Happy New Year!!

WELOME 2013!~

To new year's hopes and wishes and resolutions:

Do something that makes you PERFECT!
Jessica

Merry Christmas!

To one and all, and to all a good night! :)

don't forget the little things.

MOM Can I Borrow $25/-?
A very touching story for for every working mother.

A woman came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find her 5-year old son waiting for her at the door.

SON: 'Mummy, may I ask you a question?'

MUM: 'Yeah sure, what it is?' replied the woman.

SON: 'Mummy, how much do you make an hour?'

MUM: 'That's none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?' the woman said angrily.
SON: 'I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?'

MUM: 'If you must know, I make $50 an hour.'

SON: 'Oh,' the little boy replied, with his head down.

SON: 'Mummy, may I please borrow $25?'

The mother was furious, 'If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being so selfish. I don't work hard everyday for such childish frivolities.'

The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door..

The woman sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy's questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money?

After about an hour or so, the woman had calmed down , and started to think:

Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $25.00 and he really didn't ask for money very often.The woman went to the door of the little boy's room and opened the door.

'Are you asleep, son?' She asked.

'No Mummy, I'm awake,' replied the boy.

'I've been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier' said the woman. 'It's been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here's the $25 you asked for.'

The little boy sat straight up, smiling. 'Oh, thank you Mummy!' he yelled. Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills.

The woman saw that the boy already had money, started to get angry again.

The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then looked up at his mother.

'Why do you want more money if you already have some?' the mother grumbled.

'Because I didn't have enough, but now I do,' the little boy replied.

'Mummy, I have $50 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you.'

The mother was crushed. She put his arms around her little son, and she begged for his forgiveness.

It's just a short reminder to all of you working so hard in life. We should not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts. Do remember to share that $50 worth of your time with someone you love.

If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of hours. But the family & friends we leave behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives

I'm on a roll!

I am making up for lost time by posting twice in a day! woot!

I recently was talking to a colleague of mine. She does the MDRT every year. That's the Million Dollar Round Table for those not in the know.

They get their pictures in the newspaper every year, freaking hundreds of thousands of dollars in commissions every year, and get to rub shoulders with other high flyers like themselves in the most exotic places in the world.

Now how did they get there? It seems like such a far away dream now that i've done one year in the business but am just about breaking survivability with my commissions now. And she said to me something which I've found extremely (sad but) true.

I'm not hungry enough.

now people may misconstrue that a little. I'm not out to "eat" people's money. I just need to want to get out there more. All the nitty-gritty like making phone calls, and finding people to talk to, kinda throws you out of whack, but if you want financial independence, or hunger to help people more, it would seem like a small trade off i suppose.

i don't know. I'm still trying to figure it out.

how DO you get more motivated to earn more money?

complacent,
Jessica

Yet another Rainy day in December

Yesterday was 12-12-12.

what a day. all the hype and bustle about the last day in the Mayan Calendar (which by the way, is actually on 21-12-12 - this is a photo drop of people celebrating the end of the world, Halloween style)

in any case, we're still around today and it's a good idea to reflect on what would happen if the world would end. would you:
- spend all your money on something big
- do something outrageously unthinkable
- plan a quiet evening with your loved ones
- etc etc etc??

well what's stopping you from doing all that now?

sometimes it's just a matter of letting yourself feel like everyday is the end of the world, and really just go for what you've always wanted. that job, that holiday, that once in a lifetime experience. anad while you're at it, why not start saving or planning for future moments too?

words to live by,
Jessica

Lag Lag Lag

I know that I've not really been posting. things have been relatively hectic. One whole year since I've been an agent and now it's come around to christmas time again.

I've got a TONNE of christmas cards to write!

sign of having a good amount of clients i guess? But it helps me to really remember who I am in the business for also. there are actually a lot of other people who i should be sending cards to too. but someone once told me, that they don't really "buy" or "give" people things if there's never been a business transaction.

like "why should i HAVE to get you something if you are not supporting my business"

i don't totally agree, i think that we should show some love in order to receive love. but i'm not about to splash out on ALL my clients either. probably only the ones that have made a big portion of my income i guess?

the least i can do for everybody is a christmas card i guess? at the very least to remind my clients that i'm still around and i care haha

so to all my friends and clients, i know it's something small, but just a little something from me to you, to tell you that i DO remember each and everyone of you and whichever way you have touched me on journey.

feeling christmas-sy
Jessica

George Yeo joins AIA

Hmmm...

http://www.moneyline.sg/node/3315

"When it comes to getting a life insurance policy in Singapore and anywhere else in the world, there’s not much difference. It’s also helpful you have several insurers to choose from. Finding one that has the right package for you doesn’t have to be too stressful."

Some Tips
1. Apply while you’re young. Don’t wait until you’re in your forties to get a life insurance policy. You may not be able to live longer to build equity on it or enjoy its benefits. Moreover, you pay more for the policy.

2. Apply when you’re healthy. Healthy people can take advantage of more affordable premiums.

3. Choose a policy that fits your needs. If you like a no-frills insurance policy, you go for term insurance. If you want to make some investment, opt for whole life.

