

My husband and I have been renting since we got married in 2000. Medyo mahal rent namin - P30,000 a month. Before reading on financial independence, okay kami with that rent. Afterwards, we decided to downgrade and look for a cheaper place na comfortable, nice-looking naman, and secure. In the process of looking for a place to rent, we came across a townhouse for sale. Wala pa sanang planong bumili, but the corner unit’s price was a good deal, considering it was within town (hindi outskirts), about 500 meters from a jeepney line, with adequate water, good neighbors. It had three toilets and baths, four bedrooms, and a two-car garage. Nearby units were selling at P1 million to P2 million more. Cash kasi gusto ng nagbebenta kaya mas mura. Even my brother who’s a realtor and his friend, the head of chamber of commerce in our place, said we might not come across such a deal again.

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