We are now in the age where it is easier to spend than to save. Almost everything can be purchased with the click of the mouse. In my article published last August 2016, Millenials: Spend or Invest, I have listed the truths about Filipino Millennials when it comes to their behavior about money.
Sun Life has been very aggressive in its campaign to make Filipinos financially literate. Aside from educating our countrymen, the company made sure that it provides investment products that will help them achieve a brighter future.
What is stopping you?
The Philippine election has somehow made the Filipinos uncertain on how the political scenario will affect the country's economy. There were news about businessmen who were not in favor of Duterte. There were talks that Duterte will not be competent to run the country. The stock market has been sluggish. Dollar exchange rate has reached 50. Then there is our conflict with China. Our initial conclusion: the economy is bad under the new administration. These factors plus the fear of the unknown made most of us opt not to invest.
Did you know...
- that the surge in investment and consumption saw the Philippine economy expand by 6.9% in the 1st half of 2016.
- that GDP growth in the Philippines remained strong in 2016 with higher investments and consumption.
- that growth forecast for the Philippines is revised up to 6.4% in 2016 and 6.2% in 2017
source: www.adb.org/countries/philippines/economy
Is 2017 a good year to invest?
New Year brings new hope. And then there's the US election. Many Filipinos got so involved in social media especially about Trump. Now that Donald Trump is the new president of the United States of America, we Filipinos are again concerned about how some policies will affect the Philippine economy.
What Sun Life Chief Investments Officer Michael Enriquez has to say
Sun Life Chief Investments Officer Michael Enriquez is very optimistic. "Remittance from overseas Filipino workers, the BPO industry, and the large number of Filipinos who are of working age are among the factors boosting our economy from the consumer's end. On the other hand, the rise in government spending is bringing about more jobs and has also increased the demand for construction materials,"said Enriquez.
There is no denying that the Philippine peso has weakened against the US Dollar and the performance of the Philippine stocks is not impressive. Enriquez sees this as an opportunity rather than a liability. He advised that it's a good time for investors to boost their investments. "With stock prices cheaper, it's a good time to buy so they can enjoy the greater gains once the market goes up,"he said.
Sun Life Investments
The Sun Life Prosperity Funds managed by the Sun Life Asset Management Company, Inc. (SLAMCI) have mutual funds products that has an impressive performance in 2016.
- Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund yielded a return of 39% for the 5-year term and 119% for the 10-year term
- Sun Life Prosperity Balanced Fund has a 28% return for the 5-year term and 89% for the 10-year term
- Sun Life Prosperity Bond Fund has a 12% return for the 5-year term and 44% for the 10-year term
"We're delighted that our investors are reaping the rewards of their commitment to invest for the long-term, and we hope to see more Filipinos treading the same path so they too can experience financial security,"SLAMCI President Valerie Pama said.
Sun Life Prosperity Funds
There are 7 peso-denominated funds:
- Money Market Fund
- GS Fund
- Bond Fund
- Balanced Fund
- Dynamic Fund
- Philippine Equity Fund
- Philippine Stock Index Fund
4 dollar-denominated funds:
- Dollar Abundance Fund
- Dollar Advantage Fund
- Dollar Wellspring Fund
- World Voyager Fund
What's in store for SLAMCI in 2017
Financial Literacy Campaign. SLAMCI will continue to provide financial literacy programs for Filipinos to equip them with knowledge about money matters. This knowledge will entice them to invest.
"More partnerships with banks, brokers, and alternative channels will be launched, and we will also enhance our online capability including the Money for Life e-Planner", shared Pama.
Investment Programs. Sun RISE, which stands for Regular Investment Simplified for Employees, is an affordable investment for the employed wherein a portion of their salary is deducted and invested in mutual funds. Another program is the Auto-Invest, an investment program made possible in partnership with the local banks.
"With the help of 3,200 mutual fund licensed Sun Life financial advisors, and the support of all our partners, we trust that 2017 will be another fruitful year in helping Filipinos achieve prosperity and build a brighter future,"Pama concluded.
I said on the first paragraph that it is easier to spend than to save. But with Sun Life's commitment to help us manage our finances, you'd be surprised how easy it is to save, invest and achieve financial independence.
Need more information? Check out http://www.sunlife.com.ph/