4. Read the fine print. Insurance policies can become void. You will know instances where it becomes non-enforceable by reading the terms and conditions prior to getting the coverage.

discounts discounts discounts

Securing your retirement with CPF

In September, a few important changes relating to retirement were announced: 4% interest on Special, Medisave & Retirement Accounts (SMRA) extended to 2013 The interest earned on your SMRA will be guaranteed risk-free at 4% per annum until 31 December 2013. With the first $60,000 of your combined CPF balances (up to $20,000 from the Ordinary Account) earning an extra 1% interest, you could earn up to 5% interest!

• Top-ups Simplified

The Minimum Sum Topping-Up (MSTU) Scheme helps Singaporeans build up their retirement savings through top-ups made to their CPF Special Account (SA) or Retirement Account (RA).

From 1 November 2012, the MSTU Scheme will be simplified so that you can top up more for your loved ones:

Recipient's age	New MSTU top-up limit (From 1 November 2012)	Existing MSTU top-up limit
Below 55 years old (top up to SA)	Prevailing Minimum Sum less: • SA savings • SA savings withdrawn for CPF Investment Scheme (CPFIS)	Prevailing Minimum Sum less: • Ordinary Account (OA) savings • SA savings • OA savings withdrawn for CPFIS • SA savings withdrawn for CPFIS
55 years old and above (top up to RA)	Prevailing Minimum Sum less: • RA savings1	Prevailing Minimum Sum less: • OA savings • SA savings • RA savings1 • OA savings withdrawn for CPFIS • SA savings withdrawn for CPFIS

Make use of this revision to top up for your loved ones. If you top up in cash before 31 December 2012, you can get up to $14,000² in tax relief for Tax Assessment Year 2013!

From January 2013, you will also be able to enjoy tax relief when you top up in cash for your parents-in-law and grandparents-in-law.

¹ Excludes amounts such as interest earned since 55, any government grants received, and amounts withdrawn.
² Up to $7,000 for self top-ups and up to $7,000 for top-ups made for loved ones. Terms and conditions apply.

• Revision of Housing Refund Policy

From 1 January 2013, members aged 55 and above, who have used their CPF savings for property purchase, will be required to refund the principal amount withdrawn with interest (P+I) when they sell their property.

This will ensure that the refunds are proportionate to the amount of CPF savings that each co-owner had used to pay for the property. Read the full details here.

Visit www.areyouready.sg to use our simple "Secure Your Retirement" checklist, to run through some fundamentals for your retirement planning. Useful resources such as webcasts, articles, and calculators are available.

Calculations and Comparisons

I have been having the most interesting week. or rather last month.

Seems like the more i get used to this insurance thing, the more i talk about the importance of knowing what you want out of your insurance. what you want could really help your agent to recomment a product that suits you in every aspect and gives you the outcome you want.

In turn, it leads me to talk about the different types of life policies and how they can work for you.

Very quickly, there are roughly 3 types, which further break into smaller groups.

1) Whole Life Policies
(i) Traditional
(ii) Limited Pay period

2) Term Policies

3) Investment Linked Policies (ILP)

I have been having the time of my life Alt-Tab-ing out of my quotation system and my excels/word documents coming up with a good comparison table for the premiums of these different products and also a list of how they can provide you different benefits.

It has been extremely insightful at looking how these policies work.

In other news, AIA has a new Limited Pay policy on the market! It's called the Guaranteed Protect series and I am fuming mad!!!! because it just launched, the quotation system has been giving me a massive headache hahaha

It basically has an add on multiplier which greatly increases coverage for the insured person from age 0 to 65. so it is a fantastic improvement to our previous one which has been phased out.

Now if only I can get the system to display what i want it to display!!!

conquering my IT equipment,
Jessica

Insurance is Evergreen

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/1223776/1/.html
"SINGAPORE: Insurance heavyweight AIA Singapore said it's unfazed by the global downturn as insurance protection is an "evergreen need".

And it believes that it is "well-placed to sustain the business growth momentum for the rest of 2012".

Indeed, there is never a better time for insurance. It's easy to say that it's not important because there's no one around to benefit from my demise/illness etc, but the whole crux of insurance is to be prepared for the unexpected.

I've been speaking lately to some people who insist that they will get things done when they are older and they have families to take care of, but somehow, i'm not convinced that they actually WILL get around to it.

Procrastination has its own evil games to play on people.

Don't wait til it's too late to do something.

You don't have to do something BIG, but get the basics started up with an amount which you think you won't miss. It's always better to have a little protection than none at all.

Thinking about you and your family,
Jessica

PROMOS!

i'm so happy to announce and post this promo on some of AIA's newest plans.

our best selling early critical illness cover and 20 year term plan are under this promo. ALSO included is the latest Disability Income Protector plan which aims to replace income if one becomes disabled and loses their source of income.

Please let me know if you would like more info on these! :)

Increase in CPF Contributions

Good news for our parents' generation. To help them with their retirement funds in CPF:

Increase in CPF Contribution Rates for Older Workers CPF contribution rates for workers aged above 50 to 65 years have been increased to help them better prepare for retirement. These new contribution rates will apply to wages earned from 1 September 2012.

