anybody here can recommend me good finance books? I wanna read them during the holidays. I'm investing on myself!

1) You need to get more information from the bank to work out the effective interest rate and can ask them to show you the calculations (information on their website is not complete). Please take note the phrase: "Enjoy attractive and affordable interest rates from as low as 0.90% per month depending on your loan amount." The lowest possible is around 11.3% p.a. (on a monthly compounded basis) - it's higher than your 10.8% (which is 12 x 0.9%). You also need to know whether the interest rate is calculated upfront or amortized...I know that I sound rather technical but you need to know some finance basics to unravel how banks "disguise" effective interest rates. Anyway, personal unsecured loan is always one of the more expensive forms of financing (like credit card balance financing) offered by banks.

2) As mentioned in a above post - please avoid taking personal loan to renovate. Renovate only if you have the spare cash/$$$ UNLESS the renovation is really important and necessary - if not, you will be burdening yourself unnecessarily.

Hi all, I'm quite new here and this is actually my first post in this forum. I have been exposed to financial planning and financial freedom concept since I was in university but didn't really get to practice it until I started working. Below are my stats and I was hoping for some comments from the gurus and sifus here whether I am on the right track or there are things that I am missing. Thank you!

Age:24
Status:single
Net income (after EPF, income Tax and Socso) = +/- 5600

Expenses/Commitments:
1st property= RM800 per month (completed and currently occupied) for 30 years
2nd property = RM1600 per month (under construction, probably start paying after 2 years) for 40 years
Insurance (GE) = RM120 per month (medical card)
Savings plans (ING) = RM600 per month for 20 years (Inclusive CI and Life)
Parent= RM1000 monthly
Food = +/- RM700 per month (eat out most of the time)
Entertainment = +/- RM200 per month
No car at the moment.
Data plan & Internet paid by company

Savings per month = +/- RM580 (probably around 10% of total income)

Goals/Future Investments:
- REIT
- Stocks (with dividend)
- Unit Trusts/Bonds
- ETF

I used to invest in bonds (such as ambond fund) and unit trusts (public mutual, prudential and kenanga) but withdrawn after 2-3 years for property investment. I didn't make much returns from those and I think I lost a little in the end.

Recently I was approached by a MLTA agent to purchase MLTA for my properties (both have MRTA purchased), which require monthly payment of +/- RM350 (inclusive of CI and Life) and also by the ING agent to top up on the savings plan (another +/- RM 500). Do you think I should get either of those or should I save the money for other investments such as the REITs or stocks with dividend payouts? I am quite a conservative and passive type of investor, and I am not really active in monitoring the market closely.

Any comments and guidance are very much appreciated. Thank you!

Alright, sure will do. So MLTA is a no no as well in this case? The MRTA is for 15 and 20 years.

Alright, got it. Thank you for your patient explanation.  BTW i like your blog, just started following it recently. Well done.

Hi to all seniors here, I've been following few threads mainly on investment but it's kind of puzzle for me the differences between equity fund, bonds & shares,mind differentiating for me?

Was introduced to REIT recently & interested to take up but the procedures of gettin one, since I'm having account with MBB & when browsing through the homepage, understand they have similar facility as well; do I walk in to their investment bank outlet for opening an account?

Since I'm rather new into this, was advised to get a broker or similar in guiding me for initial stage, what's your take?

Thank you in advance for enlighten me on the above 

Thanks Auron for the response   
Broker just called few days ago, all ready to trade but the link you shared broker will delegate or assign me a remisier? The broker told me I can contact her for anything