The 3 Best Pieces of Financial Wisdom From Oprah Winfrey

It's good to be Oprah.

In 2015, Forbes estimates her net worth at $3 billion, making the actress, director/producer, entrepreneur, TV personality, and philanthropist rank as one of America's most successful women.

From movies to books to TV shows, it seems that everything Oprah touches turns into gold. There's a lot that we can learn from Oprah, so here are her three best pieces of financial wisdom.

1. Change Behaviors Holding You Back

"The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude," advises Oprah.

Successful individuals often arrive at a point in their careers or financial plans where they hit a self-imposed ceiling. The culprit is our tendency to attribute all of our current behaviors, both the good and the bad, to our past successes. We fail to see that what got us here may not necessarily get us there.

For example, back in your 20s, you may have decided that socking away $200 a month from your paycheck was enough to build a healthy nest egg. Fifteen years later, you're now married and have two beautiful kids, and you're still only contributing the same $200 per month to your retirement account. Assuming that your retirement account was to have an 8% return compounded annually, you would have $67,955.99 at the end of 15 years.

Sounds pretty good, doesn't it? After all, if you're planning to retire at age 65 and keep things up, you would have close to $1 million by your target retirement age.

However, $1 million may not be enough. Not only is your financial situation different very different from your twenties, but also more than 75% of registered investment advisors suggest a retirement savings goal of $2 million for Millennials. Set up a meeting with your financial planner once a year to determine if you need to apply any changes. 

2. Spend Money Wisely

In her book What I Know for Sure, Oprah advises, "I hope the way you spend your money is in line with the truth of who you are and what you care about."

This deceivingly simple nugget of advice encompasses two key aspects of financial planning.

Spend in Line With Who You Are

Keeping your wants versus your needs in check is a critical skill for more effective budgeting, saving, and retirement planning.

• You need a wallet to carry your money and cards, but you want a Burberry wallet.
   
• You need a case to protect your smartphone, but you want one made with Swarovski Elements.
   
• You need a car to get to work, but you want a Ferrari.

Oprah is right in recommending spending your money according to who you really are. If you're constantly complaining that you don't have any money left to save or pay more than just your minimum credit card monthly bill, then you're very likely to be living above your means. Look for ways to cut back on your expenses by finding cheaper, yet equally effective, alternatives. For example, you could stop paying $5 per shaving blade by switching to Harry's or Dollar Shave Club and instead pay just between $1 to $1.88 per blade. 

Of course, sometimes you have valid reasons to splurge, particularly if it allows you to generate income. For example, famous piano player Liberace won a case against the IRS and was able to deduct his lavish costumes as part of his business expenses.

Protect What You Care About

And what we care about the most is our loved ones. Be it your spouse, children, parents, or somebody that had a major influence in your life, your loved ones need to be protected against any type of financial hardship.

When you're the main breadwinner in your household and your spouse or children count on you for covering important expenses (such as mortgage payments and weekly grocery trips), then you need a backup plan in case you were to pass away. Nobody likes to think about their own mortality, but having a life insurance policy and building an emergency savings fund are essential pillars of any successful financial plan.

3. Tackle Goals With Patience

Despite her multiple successful ventures, critics have been quick to jump on the stumbles of Oprah's OWN network. However, not achieving immediate success didn't discourage her from her latest project.

During that period of turmoil, the President of Harvard University asked her to do the class of 2013's commencement address. Addressing the mishaps of her OWN network, she said:

It doesn't matter how far you might rise. At some point you are bound to stumble because if you're constantly doing what we do, raising the bar. If you're constantly pushing yourself higher, higher the law of averages not to mention the Myth of Icarus predicts that you will at some point fall.

This piece of wisdom is applicable to several financial scenarios.

• The price of stocks is bound to go up and down over time, causing you to sometimes lose sleep. Still, in the long run, investing in stocks is necessary to maximize your retirement account. However, it's necessary to hold stocks for a long time and not sell them at the first drop in price.
   
