The Philippine investment environment has significantly changed over the last decade. Investing is no longer a sport that only the bourgeois alone can play like polo or golf. As people realize the need to seek returns that would, at least, beat the rate of inflation, more and more investors seek to finance their medium to long-term goals with investments in bonds and stocks. In addition, minimum investment amounts, that previously served as barriers to the new and modest investor, were brought down to more affordable levels.
Today, investment products are taking on the innovative micro-selling approach of "Sachet Marketing" that was proven effective in developing countries like the Philippines. It is now, more than any other time, that investing should be taken on by "every Juan".
Why Is It Easier to Invest Nowadays?
When asked why some people shy away from investing, the top three responses include:
1) investments are not affordable;
2) investments are too complex to understand; and,
3) investments are difficult to manage.
On Affordability
New investment avenues and products are being developed to capture the success of the "sachet" concept, where funds are offered at smaller and more affordable amounts. Products such as BPI's Unit Investment Trust Funds (UITFs), with minimum investment of PhP10,000.00 for peso-denominated funds and USD 1,000.00 for US Dollar denominated funds, make investing easier and viable for starters.
On Complexity
Investment jargons, that often alienate would-be investors, have been brought down to layman terms. At BPI, we make sure that each client undergoes a Client Suitability Test to determine his/her investment objective, risk profile and investment horizon which are used in recommending a portfolio allocation and the types of products suited to each client's profile. Like instant coffee in sachets, an investor is presented with choices on the type of funds they wish to have in their cup of investments, whether it would be pure black coffee, with cream, or 3-in-1.
On Managing Investments
Advances in information technology and the internet provided investors, not only with the means to find out more information about investments, but also made it easier to manage their portfolio of investments with a click of a mouse through on-line platforms. Presently, BPI clients can monitor their investment funds through the BPI Expressonline and soon contribution and redemption transactions will also be made available to provide our clients more convenient means of managing their investments.
Its always a good idea to invest your money for the purpose of helping you achieve your financial goals and there has never been a better or easier time to start investing than now. Open an investment account TODAY and start building your TOMORROW with us.
Bas M. Cadeliña
BPI Senior manager.
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