Shawn Koh Jia Ming, CFP®

Financial Services Manager

Shawn Koh Jia Ming, CFP®

Financial Services Manager

Premier Leader of SP-Shawnkoh Agency
(TrueNorth Financial, AIA SG)

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- Employee Insurance/ Benefits
- Coaching & Development
- Agency Management

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Articles Worth Sharing

Newsletter Issue 94: Cultivating a Grateful Heart

As the year winds down, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the many reasons to be grateful in our lives. From uplifting mental health to strengthening connections, gratitude helps us end the year with purpose and warmth. Discover simple practices and insights to embrace appreciation and nurture meaningful moments this season.

Embark on meaningful journeys with insights to plan memorable vacations, navigate budget travel, and uncover cultural treasures. Whether you’re crafting a family adventure or exploring last-minute deals, these ideas inspire travel that deepens connections, stretches savings, and invites discovery.

As families navigate the challenges of exam season, it's important to foster resilience, support growth, and nurture well-being. These insights explore how to create a balanced, supportive environment for children, helping them thrive academically, emotionally, and financially.

Persistence and perseverance are the cornerstones of personal growth. As we enter the final stretch of the year, these traits become even more essential. Discover ways to harness determination, build resilience, and stay committed to your goals. Even when the journey feels long and challenging, remember—you’re closer than you think. Let’s push through this last lap together.

Navigating the rising cost of living requires strategic planning. This issue provides tips on budgeting, skill development to increase income, and utilising resources to manage money. I hope these strategies help empower you to stretch your money further and maintain financial stability.

Prioritizing our health and immunity is essential, especially with summer holidays and travel on the horizon amid the recent surge in COVID-19 cases. Here are some practical tips, nutritious recipes, and expert advice to keep you safe and ensure healthy and enjoyable summer vacations for you and your loved ones!

As we approach the time of year when scorching temperatures send us seeking refuge indoors, this issue offers essential tips and strategies for managing the heat. Arm yourself with knowledge and discover ways to stay cool, hydrated, and healthy amidst the sweltering heat, ensuring you thrive in your daily life!

Life is a multifaceted journey of growth and transformation. From overcoming setbacks to embracing professional and personal development, this issue contains wisdom on self-forgiveness, career and financial success, and the limitless power of lifelong learning. The process of growth may not always be easy, but it will be worth it. I hope this enriches your life.

Amidst rising costs, aging and retirement planning is becoming a growing concern for many. Yet, more than just ensuring financial readiness, one who is planning to retire also needs to be psychologically prepared for the shifts in lifestyle, routine and everything that comes along with it. In this issue, let's explore expert tips on staying healthy, mentally sharp and financially secure, so we can age gracefully in our golden years.

As we embrace 2024, discover essential insights for a prosperous journey ahead. Explore key financial strategies and economic trends aligning with the Dragon Year's promise of prosperity. Immerse in the cultural vibrancy of the Lunar New Year celebrations. I hope this issue with its blend of wisdom and practical advice equips you to navigate the opportunities and challenges ahead with confidence. Together, let's ride the Dragon!

In this issue, here are some insights on mindful reflection, effective goal-setting, and strategic reviews. I hope this helps you equip yourself for a thriving year ahead with impactful resolutions and fresh perspectives. Let's embark on this journey of growth and renewal together.

Embrace the spirit of the holiday season in this month's issue, where cherished traditions meet thoughtful innovation. From smart savings and healthy feasts to meaningful gifts and cozy stays, our collection of articles offers a reflective journey through holiday warmth. Savour every moment with our handpicked tips and recipes, and let's celebrate the joy and generosity that define this wondrous time of year.

As inflationary pressures continue, affecting both individuals and businesses, it is vital to equip ourselves with effective strategies to navigate this environment. This issue provides pragmatic insights and ideas, guiding us to not only weather these economic challenges but also thrive in the midst of them. I hope this brings us greater financial resilience and empowerment.

In celebration of Children's Day, here is a friendly collection of articles brimming with insights! I hope these writings can guide us in embedding valuable skills, boosting financial literacy, and laying down a roadmap to raising resilient, balanced children. May we empower the upcoming generations, helping them blossom into well-rounded and holistic individuals. Let's cherish the joy of nurturing our future

Making decisions on property is not trivial, as they often have effects on our quality of life in ways that are not just material but also financial and emotional. Regardless of our experience levels in making decisions on our properties and homes, it helps to have an appreciation of what resources are involved, and how we can be resourceful about them. I hope you find the materials in this issue useful.

In today's rapidly ageing society, advance care planning and long-term care planning are emerging as critical considerations for ensuring a comfortable and secure future. As we journey together through the intricate aspects of planning for what lies ahead, it's never too early to make such vital decisions. It's your future; plan it well.