Age Group	New CPF contribution rates1 (in % of wage) from 1 September 2012Increases from current rates are in brackets			New CPF allocation rates1 (in % of wage) from 1 September 2012Increases from current rates are in brackets
	Employer	Employee	Total	Ordinary Account	Special Account	Medisave Account
> 50 - 55	14% (+2.0%)	18.5% (+0.5%)	32.5% (+2.5%)	13.5% (+0.5%)	9.5% (+1.5%)	9.5% (+0.5%)
> 55 - 60	10.5% (+1.5%)	13% (+0.5%)	23.5% (+2.0%)	12% (+0.5%)	2% (+1.0%)	9.5% (+0.5%)
> 60 - 65	7% (+0.5%)	7.5% -	14.5% (+0.5%)	3.5% -	1.5% (+0.5%)	9.5% -

¹ For monthly wages ≥ $1,500
The full set of CPF contribution rates is available at the CPF website.

** Other news: I've been horribly busy!! jave just recieved a list of "orphaned clients". SO i've been diligently seeking them out to re-acquaint them with their portfolios.

OMG one of them MIGRATED to India leaving behind only his address of his tenant. the listed house number wasn't even in service! have managed to track him down by going down to visit his place, get the number of his daughter from the tenant then mailing him at his email address. but it's a pity that only due to his old agent leaving that we found out about this.

keeping ties,
Jessica

DO SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF.

Going Green?

AS part of AIA's efforts to go green, and be environmentally friendly, the hard copy of the AIA Annual and Semi-Annual Fund Reports will no longer be automatically mailed to our ILP policyholders.

Soft copy of the reports will be available on AIA.com.sg/Fundsreports as well as AIA eCare.



In other news, recently some prospects/clients have been saying that they will email me copies of passports/employment passes/birth certificates because it's just clearer and easier for them. they are ALSO delaying payment to when they have received necessary documentation.

i guess i shouldn't be complaining because they are still signing policies with me, but do they NOT have any idea how DIFFICULT it is for me to constantly chase them for bloody documentation?

I really wish that people would be more on the ball. It's not as if there aren't measure in place like refund policies and money-backs.

Why purposely make it difficult for someone else?


I went for this talk the other day with one of the leaders who was saying something along the lines of "(i) never give discount to my clients". It's my right to a salary and for the service/work i've done for you. you want me to give discount then i will give you a discount on service also lor.

why the hell should i give you top notch service if you are treating me like shit?

then again, it's a catch-22 situation i guess.. we have to be nice to receive kindness in return. the problem is how to not get taken advantage of while you are doing things for others.


pondering the fine lines,
Jessica

InTouch with CPF: Are You Ready to Take Charge of Your Healthcare Costs?‏

Many of us may worry about the cost of healthcare. However, while we may not be able to control when we need medical attention, we can certainly plan ahead to minimise the out-of-pocket expenditure that we would have to fork out.

You can read these articles to find out more about healthcare financing:

• Taking the pulse of MediShield changesUnderstand the key issues to health insurance - including MediShield and Integrated Shield Plans.


• What Insurance Do I Need For My Children?Are your children adequately covered for unexpected healthcare expenses?

If you haven't given much thought to your healthcare financing needs, have a go at our handy checklist to guide you through your decision making.

You can also sign up for our Taking Charge of Your Healthcare Costs talks (in English and Mandarin) to gain valuable tips on the financial aspects of healthcare. 

Speakers from the Ministry of Health and the Financial Planning Association of Singapore will provide the latest updates on the 3M (Medisave, MediShield and Medifund), ElderShield and share ways in which private insurance can complement your Medisave savings and MediShield plan.

Talk Title	Date	Time	Venue
Taking Charge of Your Healthcare Costs (English)	30 Aug 2012 (Thursday)	7:00pm to 9:00pm	NTUC Auditorium Level 7 NTUC Centre, 1 Marina Boulevard, Singapore 018989 Nearest MRT Station: Raffles Place	Click to register
Taking Charge of Your Healthcare Costs (Mandarin) 医疗保健财务规划讲座	26 Sep 2012 (Wednesday) 9月26日 (星期三)	7:00pm to 9:00pm 傍晚7点至 晚上9点 (我们将在6点15分开始分发讲座文件夹)	NTUC Auditorium Level 7 NTUC Centre, 1 Marina Boulevard, Singapore 018989 1号滨海林荫道, 全国职工总会大厦, 七楼会议厅, 新加坡邮区018989。 最靠近的地铁站是莱佛士坊	Click to register 报名登记，请点击这里

*Please refer to the respective hyperlinks for the latest event details.

AIA Updates

AIA Singapore, reporting results for the first time in its 81-year history here, said yesterday that

operating profit after tax rose 8 per cent to US$168 million for the first half 2012.

The wholly owned unit of AIA Group, which was listed in Hong Kong in October 2010, saw strong growth

in the value of new business, up 27 per cent to a record US$99 million. Singapore is its third largest

market after Hong Kong and Thailand.

