Beat the Inflation! Beat Poverty

 Are you aware that you can loss money in long term due to inflation? In fact you don't need to earn economic degree just to understand that inflation is one of the major cause of poverty.

"Your silver turned to dross, your best wine thinned into water" - Isaiah 1:22

Most of us already heard the word "inflation" or the rising of prices of goods and services while decreasing the value of your money in your wallet, but how many of us do something to beat them? 

Your money can be eaten up by inflation

First let us truly understand, what is inflation?

It is the lost of your purchasing power due to increase of price and decrease of your money. In other word your money actually lost it's value. In fact your money can be loss it's value, if you keep it in your wallet or save it in the bank.

There is nothing wrong when we put our money in the bank, but make sure it is not your investment. Your money in the bank can be your emergency fund, it can be easily liquid or withdrawn anytime in case of emergency. But if you use it for a long term investment, it will be eaten up by inflation, your money will lost value and buying powers.

If you don't want run out of money for your retirement, you need to factor inflation into your retirement planning and must consider in picking the right investment. And if you are planning to retire in the next 5 years you must consider aside from your healthcare, is the inflation rate or else your money will be eaten by this inflation rate.

The issue is not the inflation alone instead of how we are going to beat the inflation?

How to beat inflation?

If you will search from the internet you will find a lot of ways to beat the inflation, but in my opinion the simplest way and practical tips I can give is to invest into any investment vehicle that can give you a high return than the inflation.

Let us say the inflation for the last past years has an average of 4%, then you invest your money into a simple saving deposit into the bank that gives you 1%, you already loss money. In this case you did not beat the inflation.

Mutual Funds, Stocks, Real Estate, business and even insurance are some of the best instrument to invest and proven that beats the inflation.

Whether we invest or not the choice is always with us. Discipline and time are two important things to beat the inflation. The reason why most of people remain into poverty level regardless how hard they work is due to inflation.

Whether to invest or not, it's still depend on your decision, but hopefully I help you understand the value of money and time as a tool to beat inflation. The secret of successful investor and businessman is they know where they can put they money that beat inflation. They never accept any opportunity below inflation rate. 

We like to complain about the price hike, the government and their leadership, but we ignore the reality that we need to do something and our success is not in other peoples control, its our control. Its not the issue of inflation alone, but what matters is did we position our money to beat the inflation or did we make our money do better than inflation? 

Armed  yourself with right knowledge, know the best investment and check your asset, does your asset is higher than inflation rate? One key to financial freedom is beating the inflation, make your money grow and never allow to loose money by inflation.

P.S. 1. Bernard B. Anduyon is an OFW based in Qatar. He is a speaker and trainor for OFIE-M (Overseas Filipino Investors and Entrepreneur – Movement), a small group of Filipinos that advocates and teaches fellow OFWs to be investors and entrepreneurs. He is also a long-time member of Bo Sanchez' Truly Rich Club http://bernard.trulyrichclub.com. 

P.S. 2.  If you, your family or friends are based in Qatar, then I’m inviting you to attend our financial literacy talk series every 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month at Al Thumama, Doha. I give talks on diverse topics such as abundance mindset, financial planning, investing and entrepreneurship for Filipinos. I am also a trainor for PINOYWISE-ATIKHA, promoting awareness on issues affecting OFWs and their families as well as financial literacy.

If you want a financial coaching, you can send email to b_anduyon@yahoo.com

Please like the pages:  

https://www.facebook.com/trulyrichcouple

https://www.facebook.com/OverseasFilipinoInvestorsEntrepreneursMovement

Are you OFW or OFIE ? Break the Culture! Be an OFIE

"The wicked borrows but does not pay back, the the righteous is generous and gives" - Psalm 37: 21

"It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay" - Ecclesiastes 5: 5

From spender to saver to investor and entrepreneur, that is the transformation we dream of for every Filipinos not only for OFW but to all Filipino. 