In the delicate balance between awe and envy lies an opportunity for growth. Awe opens our eyes to the beauty and possibilities around us, while envy stirs our desires for improvement. By using awe as a wellspring of inspiration and envy as a catalyst for positive change, we get to harness these emotions to fuel our ambitions, cultivate empathy, and create a brighter future for ourselves and others in various aspects of our lives.

As artificial intelligence (AI) and chatbots like ChatGPT become ever more prevalent, AI’s potential to transform our lives and economy cannot be understated. With the increasing adoption of these technologies, they will not only transform the ways we use or consume information, but they are also poised to play a pivotal role in just about every aspect of our lives, including work, finance, and parenting. In this issue, we explore the nuances of AI and the possibilities it brings to our world.

Whether we are mothers ourselves or simply have someone in our lives who has played a motherly role to us, chances are, our lives have been influenced in profound ways by motherhood. Let's take a moment in this issue to honour, value, and draw lessons from the incredible wisdom of women and mothers who have impacted our worlds.

Necessity is the mother of invention. Throughout history, humans have demonstrated the ability to innovate, solve problems, and create solutions in the midst of crises, resulting in some of humanity's greatest inventions. All it took was resourcefulness, action, and persistence. Through this issue, I hope to provide insights into how we can live life constructively and creatively, regardless of the challenges that we may face today.

As we get back into the groove of work, our most important arsenals have to be our health and brains. After all, these are essential in allowing us to lead a functional and meaningful life. To do that, we need to take care not to fall ill and ensure that we upkeep our physical, mental, and social well-being. Let us explore in this issue the various ways that help us protect and strengthen our overall health.

For many, the festive season is a time of food, celebrations, social interaction, and hype. Coupled with the continuous demands of work and life, such periods can sometimes leave us feeling drained, and some of us may even struggle to get a breather. In this issue, I have put together resources on how we can possibly wind down and benefit from more intentional quiet and less noise.

As the world enters a recession, the upcoming year can pose a challenge for many due to increasing economic uncertainty, and the natural fears surrounding it. In this issue, we look at some trends and possible actions that can help us become more emotionally and financially resilient to not just ride out the challenges, but rise above them. I hope this gives us hope.

We live in three distinct timeframes - the Past, the Present, and the Future. Many times, we tend to live and make decisions based on what gives us immediate gratification, and often to our detriment. Despite not knowing what tomorrow will bring, planning ahead removes uncertainty and provides clarity to our lives. In this issue, I have included articles that I hope will inspire you to take actions that your future self will thank you for.

Many of us lead busy and stressful lives. Even when we may be caught up meeting deadlines, sprinting towards our next goals, or looking after our families, we cannot neglect taking appropriate breaks for our well-being. While it may feel counter-intuitive to do so, sometimes the best thing is simply to step away from the four concrete walls to go for a walk outdoors. It refreshes the mind, body and soul, and is beneficial for our health and creativity. So let's lace up our trainers and walk our stresses away.

In an environment of rising inflation and uncertainties in global geo-political climate, almost no one is spared from the economic consequences of the day. It is therefore more important than ever to be intentional and mindful in how we manage our finances in our daily living. Here, I have put together some resources which you can tap on to help you gain a better insight on how you can be more savvy with your money.

Every one is different, and differences in opinions, interests, backgrounds and personalities tend to come with conflicts. Whether is it our co-workers, friends, family members or even our partners, disputes are not only common, but they're natural and sometimes inevitable. The question is, while such conflicts arise, how do we navigate them? Do we attempt to work through issues amicably with others, or do we allow our egos and emotions to rear its ugly head? Today, we look at practical tips on how we can manage ourselves and relationships in more mature ways.

As humans, the pursuit of change and progress is something that is innate to every one of us. Like it or not, there will always be things in life that we hope could be a little different, a little better in the way that daily situations & events turn out. It could be in the way we think, speak, or the way we handle everything from our finances to our relationships with others. We seek to become better -- and we should. As we strive to continuously exceed our potential, we rise above all previous versions of ourselves and grow stronger. In this issue, we look at some ways in which we can embrace a better self and an even better future.

In life, there are days and moments where everything we do does not feel enough, or face situations that are beyond our control. A common response to such instances is to doubt ourselves and our abilities, and that is a very normal and human thing to do. But the effect of self-doubt can cut both ways: It can either spur us to achieve our goals and thereby boost our confidence levels, or cause us to feel entirely powerless and paralysed. Fortunately, whether we allow it to work for or against us is mostly up to us. In this issue, we will explore the ways in which we can harness self-doubt to build confidence -- one step at a time.