Annualised new premiums (ANP) rose a similar 27 per cent to US$152 million. ANP represents 100 per cent of annualised first year premiums and 10 per cent of single premiums.

Tan Hak Leh, chief executive of AIA Singapore, said business has not been affected by the economic

slowdown.


And just some updates on how our Disability Cover is doing:

This month the company launched a disability protection product, a first in Singapore, he said.

"We launched it after almost one year of research - it's income replacement until retirement," he said.

In less than one month, it has sold over 400 cases to customers in their late 20s to 40s, he said.

A 37-year old female would pay $700 a year to protect her monthly income of $4,000 or $48,000 a year.

EXTREMELY GOOD article on things every 30-sth needs

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/5-things-every-singaporean-35-160000967.html
This article basically talks a bit abou some things that people should have settled by a certain age in life. Financially. Small things that one takes for granted.

Take a read, and give me your opinion.

Contemplating the next step?
Jessica

Many Apologies

I've really not been updating, but don't worry, i've not left the "scene". i'm just at a loss for minutes these days.

i've picked up a new exercise regime, my office has moved to tampines (across the island for me) started a new schedule for group cold calling and i'm barely finding time to just wind down at the end of the day with all the appointments in between and errands that need to be done.

that should actually be relatively good news right? - since i'm busy and running around. but not quite as much as i wish it was.

sometimes the organization of schedule is more tiring than the schedule itself. especially when you have back-to-back events at opposite ends of the island, and you DON'T DRIVE. i've actually become pretty efficient at using Directions on Google Maps. and iris and NextBusSG. they are my constant companions when you're on the move and trying to figure out how long it's going to take you from point A to B.

i am just having such a "BLAST" travelling around the bloody island getting from appointments to appointments.

seriously though, as much as i enjoy the minutes i have alone to myself and my thoughts while on the bus/train/cab, it's a bit too much to handle considering how much i travel.

hoping for all the wishes and good cheer from you guys that i keep my wits about me in my daily commutes. it's really dangerous to be on the roads these days hahaha

at least i'm armed with a decent accident policy....

commuting like a drone,
Jessica

Lucky Draw for every New eCare sign-up!

AIA eCare online service allows you to view policy details simply and easily! Just click on the above link and sign-up for the service on our AIA website!

You will need a policy number of any AIA policy in your name (whether as an owner or as an insured) to sign up.

The system is safe and secure. There is a 2 Factor Authentication which will send a code to your mobile phone whenever you log in with your login details.

Please allow a week or so for AIA to process the details and send you your password by snail mail to login.

Good Luck for the Lucky Draw!!
Jessica

AIA Premier Disability Cover

AIA Marks another significant milestone by launching a new product called AIA Premier Disablity Cover (ADC), a FIRST in Singapore that offers certainty of benefit payout regardless of changes to your future income (before disability) or other diability income policies.

Advertisements come out in all range of media on August 12 2012.

Press -- The Straits Times, Sunday Times, TODAY, Lianhe Zhao Bao
Online -- Banner advertisements on select sites
Outdoor -- At Bus stop Shelters islandwide

Rising CPF Balances for Women Today

www.cpf.gov.sg/imsavvy/channelsavvy_media.asp?mediaid={299989805-171-560266375}
Rising CPF Balances for Women Today - 1/6/2012 
   
More women today are taking on dual roles of taking care of their children while remaining active in the workforce. This video shows the increase in active CPF members who are women and the increase in their CPF balances.

For More Info check out this pdf: http://mycpf.cpf.gov.sg/NR/rdonlyres/698FBC52-F5B4-4348-9BC5-6632EBC77C3B/0/CPFTrends_AnalysisofCPFBalancesbyGender2012.pdf

AIA Bonus and Dividend Rate Announcement 2012

AIA will be releasing the announcement to all policyholders soon! the draft that will be personalized to each customer has been mailed to all agents internally.

Gist: We are pleased to inform you that we will be maintaining the same bonus and dividend rates as last year.

Please do contact your agents to find out how to read about the performance of the AIA participating fund.

In addition, we are also informing out clients about the "Policy Owners' Protection Scheme" (PPF).

Thank you all for your support of AIA :D

uncertain contract terms?

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1209884/1/.html
"She asserted she was "a lay person" who was merely following what her agent had told her and did not ask further questions because she trusted AIA's reputation."

please ensure you know what will happen with your policies. sometimes as an agent we can take for granted what needs to be shared because we explain these products every day. I'm certain that your agent would be more than happy to explain IN DETAIL how what you are buying works.

at the end of the day, we do not take for granted that it IS your hard-earned money that you are putting into this policy, so of course you should know what you are getting.

teaching people about what they have,
Jessica

SUPER INTERESTING! Talk on Financial Planning for Muslims

Financial Planning For muslims
Current Issues in Insurance and Trusts
30 August 2012, M Hotel, Singapore

CONFERENCE ObJECTIVES

• To clarify the right of Muslim Policy holders to make revocable nominations
• To introduce and explain the new MUIS Fatwa on revocable nominations
• To address issues relating to the creation of trusts by Muslims
• To identify estate planning tools for use by Muslims

CONFERENCE OVERVIEW
There has been a recent breakthrough in the right of Muslim policyholders to make revocable nominations. This 3rd conference organized by Muslim Financial Planning Association (MFPA) will focus on this subject, as well as on trusts to be created by Muslims. There will also be interactive practical discussions on the planning of estates of Muslims and the new ways of implementing them.