OFIE stands for Overseas Filipino Investors and Entrepreneurs, the term was introduce by our personal financial mentor, Mr. Paul Gamboa. This man dreams that this is the right time to change OFW to OFIE and I salute his vision and advocacy to teach OFWs to become investors in the Philippines while working here in abroad. This one man’s advocacy has inspired other OFWs-turned-OFIEs to continue sharing his vision and as such, non-profit organizations like OFIE-M in Qatar has already taught hundreds of OFWs in Doha to start not only investing in the Philippines but plan their financial goals and prepare for it while still working abroad.

Why an OFW need to become an OFIE?

For more than 6 years as OFW working here in the Middle East, I met a lot of OFW and fellow Filipino who stay in abroad for the longest time of their life. Being a concern individual I ask them what keep them holding back to return in the Philippines, to stay with their love ones and family? Most common replied, financial issue.

Filipinos are the most talented and hard-working employees in the world. This is a reason why international companies, in the Philippines and abroad, highly regard us as part of their workforce. The sad thing is that most OFW's go home broke—in finances and in relationships. They spent many of their productive years working abroad for their loved ones; sacrificing not coming home for so long to provide a good life for family but end up with nothing in savings and investment. They never saw their kids growing up, missing a lot of bonding moments with their family and when the time comes to finally return home, they realized that their children have moved on with their own lives.

But being an OFIE can provide a win-win scenario financially, and later will help to solve the issue of migration. With financial knowledge, we know that regardless of the market conditions and economic situation, we can save and invest for the future. Take this case. When the value of dollar goes up and becomes strong, OFIEs have additional money to invest, to buy shares/ stocks of blue-chip companies in the Philippines or purchase government bonds. But when the reverse happens (“weaker dollar”), our investments grow and profit comes. So in either situation, OFIE wins. Hence, are not bothered as much as others who rely only on one income stream to provide their financial needs.

OFWs are known as the modern-day heroes in that they bring billions worth of remittances back to the Philippines, stimulating economy through robust consumer spending. Yet while OFWs excel in their chosen careers, they are never masters of their own financial life. If OFWs will be trained and taught even the basics of financial planning and money management, they will go home happy and fulfilled.

How OFIE can make a difference?

Teaching OFW to be conscious of his expenses, learning to differentiate between needs and wants, is part of what   OFIE-M’s financial literacy program. Started in 2011, the organization has received official recognition from the Philippine Embassy in Qatar in September 2012 as the only non-profit Filipino organization in Qatar that teaches about financial literacy and entrepreneurship.

OFWs need to be taught the values of saving and managing their own finances and encourage them to continually learn and involve their families in the process of planning and managing their hard-earned money. By starting to take action such as saving money in the bank for emergency purposes or opening a mutual fund account or getting health care and insurance policies, we help create a new generation of Filipinos who are not only savers but investors and entrepreneurs as well. It may not be easy at first but it is possible. You need to believe, make the commitment and encourage others to do the same.

Now is the best time to change our culture from OFW now lets turn it into OFIE. It's more fun investing in the Philippines.

Here is the report by GMA about the real situation of OFW after returning home.

There were also those who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to get grain because of the famine.” And there were those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king's tax on our fields and our vineyards. Now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children are as their children. Yet we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but it is not in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards.”                 - Nehemiah 5: 3-5

P.S. 1. Bernard B. Anduyon is an OFW based in Qatar. He is a speaker and trainor for OFIE-M (Overseas Filipino Investors and Entrepreneur – Movement), a small group of Filipinos that advocates and teaches fellow OFWs to be investors and entrepreneurs. He is also a long-time member of Bo Sanchez' Truly Rich Club http://bernard.trulyrichclub.com. 

P.S. 2.  If you, your family or friends are based in Qatar, then I’m inviting you to attend our financial literacy talk series every 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month at Al Thumama, Doha. I give talks on diverse topics such as abundance mindset, financial planning, investing and entrepreneurship for Filipinos. I am also a trainor for PINOYWISE-ATIKHA, promoting awareness on issues affecting OFWs and their families as well as financial literacy.