Statistically, most people live till an average age of 80 years. Although this number varies across cultures and nations, we cannot deny that life is still all too fleetingly short. 80 years a lifetime translates to 80 summers and 80 winters - to love, laugh, live, and make the most of our time on this earth. Far too often, when faced with our mortality, we look back at our lives and think of all the things that could have been different. Regret may sometimes be inevitable, but it is still possible to live an unlimited life with the limited time that we have. In this issue, we look at some of the ways we can do so.

For the past years, given the pandemic and restrictions, many of us were forced to re-evaluate how to plan and book trips for holidays, or consider whether we should even be planning for any travel at all. Now, as borders are opening up, we have reached a stage where many of us are ready to start traveling again and make vacation plans once more. The catch, though, is that traveling will likely continue to be complicated as new variants emerge. How then do we plan for travel? In this issue, we explore this matter in more depth.

Life can be unpredictable with obstacles, making it sometimes difficult to stay afloat. Whether it is the loss of a loved one, stress from work, or financial woes, everyone faces challenges and does at some point, struggle with remaining optimistic or hopeful. Nonetheless, it is still important to maintain positivity to keep us going; by finding the good in the bad, and being the light in the darkness. For this issue, let us explore on what being positive means & how we can harness it in ways that truly benefit our lives.

As humans, we have an innate need for connection and approval from others. Often, we make an effort to gain validation and this is natural. Yet, in our world today, this need for others’ approval becomes magnified; as many of us are constantly plugged in on social media, we tend to get caught up in the pursuit of “likes”, “shares”, “follows” & engagement. These can have implications on our mental well-being and happiness. Through this issue, I hope that we can be more aware of the impacts & risks associated with excessive use of social media, and what we can do about it so that we can live out our best lives.

It is a season of feasting, socialising and spending time with our family and friends. Amidst the bustle of festive preparations and joviality, let us not forget to take care of our well-being even as we celebrate this time of wealth, health and happiness. Stay safe, savvy and prosper!

By this time, we would have endured quite a long period of the COVID-19 pandemic and many things have changed. Collectively, we have adapted to new ways of living, working and socializing. While there is no telling of when this pandemic will truly “end”, one thing’s for sure: Life goes on. The best we can do is to continue to look towards the future and live out the best we can. As we head into a new year, here are some predictions and trends we can look forward to.

In times of uncertainty, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. With the COVID-19 outbreak, we are faced with the challenge of adapting life around the virus and navigating intense market volatility. This leaves many of us feeling anxious and even disempowered.

Confucius, the Chinese philosopher, left us with these words to contemplate: The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute: the man who does not ask is a fool for life. As the year winds down, it is time to reflect on some popular and widely - accepted beliefs and misconceptions that we may hold that do not serve us in achieving our goals and desires. Today, we look at debunking some of these misconceptions to expand our thinking and explore new perspectives and horizons.

In meeting the demands of work and every day life, many of us can feel compelled to do all things at once, and may become overwhelmed or less effective as a result. To counter this, it is worth taking a moment to adjust our pace; to give ourselves the space to practice taking one step at a time in the ways we perform our tasks and how we manage our minds & emotions.

As human beings, we are a culmination of our environment, decisions, behaviours and habits. It is worth giving thought to how we live our lives; taking a step back to reflect on some of our own less-than-ideal tendencies and ponder about how we can mitigate or improve upon them. Here are some resources that I hope can help us foster habits and patterns that can create an upward cycle for ourselves over time.

In a world where more of us are increasingly working remotely, the issues of exhaustion, burnout and digital fatigue have become more pronounced in recent times. The implications on mental health and quality of life are real. Here are insights and resources that I hope can help us better understand the nature of the burnout that we may experiencing. More importantly, we can learn to manage, uplift ourselves and also the people around us.

Leadership is the act of guiding a team or individual to achieve a goal through direction and motivation -- and there is a leader in all of us. This issue contains insightful resources and pointers that touch on the various under-talked about but important aspects of leadership. I hope this inspires us to not just exercise good leadership in our daily lives as individuals and organisations, but more importantly, help us get through and thrive even in difficult times.

As our personal lives get increasingly intertwined with our work in this season, it becomes more important than ever to find ways to devote our energies to become more effective & productive as individuals. Here, I'd love to share with you on some resources and powerful ideas on how we can not only become more productive, but also make our work & daily life more meaningful in the process.

What does it mean to lead a good life? The meaning of a good life, or life for that matter, is subjective. But there are some evergreen truths and wisdoms that we can all live by that help us gain the most out of life even through obstacles and challenges. In this issue, I have put together for you a series of insights, tips & advice by some of the best thinkers throughout history on how to live out a good life. I hope these resonate with you.