This Conference is a must for those who wish to advise Muslims on insurance and estate planning.

For more information about MFPA, please visit www.mfpa.org.sg.
For more information about this Conference, please visit www.intellitrain.biz/MFPA2012.

The feeling of Exhaustion

Maybe I have been overworking myself.

Not literally, but mentally and emotionally. I am constantly asking myself why isn't this person calling or should i try and follow up with that person who never picked up my calls.

i had a scary experience this morning. whether due to fatigue or over-imagination or maybe even eating something wrong before i went to bed, who knows?

I had an amazingly vivid dream about a potential client. a nice Malay man in his late 30s, looking for some personal accident insurance and wanted to inquire more about something for his wife as well. they were eager. really eager to meet up with me and find out my input on their insurance requirements.

i told them that i had a busy day today. i had to rush in to office and settle some administration, i had to cross country to do prospecting today but i knew that nice people like that came very rarely and that an agent should never turn down a business appointment.

i tried to squeeze them in, i tried to find out where they would be and at what time it would be most convenienvt. but just when the details would be ALMOST confirmed, my dream would start getting more hazy, and the final decision would elude me.

try as i might, i couldn't get the story straight, and slowly the picture faded and i couldn't get the whole mess of a situation back, even in memory. i clutched desperately at this dream appointment in my head. so much as to convince myself when i was getting out of bed that it COULDN'T have been a dream because didn't we correspond by SMS? didn't we speak over the phone?

so eyebrows furrowed in confusion i rolled out of bed, started pawing at my phone, at the computer, poring through my messages, my WhatsApp system... WHERE could those messages be?

i'm seriously going crazy.

besides the ridiculous dream appointment, recently it's also paperwork mistakes - missing dates, missing counter signatures, missing ticks in the checkboxes and administration issues like following up on what the status of a policy is and somehow i always end up being unfortunately unproductive.

Why am i so distracted?

well it's way past in the afternoon now, so if my figment of imagination had been real i would have heard from them by now right? i think i will just take the afternoon to really just meditate and pray, that God settles my heart and my mind. and helps me not to focus on all my worries.

going bonkers (?)
Jessica

:((

I know i've not really been posting very much on the personal front, because i've been desperately trying to get my act together.

i've been stepping up on my prospecting efforts in order to get more appointments and to meet more people.

some days it's easy, you just feel totally motivated and raring to go find "that right person" to talk to about sinsurance, and other days it's like "dammit, i can't be bothered to call Mr So-and-so to follow up because he's so damn non-commital about EVERYTHING"

i've been trying hard to really stick to my guns about insurance and what's been crossing my mind is honestly my friends who've stuck by me and whole-heartedly given me their support.

No, i'm not talking about the friends who've heard me out and then say "umm... okok, i hear you, and let me get back to you." because you know what happens with these people don't you? you never hear from them again.

so this is a shout out to all the friends that have called back when they said they would call back, or tried their best to help me out in some way. the friends who've thanked me for sharing things about insurance with them even without buying anything, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, the friends who've been straight forward with me and told me straight in the face that they want/don't want, are ready/not ready, and have not left me hanging for months on end waiting for a reply.

Loving my friends,
Jessica

Don't Forget Those who've loved you.

CPF Cash Flow Management Program

Are You Ready to Manage Your Cash Flow?

Many of us take for granted our steady income and cash flow because we're confident of our financial status.

But managing your cash flow requires discipline. It can also be challenging in times of emergencies.

One Month of Marraige: A gift no one can take away

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/47023686/ns/today-weddings/t/he-hadnt-long-live-so-they-got-married/#.T7oiFcU6Cc0
"They knew they’d marry someday, and they knew they wanted to have children someday — but they were in their early 20s, that stage of life when adventures beckon, responsibilities feel light and time feels limitless.
Then Ryan got sick. Everything stopped: Work, travel, plans for the future. Bethany took a hiatus from her job as a designer at the University of Oregon’s Duck Stores; her colleagues there donated their vacation time so she could care for Ryan and still receive a paycheck."

What gift you would give to someone you love, if you know that you would not be around forever? Would it be too late to start considering it when you knew?

And we've hit..

Yay!! took us a while to get there, but get there we did :) And i just want to shout out to all the people who've stuck by the blog even though i'm not the most avid of updaters. and even if you're passing by, your numbers will continue to give me courage to press on and encouragement to persevere.

