Thursday, 26 January 2012
it is still so busy
i'm so sorry for posting so little, please take this below photo i took of the AIA lion dance today as an apology...
Friday, 20 January 2012
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
How Much?
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1177289/1/.html
"Two in three Singapore workers save no more than 20 per cent of their monthly pay.
That's according to an online survey conducted by job portal, JobsCentral.
It polled some 2,300 individuals between August and September 2011.
The top three savers are workers from research & development, consulting and business development.
More than half of research & development workers said they save more than 20 per cent of their monthly income.
And the worst savers?
Those who work in events management, public relations and sales.
About one in five from these professions said they save more than 20 per cent of monthly income.
Huang Shao-Ning, deputy CEO of JobsCentral Group, said: "The more exuberant personalities of these three groups of workers, and the requirement of their jobs to leave positive impressions on new people they meet everyday may also translate to higher expenditure on grooming, commuting and entertainment."
Most (44.1%) respondents said they save most of their bonus.
While one in three (33.7%) said they spend their bonus on holidays and shopping.
One in 10 would give most of their bonus to their parents, while 9 per cent would invest the money.
Only 0.5 per cent said they will donate to charity."
"Two in three Singapore workers save no more than 20 per cent of their monthly pay.
That's according to an online survey conducted by job portal, JobsCentral.
It polled some 2,300 individuals between August and September 2011.
The top three savers are workers from research & development, consulting and business development.
More than half of research & development workers said they save more than 20 per cent of their monthly income.
And the worst savers?
Those who work in events management, public relations and sales.
About one in five from these professions said they save more than 20 per cent of monthly income.
Huang Shao-Ning, deputy CEO of JobsCentral Group, said: "The more exuberant personalities of these three groups of workers, and the requirement of their jobs to leave positive impressions on new people they meet everyday may also translate to higher expenditure on grooming, commuting and entertainment."
Most (44.1%) respondents said they save most of their bonus.
While one in three (33.7%) said they spend their bonus on holidays and shopping.
One in 10 would give most of their bonus to their parents, while 9 per cent would invest the money.
Only 0.5 per cent said they will donate to charity."
Monday, 16 January 2012
in the interest of the masses...
latest "carrot cake news" (Chai Tow Kuay) comparison is the latest bit of gossip to hit Singapore's political scene; let's have you guys read the article and chip in.
what say you? Does price = quality when it comes to politics?
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1176921/1/.html
He said: "I don't think anyone of them comes here for the money. They come here to provide a better life for the next generation... One of the reasons why I stepped forward was because I know I'm joining a team of people that are not here for the money."
He added that the key is to find the right balance.
He said: "Money should not be the one (factor) to attract them in. On the other hand, money should also not be the bugbear to deter them.
"(For example,) you go to Peach Garden, you eat the S$10 XO Sauce chye tow kuay (fried carrot cake), you can be quite happy right? Because you are satisfied with the service and so on. On the other hand, you can go to a hawker centre, even if they charge you S$1.50, you might not want to eat it if the quality is not good."
When it comes to Singaporeans (or pretty much any person for that matter), cheaper is always better. brand comes in at a close second. but people always want value for money.
that makes it difficult when talking about financial planning and protection. nobody wants to spend any money on something that immediate "quality" isn't seen. even when they can see the benefit to it, everyone wants to compare products across the market.
i recently helped a client look at a product comparison of an endowment product. as much as i want to close the sale, i highlighted the features and benefits of each: which one has how long a payment period, what's the total amount of premiums paid versus the guaranteed amount, what's the non-guaranteed amount, etc etc etc.
(obviously i'm from a particular company, so i would naturally sell my own company's insurance but) i find that it is in my client's best interest to be honest.
as much as i wanted to hit my targets this month, i did not say which is better than which, but instead let my client choose for himself and whichever way it goes, i promised myself i would not show any emotion, but purely be happy that my client is getting a plan that suits him the best. i didn't want to look too ecstatic if he chose my product over the other, and neither do i want to look crestfallen like he did me an injustice for not choosing it.
that's simply UNPROFESSIONAL.