Dignity is the state or quality of being worthy of honour or respect by virtue of being human, and every person has an intrinsic need to feel valued and needed. Yet, in our world, there is often a gap between the ideals and realities of how dignity is accorded to individuals across age, gender, social statuses and financial positions. In this issue, I'd like to bring attention to the topic of dignity, and the ways which we can protect & honour the dignity of others and ourselves.

Women have long played a huge part in our society and economy. When it comes to uplifting women, the work extends beyond just international women's day or month. In fact, it requires continuous effort from not just leaders, but also every day folks like us to recognise and appreciate the great potential of women in our lives. In this issue, I'd like to share insights on how we can be enablers of women's progress while staying aware of the realities and struggles they may face. I hope this helps us in empowering the women and girls in our midst.

When was the last time you received kindness from somebody? When was the last time you extended an act of kindness to someone else, and to what end? As it turns out, there can be tremendous merits and outcomes in paying forward a kindness received with a good deed to somebody else, especially when done out of gratitude. The concept of "Paying It Forward" is nothing new, but in our world, I believe we could do with more compassion and selflessness as it brings out the best in us.

As we begin a fresh year, it is a good idea to not just evaluate ourselves based on the previous year on how we have been managing our lives, but also to find out ways to become more productive as we move along. In this issue, I'd like to share with you some powerful ideas on productivity and how we can make the best of our resources, time, energy and capabilities. Let's do this!

In the words of Poet Ali in his TED Talk, "Every language we learn is a portal by which we can access another language"; the more we know, the more we can speak. To round off the year, I'd like us to take a moment to learn new concepts, stories and ways of seeking and connecting, which will empower us to adapt to the needs of others & ourselves in the way we relate, love, heal, and see possibilities. I hope this inspires you.

In a year where many of us are affected and perhaps feel powerless over our incomes amidst a pandemic, it is a good time to take stock of our financial health and confront our feelings about them & the way with deal with them. Whether we are young, middle-aged or senior, here are some important principles & practical tips on money management that we can fall back on which can go a long way into helping us optimise our finances and become financially wiser.

All of us would have people around us that we learn from in our lives. And people whom we in turn teach and need to be accountable to at some point - as students, working adults or parents. The better we are at relating and leading others into growth, the better we become as individuals. In this issue, I hope we can draw some lessons and wisdom from these materials that can help us cultivate values and cultures that we want in our lives and lift us up.

As humans, we often like to think we're right, even when we can be wrong at times. Many of us have the unconscious tendency to seek information that support our existing beliefs & disregard or undermine those that do not match ours. But doing so without awareness or questioning can have adverse effects in the way we think, make decisions & live our lives. Today, I'd like to share with you some potential consequences of confirmation bias & what we can do about them.

The world as we know it has changed for good on pretty much every level - from our lifestyles, to habits, to incomes and economy. As we navigate our way and find our place in trying times, it is important to stay grounded and keep the faith as we focus on seeing and creating opportunities, solutions & meaning. While there are no quick fixes in times like these, there's still a space for us to find ways to improve and cope better in our lives. I'd like to share them with you in this issue. Let's keep our heads up in choosing to persist in hope & good thoughts, and I believe we will emerge stronger than before.

As they dedicate their love and lives to their households and make constant sacrifices for their family’s & children’s well-being, mothers never retire. For all these, moms deserve more thoughts besides during Mother’s Day. But should mothers also think about planning their own retirement — financially speaking? In this issue, as we give tributes to all mothers, we would also like to give thoughts to a mother’s financial freedom. Mothers deserve a worry-free retirement as well.

Albert Einstein said, "Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it earns it. He who doesn't, pays it."

Today's phone in our pocket has 100,000 times the power of the computer that landed man on the moon 50 years ago. Our world is evolving at breakneck speed today. The World Economic Forum projected that more new jobs will be created compared to the ones lost. Uncertainty remains about what these new jobs would be. But the time to change our approach to learning new skills has come. The time is now. The 4th Industrial Revolution has begun.

There are many new things to deal with at this time while we are being isolated from life-as-usual. A new lifestyle, a new future and something that can be quite subtle - a new kind of burnout. It should do us well to be aware about this so we can learn to disengage when we need to. I wish you and your loved ones good health and may you continue to stay safe!

Amidst a pandemic, the profound impact & discomfort of loss or the prospect of loss is felt almost universally. We may find ourselves and even those we care about feeling anxious & restless, which makes it challenging as we find ways to adjust not just physically, but also mentally & emotionally. At this time, emotional support for one another becomes ever more essential. Here, I'd love to share with you insights that can help us have a deeper understanding on the complex emotions that we may be dealing with, & the ways in which we can provide meaningful social support in our daily interactions through being present & holding space for others.