Thank you! :)

insurance agents have real life issues too..

prospect : you got fb?

me : haha haven't meet up so fast want to add me?

prospect : see how you look mah. hee hee. by the way how old are you?

me : haha meet up already then you will know already what. anw you are also very busy, want to meet up also cannot

prospect : tell me ur fb la. business talk too much also bored.

me : my fb is for personal only. Actually when pple find me on fb i also don't anyhow add. When we meet up then see how la!

prospect : chey boring la no fun. how old are you?

prospect : how old are you?

prospect : then

prospect : you shy?

prospect : or afraid?

prospect :  where you stay wor?

prospect : hummmm

prospect : no reply wor

Accidents can happen to ANYBODY

So much hype about the recent crash between the ferrari and cabby. I've seen some pretty surprising comments on fb and the online articles actually. and these from people who are just incested at the rich people in Singapore.

for example: just take a gander down the stream of comments regarding donations to the cabby's family..
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/family-of-cabby-in-ferrari-crash-receives-help.html;_ylt=AlB1PIQKafMZEVcljh.VIFwBV8d_;_ylu=X3oDMTFmOW40MGdoBG1pdANJQiBNb2R1bGUEcG9zAzMEc2VjA01lZGlhSW5maW5pdGVCcm93c2VMaXN0;_ylg=X3oDMTJzOTJmdm82BGludGwDc2cEbGFuZwNlbi1zZwRwc3RhaWQDNGQ2OGNiMjEtMTEwYS0zNDI2LWJhOTEtZGY0M2M4NTkwZTBhBHBzdGNhdANzaW5nYXBvcmUEcHQDc3RvcnlwYWdl;_ylv=3


What do you say?

A Mother's Love knows no bounds.

Never Give Up.

"When illness strikes, for many, financial worry looms larger than health concerns, which is sad. This should not be the case. We should take the effort to have proper financial planning to cover future healthcare issues: big and small. We should also focus on living healthy and fruitful lives."

- Eryn Yee, Winner of the CPF Are You Ready? Facebook Story Contest 2011

Dear CPF Member

Whichever stage of life you are in, now is the time to take charge of your healthcare costs!

Join our talk to gain valuable tips on the financial aspects of healthcare.

Representatives from the Ministry of Health and the Financial Planning Association of Singapore will provide the latest updates on the 3Ms (Medisave, MediShield and Medifund) and how private insurance can complement your Medisave savings and MediShield plan.

Seminar Name	Date	Time	Venue
Taking Charge of Your Healthcare Costs	28 June 2012 (Thursday)	7:00pm to 9:00pm	CPF Basement+

+ 79 Robinson Road, Conference Room Basement 1, CPF Building, Singapore 068897

Nearest MRT station is Tanjong Pagar.

Yours faithfully
CPF Board

For more information, visit www.areyouready.sg.

The Coming Special Needs Care Crisis

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/04/29/an-epidemic-of-special-needs-kids-heads-for-a-crisis-of-care.html
"But for most parents, it’s the day-to-day stuff that consumes them: the hours of therapy, the doctor visits, the financial pressures, and the grinding anxiety that comes with it all. It is a rough, often isolating road. And one that promises to become even more challenging as our society enters a new, more complicated era of caregiving. That era is coming in part because many of the medical and social advances that have improved the lives of special-needs individuals have also increased the burden of caring for them. For instance, people with Down syndrome were once lucky to survive to age 30; today, the average lifespan is 55. This presents parents (and society more broadly) with the challenge of somehow providing for an adult child decades after their own deaths, a situation complicated by the fact that the Down population develops Alzheimer’s at a rate of 100 percent, typically in their 40s or 50s."

These are the problems that parents face when raising a child with disabilities, from birth. What about someone who is used to being self-sufficient? What would one do about the financial and emotional problems is suddenly stricken with disability? would you be able to cope with relying on others for daily living?

thinking hard,
Jessica

Couple pen 'bucket list' for their baby with terminal illness

"What do you do when your 6-month-year-old daughter is diagnosed within incurable genetic disease, and will very likely not live long beyond her second birthday?"
http://www.yourhealth.com.sg/content/couple-pen-bucket-list-their-baby-terminal-illness

Because dreams can amount to something

http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/south-asia/i-was-one-of-indias-unclean-dalits-now-i-am-a-millionaire
As far back as he can remember, people told Hari Kishan Pippal that he was unclean, with a filthiness that had tainted his family for centuries. Teachers forced him to sit apart from other students. Employers sometimes did not bother to pay him.

Mr Pippal is a Dalit, a member of the outcast community once known as untouchables. Born at the bottom of Hinduism's complex social ladder, that meant he could not eat with people from higher castes or drink from their wells.

He was not supposed to aspire to a life beyond that of his father, an illiterate cobbler. Years later, he still will not repeat the slurs that people called him.