• There may be times that you won't be able to make contributions to your retirement account. It's important to save up for retirement, but when life throws a curveball at you, you may need every cent from your paycheck to cover medical bills and pay unexpected expenses. Don't add more wood to your fire, focus your full attention on the issue at hand, and then catch up with your retirement contributions on future paychecks. In 2015, most individuals can contribute up to $18,000 to their retirement accounts as long as it's before the end of the year.
   
• Working overtime too often has negative effects on your health. Everybody loves the extra cash that comes from an extra shift or work during a holiday. That cash may come at a price. A study found that people who work 11 or more hours a day are over twice as likely to suffer from depression than those who work seven to eight hours a day.

Nobody is perfect, so don't be too hard on yourself. As Oprah suggests, "You CAN have it all. You just can't have it all at once." Be patient and continue to work towards your financial goals.

What are other great pieces of financial wisdom from Oprah Winfrey?

Source: http://www.wisebread.com/the-3-best-pieces-of-financial-wisdom-from-oprah-winfrey?utm_source=zergnet.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=zergnet_601810

7 Perks of a Joint Credit Card

Applying or cosigning for a credit card with your loved one has its risks. The credit card and its activity appear on both of your credit reports, and you're both responsible for the balance. If your loved one has good financial habits, however, a joint credit card account comes with a lot of perks.

From helping you combine your finances to building credit and racking up rewards, a joint credit card is a great financial tool for couples. Here are seven reasons why you should open one.

1. Earn Credit Card Rewards Faster A credit card rewards program offers one of the fastest and simplest ways to earn freebies. If your card features this perk, you can earn points or cashback on every purchase. After you accumulate enough points, you can redeem them for merchandise, travel, statement credits, or cash. But even if you're earning one point or 1 percent cash back on every dollar you spend, it takes time to accumulate rewards. A joint credit card, on the other hand, helps you rack up more points.

Since you and your loved one will have access to the same credit line, you will have more opportunities to earn points. In this way, a joint credit card can be an excellent tool if you and your partner are planning a vacation and want to accumulate as many points as possible to redeem for free airline tickets, hotel stays, and more.

2. Boost Both of Your Credit Scores A joint credit card appears on both of your credit reports and affects both of your credit scores. This can be a good or bad thing depending on how the two of you manage the account. It might be your partner's responsibility to send payments each month. Just know that if he consistently makes late payments, your credit report will reflect this.

On the other hand, if you both manage the credit card responsibly by paying the bill on time and only charging what you can afford, both of your credit scores will benefit. A higher credit score means you'll be able to qualify for lower rates when applying for financing in the future.

3. Qualify for Credit Cards With Lower Rates

One in three U.S. adults says their households carry credit card debt from one month to the next, according to the 2015 Consumer Financial Literacy Survey prepared for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. If you don't pay off your credit cards every month, it's important to find a card with the lowest rate possible. This reduces interest charges, allowing you to pay off balances faster.

Unfortunately, if you have less-than-perfect credit and apply for a credit card alone, you're not likely to get a low-rate card. The higher your rate, the more you'll pay in the long run. If you apply for a joint credit card with your partner, however, and they have excellent credit, you might qualify for a card with a lower rate and higher credit limit.

Your credit card company will evaluate both of your credit scores when determining whether to approve your joint credit card application. In some cases, one applicant's good credit history can compensate for the other applicant's fair or bad credit history.

4. You Are More Accountable for Purchases

If you have your own credit card and you're the only one managing the account, it's easier to overspend, purchase things you don't need, and ring up a huge credit card bill. When you share an account with your partner, there's an accountability factor.

"It just gives both parties a reason to pause a moment and give some extra thought before making a purchase. You know that another person will see what is being charged," said Joan Fradella, a certified family mediator at Divorce thru Mediation. "It causes you to think about whether you are being reasonable about your total charges compared to income."

When you're fully aware that another person will see every single charge you make -- and likely ask questions or become upset over unreasonable charges -- you're liable to be more responsible, forgoing impulse purchases and maintaining a reasonable balance.