(and yes i know, EXTREMELY difficult to do. anyone who has mastered this disguising of facial expressions and emotions, i'll be very happy to learn your secret)
although price is a very big factor when it boils down to getting a plan, (that hopefully one is committed to), i sincerely hope that when it does come to looking at policies that are tit-for-tat comparative (at least on the surface), people would look for the quality of product - i.e. features and benefits in comparison to the price being paid.
don't play around when it comes to getting life protection. instead start of with a budget and build from there. do your research and if you absolutely have to compare, do it for the features and the guarantees of the plan and not the promises or the potential-ness.
Be Protected Everyone,
Jessica
what say you? Does price = quality when it comes to politics?
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1176921/1/.html
He said: "I don't think anyone of them comes here for the money. They come here to provide a better life for the next generation... One of the reasons why I stepped forward was because I know I'm joining a team of people that are not here for the money."
He added that the key is to find the right balance.
He said: "Money should not be the one (factor) to attract them in. On the other hand, money should also not be the bugbear to deter them.
"(For example,) you go to Peach Garden, you eat the S$10 XO Sauce chye tow kuay (fried carrot cake), you can be quite happy right? Because you are satisfied with the service and so on. On the other hand, you can go to a hawker centre, even if they charge you S$1.50, you might not want to eat it if the quality is not good."
When it comes to Singaporeans (or pretty much any person for that matter), cheaper is always better. brand comes in at a close second. but people always want value for money.
that makes it difficult when talking about financial planning and protection. nobody wants to spend any money on something that immediate "quality" isn't seen. even when they can see the benefit to it, everyone wants to compare products across the market.
i recently helped a client look at a product comparison of an endowment product. as much as i want to close the sale, i highlighted the features and benefits of each: which one has how long a payment period, what's the total amount of premiums paid versus the guaranteed amount, what's the non-guaranteed amount, etc etc etc.
(obviously i'm from a particular company, so i would naturally sell my own company's insurance but) i find that it is in my client's best interest to be honest.
as much as i wanted to hit my targets this month, i did not say which is better than which, but instead let my client choose for himself and whichever way it goes, i promised myself i would not show any emotion, but purely be happy that my client is getting a plan that suits him the best. i didn't want to look too ecstatic if he chose my product over the other, and neither do i want to look crestfallen like he did me an injustice for not choosing it.
that's simply UNPROFESSIONAL.
(and yes i know, EXTREMELY difficult to do. anyone who has mastered this disguising of facial expressions and emotions, i'll be very happy to learn your secret)
although price is a very big factor when it boils down to getting a plan, (that hopefully one is committed to), i sincerely hope that when it does come to looking at policies that are tit-for-tat comparative (at least on the surface), people would look for the quality of product - i.e. features and benefits in comparison to the price being paid.
don't play around when it comes to getting life protection. instead start of with a budget and build from there. do your research and if you absolutely have to compare, do it for the features and the guarantees of the plan and not the promises or the potential-ness.
Be Protected Everyone,
Jessica
Sunday, 15 January 2012
It's been a tough weekend
I've been running around, trying to get things ready for CNY (which is coming up next week). all the spring cleaning, the clothes buying, crazy madness i tell you!
what i DIDN'T do, which i know some singaporeans must've been absolutely mad for, is queue for bak kwa (roasted cured meat). Procrastinator's nightmare at Bee Cheng Hiang or Lim Chee Guan, you name it, almost any bak kwa stall in Chinatown or even nationwide would've had a queue I had a friend who patiently stood in line for 5 hours +++ to get his "goody bag"!
people have been talking about being bak kwa mules in order to churn a bit of business even! that's how crazy it is.
well it made me think, all these people are in queue because they want something desperately for Chinese New Year. be it tradition or festivities effect, the want to try the famous stuff or even because someone else asked you to do it, these people are willing to sacrifice so much time to just stand in line and wait for roasted meat.
not many people put that much effort into thinking about their protection in life. unfortunately, the more important the thing is, the less people want to be bogged down with planning for it. it could be avoidance because of the weight of responsibility sitting on something like planning for your future or just purely escaping the fact fact that something needs to be done, or just pure procrastination.
one thing's for sure, when you realize you need it, and when everyone starts rushes to get it, the people who wait too long and end up at the back of the queue, just may not be able to get what they came for.
make sure that you guys think about the hard questions early!
