Date: October 13 & 14, 2010
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Venue: Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre

Malaysia is rapidly heading towards an ageing society. According to United Nations’ figures, Malaysia is likely to reach an ageing nation status by 2035 with the number of people above the age of 60 reaching 15 per cent of the population. The United Nations categorises any country with 10 per cent of its population above the age of 60 as an ageing nation.

Today more than 10 percent of Malaysians are in the 50 yr + group. Global statistics show that this ageing group has greater purchasing power and wealth than younger adults. In the UK, EU and USA, the 50 yr + group commands more than 75 % of the wealth. It outspends younger adults by $1 trillion and accounts for more than half of the majority of household expenditure (54%) in the US and the EU.

Though FPAM has organized many conferences and expositions in the past, the “Everyone Can Retire Well” conference is FPAM’s first attempt on the rapidly growing aging and retirement markets. Planned for 700 participants as a gathering for the ageing and retirement industry/community, it aims to bring financial service providers, academicians, doctors, health care experts, gerontologists, affluent consumers, decision makers and government agencies together for 2-days of sharing and caring that we believe will have life-long impressions

Register by printing and faxing this form back to FPAM. (I’m surprised they didn’t have a registration form in the website itself…)

Thanks to Aniza from FPAM, here are some more relevant downloads for the upcoming conference:
1) Conference Brochure
2) Sponsorship Opportunities
3) Hotel Room Reservation

With RM3.0 billion allocated for investors nationwide, there’s still about RM600 million to go.

Read more about how the Sukuk 1Malaysia works on Bank Negara’s website.

Issuance of Sukuk 1Malaysia 2010

Ministry of Finance wishes to announce the issuance of Sukuk 1Malaysia 2010 on 21 June 2010. Sukuk 1Malaysia 2010 amounted to RM2.4 billion was allocated to 74,781 investors. Successful investors will be notified by their agent banks.

Sukuk 1Malaysia 2010 which is scripless and based on Shariah principles, is an additional investment instrument for Malaysian citizens who are 21 years and above. The sukuk, which has a 3-year tenure, offers a return of 5% per annum. Sukuk 1Malaysia 2010 has a resaleable feature which provides the flexibility for investors to sell and purchase the sukuk before the maturity date.

Beginning 22 June 2010, investors can sell and purchase the sukuk at agent banks. The purchase of sukuk is based on a first-come first-served basis, with no maximum limit, subject to the availability of the sukuk sold by existing sukukholders. The selling and buying prices are calculated based on principal at par plus accrued profit. Members of the public can obtain information on the availability of Sukuk 1Malaysia 2010 and the daily prices through the Bon Info Hub website by visiting www.bondinfo.bnm.gov.my or checking with their agent banks. For each investor, the minimum sale/purchase is RM100 and in multiples of RM100. An administrative cost of 0.1% of the nominal purchase value is payable to the agent banks.

For further information on Sukuk 1Malaysia 2010, please contact BNMTELELINK at 1-300-88-5465 or by visiting www.treasury.gov.my and www.bnm.gov.my/sukuk1Malaysia

Ministry of Finance, Malaysia
23 June 2010

Just got this from FPAM…

This year’s most important conference on Islamic financial planning.

IFPC 2009 Malaysia – International Center for Islamic Wealth Management

Sign-up before 15 October and save RM200. Earn 10 CPE points from SIDC and 10 CE points from FPAM.

Details

Date: 9 & 10 November , Monday & Tuesday

Venue: Sime Darby Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur

Fee:

i) Early Bird Special ??RM800 ( FPAM Member) , RM1000 (Public)
ii) Normal ??RM1000 ( FPAM Member) , RM1200 (Public)

Early Bird Special by 15 October 09

Conference background
The significant rise in the wealth of Islamic countries for the past four decades has provided tremendous opportunities of growth and expansion for the wealth management industry to manage the surplus funds in accordance with the Shariah principles. Interestingly, the growth in the Islamic wealth management industry comes not only from affluent Muslims who desire to see their wealth preserved and enhanced within the framework of Shariah law, but equally from non-Muslim who view this as an ethical mode of investment and diversification. This 2-day conference has been specifically designed to contribute to the development of Malaysia as an international centre for Islamic wealth management as well as to explore the opportunities, latest trends and developments in the Islamic financial planning and wealth management industry. This conference will enable participants to learn from key players and prominent speakers who will share with you some very thoughtful and sometimes very challenging ideas and experiences.