5. Joint Credit Card Accounts Are Easier to Close

Nobody wants to think about death, but it's an unfortunate part of life. If your spouse dies, you might decide to close all of his or her personal credit card accounts after paying off the balances. But when you're not an account holder, shutting down an account for someone isn't as simple as calling the credit card company and making a request.

It's faster and easier to close a credit card account when you're a joint account holder. Marcia Noyes, director of communications at Catalyze, learned this lesson the hard way when her husband died in 2013. "With a joint credit card, one person can shut down the account when the other dies," she said. "Without it being a joint account, it takes an act of Congress -- death certificate, Letters of Testamentary and your information."

6. Manage Shared Expenses More Easily

If you share expenses with your spouse, such as groceries, entertainment, or recreation, using a joint credit card might be one of the best ways to track and split expenses down the middle. Since everything appears on the statement, you'll know exactly what was spent between the two of you. You and your partner don't have to worry about exchanging money or writing each other a check. Simply use the joint credit card and then pay off your share of the balance.

7. You Have Full Privileges and Access

Getting a joint credit card isn't the only way to share an account with someone. You can also add someone as an authorized user to one of your credit cards. This person can use your credit card account, and this account might appear on his credit report -- allowing him to benefit from your good credit habits. But since this person isn't a primary account holder, he doesn't receive the same privileges as a joint account holder.

He can't call the credit card company to inquire about balances, request a credit limit increase, ask for a lower rate or dispute a charge. A joint account holder, however, has full account privileges.

Some people might discourage you from getting a joint credit card account because of the inherent risks. But depending on your situation, a joint account can be financially beneficial. When opening your joint credit card make sure you understand the risks and benefits and only share a credit card if you trust that the other person will use the account responsibly.

How to Choose Your First Credit Card

Credit Cards

In the market for a new credit card? Here are the basic questions to ask yourself before settling on your first credit card.

The first banking product for most fresh grads; credit cards are a great way to kick-start a blank credit record and teach a newbie about responsible borrowing. But with hundreds of cards flooding the market - how is a first-timer to choose?

Yes, there are definitely a lot of cards, and what they offer you will be vastly different so before you ride off into the sunset with the plastic of your dreams - some factors need to be considered. Here are our tips to help you along.

Which Credit Cards Are Available to You?

There may be 300 cards in the market, but certainly, not all of them are will be available to you as credit cards start with basic minimum income requirements. The higher your salary; the more attractive the card you are eligible to apply.

That's not to say then that newbies have limited options! There are many credit cards available with the barest of minimum requirements. To find which match yours, you thankfully, no longer have to head to every bank. Check out our credit card comparison page with all the cards in one place.

Once you've narrowed down the possibilities - it's time to cut it down further to help you make a decision.

Give Priority to Cards with No Annual Fee and Low-Interest Rates

When you're a fresh grad in the working world; for the most part, you are probably starting at a fresh grad salary. You will be learning to ropes where money management is concerned and most likely will have many more bills to pay than when you were studying.

Considering the challenges - the last thing you want is for your credit card to be an unnecessary burden. So when selecting; choose the cards with the lowest interest rate and no annual fees.

Low-interest rate cards are easy enough but no annual fees may be a bit of a task to find. Many credit card companies claim to offer a waiver on annual fees but they then slip in a condition - only applicable if you swipe 12 times a year or only for the first 2 years and then subject to bank approval.

Best to avoid the cards with sneaky terms for now. When you're juggling getting used to working and life as an adult; waivers that attach themselves to spending could turn out to be a motivator to fall hopelessly in debt. You may be bummed to miss out on the awesome offers and benefits other cards tout but remember that there's always time in the future to switch once you are steadier on your financial feet.

Consider Your Lifestyle

You've probably already narrowed your choices down to a select few cards and here's where the fun starts. Now you get to decide which perks suit you best. Credit cards in Malaysia come with a range of benefits from cashback, rewards points, and air miles; some even with a combination of a few.

Think about the things you like to do; will be doing most and which benefit offered will be the most useful to you. If you're getting a little starry-eyed over the choices; you can always try the card with a range of a few benefits that may be on a lower scale. Once you've had a taste of each you will be in a better position, later on, to switch to a card that suits your newfound likes.