Jessica
what i DIDN'T do, which i know some singaporeans must've been absolutely mad for, is queue for bak kwa (roasted cured meat). Procrastinator's nightmare at Bee Cheng Hiang or Lim Chee Guan, you name it, almost any bak kwa stall in Chinatown or even nationwide would've had a queue I had a friend who patiently stood in line for 5 hours +++ to get his "goody bag"!
people have been talking about being bak kwa mules in order to churn a bit of business even! that's how crazy it is.
well it made me think, all these people are in queue because they want something desperately for Chinese New Year. be it tradition or festivities effect, the want to try the famous stuff or even because someone else asked you to do it, these people are willing to sacrifice so much time to just stand in line and wait for roasted meat.
not many people put that much effort into thinking about their protection in life. unfortunately, the more important the thing is, the less people want to be bogged down with planning for it. it could be avoidance because of the weight of responsibility sitting on something like planning for your future or just purely escaping the fact fact that something needs to be done, or just pure procrastination.
one thing's for sure, when you realize you need it, and when everyone starts rushes to get it, the people who wait too long and end up at the back of the queue, just may not be able to get what they came for.
make sure that you guys think about the hard questions early!
Jessica
Thursday, 12 January 2012
Pay IT Forward
http://www.good.is/post/people-are-awesome-the-south-carolina-coffee-shop-where-everyone-pays-for-everyone-else-s-drinks/
i did someone a favour a little while back and that favour was meant to be repaid. Not in terms of insurance, but more of that that person would repay that favour in a different way back for me.
i've been stressing over my head because i'm still struggling between the right balance of when to chase for the favour to be repaid and when to play it cool; i definitely do not want to play the part of the pushy (sales)person. but the more i called, the more i messaged, the greater that feeling of worry starting nagging at me.
i didn't do the favour in order to have it paid back, but more so because i was promised that a certain favour would have been done, settled. kind of like the way i do your math homework, you do my science homework. i held up my end of the bargain, but 2 days to the deadline, the other person is no where to be seen and i end up having to do my own science homework.
what i figured is that sometimes you just got to have faith that things will work its way out. (like if i did my own science homework, that's how i learn about science?) maybe i'm being too ambitious to think that doing nice things for others means that karma will give me rewards back 10 times over - that's being too opportunistic, and maybe i'm being too naive to just go around doing nice things for everyone else.
it doesn't take much effort to do something nice for someone once in a while. i just hope that i can learn to give without expectations more and somehow my actions are symbolic enough of my commitment to my end of the bargain such that people would feel like they should do something nice in reciprocation.
it's always nice to feel appreciated when someone does something nice for someone else. it's one of the little things - when a good deed is ignored and forgotten - that makes a person feel taken for granted. Not that i want pple to be constantly going "OMG THANK YOU SO MUCH, I TOTALLY OWE YOU ONE", but that i would be thought of as the girl that helped when it mattered.
the best feeling in the world is that through all my doubt and worry, whenever whoever it is, pulls through for me and i receive that sincere sms/call of apology for the delay and things DO work themselves out, you realize that it was silly to have worried at all. it reinforces my belief that there is reasonable cause for blind faith.
take a chance on someone today, they may just surprise you.
Jessica
i did someone a favour a little while back and that favour was meant to be repaid. Not in terms of insurance, but more of that that person would repay that favour in a different way back for me.
i've been stressing over my head because i'm still struggling between the right balance of when to chase for the favour to be repaid and when to play it cool; i definitely do not want to play the part of the pushy (sales)person. but the more i called, the more i messaged, the greater that feeling of worry starting nagging at me.
i didn't do the favour in order to have it paid back, but more so because i was promised that a certain favour would have been done, settled. kind of like the way i do your math homework, you do my science homework. i held up my end of the bargain, but 2 days to the deadline, the other person is no where to be seen and i end up having to do my own science homework.
what i figured is that sometimes you just got to have faith that things will work its way out. (like if i did my own science homework, that's how i learn about science?) maybe i'm being too ambitious to think that doing nice things for others means that karma will give me rewards back 10 times over - that's being too opportunistic, and maybe i'm being too naive to just go around doing nice things for everyone else.
it doesn't take much effort to do something nice for someone once in a while. i just hope that i can learn to give without expectations more and somehow my actions are symbolic enough of my commitment to my end of the bargain such that people would feel like they should do something nice in reciprocation.
it's always nice to feel appreciated when someone does something nice for someone else. it's one of the little things - when a good deed is ignored and forgotten - that makes a person feel taken for granted. Not that i want pple to be constantly going "OMG THANK YOU SO MUCH, I TOTALLY OWE YOU ONE", but that i would be thought of as the girl that helped when it mattered.
the best feeling in the world is that through all my doubt and worry, whenever whoever it is, pulls through for me and i receive that sincere sms/call of apology for the delay and things DO work themselves out, you realize that it was silly to have worried at all. it reinforces my belief that there is reasonable cause for blind faith.
take a chance on someone today, they may just surprise you.
