The Philippine Stock Market

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) has been around since 1927 and is considered to be one of the oldest in Southeast Asia.  Having been around for almost a century, I can't help but wonder why it has never gained popularity among Filipinos.  Just to give an example, I know of less than 5 people who own and trade Philippine stocks which is surprising, given that my line of work is in accounting and finance.

In college, I don't remember a subject which really emphasized how big of a deal investing really is and how starting as early as possible can make a world of difference.  Sad as it is, the education system prepares the students (soon-to-be cubicle zombies) to jump & dive, head-on and stay afloat in the vast and seemingly inevitable sea of employment.  For a third world country like ours, this is the reality but I sincerely hope that things would change soon and maybe someday, I don't have to my send my children (should I decide to have them) to a mightily expensive specialty college or university to learn about entrepreneurship, finance and other career options.

To be honest, I did not start trading until 3 years ago which is a shame considering how cheap some of the stocks were years before that.  It was only a couple of years ago when I started paying attention to my financial welfare and got interested in investing.

Back in the day, I had this silly notion that the stock market is only for those people who had tons of money to squander away.  But that's not really the case.  You can actually open an online account for Php5,000.  If you can afford an expensive phone, gadget, bag, shoes or gym membership, then there is no excuse for you not to be able save some money for investing.  If you don't know a thing about stock trading, then educate yourself. In this day and age, information is just a click away (All hail the internet!).  If you are connected to the net for most part of the day, then maybe you can cut some of the time you spend taking and uploading pictures of yourself in varying poses - from wacky to plainly idiotic. (Ooooops! Sorry, off the topic. Ha ha)

I'm not saying that I am now filthy rich because of stock trading.  Like any other other investment, there are risks to be considered and admittedly, the Philippine stock market is still in it's infancy compared to its counterparts around the world. But overall, the stock market is a good place to put your money in.  I have always looked at stock trading in terms of the typical savings account in a bank that pays interest of about half of a percent for an entire year (which is about 50 cents a month for every P1000 deposit).  If I can beat that 0.5% annual bank rate on a trade for stocks that I've been holding for several months or even a year, then I'll be more than happy to do the trade.  To some degree, it gives me a feeling of satisfaction having outsmarted the traditional bank.  Plus, there is something about owning a piece, no matter how small, of a well-known and established company.

As a starting point, below are some of the online stock brokers in the Philippines. Try to visit their websites and learn how to trade -- before or after you start taking pictures again? wahahaha ... Before, i hope, but it's all up to you. 

Just do it and let me know how it's working for you.

Happy trading!

• First Metro Securities Brokerage Corporation -- www.firstmetrosec.com.ph
• CitiSecurities, Inc. -- www.citiseconline.com
• BPI Securities Corporation -- www.bpitrade.com
• RCBC Securities, Inc. -- www.rcbcsec.com
• Accord Capital Equities Corporation --  www.philstocks.ph
• F. Yap Securities, Inc. -- www.2tradeasia.com

I Am Taking The Leap

I did it. I just handed over my resignation letter.  Yes, I am doing it.  I AM taking the leap.  There is no point in delaying it any further other than, of course, the never ending matter of financial liquidity.   But I’ve been dealing with this issue all my life so putting off the decision couple of months down the road will not make me any more or any less financially secure than I am today. 

So it better be now.  Never mind the fact that I still don't know where I'm exactly headed after this job.  Never mind the fact that I might be passing up opportunities on the job. 

It has to be now and I am forcing myself to make this active decision.  Before things settle down and once again, I get into this vicious cycle of comfort and security and allow myself to temporarily ignore this deep-seated feeling of discontent and desperation.

I am doing this now, while time and youth are still on my side. While I still can.  While I’m at a point in my life where I needed to feel that I am in control of things.  Who knows what sort of additional responsibilities life will slap me with tomorrow or next year, or the year after that.

And most importantly, I am doing this now because life is fragile.  We may be here, now, this very second, but may be gone the next.
   

I just hope that I will be brave enough not to take the leap and just jump from one convenient roof to another.  In the words of Chris Guillebeau, ESCAPE INTO SOMETHING --- that, I will try my best to accomplish.  How and until when, I still have to figure out.

But off I go.

“March on …. damn the torpedoes!”

Book Review: The Art of Non-Conformity by Chris Guillebeau

Title        :  The Art of Non-Conformity

      (Set Your Own Rules, Live the Life You Want & Change the World)    

Author   :   Chris  Guillebueau

ISBN      :   978-0-399-53610-6                                          

Price      :   Php659 (Powerbooks)

Release  :   September 2010

I bought the copy from Powerbooks in Robinson’s Manila – the store’s only copy which was, apparently, none-existing in their system when I asked the store clerk.  After several minutes of browsing through the shelves for some other interesting titles, I found it, unexpectedly.   I can’t help myself and had to show it to the store clerk whom I asked earlier.  She was apologetic but hey, no problem.  I have my fair share of working with crappy systems too  -- one of the reasons why I’m trying to find a copy of the book.

So, on with the book …

The flagship promotional line of the book goes something like:

“If you've ever thought, "There must be more to life than this," The Art of Non-Conformity is for you.”

I think no other description fits the book more than this line.   

The author made it clear, right from the very start, what his agenda in writing the book.  Personally, here’s my take on what he was trying to achieve -- that is, to help  his intended audience  (me, me and some other bunch of cubicle zombies) to at least get a head start on re-assessing how they are living their lives and take action to change it.

Here are some of the good and interesting points in the books.

•        Suggested exercise on writing down a “Perfect Day” – sort of hourly detailed schedule of your ideal day.  The goal is to give you an insight about yourself, what you enjoy doing, what you value in life and perhaps, identify what you want to accomplish in life.
•         Stories of real people who defied conventions.
•         Some of the author’s personal experiences while travelling all over the world.
•         Stop-Doing List (instead of the usual To-Do List)
•         The author’s take on formal education and the alternative.
•         Giving back to others, not out of guilt but out of gratitude for being born under better circumstances and having better options.
•         The author’s concept of “Legacy Work/Project”- … building something that will provide tremendous value to others and even outlast your own life.  He stressed how important it is to start on this as early as possible and not when we are close to hitting the dirt.

With fair enough warning from the author, the book is not for everyone.  For some, it may sound indulgent and frivolous.

For those that are fortunate enough, for those not unfairly burdened by financial obligations and needs, for those who have at least one shot at completely turning their lives around, for those who are living in quiet desperation, I would very much recommend this book.

My favorite line in the book:  “When faced with uncertainty about taking a leap of faith, take the leap.”

For more information about the author of the book and his works, click the link to his website located in the section: My Road Maps and Pit Stops.  

You Don't Need A Job, You Need Guts ebook by Ashley Ambirge -- To Buy or Not to Buy?

In recent months, I've been on the look out for stuff in the internet that can inspire, educate and give me enough confidence to do a complete "crossover" from the corporate world. This ebook is one of the things I stumbled upon.

A 128-page, US$40 ebook written by Ashley Ambirge. Aside from being useful, most of the reviews say it was written in a sassy manner making it more engaging to the reader.

For someone trying to save up for the "crossover", is it worth my P1500++ hard-earned money?

Is it applicable in the Philippine setting?

Do share your thoughts if you've read the book.

I'll sleep on it a couple more nights and if ever I get around convincing myself to buy it, I will let you know if it's a good buy or not.