Have Backup Selections

Just because you've done the work and finally chosen the card you want most of all - it doesn't necessarily mean the bank is going to give it to you. You may have a spotless credit record (ie. no credit record) but depending on the bank's internal processes; there may be a host of combining factors that make you not the prime applicant at the moment.

For this reason, it helps to list a few backup card selections to apply for in case your star card is not approved.

This does not mean you go out and throw card applications left right and centre! This may backfire if all your cards are approved and you are stuck with more than you can legally hold (Bank Negara Guidelines limit the number of cards you hold when you're income is equal to or lower than RM3,000 per month) or if it entices you to swipe, swipe, swipe and be left with a mountain of debt.

Get Ready to Own Your First Credit Card!

Once the grueling selection and application are over (We recommend applying online with no fuss, forms, or bank visits via our XPress-apply page), it's time to welcome your new plastic baby!

Preparing your financial life for the arrival of a new credit card means being clear on your responsibilities to the bank and the best practices when swiping. A credit card can be a friend or foe depending on how you treat it. So spend wisely, borrow responsibly and you'll find a world of benefits open up to you.

Have fun!

5 Destructive Money Behaviors to Stop Today

Check out the money moves that diminish your well-being - and stop them cold.

You might be sabotaging your financial well-being without even knowing it. Behaviors that might seem inconsequential, or perhaps even beneficial, could be preventing you from getting ahead financially.

"Destructive money habits will keep you poor and in debt unless you change them," said Thomas Corley, author of "Rich Habits: The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals." To change these actions, you first must become aware of them, he said. Here are five common money behaviors you should stop now.

1. Watching too much TV. During his five-year study of wealthy and low-income individuals for his book, Corley found that more than 77 percent of poor adults admitted they watched more than an hour of TV a day; 74 percent said they spent more than an hour a day on the internet. By contrast, 67 percent of rich adults he interviewed said they watched less than an hour of TV a day and 63 percent spent less than an hour each day on the Internet.

"When you're wasting your time watching TV, on social media or reading for entertainment, it leaves little time to do productive things like reading to learn, building relationships with other success-minded individuals via networking or volunteering, or building a side business," Corley said.

Not only will ditching cable-free up more time to be productive, but you can also save on that monthly bill.

2. Spending aimlessly. It's easy to lose sight of where your money is going unless you take the time to monitor your cash flow. Corley said that the wealthy individuals he studied made a habit of tracking their spending in the early days of building their wealth. Most low-income individuals said they didn't monitor their spending.

"If you don't have a lot of money, you need to get into the habit of tracking every penny," Corley said. You can track your spending with a spreadsheet or even free mobile apps, such as Mint.

Another approach to limit spending might be to ask yourself before making a purchase whether it will take you away from your goals. "This question habit eliminates any need for budgeting or self-discipline by replacing it with an awareness that occurs at the point of spending," said Todd Tresidder, a financial coach at FinancialMentor.com.

3. Paying bills late. One in 4 adults doesn't pay their bills on time, according to a recent National Foundation for Credit Counseling survey. Paying a bill late every now and then won't wreck your finances. But if that becomes a routine practice because you don't have a good bill-paying system in place, then you're hurting your financial well-being in several ways.

For starters, you're getting hit with costly late fees so you'll have less money to cover your bills. Moreover, routinely paying bills late might prompt your credit issuers to hike your interest rates or lower your credit limit, according to the NFCC.

If you're more than 180 days late on a payment, your debt typically is assigned to a collection agency or debt collector. Having debt in collections will lower your credit score and will remain on your credit report for seven years, according to the credit monitoring site myFICO. What's worse, your wages can be garnished to pay the debt you owe.

Set up automatic payments through your financial institution or through the company that is billing you to avoid paying bills late. If you need help, call your bank or service provider to walk you through the process.

4. Shelling out the minimum on your balance. You might be making minimum monthly credit card payments to free up cash for other expenses, but it's not an ideal money move.

