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Rene'e Life Planner, Plaza Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur (2026)

17/08/2025

This year, Persatuan Pelindung Harimau Malaysia (RIMAU) celebrated Global Tiger Day 2025 in Gerik, the gateway to tiger country in our northern state of Perak.

31/12/2023

Back when tigers used to smoke…

As 2023 draws to a close, I am ending one chapter of my life to embark more fully on another.

After two rather more difficult years in my battle with metastatic Breast Cancer, I’ve decided to retire my role as an Insurance/Takaful Life Planner with Great Eastern.

It’s taken me a long while to realize that stepping out of this role is not a failure on my part. It is instead, a necessary and now overdue change that will allow me to focus on me once more, so that I can do the things I want to do with whatever time I have left.

And what I really would like to do at this point in my life is contribute more time and effort towards saving the Malayan Tiger through my involvement with RIMAU.

I joined RIMAU as Honorary Secretary about a year ago. In this time, I have come to learn more about the Malayan Tiger and the struggle for its survival in a world that sees forests as revenue rather than a safe haven for its flora and fauna.

I can only hope that my contributions to this worthy cause will make a positive difference as we work to protect this majestic animal from the threats of deforestation and poaching.

To all my friends and connections, I wish you Happy New Year and an abundance of joy in 2024.

31/08/2023

Passive Income and Financial Freedom :
Part 2 - the Scheme.

When investing in residential strata property, it is sometimes possible to get a good deal from a developer on unsold units. A deal might include such things as a waiver on legal fees and other special discounts. This means that you would need to pay a smaller down payment and borrow less.

But that’s as far as such deals should go.

If a salesman or broker is advising you on how to borrow more from the banks than you are eligible for, then an alarm bell should go off somewhere in your head to warn you that something is not right.

When that same salesman or broker is advising you to rent out your apartment unit as individual rooms and then telling you to increase your rental return by turning the living room into additional bedrooms for rent, then you should know that something is very wrong.

Especially when the salesman or broker is part of the organisation that wants you to appoint them as your rental agent.

This type of scheme has become rampant in recent years and is wrong on so many levels, including:

❌ “Bought without capital” implies that banks are providing 100% housing loan facilities to buyers of these residential properties, which goes against Bank Negara rules. [For the first two properties, the LTV (Loan-to-Value) Ratio set by Bank Negara is 90% and for the third property and above, it drops to 70% of the net value of the property.]

❌ The rental of the apartment on a room for rent basis through a third party rental agency introduces security and safety issues for residents on the whole.

❌ The addition of rooms for rent to replace the living room, dining room or other areas within the apartment goes against the Development Order which was approved for construction by the local authority.

Thankfully for those of us living within Kuala Lumpur City, a new circular issued by DBKL - Pekeliling COBKL 2023/01 - which came into effect on 1 August 2023, partitioning of living rooms to add rooms for rent is clearly NOT allowed.

This will no doubt have implications for those investors who bought into this type of scheme with the promise of Financial Freedom waiting just around the corner..

To these investors, I will say the same thing that I said in yesterday’s post.

There are no short cuts to building wealth. It takes discipline and consistency and perhaps a little bit of luck.

(To be continued…)

Photo: An example of a living room that has been turned into an additional bedroom for rent. Looks nice, you think? But, in contradiction to the approved DO, it deprives the rest of the apartment of natural daylight (not to mention use of the balcony).

30/08/2023

Passive Income and Financial Freedom :
Part 1 - the Myth.

“Successfully bought properties worth RM2.5 million without capital. A step closer to financial freedom.”

Have you ever come across this kind of testimonial before?

Are you tempted to fork out good money to learn the “secret” to this kind of real estate investment “success story”?

Well, if you are, here are my thoughts on why you should avoid this kind of investment scheme.

✅ Passive income - what is it?
Passive income is unearned income that is acquired with minimal labor to earn or maintain (Wikipedia).

An example of passive income is the interest or dividend earned when you save or invest your money in a savings plan or investment account. A property can also provide passive income in the form of monthly rental. This is what is meant by the phrase “making your money work for you”.

✅ Passive income - what is it NOT?
Passive income is NOT “free money”.

Investing in stocks or a unit trust fund requires capital. So does investing in property. For most people, capital comes from savings accumulated over time or from a one-off windfall such as money from an inheritance.

Sometimes, it is possible to generate the required investment capital by taking a loan. This is especially true when investing in property.

The purpose of taking a bank loan is to speed up your eligibility to invest. If you are looking at a property that is selling at RM500k at developer’s price, how long would it take you to accumulate that much money in savings? A bank loan allows you to proceed with your investment sooner, provided of course you qualify for the loan.

✅ Passive income - short or long term?
Based on the above, you can see that passive income is a long term goal. It is not about getting rich quick so that you can “retire” by age 30!

Remember, a bank loan allows you to get in the game sooner, but it is a debt that must be paid. If the rental income covers the interest payments on the loan, then your cost of funds is essentially nil. But the principal or borrowed amount is still yours to pay in monthly installments over the term of the loan which could be up to 30 years.

So, the next time somebody tries to tell you that you can enjoy financial freedom by investing in a property deal with them, be sure to understand what that really means.

There are no short cuts to building wealth. It takes discipline and consistency and perhaps a little bit of luck.

(To be continued…)

04/08/2023

A week or two ago, I did a review with my Financial Planner to check the current status of my financial plan. The review included taking a look at my insurance policies.

At the moment, I have three kinds of insurance policies still in my portfolio.