Now, though, people call him something else. They call him rich.

i find that once again I'm being called to stand up for what i believe in, not just in what i do, but my attitude towards things in life and friendship.

not that i have been ostracized or outcasted, but sometimes, it sure feels that way.

being in this industry naturally raised some eyebrows amongst friends and relatives. after all, i'm a degree holder of the pioneer batch of courses at one of the most prestigious universities in singapore. i did the tried and tested junior college then university route. and my family, although not as well of as one might deem to be "affluent", is not shabby at the least.

and right before insurance, i was in a bank.

some might say that is the goal in life of an average singaporean. work in an MNC and get paid a wonderful salary with an even more wonderful bonus.

but now i face the constant rejection and disappointment associated with people of my business.

this article is just a wake up call for me to stop feeling sorry for myself and just - "credit (my) own success to hard work and ego."

time for me to wake up and get back to work,
Jessica

Pledge for LIFE!

When was the last time you made a promise to yourself or to a loved one, to make some improvements to your lifestyle be it taking up a sport to get healthier, quitting smoking, striking a work-life balance by having some quality ME time, being a volunteer for a charity or spending more time with the family?

How committed are you to these promises? And would you like to get the support of colleagues, friends and family to continuously motivate you to keep to your promises.

Let us help you to be committed to your pledge and here’s how:

Step 1: "like" the AIA Singapore facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/AIASingapore/

Step 2: Use our L.I.F.E app to make a pledge

Step 3: Invite your friends to support you and win a prize!

Step 4: VOTE for the most inspirational pledge!

Thinking of the ones that love us the most.

When we were young, our parents took care of us, they fed us, clothed us, even wiped our asses when we didn't know we needed to. so i know that if it comes to that, there's dignity and respect in giving back to the ones who love us.

What would you do to show your parents that you love them?

and then...

along comes a prospective client that just demolishes all the stereotypes you ever thought there was and totally makes your day :)

thank you for being so nice to me and for restoring my faith in speaking to strangers about insurance.

Rejuvenated,
Jessica

it's the same old thing, just on a different day

and i'm sure most of you have heard the more vulgar version.

i just feel under appreciated. i was telling my friend that so many of my clients think they can run right over me and keep me hanging on a thread for their every word.

and he replied very aptly "some clients take for granted that we do the extra mile for them in service. we don't have to do some things but we just do, as a friend and as an 'employee' to them. it's all about educating them that we are not dogs."

now how am i going to go about doing that?
Jessica

Cherish your Soul.

There was a rich merchant who had 4 wives. He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to delicacies. He took great care of her and gave her nothing but the best.

He also loved the 3rd wife very much. He’s very proud of her and always wanted to show off her to his friends. However, the merchant is always in great fear that she might run away with some other men.

He too, loved his 2nd wife. She is a very considerate person, always patient and in fact is the merchant’s confidante. Whenever the merchant faced some problems, he always turned to his 2nd wife and she would always help him out and tide him through difficult times.

Now, the merchant’s 1st wife is a very loyal partner and has made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and business as well as taking care of the household. However, the merchant did not love the first wife and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her.

One day, the merchant fell ill. Before long, he knew that he was going to die soon. He thought of his luxurious life and told himself, “Now I have 4 wives with me. But when I die, I’ll be alone. How lonely I’ll be!”

Thus, he asked the 4th wife, “I loved you most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?” “No way!” replied the 4th wife and she walked away without another word.

The answer cut like a sharp knife right into the merchant’s heart. The sad merchant then asked the 3rd wife, “I have loved you so much for all my life. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?” “No!” replied the 3rd wife. “Life is so good over here! I’m going to remarry when you die!” The merchant’s heart sank and turned cold.

He then asked the 2nd wife, “I always turned to you for help and you’ve always helped me out. Now I need your help again. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?” “I’m sorry, I can’t help you out this time!” replied the 2nd wife. “At the very most, I can only send you to your grave.” The answer came like a bolt of thunder and the merchant was devastated.

Then a voice called out : “I’ll leave with you. I’ll follow you no matter where you go.” The merchant looked up and there was his first wife. She was so skinny, almost like she suffered from malnutrition. Greatly grieved, the merchant said, “I should have taken much better care of you while I could have !”

Actually, we all have 4 wives in our lives
a. The 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it’ll leave us when we die.
b. Our 3rd wife ? Our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, they all go to others.
c. The 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how close they had been there for us when we’re alive, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.
d. The 1st wife is in fact our soul, often neglected in our pursuit of material, wealth and sensual pleasure.

Guess what? It is actually the only thing that follows us wherever we go. Perhaps it’s a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it now rather than to wait until we’re on our deathbed to lament.

Sometimes I really wonder..

Why I even Bother.

recently, i've bene talking to a number of new prospects, and for some reason, i get the feeling that they hear me, they understand me, but they can't get themselves to commit to policy or a plan.

when i talk about insurance to someone, i endeavour to be the most ethical i am, and suggest what i would really do if i were the one considering insurance at that point in time.

i had a friend tell me that "you know, your job is to inform people of the benefits and explain the consequences, but the ultimate decision lies in the consumer" and i KNOW that she's right. but i don't know why or how i end up getting so involved that i feel so dejected when a person chooses not to take a step towards better protection.

currently i'm also facing the problem of balancing between chasing too hard and "subtly" reminding them that they need to DO something about their lack of cover. but the more i try and talk to people, the less appreciated I feel. even more so when it's a friend that i've been speaking to.

is there ever a mid-point between showing how much you care and getting the job done?

upset and depressed,
Jessica

Power to the women

and anyone else who have been through an experience and lived to be stronger..

