If you choose a variable rate loan like SIBOR+, then you currently pay about 1+%. If you take a fixed rate loan, you'd be paying 3-4%. So you are taking a position on future interest rates based on whichever loan type you choose.

If you have cash to invest (ie. you could have paid cash for the property in the first place), then no brainer that the variable rate loan is better. There's no reason that the investment yield/rental/dividend/coupon on that cash should be lower than the interest rate you pay on that home loan. Here, you are basically taking a loan because your funds could be better invested elsewhere compared to using it to pay cash for the property.

If you have no cash or only a little after paying the downpayment, then you really have to take a position on future interest rates. Variable if you think rates will stay low or fixed if you think it will go up.

But the good thing is that in SG, borrowers refinance their loans like nobody's business. And the banks encourage this. So even if you take one type of loan, just make sure the lock in period is short. So if the rates move against your bet, you simply refinance.

So just choose the loan that gives you the lowest interest rate in the first few years within the lockin period.

That's the rate to buy SGD/sell MYR. Most of us will be interested in the sell SGD/buy MYR rate since our income is in SGD.

Yes, but for car loans (unlike housing loans), the principal does not decrease over time as you pay instalments. If you borrow 100K for 10 years, you are still paying 1.88% p.a. interest on 100K principal even when you're paying your last/120th instalment.

So the effective interest rate is actually approximately double the nominal rate.

This post has been edited by seantang: Jul 31 2012, 03:46 PM

Which part of "Pemastautin yang menjalankan perniagaan" did you have trouble understanding?

It also says "Sila dapatkan Borang BE jika tidak menjalankan perniagaan".

Could you like read everything they send you first before saying you don't know and asking 20 questions?

If he is a contractor, it is not retrenchment.

If his contract is still in force, then it is an early termination of the contract. Any "compensation" will be subject to the contract alone.

This post has been edited by seantang: Aug 3 2012, 11:31 AM

Received a Linkedinmail from Dyson's HR lead about their expansion plans in SG. She was looking for finance people, but when I checked out their website - it looks like they are hiring quite a few positions in other areas as well. Just FYI for you guys.

Dyson's a UK company that makes stuff like cyclone vacuums, bladeless fans etc.

Have sent recommendation to connect to you & the HR person from Dyson. She was asking for referrals.

Most of these... probably apply to <0.1% of the population. And I believe not many ride ATVs, sail, skydive or drift.

Btw, it's called mountain biking. Not mountainback cycling. If you mountainbiked... you'd know that much at least. Or did you actually mean brokeback mountain?

This post has been edited by seantang: Aug 11 2012, 02:46 PM

Is it an important event?

If it is, I suggest coming a day earlier and staying overnight in SG. Best if you stay in Marina Mandarin itself. Pan Pacific is nearby too.

EPF is also regularly called upon to do national service. IMHO, it's already technically bankrupt and is running on cashflow fumes (ie. still operating only because deposits > withdrawals). The only reason why I'm not worried about my EPF money, is because I'll withdraw it before most of you guys. At some point in the future... the music stops and anyone's who's still on the dance floor is screwed.

This post has been edited by seantang: Aug 11 2012, 03:18 PM

Never a good idea to put 2 important events that are so far apart, so close together.

By definition, that simply means that the pay from your previous job wasn't so awesome.

The holy grail, is to get to a stage where nobody else can offer you significantly more for what you are already doing / willing to do. If you have the luxury of turning down the offers or proposals that you get from recruiters because you're already getting more and/or doing less now... that's awesome.

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Added on August 11, 2012, 8:00 pmThat basically means you didn't start your career in Malaysia. I wish I had the presence of mind to do the same when I was starting out. Instead I wanted to go home and "contribute". Paying for that naïveté now.


This post has been edited by seantang: Aug 11 2012, 08:00 PM

Did you read the T&C?

It's not 3 people sign up 3 lines.

It's 1 person sign up 3 lines.

If you sign up, I'm willing to use the other 2 lines. Each month, I will pass the money to you to pay the charges on those 2 lines. We can meet at AMK MRT on the 1st or 2nd each month. I will need you to sign up for roaming and 3G data.

If you're concerned about the data plans being reduced... just wait for the iPhone 5 and see how.

The last time when iPhone 4S was released, all 3 telcos had the phone available from launch day. Unlike the previous iPhone launches, Singtel didn't have exclusivity. So the 3 had to actually compete upfront for the new signups.

Since they cannot compete on hardware... they competed on price plans. Singtel's originally announced iPhone 4S Flexi plans was only 2GB, IIRC. Then the same day, M1 announced same price, more data. Then Starhub announce even more data, then Singtel announced they will match... ding-dong until by evening, all 3 had announced 12GB plans.

So with iPhone 5 and all the brainless Apple fanboys in Singapore... I think we'll see the telcos go into another round of competition on launch day. And if they don't quickly bring the "standard" 12GB data plans back lower now, they might have to raise it to 20GB or something on launch day. At least now they have room to "increase" it back to the original 12GB and say they are giving you a promotion.

This post has been edited by seantang: Aug 13 2012, 09:54 AM

The guys with the highest salaries in my company are all pass holders.

Who says foreigners in Malaysia always have lower pay? In my company in KL, the person with the highest pay is always foreigner.

And your worldview is that you/me/Malaysians/other foreigners in Singapore are equivalent to Banglas in Malaysia?

I'm still waiting for someone to say I'm like a Bangla in Singapore.