Jonathan Chua

SYNNETTA HO shares how she dealt with her children's multiple food allergies Eczema, asthma, food intolerances and more – they are no one’s fault, says this mother of four, who has seen it all. “We had inconveniences, but not a handicap.” Synnetta Ho believes there are lessons to be learned and silver linings in any “adverse” situation. She has raised four children, aged 15 to 22 years – all of whom have some level of food intolerance. But it’s her third son, David, now 20 years old, whom she says “broadened my experiences”. “He’s anaphylactic,” says the 52-year-old project manager, simply. Since a baby, David was allergic to the typical foods such as dairy, soy, wheat, eggs, nuts, seafood, and more, says Synnetta. However, his allergies didn’t stop at foods – they included dust mites, mould and perfume! “Every time I’d walked into a department store [with him] and whenever we entered a Chinese restaurant where there might be ‘wok’ aroma, he’d turn beet red,” she shares. As David g...

Medisave Account funds are not just for paying medical bills, but can also be used for medical insurance and other policies to meet healthcare needs "You can die in Singapore, but you can’t afford to fall sick here" is a common refrain heard on the street. A recent survey by research company GfK found that 42 per cent of respondents expressed concern about the cost of healthcare in Singapore. September 2013's inflation data released by the Department of Statistics showed that healthcare costs went up by 4 per cent compared to the same period a year ago, higher than the 1.6 per cent increase in the overall consumer price index. But healthcare in Singapore can be affordable. The system has multiple tiers of protection to ensure that no Singaporean is denied access to basic healthcare because of affordability issues. The first tier of protection comes from heavy government subsidies which all Singaporeans can access. The second tier of protection is provided by Medisave, a c...

​An adequate health insurance policy for your child may be the best way to stay covered despite increasing medical costs Getting adequate and comprehensive health insurance for your child is your best bet to hedge against increasing medical costs, according to Ms Wendy Soong, an executive financial consultant with NTUC Income. She suggests considering the following points before shopping for a policy. Tips to choose a health insurance policy for your child - Assess your current financial and medical situation. Medisave funds can be used to pay the annual premiums of basic health insurance or the government-approved Integrated Shield Plans only. All other insurance plans must be paid in cash. How much you pay depends on your child’s age, the age of both parents, the sum assured, and the payment terms and period. How much insurance to buy depends on your desired lifestyle, expectations, affordability and objectives. Review your family’s medical history. If there is a strong history of ca...

Exercise, good financial planning, & healthy mental habits are the key to healthy ageing according to this 85-yr-old Mr Palanisamy Ramadas was born in 1929, the year of the Great Depression. He was 16 when World War II ended, and 36 when Singapore was founded. If you're picturing him as a frail elderly, you couldn't be more wrong. This 85-year old will see you at the gym... or on Twitter. As a young lad milking the family cows in now-Malaysia, Mr Palanisamy Ramadas, now 85, probably didn’t imagine the long life he had ahead of him. His story in a nutshell: He came to Singapore in the early 1950s and started out as a nurse. Became a nursing administrator after pursuing further studies overseas. Got married, had four children, but became a widower nearly 25 years ago after his wife passed away in a car accident in which he was also involved. Having experienced such a tragedy, he could be excused for choosing to live in the past, but the man is focused on the present. His memo...

Riders work well when they are designed to reduce or eliminate additional expenses A health care insurance rider can help take the sting out of large medical bills, allowing policyholders to pay next to nothing or nothing for their treatments. This is because hospitalisation plans typically don’t cover a full medical bill. The insured has to pay a portion of the bill, such as a deductible (the threshold at which the insurance company will start to reimburse the insured for treatments) and a co-payment (the percentage of the rest of the bill that the insured pays). For example, if the bill is $10,000, the deductible amount is $3,000, and the co-insurance percentage is 10 per cent, the insured will have to pay the first $3,000, plus 10 per cent of the remaining $7,000 before insurance kicks in. In other words, he pays $3,700 and the insurance company pays $6,300. Hospital bills for major ailments and critical illnesses can run into the hundreds of thousands, so even with insurance, patie...

Next to oxygen and water, money is probably the most basic essential to living in the modern world. Which is why financial planning services continue to be a high-growth, and therefore, high-earning industry. Financial consultants enjoy a wide range of work flexibility and diversity. From where, when, and how much to work, to who to work with. Of course, the returns are closely correlated to how much the consultant is invested in the work. Monetary gains aside, a career as a financial consultant can be immensely satisfying to the soul. We play a positive role in helping our clients navigate the financially demanding milestones of their lives. So if you are in the market for a career where you can be your own boss, earn in tandem with your aspirations and help others reach their life goals, financial consultancy is a worthy consideration. “Do you have what it takes?”, you may ask. source

People view money in different ways – for some it’s a means of survival, for others, a mere play thing. When it comes to saving and investing, most younger people are unaware of how to best use their money to make them prosperous over a longer period of time, instead of just richer. “Work hard today, so you can breathe easy tomorrow.” Sounds easy? Perhaps it is! One of the biggest mistakes most millennials make these days, is not having a financial plan. Being prosperous involves making the right choices with your riches, irrespective of how much you earn. Most experts and authors are of the view that people can get rich quick, but to remain prosperous over time, it takes good money management; here’s are five essential virtues for a good start: Learn the Math Keep tabs on your worth Visualise your roadmap Build (and manage) your resources Get a money mentor source