Speakers
Dato??Nik Ramlah Mahmood, Managing Director, Securities Commission

Shariffuddin Khalid, Director, Malaysia International Islamic Financial Centre

Shahrul Shahriman, Chief Officer, Private & Institutional Asset Management, Prudential Fund Management Bhd

Azman Ismail, Chief Executive Officer, Independent Islamic Financial Planners Sdn Bhd

Dr. Ismail Mohd @ Abu Hassan, Shariah Adviser, Mayban Islamic Berhad

Ali Abbas Zaidi, Managing Director and Head of Islamic Markets, Maybank Investment Bank

Gul Khan, Global Head of Wealth Management, HSBC Amanah

Samer Taki, Senior Vice President, Islamic Bank of Asia, Singapore

Badlisyah Abdul Ghani, Chief Executive Officer, CIMB Islamic

Zainal Izlan Zainal Abidin, Chief Executive Officer, i-VCAP Management Sdn Bhd

Zainudin Ishak, Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Amanah Takaful

Khaeruddin Ishak, CEO HSBC Amanah Takaful

Md Khairuddin Haji Arshad, General Manager, PIDM

Dato??Dr. Adnan Alias, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Islamic Banking and Finance Institute Malaysia (IBFIM)

Dato??Zukri Samat, Managing Director, Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad

Datuk Kamaruzaman Che Mat, Chief Executive Officer, Bank Rakyat

Musa Abdul Malik, Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Amanah Malaysia Berhad

Mohd Nasiruddin Mohd Kamaruddin, Chief Operating Officer, Standard Chartered Saadiq Malaysia

For programme and registration form:
http://www.fpam.org.my/fpam/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/ifpc-brochure-8.pdf

Online registration available at: www.i-fpc.com

In fact, any debit cards. Bet you the bank didn’t want to promote this, since they don’t earn anything from your debit card transactions. Instead, high volume of debit card transactions might even increase their administrative work.

Here’s a nice piece of advice from ShadowFox on why you should opt for debit card (18 SX only):

Yes, that’s my my personal opinion. You know why ?

Nowadays, it’s true that we cannot live without a ‘credit’ card. I would prefer not to call them ‘credit’ cards but electronic payment cards.

Now, the credit card companies have always been advertising and giving the impression that you’re an elite and earn a nice salary to be able to afford a credit card.

I beg to differ.

If you’re well off, you have money, why the fuck do you need to owe money on credit ? That’s so fucking pretentious and fake.

If you got money, you buy in cash, not credit.

The only reason to get these cards is for convenience and not having to carry cash around, and also for electronic/online purchasing.

That’s what these cards shine at.

Even rich people can become poor if they abuse the ‘credit’ card and spend unwisely.

There is nothing prestigious about owning a credit card.

To me, I think it is humiliating if you need to have a credit card because it shows you’re not capable of paying on the spot but need to HUTANG duit to get anything you want. It’s amazing how advertisements and marketing can brainwash poor people to think they’re rich when in actual fact they owe money like no tomorrow.

Many yuppies nowadays abuse the card like there is no tomorrow and go bankrupt while flashing their nice cars. Duit tak ada, tapi gaya mesti ada.

You only need 1 card that can do it all for purchasing online and offline.

Getting a debit card is much safer because you don’t have to worry about being forced to pay for things in case your card gets frauded, which is very common in Malaysia. The thief can only max out whatever you put into that card’s account.

It has all the important functions that a typical credit card has and I sincerely believe a debit card should be the BRAG factor, not a credit card.

It simply shows that you don’t need to owe anyone money in order to purchase the things you want.

Now if you’re a business owner would you prefer your customers to hutang you or pay on the spot? Take your pick.

