Regular Savings & Retirement Schemes

Most people are aware of the need to save regularly for retirement, school fees, to buy a home or for general purposes. IFG Asia will assess your needs and then offer solutions which provide peace of mind, knowing that you are working towards your goals. Saving regularly is a disciplined way of investing, and can also lower risk by filtering money into the markets over a period of time.

Before embarking on longer term investments, you should firstly ensure you have sufficient cash for short-term needs, perhaps seeking to have 3-6 months' salary in the bank. For the longer term, you then choose a contribution level which is meaningful enough to achieve future goals but not so high that you cannot afford to continue if circumstances change. It is prudent that you choose a contribution which is sustainable both as an Expatriate and when you return home. We will advise according to your individual circumstances.

Key Features of Regular Savings Plans Available :-

- Global Product Providers, plans available from US$500 per month or currency equivalent 

- Wide Choice of mutual funds offered by the world's leading investment managers

- Ease of payment as you can invest from your credit card every month

- Free fund switching allowing you to amend your investment strategy and manage risk 

- Choice of Currency; US Dollars, Euro's, Yen, Sterling, Australian Dollars, HK Dollars 

- Enhanced benefits for larger premiums of US$750 per month or more 

- Portable Plans which can be continued should you relocate to most other countries

- Flexible; plans offer a facility to suspend or decrease premiums after an initial period  

- For Mortgages; these plans can be used as a means of loan repayment 

- Policy loan facility (subject to product provider)

- Collateral; The plan can be used as collateral for residential loans (subject to bank approval)

- Online valuations 24-hours a day via IFG Asia website 

- Automatic switching strategies can be attached (see 'enhancing investment returns' page)

- Trusts; Schemes can be held within a trust for tax planning (for certain jurisdictions)

Smoothing Market Volatility

Regular savings plans can benefit from price fluctuations through a concept called 'unit-cost-averaging'. If prices fall in any given month your contributions purchase more units in the plan. If the long-term trend of the unit price is upward then the higher unit allocation is reflected in a greater investment return.

Risk

If the plan is surrendered or if contributions cease early there may be a penalty or reduction in benefits. Past performance is no guarantee to the future and you may not get back the money you invested, especially if you encash in the early years. You should seek to maintain contributions throughout the investment term.