If you want a financial coaching, you can send email to b_anduyon@yahoo.com

Please like the pages:  

https://www.facebook.com/trulyrichcouple

https://www.facebook.com/OverseasFilipinoInvestorsEntrepreneursMovement

It's Payback Time! Celebrate with your Mom!

"She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceptive , and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate". - Proverbs 31:26-31

One of the great investment that I consider is "relationship".  You can be wealthy and rich but if you do not build a strong relationship with others, your wealth will only lead you to misery. Today, let us celebrate with one of the greatest people that could ever have - our mothers. 

PHOTO CREDIT http://blog.ub.ac.id/

  
 If there is one person in this planet that know you well before you exist on earth, that would be your mother. 

She may not be perfect but she makes us a better individual. She maybe hard to understand at times but she has always known what is best for us. You may have a lot of arguments and disagreements, but as we listen to her and as we grow older, we begin to understand her points of view. She is not perfect but this is true of our mother - she makes a lot of sacrifices for us. 

Honoring your mom by dating her this Mother's Day is the best payback for all her efforts when we were young. Thanking her this Mother's Day is a simple reward we can give to her for all she has done for us: for keeping us right and shaping us to be the best that we can be.  

Let our mothers feel that she is appreciated and valued. Take this opportunity to have a great time with her: by listening intently to her when she speaks or helping her out when she needs it. Let her feel wonderful by showing her how grateful we are.

So don't let the day end without making her feel special. Nothing is more hurtful than feeling forgotten. 

Make this day memorable for her no matter how simple our celebration maybe; for it's not how much money we will spend on her but how much love we give to her that counts. Make it an unforgettable experience for them.

Happy Mother's Day to all the great moms out there.

"As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you: you shall be comforted in Jerusalem". - Isaiah 66:13

P.S. 1. Bernard B. Anduyon is an OFW based in Qatar. He is a speaker and trainor for OFIE-M (Overseas Filipino Investors and Entrepreneur – Movement), a small group of Filipinos that advocates and teaches fellow OFWs to be investors and entrepreneurs. He is also a long-time member of Bo Sanchez' Truly Rich Club http://bernard.trulyrichclub.com. 

P.S. 2.  If you, your family or friends are based in Qatar, then I’m inviting you to attend our financial literacy talk series every 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month at Al Thumama, Doha. I give talks on diverse topics such as abundance mindset, financial planning, investing and entrepreneurship for Filipinos. I am also a trainor for PINOYWISE-ATIKHA, promoting awareness on issues affecting OFWs and their families as well as financial literacy.

If you want a financial coaching, you can send email to b_anduyon@yahoo.com

Please like the pages:  

https://www.facebook.com/trulyrichcouple

https://www.facebook.com/OverseasFilipinoInvestorsEntrepreneursMovement

Another Investment Upgrade for the Philippines

Another good news to all investor in the Philippines, we receive another investment upgrade from Standard and Poor. From "BBB- now upgraded to "BBB".

Almost a year when Philippines raised its investment grade from the same Standard and Poor when we received an upgrade of "BBB"- and now it was upgraded again.

What does it mean?

Upgrades to investment ratings for stocks and fixed-income securities are issued by equity and bond analysts respectively at brokerage houses. In the context of portfolio management, the term "upgrade" also refers to a strategy whereby the risk profile and quality of the portfolio is improved by including blue-chips in it, while eliminating speculative stocks. (source: Investopedia)

The debt watcher also noted the upgrade "reflects the country's strong external liquidity and international investment position, combined with an effective monetary policy framework relative to the country's income level," while maintaining low inflation and interest rates.

With this investment upgrade, more investor around the world are being optimistic that the Philippines will gains more revenue and increase its GDP that will show a strong economy.

