Are you financially healthy? Do you have a fair living or just depend yourself in debts? Are you thinking about future plans like saving for educational plans, retirement plans and bank savings? Let’s figure it out how financially healthy you are via cnn’s financial quiz. (Click the link, and comment us the result)

Part of the questions are:

• Housing Payment- How much is your monthly housing payment? (including your mortrages, rent, property and insuranc

•  Debt- How much is your monthly debt payment? (including your mortrages, loan payments and credit card debts)

• Emergency Expenses- How many months do you have in an emergency account?

• Diversification- How much of your portfolio do you have invested in the stock market?

• Company Stock- How much of your portfolio is invested in your employer’s stock?

• Life Insurance- How much of life insurance do you currently have?

• Retirement Savings- How much are you currently savings each month? How much do you currently have in your retirement savings

After answering the exam a result will pop up on your screen based on the answers you encoded.

Quiz from money.cnn.com

Our economy is shaking for the past years that affect the businesses, employment and our investors itself. This is  a crucial time for investors, however, there are still ways on how to manage keeping the business move, here are some advices:

• Make sure you have well-established goals- Make sure that you have well defined investments objectives, time horizon and risk tolerance. If your priority is to protect your interests and preserve opportunities, then you should assess the quality of your investment decisions and progress to the next level of investment management.

• Financial advisers can help- If investors have had a good discovery conversation with the adviser, they understand the market has its ups and downs. by making sure your portfolio matches your risk tolerance, your adviser ensured the investments match up with your ability to whether turbulent times.

• Be patient- Be patient. There’s no denying that the markets are extremely volatile. Next, stay invested. the biggest gains often occur in the early stages of a market turnaround, so you could miss out on the possibility for considerable growth if you’re sitting on the investment sidelines. Finally, look for opportunities. the market decline actually gives you a chance yo buy quality investments at lower prices.

• Not the time to sell- Consistent regular investing (peso cost averaging) during all types markets is still considered the best long term strategy fro investors. selling investments in a down market goes against the basic principle of investing: “buy low..sell high. Selling low “locks-in” your losses.

• Market will rise again- We are currently facing unprecedented times as far as the financial markets is concerned. The only way to guarantee a loss is to sell your investment when its down. Your greatest advantages in investing are time, diversification and peso cost averaging.

• History provides guidance- The best strategy to help you enjoy the next recovery and reach your long-term goals is to stay invested, look for opportunities, and be patient. We cannot predict downturns and recoveries, but we can be prepared for the. The best way to prepare is to focus on quality investments, completely diversify your portfolio, and invest based on your individual goals.

• Use your head- In a volatile market, be mindful of how you are making your financial decisions. Most people make poor financial decisions when they let their emotions lead.

*Tips from ALFM Family of Funds

1. Keep a record or memorize your credit card number and your issuing bank’s contact details which can be found at the back of your credit card.

2. If you are issued a PIN (Personal Identification Number) for ATM Cash Advance Transactions,  memorize it and destroy the mailer on which it was sent to you. never change your PIN to combination that could easily be identified such as your birthday.

3.  Keep a copy of your transaction receipt so you can match them against your monthly statement of account. Report any charges that you do not recognize immediately or within the designated timeline stated in your statement of account.

4. Never share your credit card details and PIN to any person. Transactions that use your credit card number and PIN may be charged to you.

5. Notify your issuing bank of any changes in your contact details and address.

6. Personally hand over your credit card to the cashier when paying for transactions.

7. Always make sure that the amount on the transaction slip is the actual amount of your purchase before you sign. Never sign a blank transaction slip.

8. Make sure to secure your card while shopping. If your card get lost, immediately call your issuing bank to avoid paying fraudulent transactions.

9. To ensure that you are not logged on to a spoof website, check the URL address starts with “http”. Moreover, there should be a padlock icon located at the lower right portion of the webpage to indicate that it is a secured website.

10.  Your issuing bank will never call you to ask for your credit card or your account information. Should you receive such calls or letters, always call your issuing bank on the number at the back of your credit card for verification.

11. Endorse or sign all credit cards as soon as they are received from the bank.

12. Keep a list of your credit card numbers and the card company’s call center/ emergency hotline numbers in case of diputes, questions or to report a lost or stolen card.

13. Never allow the use of your credit card as reference (credit card number) or as an identification card.

14. Take note whether your card is held for more than the regular time. Be alert when it is not returned to you after an unusually long period.

15. Keep your credit card in a secure place.

*This article is published in Philippine Star, March 25, 2009.

Despite of the economic downfall felt in the country today, Social Weather Stations showed their latest survey that there are lesser Filipino Families suffered from hunger this year.

From 23.7% or 4.3 million familes who suffered from hunger last December survey, the statistics showed 8% low to  15.5% or 2.9 million this year. This was despite of theincreasing unemployment and left and right layoffs from the company.

SWS asked 1,200 household families across the country this question: “Nitong nakaraang tatlong buwan, nangyari po ba kahit minsan na ang inyong pamilya ay nakaranas ng gutom at walang makain? (In the last three months, has your family experienced hunger and did not have anything to eat?)”

The survey also shows that residents in Mindanao and Metro Manila  were the least hungry. In Mindanao, statistics shows a great development from 33.7% number of hungry families down now to 11.7% or 490,000 families.

From 23% estimated hungry families last december, Metro Manila bounce back to just 17.3 or 430,000 families.

Luzon’s statistics also decreased from 20% last years now down to 15% or 1.2 million families. Visyas also showed a decrease from 20.7% last year to 19.7 or 730,000 families this year.

The government were glad on the survey reports shown by SWS and credited that the government’s programs against proverty and hunger are indeed doing great.

We just wish that this good developments will continue and finally elliminates hunger in the country in the coming years.