English translation from Portugese
" I had Breast Cancer and now I have THEO"

what would make anyone feel better after something like a catastrophic event? i can't imagine in that moment or even period of one's life, could anyone be thankful for what they has happened to them.

for someone to pick themselves up and live life after with a smile on their face, that takes true strength.

would protection help? noone would really think about the financial aspect of it til much later. but it WILL help. noone wants to worry about it with trying to come to terms with it. the peace of mind that one of the potential issues is settled is priceless.

be protected EARLY!
Jessica

The One where Joey loses his Insurance

http://youtu.be/ZVPhKoYXZ1w
for some reason, YouTube has disabled embedding of this video, but i just wanted to share this short video on what happens when one doesn't have insurance.

Joey's health insurance expires because he wasn't working enough, so he asks his agent to find him work. While weight lifting, Joey gets a hernia which causes him crippling pain, but refuses to go to the hospital because he isn't covered by insurance anymore.

Phoebe: Hey! Maybe you'll die
Joey: Chandler I'm scared!
Phoebe: No we can go together!

He eventually is cast in the part of "dying man," a role he plays very convincingly, given his injured state. However, the boy in the scene will not cry as he is meant to, even after many takes. Joey shows him his hernia, and the boy begins bawling.

i just hope that noone ever finds themselves in a situation where they realize they can't afford medical treatment. Please make sure that you are comprehensively covered. There is nothing better than THAT peace of mind.

Be Protected Everyone!
Jessica

(as a parting note...)

Phoebe: Have you really done this before?
Joey: Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! You just take a big, big swing. Now, don’t hold back.
(He dons his protective helmet (Why, I have no clue.) and Phoebe picks up a wooden baseball bat and starts to swing as Chandler and Monica enter.)
Phoebe: Hey!
Joey: Hey-hey-hey!
Chandler: What are you doing?
Phoebe: We’re just celebrating that Joey got his health insurance back.
Chandler: Oh, all right.
(Decided that they are less than human as well, Chandler picks up a golf club and Monica a frying pan, to join in on the fun of beating their good friend to within an inch of his life!)
(The camera shoots to an outside view of the apartment as we hear Joey getting hit.)
Joey: See, now let's try one without the helmet.

Financial Advisers to go from Commisions-based to Fee-based Structures



Following the recent bout of news about unscrupulous agents who are profit driven, looks like the industry is set for big shake-up.

i was just commenting to a friend that honestly this doesn't affect me at all. I don't care HOW i am paid, as LONG as i'm paid. and honestly, product recommendations are supposed to be needs-based and not profit-driven.

unfortunately there ARE agents out there like that and as a warning to everyone, PLEASE do NOT buy into a product which you do not whole-heartedly believe will benefit you.

that being said, there is also a very fine line between an agent being pushy, and an agent who is trying to explain a concept.

i had an argument with my brother the other day, trying to explain the concepts of unit-trust and endowment plans as i felt he needed (and still needs) to start saving money. he got awfully defencive and i felt very hurt that my efforts in explaining were construed as me trying to leverage our relationship to get him to BUY something from me.

when you are with your agent, give him or her a moment to explain the product, and try to keep all questions to the end. i'm sure your agent would be happy to have your feedback whichever way it might go. At the end of the day, being able to recommend something that suits what you want is a satisfaction unlike none other.

both sides must be patient. it will take time to find a product that is a perfect fit. and if you can find an agent who is willing to help you go through all those possibilities, then as much as he/she (obviously) wants to get paid, at least he/she is helping you get something that you yourself wouldn't hesitate to commit to at the same time.

i really hope that the industry does not get too affected by this recent spate of articles. at the end of the day, insurance in any form is good at no matter what method it is being handled at the back end. the whole purpose of insurance is mainly to ensure that there is a protection and cover in place and for that purpose, it shouldn't matter so much as long as you are hapy with the service and product which you've bought.

be protected everyone.
Jessica

Persons with disabilities "as productive" as able—bodied counterparts

http://news.xin.msn.com/en/singapore/storyviewer.aspx?cp-documentid=6026002
SINGAPORE: Persons with disabilities are as productive as their able—bodied counterparts, and companies should look to hire them as a way of of getting around the tight labour market.

This, according to one such employer, fast food chain KFC, which was honoured on Friday night for hiring and retaining employees with disabilities.

Among the 120 employees at the KFC and Pizza Hut Customer Service Centre in Toa Payoh, more than 20 are persons with disabilities.

Michael Gian, CEO of Kentucky Fried Chicken Management and Pizza Hut Singapore, said: "Persons with disabilities (PWDs) are very hardworking, very dedicated. In no way are they less productive than their able—bodied colleagues. Once they go through the proper training, they’ll gain the confidence.

Would you want to have to worry about something like this? Although better for the disabled, if you are protected upon disability, don't worry about having to fight for a position in the industry.

Be Protected!
Jessica