In this investment upgrade it encourage more and more foreigner to investment in the country but my question is how about my fellow kababayans? When they will start to invest?

more detail click here 

iCON 2014 : It's for EveryJUAN

One of the biggest investment conference in the Philippines will happen this coming May 17, 2014 at SMX Convention Center. 

iCON 2014

As OFW and as financial advocates I personally see the hunger of every Filipino on how to build their wealth. This event is the opportunity for us - young adults, professionals, bread winners and every one who have their dreams in their heart.

One of the objective of this seminar is to encourage every Filipino towards financial freedom. From wide range of knowledge and experience this event will talk about financial planning, stock market investing, debt management and entrepreneurship opportunity in the country. This might be a turning key for every Filipino to empowered themselves and learn how to manage their own finances and assets, from being spender to saver to investor and entrepreneur.  

Its time for us to become financial literate and cut the poverty culture of our country. I believe that a healthy financial individuals is about the cultivating a wealthy spirit. As Bo Sanchez said "The true purpose of being rich is love and serve the Lord". 

This is the time that every Filipino must start investing and by attending seminar and conference like this is an opportunity to enhance and learn more how to increase our value. 

Our mentors and good friends are some of the speakers to inspire us to start investing, Randell Tiongson for Personal Finance, Paulo Tibig for Entrepreneurship and Marvin Germo on Stock Investing. They will share their failures, experiences that drives them to become a successful individuals. Learn from their experience and hear their advice.

P.S. 1. Bernard B. Anduyon is a OFW based on Doha Qatar and a trainer for OFIE-M ( Overseas Filipino Investors and Entrepreneur – Movement) a group of advocates teaching OFW to start investing and be an entrepreneur. He is also a member of Bo Sanchez Truly Rich Club http://bernard.trulyrichclub.com. 

P.S. 2.  I’m inviting you to attend our Financial Literacy Talk series every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month at Filipino Community Center Al Thumama Doha, Qatar where I am a regular speaker for Abundance Mindset and Entrepreneurship for Filipino. I am also a trainer of ATIKHA promoting migration issue of OFW and financial literacy both OFW and in the rural area of the Philippines.

If you want a financial coaching you can send email to b_anduyon@yahoo.com

Please like our page:  

https://www.facebook.com/trulyrichcouple

https://www.facebook.com/OverseasFilipinoInvestorsEntrepreneursMovement

Our Distorted Religious Beliefs about God and Money

“May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness;

May they always say, “The Lord be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant.” – Psalm 35:27

My beliefs about money and being rich can be traced back when I was an active youth leader in our parish community back in my college days. I had this funny idea that you can choose to serve the Lord by giving any one of the 3 Ts: Time, Talent or Treasure. At first, I focus on giving my time and talent since I was a student then. I spent most of my weekends attending prayer meetings, teaching basic catechisms to kids, participating in parish or diocesan-based festivities. When I became employed and started earning my own money, I began to share my financial blessings in the parish by sponsoring food for our kids’ catechetical classes as well as donating a portion of my income in the Sunday collection. I was so happy with what I am doing. However at times, I encounter financial dilemmas such as who among our members can we send for out-of-town retreats and recollections. As much as I want everyone to attend, I can only sponsor a handful of them.

Shift your Wealth Belief

Money then to me was something you should ask from God, and then (literally) wait for Him to give you. He has specially assigned individuals to produce it and give it away. I believed that was not God’s call for me. Also, I thought that having too much money, even if you are serving in the community, will make you turn away from God. Why did I think this way? Because in order to make more money, you need to allocate more time to creating it, thus less time in doing His works. I had this fear that if I earn more money, I would be distracted away from God, falling into sin, violating the first commandment. I also thought that rich people who are giving lots of money to the church are “bribing” their way to heaven. Giving donations is “paying” repentance for their sins. And rich people must have acquired their wealth through scrupulous means! Those then were my beliefs about money and the rich. So in serving the Lord, I contended myself with sharing time, talent, and occasionally, little treasure. Later did I realize that I, like everyone else, was given the power to create money in order to serve His purpose.

