ur age?
why u choose balanced fund?

Balanced fund - 60% in equity and 40% in bond.

PBF - public series fund
PBBF - Public bank seires fund.

both manage by PM.

click here for EPF SCHEME.

if u not yet hv any agents. PM me.

I dont really recommend you the balanced fund. You are going to pay 5.5% sales anyways. Why dont adjust your portfolio into 40% equity 60% bond to make it balance? Ittikal fund previously was good. But now not really that good compare to Public growth fund and equity.

Another idea IF one is just doing purely asset allocation from EPF to Mutual Fund - why not put into just Equity Fund coz $ in EPF is near similar returns and stability to Bond Funds 

Recommended, 1/3 of ur epf money, u can make use for epf scheme. EPF giving 5.5% and its concider conservative. if u want to invest PM, make sure the expected returns are more than conservative returns. so, the better option for u is moderate or aggressif funds.

if u hv RM100K, take out  30K-35k only. u need to adjust ur portfolio time to time base on ur EPF contributions.

if u put in balanced fund, more and less u will ge the same with losses of SC 3%.

sisnce u r commitet with other financial issues, u will definatly take out ur money before or on time when u reach 55 yrs old. so monitor ur acc and when u think this is the right time, exit and put back ur money in EPF.

ya, u can wait for next GE, but when will be the next?? u r 40+ now, dont wait, just enter to market, apply VCA and DCA to max ur returns like active investors.

86/87, 97/98 and 08/09,  so the next right moment ....should be 16/17 (if any)

if u passive, just put ur money in PSF, PRSF, both for saving.

REMEMBER, INVESTING IN UT WITH UR OWN RISK.

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Added on August 5, 2011, 10:51 amOMG.......market down 20% as at 5/8/2011 10.55am.

Just an idea - it's not just the selection of fund to ride BUT also HOW U ride them .
eg. lump sum VS DCA VS VCA VS combination of DCA & VCA (google TwinVest) etc.
your entry & exit rules /  methodology

Heheh - too much details for me to type here. I've put in some comparisons before and written about these in another thread/topic which U can dig from the link below. Of course, do read also fellow forumers' feedback as well and note that most people think value averaging as one method that needs infinite deep pocket . It doesnt if U approach it in a different manner - read and tested with real $ 

http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/690951?author=wongmunkeong

U may also be interested in some general worksheets and ideas for retirement planning and stuff
http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1577849/+413

You're welcome.

Last idea to bounce off U - if U are investing $10K or more per year via EPF (or $7K-ish cash), then it may be worth your while to be your own agent.

Reason:
EPF to Equity Funds' 3% service charges - 2% goes to the agent
Cash to Equity Funds' 5.5% service charges - 2.75% goes to the agent

Cost of being an agent:
Initial year $250
subsequent years $100ish

$90 for them software which U can access donkey loads of historical prices and statistics like the one i posted

hi all i just get myself involved in PB mutual few months ago after realizing importance of investment and with help a friend of mine who is an agent..but she is consider a quite new agent...n doesnt seems that can explain things clear to me...
any recommended articles or reading material for invest noob like me?

Paiseh paiseh - those Personal Money articles and interviews, just like 3 or so small articles only lar.

Dude, i'd rather spend my time and effort TEACHING / COACHING U how to "fish" than just be your agent. I'm not into Public Mutual as a sales agent but more of lowering costs + access to data , + of course some expenses write-off for tax purposes heheh.

Perhaps we can meet up one day (Sat preferred) and go through your options/ideas and solidify your map to the future. PM me, perhaps we can setup a "gang bang" with im_not_stupid too. I'm a "lazy" fler - best to share info and ideas as a group, thus i also can learn from a few view points at the same time

BTW, trust me - by now, U'd have about 80% knowledge of what most typical sales agent knows about investment. Sitting for the agent exam is sup sup water.

Trust me (i've nothing to gain by lying right? follow the $ ) - even 2 of my friends, who are blur blur (started), they sat and finished the exam within 45 minutes out of 1 or 2 hours! It's really really easy, the only "hard" part for an avid investor are some Qs that are about how and what a mutual fund, trustee, customer, SC, etc. is about - all about the structure, rules and history of mutual funds in Malaysia.

Whooops! I'm assuming U guys are in Klang Valley - if you're like up north or down south.. heheh sorry ar. I'm living in SJ thus susah a bit to go up north or down south.

yes, u can hv more 1 acc if ur investment more than RM1k, and each acc must be min Rm1k too.
switching is for save ur money value. u can switch when u think is needed.
switcing charge before 90 days = rm50, after 90 days = rm25
this is from equity funds to bond.

if u switch from bond to equity, need to include the switching charge + service charge. (incase ur frist investment is bond fund)

u can ask ur agent to do switching for u, or u can apply for PM online and u can do ur self onlie, and also u can go to PM branch too.

the epf scheme, the dividends auto re-invest. and u hv not rights to enjoy the divedns until u reach 50 or 55 for epf retirment  partialy or fully withdrawal.

if u sell back ur units before retire, the money will masuk balik ur EPF acc 1.

u still can continue with PM even after 55 yrs old. actualy its not good idea to sell back the units before 55 yrs old. u still can plan holding ur units after 55 yrs old.

at 55, u will get ur EPF money and u will spend it...let say after 3 to 5 yrs, finish ur epf money,, u still hv some amount in PM.
VCA and DCA , go to http://asia.groups.yahoo.com/group/Public-Mutual/message/43 & http://www.iankree.com/2010/02/19/money-game/turn-your-mutual-funds-switch-on-and-off/

passive investor = investor will just put the money either lmp sump or regular top up, and not worries abt the mrket trend, will sell back the units for profits after certain yrs. 5/10/15/20 yrs.

active investor = always monitors the market, look for opportunity to max their money value.

there are many ways of investment strategy to max the returns.

