It's Time!

Author: Tara Arevalo

Retirement. The word springs to mind a thousand ugly words — wrinkles, weak bones, senior citizenship, bottles and bottles of health supplements and huge amounts of time pining for what has been.

It’s a mean feat in this country to retire. The common practice being — parents work day and night to send kids to school, kids graduate from school, are sent off to the real world and the parents have no choice but to retire ungraciously – with all their money spent on their kids futures, forgetting they too, have a future to think of. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s true that Christmas is for kids. The bright lights, merry parties, and overflowing gifts create a wonderland for kids. And who can forget the money that comes with this holiday? From ninong, ninang, lolo, lola, tito, tita, whether of blood relations or not, a child’s pocket is one overflowing playground. Read the rest of this entry »

by: Kendrick Chua, the Wealth Warrior

Single moms are definitely of different breed. The strength and resilience in being both a father and mother to their children is something that has continued to amaze others, myself included. Read the rest of this entry »

Expect the unexpected.
-  Anonymous

Storms happen every once in a while in life. It may come in the form of unfortunate, man-induced events such as robberies, job loss, significant medical expenses, or literally, a storm that can leave one without any possessions at all. The saying “Save for the rainy days,” is proving to be a gospel truth now, more than ever. Read the rest of this entry »

Disaster response should be quick, resolute, and almost instinctive in its precision. Aside from emergency kits, there is another important yet often overlooked provision that is best secured and accessible at all times.

Below is a handy model upon which to pattern your own personal list:

SAVINGS

• Is your ATM card, credit card, and bankbook tucked in your wallet or placed somewhere easily accessible?
• Is your account number jotted down or saved in your mobile phone or handheld gadget?
• Are you aware of how much disposable income (cash you can withdraw) you have stashed away?
• More importantly, do your accounts always have available and withdrawable balances? Are you able to keep your credit cards within limits and not always maxed out?
• Do you have the hot line (almost always toll free) number of your bank?

INSURANCE

• Are important insurance papers such as your policy contract properly stored, where it is safe from fire, flood, and earthquake?
• Is your insurance coverage up to date? Are your premiums updated?
• Do you have the contact information of your financial advisor and the company where you purchased your plan?

INVESTMENT

• Are proofs of your investment tucked away in a safe place, like a safety deposit box?
• Can you immediately liquidate your portfolio in case of extreme need? Try to strike a balance between assets that are easy to liquidate and those that take time to convert to cash.
• Are you familiar with your portfolio so that you can minimize, if not avoid losses when you need to redeem?
• Do you have the contact information of your financial advisor and the companies where you bought your shares?

Make sure you have these information at hand. Make your list. Post it in your wall. Keep it in your pocket. Place it on your refrigerator. After all, prevention is crucial, but preparation is essential.