What the eyes cannot see is bringing countries to their knees as we write. The full impact of Covid19 is still unknown. It has ushered in a new reality for the World. Our lives will never be the same again. And Covid19 won't be the last. While we #fightasone, let's see how we can prepare ourselves and our children for this new future - together. Here are some good reads that I believe can help us rethink this new future and its possibilities. If you find these resources useful, please forward them to those you care about, especially at a time such as this. Cheers!

Here's wishing you and yours a very fruitful 2020, and the best is yet to come! Another year, and what better way to start it with a collection of thoughts that might turn out to touch your life for the better? I hope you could find something useful and share along with those you care about too. Cheers for a blessed 2020!

When the going gets rough, it can at times be easy to lose sight of what we set out to attain in our lives, be it in our personal endeavours, work or finances. The process of going & pushing through such situations may not be most comfortable, but persevering and talking about how to handle them is necessary. These are perspectives I found useful and inspiring. I hope this gives you hope.

In many ways, relationships are key to our well-being, as trusting, fulfilling relationships lay the foundation for our emotional health and security. But to work through relationships and trust matters aren't always linear or clean - they can be messy and raw. Here are some articles that I found incredibly valuable that enrich us in our personal and professional lives.

Change is hard. To force change is harder. They usually don't last. Perspectives however, are easier to accept. They change our minds and maybe that's what we need more than change itself. I hope you enjoy these articles.

These are some rather transformative articles that could help you and those you care about. So please be free to share them. I hope you find them beneficial. If you like them, do drop me a note and I'll be very glad to know I've added value and touched someone.

The lack of sleep being linked to chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease isn't a happy story. Certainly not for those of us who are more conscious about building happiness in life. Please share this newsletter issue with those you care about. We can impact lives together!

The Bucket List - chances are that you may not have made one. It is an interesting journey that we can take together. It's also a lot easier taking a peep at some of the most inspiring bucket lists that we have put together to share with you. Let's start one and live it out!

Since our taste buds are not working like black and white TVs. We know it's meant for some tasty good food. Yummy! Let's stay healthy, and also up our knowledge about making some nice interesting food. Here are some really good resources curated for you.

There's a man in Singapore, that every time he concludes a business deal, he would go buy a plant and plant it somewhere. It's a simple way of giving back. He was also able to disengage and be with himself while doing something meaningful, albeit how simple it was. In this issue are some more examples of such life's lesson that we can benefit from. All we need, is to just take some time, slow down and breathe in the fresh air.

There are just too many things that we know to be good for us, but have not yet become a part of us. Applying wise financial habits may be one of them. Here are some to learn about by seeing them from the eyes of a very successful woman - Oprah Winfrey. Change requires conscious efforts. I hope some of these thoughts will begin to be a blessing in your life. Cheers.

In case you missed the news, besides the big 3 - US, Russia & China, tiny Singapore would be the next to send a human into Space using a helium Stratospheric balloon capable of lifting an SUV. This is a 5 years arduous journey filled with many inspiring stories. A Visionary who saw the possibilities, followed by 150 applicants to be Singapore's first Astronaut, and finally an extraordinary individual to make the trip, laying his life on the line. Yet his project isn't about Space. It's about creating a better mental model for Singaporeans - that with the heart, mind and grit, we can do great things. Enjoy this historic moment.

Or rather, this issue is about learning the secrets of being interesting. Even calling it a secret is a little too much. In today's world of overwhelming information overload, it's about paying attention to certain things that some people do to make themselves more interesting than others. We can all do better in life with a little dose of this knowledge. So let's dig in!

In this issue, I'd like to do something different. All of the highlights are very interesting videos from TED talks about the way we think. The videos are between 15 to 30 minutes, but they are well worth your time I promise. Hope these resources will help create marginal changes in your life every so often. Let's be enlightened together!

Research seems to point to the fact that those who engages in deeper conversations with others are happier people. This is what I call a happy finding. It levels with what makes us human. We speak, we listen, we feel, we learn, we take and we give. And deeper conversations allow us to lift each other up.

In the last issue, we discussed how robots will change our lives in the future. It has become increasingly important for us to keep our minds on the ball, stay sharp and stay progressive. If half the jobs in 2020 are yet to be known to us, how can we prepare ourselves and our children today? To face a fast changing future, we need to first understand it. We need to try and take a peek into this future and start to embrace change.

We have come to a very unique juncture in time, where we are transitioning into the 4th industrial revolution. This is a time where technology as we know it will start to escalate in its rate of change. Our lives and jobs will surely be impacted. But how? It is time to consider this and take stock of where we might stand now and three to five years later.

