PERA

New Updates on PERA – Digital PERA and Tax Credits

Pin6Share38TweetShare44 SharesFinally! Some good news! I was one of the thousands of people who watched the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Facebook Live Event launching the Digital PERA (Personal Equity and Retirement Account) last September 9. Like many Filipinos, I’m looking forward to developments in the implementation of PERA, especially on the application of the tax exemptions and the ability to change PERA administrators. One of the highlights, at least for me, of the event, was the speech of BSP Governor Diokno. I learned so many things, many of them horrifying, about retiring in the Philippines. First

September 17, 2020 17 Comments

OFW

Analysis of Common Investment Options for OFWs

Pin6Share29TweetShare35 SharesA great way for OFWs to maximize their earnings abroad is through investing. Instead of just putting their money away in a regular bank savings account, OFWs can instead make that money earn more money by investing. But not all investments are created equal. Depending on several factors, one option may be great for you while it is not so for another. In this post, I will share my analyses of common investment options for OFWs. I mentioned in the post How to Build a Strong Financial Foundation As An OFW that you need to be prepared, mentally and financially, even

October 16, 2019 6 Comments

OFW

How to Build a Strong Financial Foundation as an OFW

Pin10Share103TweetShare113 Shares*Updated on June 10, 2021Congratulations! You just got confirmation that your contract has been finalized and you will now get to work overseas! After months, even years of job search and interviewing, not to mention researching and planning, you finally got an offer lucrative enough to entice you to leave the Philippines for greener pastures. Your mind is now filled with visions of a better life. The future looks so much brighter. Somehow, the sun is so much sunnier. You are full of optimism and magnanimity, saying yes to a parent’s request for new home appliances and agreeing to finance

September 2, 2019 4 Comments

PERA

Ultimate Guide to PERA Investment Instruments

Pin4Share37TweetShare41 SharesIt’s been almost 3 years since the implementation of Personal Equity Retirement Account or PERA at the end of 2016. Up to this time, most Filipinos are still in the dark about what PERA means and what it can do for them in their retirement. Many of those who have heard of PERA opt to avoid putting their money in it due to a combination of lack of information regarding PERA investment instruments and confusion on how PERA fits in their financial plans. Earlier this year, I wrote a primer on PERA and why all of us need it asap.

August 17, 2019 25 Comments

PERA

What is PERA and why you need one right now

Pin2Share71TweetShare73 SharesPersonally, I don’t want to grow old poor. I’m sure you don’t want to be poor when you grow old either. And I bet that nobody in the world ever wants to be old and poor. So in order to help Pinoys prepare to be not poor when they’re old, I will discuss PERA in-depth, and why you need one right now. Retirement planning is a crucial yet regretfully neglected part of financial planning in the Philippines. People usually put off saving for retirement in the last 5 to 10 years of their working lives. Unfortunately, the money they

January 11, 2019 80 Comments

OFW

6 Ways to Maximize Government Benefits as a Pinoy Expat

Pin10Share46TweetShare56 SharesMany Pinoy expats, including myself, often fail to maximize government benefits when we start working abroad. We often discount programs in the Philippines thinking that: Since we’re no longer in the Philippines, the benefits will not help us in our new country The benefits are too small compared to our new increased income The benefits are not worth the bother Nothing can be further from the truth. [bctt tweet=”The way I see it, many Philippine government benefits designed for OFWs, when taken all together and with proper planning, can help us achieve our financial goals faster. ” username=”MeKatieScarlett”] Yes, not

July 15, 2018 5 Comments