Dear Mr Tan

 

I attended this workshop over the weekend. I have pretty basic investing skills (have about $[ed note:very high 5-fig sum-edited by request] invested but have absolutely no idea how to "plan my retirement") and some strong views about investments, insurance and so on.

 

I had very little expectation of the workshop, since the website provided lots of promises but very little details. It seemed all very heavy on marketing but very little on substance. What's more, the guy who was to give the training (Winston Ng) wasn't even a finance professional but more of a motivator! However, the course was pretty cheap (I had a discount as I attended with a friend), so I thought there would be nothing to lose. My objective was: if I could get a clearer picture of how my retirement looks like and how I could get there, that would be a bonus. If not, at least I could get my dose of motivation.

 

The class was small - 3 of us and one who attended only for a few hours. I thought the first day morning session (controlling spending) was rather draggy as Winston shared nothing really new (bearing in mind I was already quite well-read as far as budgeting is concerned). We also did some exercises to bring out our inner attitudes towards financial planning and retirement. These exercises could on first sight appear to be rather "flighty" or new agey (the "use your imagination" type), but it did go far to reveal one's inner attitudes and perhaps limiting prejudices towards certain aspects of financial planning.

 

By the afternoon, things were looking up. An insurance specialist was on hand to give a brief description of various types of insurance (yada yada, most of us already had some ideas), and more importantly "tips" on getting insurance. This session was useful because this guy markets insurance products not from just one insurance company so he could cut the marketing bullshit and give you answers. This session reminded me that I should relook at some of the policies I have bought (BTW I buy term).

 

On the 2nd day we jumped straight into investing proper. Winston went through some of the possible money-making opportunities and four of us had a very good time exchanging ideas. I was getting increasingly excited as my retirement picture became clearer, and more importantly it actually seemed possible that I could do what I wanted. All the new agey exercises we did on the previous day were bearing fruit. I won't go into detail what we actually went through; I just wanted to say that having a "plan" actually put so much more purpose in my investments (or some say gambling since I don't really know what I'm doing). Currently, I'm just investing "for fun"; but with a goal/s, you will invest with a purpose. I now find more reason in learning more about various investment instruments because now I have a goal to work towards, and I want to get there.

 

This course would be useful for those who have a fuzzy idea of your future and your eventual retirement. If you already have a good idea, then you might find the exercises rather meaningless. I also found the discussion on various financial instruments very useful. What helped my learning process was I already knew that I needed to change certain attitudes, and thus I was ready for what the workshop had to offer. If you already have very fixed ideas of investing and retirement, save your money and continue with what you're doing. However, if you are relatively new to investing and retirement planing and are open to being persuaded, $350 is not a large sum to pay. Grab a friend and you pay even less![Ed note: Offer was for our launch special!]

 

It was a good course for me. I would recommend that anyone who is interested to not be put off by the marketing bullshit on the website (actually it's not so bull-shitty compared to some others I have seen), think about what you want if you attend this workshop, and then attend with a mind ready to learn. You will get your money's worth if you have an open mind. And if you worry that Winston is going to peddle more of his courses, he doesn't.

 

Only time will tell if my plan will work out. Ultimately in retirement planning a lot depends on the self. I needed the motivation to move and this workshop did a lot to get me to move my butt. Yep so for me, the money and the time were definitely worth it.

 

Regards,

Eveline