"Paying the minimum is like running on a treadmill to nowhere. Not only will it dramatically slow down the pace of your payoff, but it will also mean paying lots more in interest," said Farnoosh Torabi, financial education partner with Chase Slate. For example, if you had a $5,000 balance on a card with a 16 percent interest, and you made a minimum monthly payment of $100, it would take you nearly seven years to pay off that debt. And you'd pay about $3,300 in interest, according to the credit card payment calculator at FinancialMentor.com.

Also, if you're paying only the minimum on a card with a high balance, you're not doing your credit score any favor. "A high debt balance effectively increases your debt-to-credit ratio," Torabi said. "That ratio makes up 30 percent of your credit score." So if you're not lowering that ratio quickly, you shouldn't expect to see your credit score get a boost any time soon.

If you carry a balance on several cards, pay as much as you can toward the card with the highest interest rate first, then the next highest, and so on to reduce the total amount of interest you'll pay over time. Or take advantage of a zero-rate card or a low-rate balance transfer offer to consolidate your debt onto one credit card. Then pay it down quickly.

5. Saving for retirement before an emergency fund. It's been hammered into your head that you must save for retirement. But financial experts say you should build an emergency fund first by setting aside enough cash to cover six months of household expenses in the event of a job layoff or other situation.

About one-third of Americans don't have any emergency savings, according to a recent survey by NeighborWorks America, a nonprofit community development organization. Without cash reserves, you might be forced to borrow or withdraw money from your retirement account to cover emergencies, said Rich Arzaga, a certified financial planner and founder and CEO of Cornerstone Wealth Management.

In that case, not only will your retirement fund take a hit, but you'll also have to pay income taxes on the amount you withdraw and possibly a 10 percent early withdrawal penalty if you're younger than 59 ½. To avoid raiding your retirement account or racking up debt to cover an emergency, consider lowering your retirement contributions, and funnel your money into a savings or money market account.

4 Myths About Credit Cards That Should Be Retired

Until recently, it could be expensive and confusing for the average consumer to access their credit scores and reports. A side effect of this was a proliferation of rumors about the best way to manage credit. Like any good urban legend, it’s hard to know exactly where these got started. Since Credit Karma launched in 2008 we’ve heard a lot of them and have done our best to put them to rest.

One way that these myths can have an everyday impact on consumers is by influencing how they manage credit cards, the most common form of consumer debt. There are four major credit card myths that come up a lot and need to be retired, mistaken beliefs that can have the opposite effect on a credit score than some consumers imagine.

Carrying a balance helps your credit score

One of the most persistent myths about credit scoring is that it helps your score to carry a balance. The truth is you don’t need to pay a single penny of interest to have a great score. What’s worse, carrying a balance could actually be hurting your score. It is generally advisable to keep your credit card utilization rate (the amount of your credit limit you’re actually using) under 30 percent. Looking at data from Credit Karma members that pulled their credit profile in 2014, we can see that members with a utilization rate between 1 and 10 percent had the highest average credit scores – with scores falling away from the closer you get to 100 percent. Lenders want to see that you can use credit wisely, but if you’re using too much of your balance you’re seen as a higher risk. Using your credit cards each month and paying them off will show your creditworthiness and could help your scores.

Missing one payment isn’t a big deal

One of the easiest ways to potentially hurt your credit score is to make a late payment. Being more than 30 days late on just one payment can hurt your score significantly and late payments can linger on your credit report for over seven years. Your credit score is designed to be an indication to future lenders about how likely you are to repay debts in a timely manner, and your on-time payment percentage is an important factor in working that out. Try and develop a system that works for you, to put yourself in the best position possible to not miss a payment. Set up calendar reminders, enroll in auto bill pay, or take time to clear outstanding bills on payday. It’s not just your score that could get hit when you miss a payment, some cards also add on late fees and penalty APRs.