From a parent to a child, between friends and professionally in the workplace - there's something special about the role of story telling. And we've a lot to learn from the world's great story tellers. Some of the best are comedians, public speakers and politicians. But there's more. I hope the following articles will help you get started in this interesting journey of learning and exploration.

It's been a while since the subject of Retirement was discussed. In this issue's video, it's quite interesting to see how children have different ideas about Retirement. I'm sure all of us have our ideas as well. Yet life can mercilessly erode these dreams. But not if we are really serious about them. So how serious is your retirement dream?

The future seems to come at us at a faster pace than before. It brings along with it many questions. Will automation take over our jobs? What new jobs will be created? And which existing ones will be obsolete? How can we survive? Yet some things don't change. Understanding the things that will change and those that won't can help us carve out a better future.

Most of us find it hard to change even when we know we need to. If only it's as easy as a walk in the park. But once in a while, a certain change of perspective is all it takes. Hopefully, today can be one of those time for you. We can gain some insights and wisdom from these articles that are worth sharing.

Do we need to get better at time management? Or do we need to instead think about Time itself? More specifically, what it means to us - with the very limited time that we have. The answer would be different for each of us. But I'm rather certain that taking time to ponder about Time itself can be a fruitful thing to do.

The World Health Organization's latest report says diabetes has quadrupled in the past 34 years. It's certainly something that we should care about. Not just for us, but also our loved ones. Here's a starter to help us understand and prevent this disease better.

Health is important, so is a good life and great food! One of the great thing about being in Singapore is that there's always new food places to explore. In this issue, I'd like to bring you to a couple really good yummy places - wrapped up with a hilarious video you don't wanna miss.

Singapore is growing as a cultural center. But why is Art important? And how can Art, in its many forms make our lives better? Deep within all of us, there's a need for expression and appreciation. There's certainly more for us to explore and learn about Art. Do not miss the video below. Oh how beautiful this is ~ a celebration of art and life!

It is always quite refreshing to discover new things about our health. In this case, Vitamin C is one of those surprises. Do watch the video below till the end ~ it could be a life saver. But please seek your doctor's opinion as well.

The more we read, the more we can share. And sharing is caring. Here are a few interesting articles I'd like to share with you in this issue of my newsletter. Remember to pass it along to those whom you care about too.

It isn't the bucket either. One good news is that more people are now surviving cancer. The other good news is that life expectancy has increased from 75 to more than age 80. But hold that thought for a moment - it's only good news if one is financially prepared to survive such a critical challenge.

We may have thought that creativity is a realm belonging to a selected few. But is it? In this issue, we explore together some interesting stories that may strike a chord of inspiration for you. You can be creative too.

Testimonials & Referral Notes

Kurniawan & Henny

Hi Everybody out there,

My wife and I have benefited from meeting with Shawn. He is friendly, professional and well organized. The summary of insurance plan he prepared for us is very useful; it reminds us the benefit for each insurance plan we have.

Thanks a lot for your patience and helpful explanation !

Regards,
Kurniawan & Henny

Dr Balasubramanian, Doctor

Hi Everybody Out There ,

I found Shawn friendly with great communication skills. He is prompt and helpful. He also offered appropriate advice on the covers. He will be an asset to the firm.

Regards,
Dr Balasubramanian

Adabelle, awesome mom to 3 kids + 2 furkids

Hi Everybody out there ,

Shawn is patient and gives good advice without being pushy or expecting you to buy the plans.

He is genuine and follows up regularly. He is very reliable and I got plans for not just myself but all my children from him.

Regards,
Adabelle Wong

Bernard and Bonnie

Hi Everybody out there,

My wife and I feel comfortable, confident and also carefree after Shawn’s help in planning for our health and insurance plan. Thank you!

Regards,
K
F Lock, Adjunct Professor

Leroy Ong, Civil Servant

Hi Everybody out there,

I don't often write testimonials, but when I do, it's for Shawn. Truly someone I fully trust, and knows that he has nothing but my interests at heart.

Regards,
Leroy Ong, Civil Servant

Teh Yi Ting, General Manager

Hi Everybody out there,

Shawn is very attentive, responsible and prompt with his service. My claims never has any issue and he is always efficient in processing them. Highly recommend Shawn if you do not want to worry about your insurance claims, whether is investment or protection , he is here for you!

Regards,
Teh Yi Ting, General Manager

Tan Jian Rong, QA Manager

Hi Everybody out there,

Shawn has been very patient and responsible towards his Clients, and is always proactive in giving updates regardless new or existing policies changes, to ensure that we are all keeping up to market trends.

I can feel the sincerity in his attitude towards people, and the passion and pride he has in his job, ensuring that all of us are well covered and getting the best protection tailored to each individuals.