When I got married, my spouse basically shared my beliefs about money and becoming rich. Bottom line is, it was not for us to finance the works of God’s Kingdom. It was other people’s jobs. But the turning point in our life came when we read BoSanchez’s, 8 Secrets of the Truly Rich. In that book, it clearly and convincingly explained how misconstrued religious beliefs have done more harm than good in serving God and His people.

The book offers, in part, an explanation to one popular biblical verse about becoming wealthy, Matthew 19:24 “Again, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” The phrase “eye of the needle” is not to be taken literally. In Hebrew tradition, it refers to the door of a camel’s house--small and low. In order for a camel to enter its house, it needs to remove all its baggage and crawl on its knees. Simply put, a rich man must humble himself before the Lord, in acknowledgement that all his financial successes are attributed to God’s love for him. He recognizes that at the end of the day, everything he has was entrusted to him, becoming a steward of sharing these blessings with the world, to serve God’s purpose and not of his own. However, it does not mean he cannot keep a portion of it for his enjoyment. God is just as happy with that as this earthly reward is but a taste of what is His faithful servants will experience when Kingdom comes.

After reading his book, we cannot help but smile and feel excited. We can be rich and holy at the same time! Inspired by this, we decided to take action. In August 2009, a year after starting to work in Dubai, we attended a Truly Rich Seminar at the auditorium of Lourdes School of Mandaluyong. The room was packed (I think we were more than 300). The following week we attended the two-day Truly Rich Financial Coaching Program where we got the first chance of our lives to personally meet and talk with Bro. Bo Sanchez and some of his financial and business mentors. We bought and read all his books and ebooks related to spiritual and financial abundance and we made a commitment to improve our finances. In the span of five years, I must say that our time working overseas did not go to waste because immediately took action on what we have learned from those seminars, learning about investments, proper financial planning and diversification. We are able to minimize financial losses because we sought mentors and follow successful individuals who are also spiritually-rooted, people who are living examples of being happy millionaire-missionaries.

Now, we are active trainors in a non-profit, Filipino-organization based in Qatar that teaches about financial education. More than teaching about the right way of savings and investments, we share with them our beliefs about having “holy” money. Today, we do not just teach them how to properly manage their finance to achieve their goals and encourage them to put God first before everything by highlighting the importance of tithing. And true enough, there are many amazing stories of transformation--from someone with a huge bank debt to attaining zero credit card balance; from a weekly shopaholic to a regular and diligent saver and investor and from a life without directions to a person with clearly defined goals and dreams with hearts.

We share our story so others may be inspired, take lessons from it and act with determination. Our greatest joy is learning that we have changed their lives, by changing their wealth beliefs. We help them become better individuals, full of hope and trust in God’s divine providence and that all of us can be happy, healthy, holy and wealthy in all aspects of our lives.

Despite these, it pains us that the people whom we feel needed it the most, those who are serving the Lord in the church, stay away from us. Probably because when start to talk about investing and saving, it is an alien concept to them. It is distracting them from doing God’s work. Or it is something that they should not be concerned about because talking about it means they do not trust God enough. They are not ready for it. And this is our struggle right now, for them to understand that there is no conflict in teaching about God and money. That money is a neutral tool that can be used for good and evil. I sincerely believe that people who serve the Lord ought to be materially rich because they know that the financial blessings they receive is a responsibility that they need to share with the less fortunate.

Money is not the root of evil but the LOVE of money is. If by having money ruins your relationship with God, your family and friends, then yes money can be evil. However if your motivation for having money is so you can finance your family’s needs as well as the needs of God’s Kingdom, then why should we consider having money, evil?

This excerpt from Bo Sanchez’ Declaration of Wealth best summarizes our reason for being rich:

“…I am a brilliant (investor and) entrepreneur, creating wealth for God’s purposes...I do not own my wealth, everything I have belongs to Him. I merely manage it for the True Owner and use it according to His will. God is my real wealth and the people He gave me are my real treasures.”

May our story inspire others to honor and give the glory back to our One, True God. Amen.