Credit card is only for the poor people and wannabes. Debit card is for those already with money and don’t need to owe anyone anything.

And of course, I love debit cards too!

The launching of Pacific Dana Dividend Fund last Thursday marks the 16th fund managed by Pacific Mutual Fund Berhad. I was only able to make it to the fund’s briefing organized by the company at Eastin Hotel yesterday night (I was out of town for almost a week).

And in the short 2-hours briefing, here’s the information I’ve to share with you. (For my investors and newsletter subscriber, you will receive a separate update ;-) )

Fund Category: Equity

Fund Type: Growth + Income

Characteristic: Fairly Aggressive

Investment Objective: Aims to provide capital growth and steady attractive income in the medium to long term by investing in a portfolio of equities that are paying or have the potential to pay attractive dividend and that comply with Syariah requirements.

Minimum and Maximum Levels of Asset Allocation:
Equity Allocation
Minimum- 70% of the fund’s NAV
Maximum- 100% of the fund’s NAV

Islamic debt allocation:
Maximum- 30% of the fund’s NAV

Maximum Service Charge: 5.0%

Annual Management Fee: 1.5% p.a. of the NAV of the Fund

Investment Modes:
(i) Cash Plan- Minimum Initial investment is RM 500 and Minimum Additional Investment is RM 100.
(ii) Saver’s Plan: Minimum 5-year period and a minimum monthly investment of RM 50.

Performance Benchmark: 50% in Syariah Index (KLSI) and 50% Dow Jones Islamic Market World Index.

And since this is a global fund, you cannot use EPF money for this Fund.

The Syariah Index

Here’s an excerpt from The Star Online

Pacific Dana Dividen aims to provide capital growth and steady income in the medium to long term.

Chief executive officer Michael Auyeung, in an interview, said: ??he fund has a strategy of buying into syariah-compliant stocks with sustainable and high-dividend yields that offer attractive and potentially above-average income and capital gains.

??ts portfolio of syariah-compliant dividend stocks provides lower volatility as price fluctuations of these stocks tend to be lower than the general syariah-compliant equities.??

??ividend-style investing is tried and tested, through bull and bear markets.

??ur first dividend fund, Pacific Dividend Fund, has to-date generated total returns of 89% since its inception in November 2003 (compared with its benchmark, the KL Composite Index, of 73%) and about 19% compounded return annually,” he noted.

Many first time home buyers are discovering the foreclosure home market. Foreclosure mortgage lenders offer first-time home buyers a way to acquire their homes at incredible prices, sometimes saving as much as 30% to 50% on the price of their home. You can calculate the mortgage calculation yourself as quick and easy way to calculate your mortgage payment and get an amortization schedule by mortgage calculators. Many america mortgage companies are now offering home equity loans as well. They provide people with best mortgage rates. Choose the best remortgages deals one that doesn’t offer the lowest interest rate but doesn’t tie you in.

Here’s another fund from Public Mutual Berhad. It’s an Islamic bond fund, which means it’s a Syariah-compliant investment. Debt securities with remaining maturities of seven years means that the securities have a lifespan of seven years, in which during this seven years, income will be derived from the securities in the form of income payouts.

On the PISBF, Teh said it is an Islamic bond fund that seeks to provide annual income through investments in Islamic debt securities which have remaining maturities of seven years and below and Islamic money market instruments.

??he fund may invest in foreign Islamic debt securities in Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, the UK and other approved markets,?? he said.

The PISBF will be launched at a NAV of RM1 per unit during the 21-day offer period from July 10 to 30.

The service charge is 0.25% of NAV per unit for the purchase of units of PISBF by investors. Its minimum initial investment is RM1,000 and minimum additional investment is RM100.

The Edge Daily

Depending on the nature of the securities, it could be semi-annually or annually, and the payouts are usually a guaranteed sum. Hence, bonds are usually a favorite instrument amongst the conservative investors, and you should also have it as part of your portfolio to hedge against possible market corrections.

To invest in Public Islamic Select Bond Fund, please contact info@meshio.com