Regards,
Tan Jian Rong, QA Manager

Regine, Digital Learning Specialist

Hi Everybody out there,

Shawn is someone who cares and remembers details you’ve shared, and will only recommend policies that are suitable to your needs and lifestyle. Really appreciate that he’s non pushy and his patience in explaining details of each policy when it gets too overwhelming. Thankful to have crossed path with you, Shawn!

Regards,
Regine, Digital Learning Specialist

Ken Tso, Pilot

Hi Everybody out there,

First meeting with Shawn certainly left a good impression! He is friendly, well spoken and has a pleasant demeanor.

He has been very responsive to any of my queries, always able to provide good advise and tailor products specially to my personal needs.

Highly recommended to anyone looking for a financial consultant!

Regards,
Ken Tso

Hui Li, Engineer

Hi Everybody Out There,

Shawn is very meticulous, patient and trustworthy. I am assured that my policies are handled by him.

Thank you so much, I’m blessed to be one of your clients !

Regards,
Hui Li

Chern Yu, Business Owner

Hi Everybody out there,

Shawn has been my advisor for close to 8 years now, ever since the start of my business.

He is always honest with his recommendations and tries to tailor his recommendations to my needs and never overselling.

I appreciate and value the knowledge that he shares.

Regards,
Chern Yu

Yandi and Family

Hi To Everybody Out There,

Shawn is no doubt, very professional in his work. He explains things very clearly, offer us the package that suit us the best. He willingly spends time to clear our doubts. We have one successful claim and Shawn makes it so comfortable and easy for us to claim. All the best for you Shawn, may god bless you in your life!

Regards,
Yandi, Evelyn and Kayleen

Cynthia Soh

Hi Everybody Out There,

Really thankful to have met Shawn as my Financial Consultant. Appreciate his thoughtful advice for my finance needs. Thank you for your patience and time as well.

Regards,
Cynthia Soh

Anderson & Family

Hi Everybody out there,

Shawn has been with us for almost 4 years since my son was born. We took up the health and protection insurance policy under his professional advice which he patiently explained "onsite" at our home after the office hours.

He is very professional and speedy in response to any of my query each time and no hard selling tactic and also periodically review our family insurance plan.

We are happy to have a good insurance advisor like him.

Thanks Shawn! You are more like a friend to us.

Regards,
Anderson Lim & Family

Wen Xuan, Civil Service

Hi Everybody out there,

Shawn is a very patient person and he ensure that the client understands the policies/plans before moving forward. This makes conversations comfortable and I believe others can benefit from him too !

Regards,
Chay Wen Xuan

Dr Surendra, Doctor

Hi Everybody out there,

Shawn is our friend more than an insurance agent. His skills are amazing especially combined with his receptiveness for help is the tip of the iceberg. He is an asset to any firm

Regards,
Dr Surendra Varman

Jason Quek, Engineer

Hi Everybody out there,

Shawn has been very professional as my Financial Advisor. Amongst his various virtues, his patience is the one which stands out the most for me. He is always willing to clear any doubts I may have, even if it may be repetitive at times. All in all, Shawn is my trusted Financial Advisor whom I will readily recommend to my friends.

Regards,
Jason Quek

Efficient and Professional

Hi Everybody out there ,

Shawn is an efficient and professional FP providing me advises from his years of experiences.

He is very friendly, patient when explaining the policies in detail and definitely knows his products very well.

He is also very prompt and helpful in answering all my inquiries regarding my plans and claims. For sure, it is not difficult to get in contact with him!

Blessed to have him as my FP! Thank you!

Regards,
Jeremy Koh, Sales Executive

Zhi Lin (Marketing Exec) & Dillon (Civil Servant)

Hi Everybody out there ,

Zhi Lin: Shawn is amazing! He is meticulous, trustworthy and always put others before himself. I feel assured that my policies are handled by him.

Thank you so much Shawn! Your clients are blessed to be served by you.

Dillon: Honest opinions and recommendations to which policy best suit me. Caters very well to my personal needs regarding different policies.

Regards,
Zhi Lin & Dillon Tay

Lijuan & Eugene

Hi Everybody out there ,

Shawn is very friendly and approachable whom at the same time is knowledgeable and efficient in answering my doubts.

During the entire process, Shawn has been assisting to expedite as well as making multiple trips for the ease of my convenience.

Thank you for your professionalism and your patient assistance during the state of confusion and helping me piece up all the informations together.

Regards,
Lijuan & Eugene

Christopher (Research Analyst) & Tess (Internal Auditor)

Hi Everybody out there,

Shawn is patient, knowleagble and friendly person who we are glad to have as our financial planner, and someone we can call a friend.

Being a friend, Shawn advises and recommends us aptly without pushing unnecessary products (like what we hear many in the market do), which we gladly appreciate.