You should close cards you’re not using

If a card charges an annual fee, you might be better off closing it. But if there’s no immediate benefit to shutting it down, it could be in your best interest to keep it open. For a start, having more accounts open means a higher overall credit limit – assuming the temptation doesn’t result in you charging more to your cards – and could result in a lower credit card utilization rate, which credit scoring models take into close consideration. If you close an account but don’t curtail your spending, your credit utilization rate will go up and your score could fall. Closing a card can also lower the average age of your accounts. It generally isn’t as influential a factor on your score as utilization rates, but some credit scoring models only look at open and active accounts when calculating the average age of accounts and subsequently your score can take a hit, especially if you close a card that is significantly older than others.

Being an authorized user on somebody’s credit card has no impact on you

Becoming an authorized user on someone else’s credit card is a double-edged sword. You’re generally not legally responsible for the debt associated, but your credit score can be affected for better or worse since credit bureaus typically treat these credit cards as if they were your own. These cards can add years of positive credit to your report, but on the flip side, if the primary account holder misses a payment, you can miss a payment. If they have a high credit card utilization rate, you might as well. For many people, being an authorized user on someone’s account is seen as a pathway to building credit, but in the wrong situation, it can have the exact opposite result.

Source:https://blog.creditkarma.com/credit-cards/4-myths-about-credit-cards-that-should-be-retired/

How to Put More Money in Your Savings Account

Savings Account

For so many people who are dealing with debt, having a savings account may seem like an unrealistic goal. Regardless of your income and what your current financial situation is, having a savings account is vital for your financial health. If you think having a savings account is out of your reach or you are looking for simple ways to make that amount grow, here are some helpful, simple ways to increase the balance of your savings account.

How to Put More Money in Your Savings Account

1. Open a separate savings account.
   If you haven’t done so already, open a separate account for your savings. If you are trying to save money in the same account you write checks, use your debit cards, and pay for bills and living costs, it is easier to start to dip into your savings. If you open a separate account, you have a clear picture of how much you have saved.
2. Pay yourself every month.
   When you sit down to pay your student loan, credit cards, rent, and other bills each month, pay yourself by making a deposit into your savings account. Making it a habit will make it easier to increase the amount you have saved, even if it is a small amount.
3. Add savings to your budget.
   While you are creating your new budget, add savings to the list as well. Just as you factor in costs for food and entertainment, you can factor in an amount for savings each month. Make the budget balance by trimming money from your other flexible areas, like entertainment or buying gifts.
4. Create savings goals.
   It may inspire you to save more if you have goals and aspirations for your money. If you are married or have a joint account with a partner, talk about your goals with them. Outline your goals and the timeline for these goals. And of course, discuss your steps to achieve this goal. If you aren’t on the same page as your spouse, read 5 Ways to Save Money When Your Spouse is a Spender.
5. Continue “paying” completed bills.
   When you are done completely paying off a bill, such as a credit card balance or doctor bill, continue to “pay” that same amount to your savings account. You were already used to paying this balance each month, so you should be able to part with this money easily.
6. Take advantage of employee savings programs.
   If your employer offers a match in your 401K, take advantage of this fantastic program. It is saving your money plus a bonus.
7. Consider a linked debit and savings account.
   There are bank accounts that round up each purchase you make on your debit card, and then deposit that money towards your savings. For example, you might pay for a dinner that is $40.05. Instead, you would be charged $41. That 95 cents are then directly deposited to your savings account. It may not seem like much but think about each purchase you make and you’ll realize that the amount can really add up quickly.
8. Automatically save from your check.
   Some employers offer to directly deposit a portion of your paycheck into a savings account instead of putting it into your checking account. While you can do this yourself, if they offer it, it might be a good idea to sign up so you don’t even have to think about it or get tempted to spend it instead.
9. Increase your income.
   Sometimes after paying bills every month and living expenses, there is simply nothing left. If that is the case, increase your income. There are many ways to do this. If you already have a full-time job, consider if you can ask for a raise or take on extra hours. Get a part-time job. Take on side jobs like doing housework, landscaping, babysitting, tutoring, giving a music lesson, walking a neighbor’s dog, or any other small way you can increase your income. With your extra income, you can then put this towards your savings account.
10. Cut expenses.
    A quick way to increase your savings account is to cut your expenses every month. First, go through your bills you pay every month. Can you cancel your cable? If not, consider bumping down to a smaller package with fewer channels. Call your cell phone company to ask if there is a smaller, less costly phone plan. Take on a roommate to split rent and bills. Cut back on your electricity. Use what you have instead of buying new clothes or other items. Cook at home and eat leftovers instead of heading out to restaurants. Find free and cheap activities to do with your family and friends instead of paying for expensive things to do. Try to walk and bike whenever possible to save money on gas. Go through your credit card and bank statements from the last several months. Highlight the items that were “wants” that you can do without. Now try to avoid these types of purchases. Take the money you saved, and put it in your savings account.
11. Put any unexpected money into the savings account.
    Whether it is a birthday or holiday present, a tax refund, a bonus from work, a credit, rebate, or any other type of money you weren’t expecting, put it into your savings account. Some credit cards offer cash back rewards where you earn money for charging. If you are enrolled in this, when you get the cashback, put it right in the savings account.
12. Stop making excuses and putting it off.
    Many young people don’t think they need to worry about saving quite yet, and sometimes older people feel like it is too late. People feel like they don’t make enough money to save or they really don’t need to save because they will always have the opportunity to work and earn more money. Whatever your excuse is for not having a savings account and not saving money, stop using it. Saving money is hard, and it could be overwhelming because it forces you to take an honest look at your finances, but it is important.