P.S. 1. Bernard B. Anduyon is a OFW based on Doha Qatar and a trainer for OFIE-M ( Overseas Filipino Investors and Entrepreneur – Movement) a group of advocates teaching OFW to start investing and be an entrepreneur. He is also a member of Bo Sanchez Truly Rich Club http://bernard.trulyrichclub.com. 

P.S. 2.  I’m inviting you to attend our Financial Literacy Talk series every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month at Filipino Community Center Al Thumama Doha, Qatar where I am a regular speaker for Abundance Mindset and Entrepreneurship for Filipino. I am also a trainer of ATIKHA promoting migration issue of OFW and financial literacy both OFW and in the rural area of the Philippines.

If you want a financial coaching you can send email to b_anduyon@yahoo.com

Please like our page:  

https://www.facebook.com/trulyrichcouple

https://www.facebook.com/OverseasFilipinoInvestorsEntrepreneursMovement

Are you Ready for Emergency? Create Emergency Fund

"You idler, go to the ant, watch her ways and be wise. She has no master no steward or overseer. She secures food in summer and stores up provision during harvest time."  -(Prov. 6: 6-8)

Create your Emergency Fund

A simple definition of emergency fund, it is the account that is ready to use in any case of unavoidable circumstances such as loss of job, illness or any expenses comes unexpected. The common purpose of the fund is to improve financial security and not to buried in debt in case emergency. Emergency funds are recommended to save or put in any saving easily to access such as bank or in cash.

Most of the financial planner or person into financial industry strongly suggest before starting any investment make sure that the individual already created his emergency fund. Most emergency fund are highly liquid and mostly suggested to be in the banks.

As financial advocate for OFW we strongly recommend that the emergency fund must be at least 3months to 6 months of your basic salary.  Most personal finance books agree: the first thing you should do — after meeting basic needs, and while reducing spending — is to start an emergency fund. The purpose of the fund is to improve financial security by creating a safety net of funds that can be used to meet emergency expenses as well as reduce the need to use high interest debt, such as credit cards, as a last resort.

How much is required for my emergency fund?

The best amount of emergency fund depends on your status but most of the expert recommends 3 months for the single and 6 months if you are family man or married.

3 months of emergency funds - GOOD

4 months of emergency funds - GREAT

5 months of emergency funds - BETTER

6 months of emergency funds - EXCELLENT

The reason you want to have three to six months of expenses saved up is that the most common reason for the need of an emergency fund is due to a sudden loss of income. If you or your spouse loses a job you still have bills to pay and it may take a few months to find suitable new employment. It is best to plan for a worst-cast scenario so that the smaller emergencies such as replacing the hot water heater that just went out will be easily covered.For those who already have their emergency funds or on the way to completing it, congratulations! You are on your way to achieving real financial peace.

The rule of thumb for investing, before starting any investing make sure you have emergency funds. Investment are more volatile and you don't want to lose money in your investment right? The best way to avoid that potential lost is create an emergency fund.

If you do so, you are now ready for the next level, INVESTMENT!!!

Now, do you have enough emergency fund to start investing?

“A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.” – Proverbs 27:12

P.S. 1. Bernard B. Anduyon is a OFW based on Doha Qatar and a trainer for OFIE-M ( Overseas Filipino Investors and Entrepreneur – Movement) a group of advocates teaching OFW to start investing and be an entrepreneur. He is also a member of Bo Sanchez Truly Rich Club http://bernard.trulyrichclub.com. 

P.S. 2.  I’m inviting you to attend our Financial Literacy Talk series every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month at Filipino Community Center Al Thumama Doha, Qatar where I am a regular speaker for Abundance Mindset and Entrepreneurship for Filipino. I am also a trainer of ATIKHA promoting migration issue of OFW and financial literacy both OFW and in the rural area of the Philippines.

If you want a financial coaching you can send email to b_anduyon@yahoo.com

Please like our page:  

https://www.facebook.com/trulyrichcouple

https://www.facebook.com/OverseasFilipinoInvestorsEntrepreneursMovement