From our professions, we have inclination to understand and get things that are “best in the market”, for which we are able to refer to Shawn and count on his advice.

It’s been a pleasure having Shawn as our financial planner and we are looking forward to having him around for a long time!

Regards,
Christoper & Tess

Jia Yao, Civil Servant

Hi Everybody out there,

I have benefited a lot from the services provided by Shawn. I like it that he will make frequent meet up and even create a summary of your current plans for quick reference.

Regards,
Chng Jia Yao

Zulfikar, Cabin Crew

Hi Everybody Out There ,

Shawn is well organized and well mannered. I feel comfortable talking with him about the finances and policies that I have.

He is able to help me sort and clear up my insurance in an easy and detailed way. I do like his nicely arranged table that he has created for my policies.

Overall, Shawn is well spoken and offers appropriate advice to me in a systematic way. He is efficient and experienced in delivering his opinion to make sure his clients are given the best that can be offered.

Regards,
Zulfikar

Erwin Sim, Navy Regular

Hi Everybody Out There ,

I felt that the service and examples quoted from Shawn was good. He is friendly and sociable. He's also thoughtful about going through what are the needs and wants in different parts of my life, which gives me the trust that my life is in good hands

Regards,
Erwin Sim

Jaye Nicole, Marketing Exec

Hi All out there,

I have benefited from the service provided as they were clearly explained to me. Shawn uses PowerPoint slides to explain to me supposedly complex theories of financial planning, this makes it very engaging. He is very detailed oriented and provides after-sales services

Regards,
Jaye Nicole

Steven Chew, Self-employed

Hi Everybody Out There,

Shawn is efficient, friendly, patient and knows his products well! Thank you for your help and I would definitely recommend you to anyone I know who needs the service.

Regards,
Steven Chew

Wan Ling, Secretary

Hi Everybody Out There,

Shawn explains the policy in depth and is simple to understand. The process was seamless and fast. Shawn is very efficient and is always contactable for queries.

Regards,
Pang Wan Ling

Bocheng, Sound Engineer

Hi Everybody Out There,

Shawn has been going the extra mile to ensure that my mother and I get the best coverage we can. He is helpful in answering my inquires regarding my plans and claims.

Regards,
Bocheng

Evans Soh, Investment Anaylst

Hi Everybody Out There,

Shawn is extremely helpful and sincere. He knows his products well and is very detailed. He's never difficult to contact - always a phone call away. Blessed to have him as my insurance agent.

Regards,
Evans Soh

Kejin, Engineer

Hi Everybody Out There,

Shawn has been very professional when providing me his financial advise. He is very patient when explaining the details of the policies that I have. Overall, I feel comfortable with Shawn being my Financial Advisor :)!

Regards,
Kejin

S. Nagasayi, Doctor

Hi Everybody Out There,

The service has been professional and I have been informed of possible alternatives too. Shawn has been friendly and easy to approach. The services have been delivered in a time bound fashion. Overall, delighted to have Shawn as our help in a new country. ( Moved here only 8 months ago - this was written in end 2016)

Regards,
Dr S
Nagasayi

Peter Hardstone, Teacher

Hi Everybody Out There,

I have benefited greatly from Shawn's kind help. I would not have come through all the necessary bureaucracy without this. Thank you !

Regards,
Peter Hardstone

Thomas Ong, Executive

Hi Everybody Out There,

Having known Shawn since my University days, his passion for helping others has been evident in his character and now put into action. Resourceful and committed, highly recommended to all.

Regards,
Thomas Ong

Hian Jing, Executive

Hi Everybody Out There,

Shawn is a responsible agent. Base on personal experience, he is willing to go the extra mile, providing the best client experience. One such example -he spent several occasions following up, just to answer my queries and ensuring I understand the plans. He made sure the recommendations were to my profile. More than a hardworker, the forementioned example is testament to his work ethics. am sure Shawn will do his utmost to provide the best experience and advice to his clients/to-be clients. Keep up the good work Shawn!

Regards,
Hian Jing

Zac Chew, Navy Regular

Hi Everybody Out There,

Shawn is efficient and trustworthy - it has been 4 years and he never fail to meet me when I have issues or queries. He is very down to earth and comfortable to talk too, know his stuffs well and knows what to recommend me when I'm lost. He's also proactive in handling my finance and insurance coverage.

Regards,
Zac Chew

DISCLAIMER

This is not an official AIA web profile. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of AIA Singapore Private Limited (Company Registration No. 201106386R) (AIA), any other agency, organisation, employer or company. Assumptions made in the analysis are not reflective of the position of AIA other than the author.

Shawn Koh Jia Ming, CFP®

Financial Services Manager

Shawn Koh Jia Ming, CFP®

Financial Services Manager

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