How have you increased your savings account? If you haven’t yet, which of these ways would you like to try?

Source: http://www.mydollarplan.com/how-to-put-more-money-in-your-savings-account/#ixzz3nCnwwyif

Your KPI for personal financial success: Net worth

Financial Success

HOW does one measure personal financial success?

Some think it is to do with the balance in your bank account while others use their salary as a guideline.

If you’re one to keep up with the Forbes list of top wealthiest, however, you’ll see that the measure of financial success is neither of these two values.

For example, topping the list is none other than Bill Gates with his net worth valued at a whopping US$79.2bil. Locally, sugar, palm oil, and real estate tycoon Robert Kuok take the spot with his net worth commendably valued at US$9.1bil.

In my previous article, I have outlined how investing with a net worth in mind is far more efficient as compared to only managing your investments with return on investment (ROI) in mind. ROI is in fact merely a single factor of several which affects the end result – your net worth.

What is net worth and why is it important?

Net worth is essentially a monetary value from which is derived after totalling up your total assets – such as the value in all your bank accounts, shares investments, unit trust investment, the current value of your properties, EPF, and so on – and then subtracting the total value of all your outstanding debts such bank loans and taxes.

While net worth is used to gauge your current financial standing, it also serves as an excellent key performance indicator for investing. It quantifies each good and bad financial decision you make thus rendering it one of the best measures of one’s personal wealth. How does this work?

Let’s say you decide to pay more than your monthly mortgage repayment to settle your loan sooner. While you think your wealth has shrunk due to the fact that you have less cash to your name, in the long run, you benefit from lower interest charges, therefore increasing your net worth.

For medium to long-term investments, it makes better sense to take a little risk and invest in a few blue-chip stocks than to take the risk-averse path by keeping any surplus cash in a bank account. The quality and payoff of the decision to invest in blue-chip stocks would be reflected in the growth of your net worth some five to eight years from now.

Having a positive net worth also provides you with financial security.

Let’s say, for some reason tomorrow you lose your job. A person with large savings and zero debt (high net worth) would have a more worry-free time in between jobs, as compared to the next person who had a high paying salary but zero in savings and a large amount of debt (negative net worth).

Similarly, a person with a high net worth has the freedom to pursue his or her life’s dreams and ambition even at the expense of drawing a low starting salary. On reflection, a person with a negative net worth will not have the luxury and freedom to do as such.

From this scenario, you can already see the different dynamics net worth provides as compared to the mere value of your take-home pay or the amount in your bank account.

How does one increase net worth?

To increase your net worth, you’ll need to shift your attention to these four drivers:

The four drivers of net worth growth are savings, ROI, risks, and costs. All these factors work in tandem to influence your net worth as a whole.

To increase your net worth, you’ll need to:

Increase your savings

Savings is the raw material needed for your net worth growth.

