Aiyo.. one can go crazy trying to manage all these certificates.

Try different TIME of entry lah.. put one FD on 1st month, and skip to month 2, month 4.. etc.
Then try to take out the one has matured or closest to maturity first.

Also, plan for some emergency money in savings account. At least FD interest can be protected..

Looks like AFFIN Bank still tops in 12month FD rates!

This post has been edited by danmooncake: Dec 7 2012, 09:54 PM

Say..can you add money in EPF without a direct employer contribution or a job in Malaysia?

12 mths seems ok if it can generate 3.9% effective. That's equiv to most normal stock dividends without risks.

What's the current effective rate that EPF now paying?

Well, not future but how much did they pay (eg. last year)? I can't seems to get a straight answers except most people say it is higher than FD but no specific numbers.

Also, as for MBSB, since this isn't PIDM protected, there is no guarantee 4.7% will be there. Is there?

Looks like EPF divi returns are quite good even during the worst of times (2002-2003, 2008-2009).
Sum more, it can be compounded over the years...

True, that's why it is call a retirement fund. Just don't consider the EPF as FD which you can take out at maturity (1 year or more) unless your maturity is like 55 years old (depending on how old you are, it can be decades away or it could just years).
Just don't take it out from EPF until one is ready to retire.

But... think about this.

This is a government run retirement fund as opposed to some privately run fund. Unless the ENTIRE Malaysia govt will collapse and bankrupt (change of govt doesn't count), I think your money is safe.

Even some private unit trusts weren't able to generate more than 5% return during the worst of times, furthermore their roll over fees have taken certain percentage of your earnings.

But, if someone has no other SAFE avenue to park their savings until retirement, EPF is really the way to go.

Furthermore, if someone over the decades of working and have been saving substantial income (eg. over 1-2 mln)
accumulated, 5%~6% of the dividends alone could last that individual the remaining of his/her lifetime if he/she
lives moderately.

Looks like 4.5% is only for 2 months only? A bit confusing here.

Don't think so..

4.5% is like a teaser rate. for 3 months.
After 3 months, it goes back to their regular non-promo rate - whatever that is.
One doesn't know unless specifically ask them.