PSF =public saving fund.
PRSF = public regular saving fund.

it not mean u hv to invest regulary. all the funds can invest 1 time or more than 1 time. no limit.

DCA - buy the units regularly with any price montly, ur average unit price will be cheaper. u can make profits when ur average buying price cheaper than market price. DCA is the better option for long term goal setter. but u hv to look for the funds, past record, reocver after the bad timing.

most of local funds perform better, even after kena hantam for crisis, bangun balik dengan cepat.

VCA, hold ur money, look for unit price drop, than u buy units. sell back when u feel sudah untung, and hold back and wait for 2nd cycle.

so, apply DCA, when market collapse, switch to bond, apply dca in bond (make sure u park ur money regularly). when markt recover, apply VCA, switch to equity, contimue DCA and continue DCA/VCA until u make max ur returns,

this method apply for active investors who always need to monitor the market.

2 options
one to use TwinVest (google it - it's from a book) which uses the allocated funds + unused funds to buy at 25% of periodical allocated DCA & VCA ranges from 0% to more than 100% of periodical allocated
see attached pix

[attachmentid=2373677]
OR
U run 2 spreadsheets and do your own calculations and apportionments
eg. 50% of your period's allocation to DCA and 0% to XXX% to VCA (including unused funds)
Bro, your mind must flow like water. Thus, small at first but eventually can build up to a deluge of water, breaking even dams (think TSUNAMI) Needn't high iq - cow sense cukup.

If i may suggest:
Draw up a simple and cohesive plan first.
Then do & track.
Then revisit your plans VS yr tracking results.
Tweak yr plans and do, & track
Rinse & repeat.

BTW, $70K is nothing to sneeze at. Congrats!

Personally, if i've saved up a lump sum like that and assuming all else is covered (buffer fund, insurance, etc.), i would:
a. Filter mutual equity funds to go into

b. Select 2 to 3 very different funds, with good returns for 10yrs (if possible), 5yrs & 3yrs
eg. PFES, PRSEC & PFEPRF if U want to use cash for foreign mixed which i do.
EPF is used for local mix like PIX, PSSF & PAGF

c. Take 50% of the sum, say $30K (i'm just example-ing here k, not exactly 50% of your $70k. Momma's boy can count  ).
This $30K, i'd apportion to these 3 funds, eg. $10K each
Then, each fund, i'd stick to doing it for at least 3 years, thus that's $3,333.33 each year
I'd do the investment every 3 months (qtr), thus, that's $1,111.11 each period
Then comes the hard part - to do this using DCA or VCA or combination (TwinVest)? heheh - knowing me, i'd do TwinVest

See how it works out? That's JUST THE ENTRY PLAN example.
U can leave yr $ allocated for these in cash OR put into Bond fund and then switch the value as needed every quarter.

BTW, the remainder i'll leave in Bond fund until i figure out what to do with it - most probably learn about REITs and then go after that It's also stock market but much easier to understand and buy value.
EXIT PLAN example:
When will i take profit or cut loss for mutual funds?
1. Take /lock in profits
I'd do this when there's super abnormal profits - eg. when i know statistically that returns on average for equity funds are about 7%pa to 10%pa, if any of my transaction hits like 20%pa to 25%pa OR like 50% to 60% in less than 1 year, i'd take some $ off the table

2. How much to take / lock-in profits?
All? 50%? 66.66%?
Me - i'd take the cost + expected profits off the table (switch back to Bond fund and await to be reused)
eg. cost +10%pa, and leave the abnormal profits to keep running if it keeps going up
at least i've gotten my expectations already AND those $ is still earning me % in Bond Funds 

3. Cut loss
er.. i wont do this if i'm using Value Averaging or TwinVest. The risk is already mitigated (not entirely though) by putting in less $ when prices are high, thus unused capital is available to buy more when prices go down.
Whew.. sorry ar, long winded stuff. Just wanted to share. MOIS - i think i've answered your Q here too

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Added on August 8, 2011, 9:08 pm

Most probably REITs as in stock market's REITs. Real Estate Investment Trusts like BSDREIT, TWRREIT, AXIS, SUNREIT, etc.

PM's closest fund i think to a REITs fund is PFEPRF - Pub Far East Properties & Resorts Fund. Pls correct me if i'm mistaken / lalaland 

manage ur self, do u hv the lisencse from FIMM?. if not get the lisence first. go to HOW TO BECOME AGENT in my signature.

so, for time being, not need to hurry choosing the funds, u only 26. educate urslef abt the UT and also the risk management. the time u get the lisence, u will able to choose the fund by ur self.

DDI = dirct debit intrusction = regular montlhy investment.
best of luck.

U can switch online yourself without an agent license, neednt bugger with an agent

With Public Mutual Online, you can manage all those by your own self with just several clicks.