To increase your net worth exponentially, you need to invest. And to invest, you’ll need to have capital. Thus the more you save, the more investment capital you have at your disposal.

The good news is that, among all the drivers for net worth, savings is within your control. The amount you end up saving annually is entirely dependent on your discipline and saving habits.

For example, you would have accumulated RM549,143.57 at the end of 20 years if you have saved RM12,000 annually with an 8% return. For additional RM48,000 savings per year, i.e. RM60,000, you would have accumulated RM2,745,717.86 instead. The difference that you have accumulated in your savings could go a long way.

In fact, the more you save, the better it is because it makes you less dependent on the other three factors.

Increase your ROI

The higher the ROI, the faster your net worth will grow.

Naturally, a unit trust giving you a return of 8% annually is preferred over fixed deposits with a 4% return. The investment vehicle with a higher return would grow your net worth faster.

Beware of the risk-return trade-off. It is generally understood that the higher the ROI (more than 12%), the higher the risk. You could lose part, if not all, of your investment capital, an outcome that could be a terrible setback to your net worth.

Contrary to what some people might choose to think, ROI is a driver that is not within anyone’s control.

Decrease your exposure to risk

Risks are also beyond anyone’s control.

While you’re taking active steps to grow your net worth, you’ll need to also take measures to protect yourself against any risks of losing your net worth.

The higher the risks, the higher the potential of your net worth being depleted.

Health-related risks, for example, could deplete the net worth you have spent years to achieve.

Without medical insurance, you may have to fork out a lump sum of RM30,000 during a medical emergency. However, for a small monthly fee, you can transfer this risk to an insurance company, thus preserving your net worth value.

Investment risks should be taken into account as well. The Genevva gold scam and the infamous Madoff investment scandal are two perfect examples of investment fraud. Investors had lost millions, many losing 100% of their money because they were blindsided by the upside and failed to consider the risk of capital loss. Those who suffered the loss of their entire life savings also irrecoverably have their net worth affected.

Therefore, always take the time to do your research and due diligence and study your options before you part with your hard-earned money.

Decrease your costs

Most people may not realise this but the cost can be a factor that will deplete your net worth.

Therefore, one should strive to decrease all unnecessary costs that limit net worth growth.

For example, those who have purchased properties at a higher interest rate should strongly consider revising their interest rate now that the rates have dropped.

A difference between a 20-year housing loan for RM500,000 at an interest rate of 8.6% versus 4.6% is phenomenal – with the former, you’d end up paying RM548,995 in interest, where else with the latter, you’d only fork out RM265,672 in interest payment. A quick revision here could save you money otherwise spent unnecessarily.

Another cost to look out for is the cost of estate administration upon death.

Ironically, many of us spend the majority of our energy and waking hours working in one way or another to grow wealth, but fail to realise the one major cost that could cripple all that we have strived for when we pass on.

Estate administration costs can often reach the leagues of hundreds of thousands of ringgit. Drawing up a comprehensive estate plan for your net worth or inheritance could save you and your loved ones from unnecessary costs incurred (for example, legal fees, administration fees, and fees for court proceedings).

Final thoughts

Getting a snapshot of your overall financial health regularly will give you a measurement of progress over time, motivating you to reach your financial goals. As such, net worth should be measured on a regular basis – at the very minimum once a year.

Growing one’s net worth also involves a multi-dimensional approach.

ROI may play an important role in one’s pursuit of wealth, but it is a means to an end, not an end in itself. To assume such would be just like placing all bets on a singular number in a game of roulette.

Most investors make the rookie mistake of focusing solely on ROI as a means to grow wealth without realising that there are other elements at play.

To increase your overall wealth, it all boils down to the four drivers of net worth growth – savings, ROI, risks and cost, and how effectively you manage them.

Now that you know the four cornerstones of growing net worth, it’s time to put it into practice and steer your way to a financially promising future.

Source: http://www.thestar.com.my/Business/Business-News/2015/09/26/Your-KPI-for-personal-financial-success-Net-worth/?style=biz