Every 3 months, since March 2010, EPF reveals its top 30 equity investments in Bursa Malaysia. The aim for this is to promote greater transparency and to reassure members that investment undertaken are in the best interest of growing their retirement savings and in accordance to best practices in investment and governance.
For Q4 2011, when compared to September 2011, the most notable changes are AirAsia, Globetronics Technology, Plus Expressway and AEON no longer under EPF Top 30 Equity Investments. Replacing the position are Petronas Chemical, Axis REIT, Maybank and Hong Leong Bank.
The table below are the Top 30 Equity Investments in companies listed on Bursa Malaysia as of 31st December 2011.
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International Living Magazine, which is based in Baltimore, USA recently published Living’s 2012 Retirement Index. The index ranked top 19 countries for the best retirement havens. This index is published annually.
The index is calculated based on a vast range of data points, from the average humidity to the cost of a taxi. The index is also emphasise on living cost such as the prices for real estate, rentals, and utilities like water, electricity, and cable TV. The cost of groceries, eating out, even specific medical procedures are considered too. Finally, International Living also took into account what kind of discounts retirees can get on travel, taxes and entertainment.
In 2012 index, Malaysia score really well at rank number 4 behind Ecuador, Panama & Mexico. The table below is the top 19 country according to Living’s 2012 Retirement Index.
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The previous post on Skim Amanah Rakyat 1Malaysia (SARA 1Malaysia) was getting a lot of interest and many readers are asking for more details information, especially on how to subscribe. Where can you get an investment fund with a government guarantee of 32% annual return?
Kindly take note that, the scheme is only eligible to one member per household. Eligible household refers to individuals with gross household monthly income of between RM500 and RM3,000 including the following categories,
- Married – a combination of gross income of the husband and wife
- Single mothers or fathers – individual gross income.
Below are updates regarding the scheme.
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As highlighted in 2012 Budgets, households with a monthly income in between RM500 to RM3,000 will be eligible to participate in Skim Amanah Rakyat 1Malaysia (SARA 1Malaysia). The scheme will be opened starting 30th January 2012.
The scheme is a hybrid of a unit trust investment and loan product, capable of generating consistent cash flow or monthly incentives.
Under SARA 1Malaysia scheme, the eligible participant may invest up to RM5,000 into the scheme for the period of five years by using their own money or taking a loan from either Maybank, CIMB, RHB Bank or Bank Simpanan Nasional. The loan repayment period is five years.
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As highlighted in 2012 Budgets, Employees Provident Fund (EPF) members who are Muslims and have at least RM1,300 savings in their EPF Account 1 will be able to register for the hajj with Tabung Haji (TH). The facility offered starting from 3rd January 2012.
The other eligibility criteria are, EPF members must be a Malaysian citizen or permanent resident, below 55 years old & have a savings account with TH.
This is a great facility but remember that the facility does not expedite an early date for the Hajj.
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