Jessica
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
who's going to be your knight in shining armour?
the below video is a lovely showing of the human spirit.
i think it's just so touching to know that there is someone out there, a secret hero, the angel in disguise, who is going to be there when i (or anyone else) may need help.
insurance is similiar, we all want that peace of mind that there's somebody watching out for us. making sure that nothing bad will happen when we can't see it for ourselves.
what do YOUhave that gives youthe peace of mind?
Be protected everyone!
Jessica
i think it's just so touching to know that there is someone out there, a secret hero, the angel in disguise, who is going to be there when i (or anyone else) may need help.
insurance is similiar, we all want that peace of mind that there's somebody watching out for us. making sure that nothing bad will happen when we can't see it for ourselves.
what do YOUhave that gives youthe peace of mind?
Be protected everyone!
Jessica
Monday, 9 January 2012
as much as (i think) sh*t is all i'm being served these days, i'm thankful for...
- my health, that everything functions the way it should function
- my family - my mum as naggy as she is, is a pillar of strength in the face of trials, my brother as irritating as he is, a pillar of humour and support in the face of adversity
- the freedom to choose what i eat
- the freedom to choose who i love
- the freedom to choose what i wear
- my friends who i see a lot, and tolerate all my quirks
- my friends who although i see little of, i know will be there when i need them
- my friends who i don't see at all, but remember me on my birthday
- my education, without which i would have no freedom
- my spirit, without which i would not be the person i am today - stubborn, vivacious, quick-tempered and quicker to defend what i believe is right, thoughtful and with a strong belief in the right way to do things.
Saturday, 7 January 2012
not to brag..
but i really think i'm getting better at this, and not just that, i'm building my confidence of myself in the process.
lately when i meet people, i've been feeling that the concepts have been getting easier to explain, the idea of the protection easier to digest, the problem of gaps in insurance cover are becoming more apparent.
maybe it's because i keep repeating it, but i think it's because i'm slowly having more faith in what i'm saying, precisely because i'm saying it.
i'm not a person to flippantly promise. i tend to get angry very easily when someone says that they would do something but requires a reminder (or two, or three or four...) about something, or even something remotely close to an agreement. so i wouldn't expect anyone to accept anything less than deliverance on what i say.
somehow, there are those that try to put words into my mouth, to make me promise what i can't deliver - like guaranteed returns, or that my product is the best, or that there are no other alternatives to a suggestion. they've been mislead before maybe? or they want to make sure that there are no loopholes in the contract. and i find that i'm stressed out my mind with trying to guess what the other person wants and fill in that hole because i desperately want to prove myself and my products.
as much as i'm gaining the ability to talk about insurance, i find that it really does take 2 hands to clap. the better i get at recommending something for a situation depends entirely on how well i know the person i am recommending for.
mind-reading would be a cool skill to have, but sadly, i must work on asking the right questions and making educated answers.
so to all those people who are considering insurance, don't be afraid to spit it out - what you want, be it savings or protection, whether it's a surety or a possibility, there are so many options to choose from and we can only move together on the basis of disclosure.
be protected everyone, the way that you want to be protected!
jessica
lately when i meet people, i've been feeling that the concepts have been getting easier to explain, the idea of the protection easier to digest, the problem of gaps in insurance cover are becoming more apparent.
maybe it's because i keep repeating it, but i think it's because i'm slowly having more faith in what i'm saying, precisely because i'm saying it.
i'm not a person to flippantly promise. i tend to get angry very easily when someone says that they would do something but requires a reminder (or two, or three or four...) about something, or even something remotely close to an agreement. so i wouldn't expect anyone to accept anything less than deliverance on what i say.
somehow, there are those that try to put words into my mouth, to make me promise what i can't deliver - like guaranteed returns, or that my product is the best, or that there are no other alternatives to a suggestion. they've been mislead before maybe? or they want to make sure that there are no loopholes in the contract. and i find that i'm stressed out my mind with trying to guess what the other person wants and fill in that hole because i desperately want to prove myself and my products.
