Investment - part 1

Investment. Such a "positive word", encouraging you to think of the future and plan for the future. Reap the rewards that will come, only in the future.

My insurance agent friend invited me to an interesting seminar where I learnt some shocking information. My child's university fees will cost close to half a million dollars (based on a 20-year projection). Ok, I forgot if that was for local or overseas education. In any case, if my child needs to go, has to go, wants to go; I dont have a choice. Oh by the way, my husband and I have not started a family yet, at this point.

And of course that is how the fund investment and all financial stuff come in.

Parents need to set aside a certain amount of money every month, for investment, so that their children can go to university. Sky-rocketed school fees aside, what happened to good old savings?

We cant afford to save because we have to invest. We are not disciplined enough to save, so investment schemes are invented to make us commit to contributing a fixed amount of money every month. Not just for our children. For our retirement, for our future. People need to be constantly reminded that they have worked hard for everything. Ironically, it is the investment that will pay off, not hard work. Even if you are the most diligent blue-collared worker but do not have an investment plan, at the end of the day, you will be worse-off than a fellow not so-hardworking blue-collared worker with one.

We have to invest so that we will have money for retirement. For those who ask what happened to CPF? Well, gone to a apartment with a 99-year lease. We earn, we spend, it's not enough; we invest. It is not an investment that brings you quick cash. It is an investment that you cant do without. Like a university education for your child? Hmm... yes.

I might sound mocking, but when the time is right I will jump onto the bandwagon too.

Investments come with long and thick strings attached.