Consumer Advisor

One of the best (and worst) things about bitcoin, blockchain and cryptocurrencies is just how new the technology and its practical implementations are. Even though there have been many early adapters, the ecosystem as a whole involves a lot of learning, especially for those looking to come up to speed. This represents a massive opportunity as well as a pitfall for those who are on the outside looking in. I like to monitor different courses in the space for my own education as well as for resources to share with others to include them as part of the discussion and learning: I've compiled this list as a set of reliable resources to do just that. 1- DFIN 511: Introduction to Digital Currencies (Offered By UNIC) This free online course is taught by  Andreas Antonopoulos (author of Mastering Bitcoin) and Antonis Polemitis and it represents the first course in the  MSc in Digital Currency offered by UNIC. The course places bitcoin and cryptocurrencies in the broader framework of the hist

If you need a straightforward and affordable medical insurance, you may need a standalone medical card.  We often read and hear about the importance of having a health insurance coverage, backed by the fact that the cost of a medical treatment has been on the rise over the years. Quoting Antony Lee, the Chairman of The General Association of Insurance Malaysia (PIAM), as saying: “Medical inflation has been on an upward trend with double-digit increases in recent years and is projected to reach 14% in 2019.” What does this supposed to mean? It means that getting a fever diagnosis with medicines and medical certificate at a private clinic can easily cost you more than RM100 per visit. Unless you are settled on relying heavily to the public healthcare system, having a health insurance coverage is a necessity nowadays. Medical insurance comes in 2 options: (1) standalone with no frills medical policy, (2) medical rider attached to a life insurance plan such as an investment-linked policy.

Battered and bruised by the COVID-19 pandemic, the nation’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have suffered from decreased sales revenue and tightened cash flow. They have faced a lack of labour and difficulties in adopting technological solutions to digitalise their business. As such, the RM14.2 billion in funds available for SMEs in Budget 2022 is “like a lifeline” for SMEs,  said  Universiti Malaya senior economics lecturer Goh Lim Thye. “They will be able to solve their cash flow problems with these grants.” With the pandemic proving just how important it is for businesses to have an online presence, Goh said the RM200 million digitalisation grant would be especially useful as it would encourage SMEs to explore such opportunities for their businesses. Out of the RM200 million, RM50 million has been set aside to digitalise Bumiputera micro entrepreneurs in rural areas. Goh noted how the online shopping boom has seen platforms such as Lazada and Shopee generate massive sales over t

WHEN Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim took to the rostrum at the Securities Commission (SC) on June 19, 2023, the market watched with some excitement. Prior to that, a senior Umno politician and a deputy minister had alluded to a potential major move in relation to the ringgit. As the prime minister (PM) — who is also the finance minister — left the event, capital market players were looking at each other, asking if they had missed something. Well, they didn’t. Anwar did announce a few steps for the capital market. But nothing major or spectacular. On the longer term horizon, Anwar floated the idea of attracting family offices to Malaysia. “The Ministry of Finance (MoF) and SC will look at policies to facilitate and attract the setting up of family offices in Malaysia, to promote corporate venturing to drive greater domestic direct investments, and to widen the definition of sophisticated investors,” he said. Family offices are one-stop firms that manage portfolios of super-rich and wealthy fa

FAMILY offices have the potential to become a focal point of Malaysia’s financial landscape as the government, led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, explores policies to attract these private wealth management advisory firms. The Finance Ministry (MoF) and securities regulator Securities Commission (SC) are actively working to facilitate the establishment of family offices, aiming to drive greater domestic direct investments (DDI) and capital ventures.   With their expertise in managing and preserving wealth across generations, families or individuals, offering a range of customised services such as investment management, financial planning, tax and estate planning, and philanthropy.   The family office market in Malaysia is considered still in its nascent stages and relatively small compared to more established markets such as the US, Europe and Singapore. However, it has been experiencing growth and gaining popularity in recent years.   The exact size of the family office

Private hospitals in Malaysia will normally require a deposit before they admit you. This can usually be paid by cash, debit card or credit card. However, if you have a medical card, most private hospitals will accept admission without the deposit (cashless admission), after receiving the guarantee letter from the medical insurance company. If you do not have a medical card, you might want to consider having one. Given the options available, it's not easy to decide which of these to choose from. We take a look at the most popular medical cards in Malaysia and try to assist you in deciding which gives you the best value. Source: The Star Online, "Planning for healthcare costs in retirement", 4 October 2015 Compare best medical cards offering cashless admissions with flexible benefits and paying 100% of your medical bills, from major insurers in Malaysia. Here is the list: AIA Medical Card Malaysia WEBSITE:  www.aia.com.my ADDRESS: Menara AIA, 99 Jalan Amp