as much as i'm gaining the ability to talk about insurance, i find that it really does take 2 hands to clap. the better i get at recommending something for a situation depends entirely on how well i know the person i am recommending for.
mind-reading would be a cool skill to have, but sadly, i must work on asking the right questions and making educated answers.
so to all those people who are considering insurance, don't be afraid to spit it out - what you want, be it savings or protection, whether it's a surety or a possibility, there are so many options to choose from and we can only move together on the basis of disclosure.
be protected everyone, the way that you want to be protected!
jessica
Friday, 6 January 2012
For your family...
http://www.fromdatestodiapers.com/50-rules-for-dads-of-daughters
For someone that grew up past age 6 without a father, reading through that article above, really makes me thank my mum for all the sacrifices she put me through because i can relate to so many of those scenarios that has happened as a result of my mum being there for me.
for those that still have your fathers around, appreciate every thing they do for you, for it's probably done in love :)
for fathers and those that are soon-to-be, take the time to treasure each day as your kids grow up.
and for the mums, don't forget that you can do these for your young ones too.
For someone that grew up past age 6 without a father, reading through that article above, really makes me thank my mum for all the sacrifices she put me through because i can relate to so many of those scenarios that has happened as a result of my mum being there for me.
for those that still have your fathers around, appreciate every thing they do for you, for it's probably done in love :)
for fathers and those that are soon-to-be, take the time to treasure each day as your kids grow up.
and for the mums, don't forget that you can do these for your young ones too.
Thursday, 5 January 2012
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
Singapore Incorporated and Wholly Owned Subsidiary!
Excerpted from internal memo from CEO Mr Tan Hak Leh
With effect from 1 January 2012, AIA in Singapore is known as AIA Singapore Private Limited (AIA Singapore), with all business transacted under this name.
With effect from 1 January 2012, AIA in Singapore is known as AIA Singapore Private Limited (AIA Singapore), with all business transacted under this name.
The transfer is a great milestone in our 80 years of successful operations in Singapore. It reinforces our commiment to meeting the protection and savings needs of Singaporean families across generations and we will continue to introduce innovative products and deliver quality service to help Singapore families bridge their underinsurance gap.
Also, the following updates:
AIA Singapore is rated AA- with a stable outlook by Standard and Poor's
Board of Directors appointed -
1. Mr Ng Keng Hooi - Chairman of the Board of Directors, AIA Group Executive Vice President and Regional Chief Executive
2. Mr Tan Hak Leh - AIA Singapore Chief Executive Officer
3. Mr Simeon Preston - AIA Group Executive Vice President and Group Head of Business Strategy
4. Mr Jon Nielson - AIA Group Senior Vice President and Regional Chief Financial Officer
5. Mr Liew Heng San - Independent Director of AIA Singapore
6. Mr Greg Seow - Independent Director of AIA Singapore
Monday, 2 January 2012
New Year's Resolutions
Have a Happy New Year folks!
For all the things that we say we will do differently, take a look at the top 10 around the world. Here's hoping that whatever comes your way, determination and resolve follows you to make each of us a better version of ourselves in time to come.
For all the things that we say we will do differently, take a look at the top 10 around the world. Here's hoping that whatever comes your way, determination and resolve follows you to make each of us a better version of ourselves in time to come.
noun
1. a formal expression of opinion or intention made, usually after voting, by a formal organization, a legislature, a club, or other group. Compare concurrent resolution, joint resolution.
2. a resolve or determination: to make a firm resolution to do something.
3. the act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc.
4. the mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute; firmness of purpose.
5. the act or process of resolving or separating into constituent or elementary parts.
http://www.squidoo.com/newyears
1. Stop Smoking
2. Get into a Habit of being Fit
3. Lose Weight - the Battle of the Bulge
4. Enjoy Life More.
5. Quit Drinking
6. Organise Yourself - this is one of the keys to reaching your goals
7. Learn Something New
8. Get out of Debt
9. Spend More Time With Family
10. Help People.
1. Stop Smoking
2. Get into a Habit of being Fit
3. Lose Weight - the Battle of the Bulge
4. Enjoy Life More.
5. Quit Drinking
6. Organise Yourself - this is one of the keys to reaching your goals
7. Learn Something New
8. Get out of Debt
9. Spend More Time With Family
10. Help People.
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