1️⃣ Medical card.
As I’ve mentioned before, I got my medical card some years ago before term policies up to age 100 with no lifetime limits were available in the market. My medical card cannot be upgraded as I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2001 and am now living with metastatic Breast Cancer or mBC. Still, my medical card is a keeper. Some financial protection for hospitalization and surgery is better than no protection.

2️⃣ GIO life cover.
I have a few Guaranteed Issuance Offer (GIO) life insurance policies that will pay out a decent sum of money upon my death. The main purpose of these policies is to cover outstanding loans that I have taken out on property that I own. There is a possibility of surrendering one or more of these policies once my loans are fully paid up, especially the GIO with a step-up premium which increases every 5 years. But I may also decide to keep the policy if I can, as a back up should I be forced to borrow money in future to cover the cost of treatments for mBC. In this way, any personal debt that I still have at the time of my death, will not transfer to my family.

3️⃣ Endowment.
My endowment policies will mature at 80 years old next birthday, injecting some fresh funds into my retirement plan should I live that long. In a way, I’m still saving for retirement even in my retirement!

My construction management professor at University used to tell us students that a plan needs to be flexible enough to change over time. Hence, a construction plan must always look messy with rescheduling and other amendments scribbled here and there (in those days, we still wrote everything by hand).

I think Insurance planning and, in the bigger picture, a Financial Plan is the same. It should change as we progress through life and our goals, risk appetite and aspirations change.

It should also be flexible enough to change in the face of an unexpected challenge such as a setback in our career or business plans.

Have you stopped to take stock of and review your insurance portfolio lately?

15/07/2023

Investment Linked Insurance - Advantages

Yesterday’s post explained the risks or factors that might cause an ILP to lapse if the value of the investment fund becomes insufficient to sustain the policy.

However, an ILP also has additional advantages that policyholders can enjoy during the policy term (subject to terms and conditions of course).

These include the following:

1️⃣ Single premium top-up.
Policyholders have the option to invest extra cash-in-hand in the policy for an improved fund value.

2️⃣ Premium holidays.
Policyholders may opt to enjoy a premium holiday which allows them to take a break from paying premiums for a certain period of time without the policy lapsing. During the premium holiday, units from the investment-linked fund will be sold to pay the insurance charges.

3️⃣ Partial withdrawals.
Policyholders may withdraw a portion of the fund value from time to time. This is a useful option to have in case of a situation arising which requires access to immediate cash.

Note that taking a premium holiday or making a partial withdrawal will reduce the fund value and may affect the long term sustainability of the policy.

In any case, before opting to invest in an ILP, policyholders should evaluate their options carefully and satisfy themselves that the selected ILP meets both their protection needs and risk apetite. They should also be satisfied that they can afford the premium throughout the term of the policy.

*Disclaimer: This post is intended to provide general information only and is not an inducement to invest in an investment linked insurance policy or ILP. Policyholders should be aware that return on an ILP is NOT guaranteed.

14/07/2023

Investment Linked Insurance - Risks

As mentioned in yesterday’s post, an ILP offers a combination of insurance protection and investment in a Unit Trust fund(s) of the policyholder’s choosing.

It is important for policyholders to be aware that they bear the investment risk in an ILP and to know what these risks are.

The value of the investment fund in an ILP must be sufficient to ensure continued insurance coverage for the full term of the policy. Some of the risks or factors that could reduce the fund value include:

1️⃣ Not paying premiums when they are due.
2️⃣ Poor investment returns due to market performance.
3️⃣ Choosing not to increase premiums when increasing the amount of protection e.g. through the addition of riders.
4️⃣ Choosing not to increase premiums or perform a single premium top up when there is an increase in insurance or other charges.
5️⃣ Making partial withdrawals from the fund.

If there is a risk that the value of the investment fund may become insufficient to ensure continued insurance coverage for the full policy term, policyholders may take the following actions to prevent the policy from lapsing:

🔹 Increase premiums or perform a single premium top up.
🔹 Reduce the insurance coverage either by reducing the Basic Sum Assured or by surrendering one or more riders.

Next up: What are some of the advantages of an ILP?

*Disclaimer: This post is intended to provide general information only and is not an inducement to invest in an investment linked insurance policy or ILP. The risks described here should not be considered as an exhaustive list of the risks which policyholders should consider before investing in an ILP. Policyholders should be aware that return on an ILP is NOT guaranteed.

13/07/2023

Investment Linked Insurance.

What exactly is an investment linked insurance policy or ILP?

As the name suggests, an ILP combines Life Insurance with an Investment component.

By combining insurance protection with investment opportunities, an ILP allows policyholders to enjoy lower premiums and greater flexibility in selecting different types of coverage such as critical illness, accident and hospitalization, in addition to the basic cover for death and total permanent disability.

Premiums are used to pay for insurance and other charges with the balance invested in specific Unit Trust funds of the policyholder’s choosing based on their risk apetite.

Like other types of investments, an ILP involves exposure to investment risk as the total value of the plan is linked to the unit price of the selected investment fund(s).

While there is a potential for higher returns compared to traditional endowment or whole life policies, an ILP also has no guaranteed Cash Value as this depends on the performance of the fund(s).

It is important therefore for policyholders to understand the risks involved and how these risks may impact the fund value and sustainability of the plan.

Next up: What are the risks when investing in an ILP?

*Disclaimer: This post is intended to provide general information only and is not an inducement to invest in an investment linked insurance policy or ILP. Policyholders should be aware that return on an ILP is NOT guaranteed.

Image: iMoney Editorial

11/07/2023

"My work medical insurance policy doesn’t cover the total cost of my operation.”

This was the harsh reality faced by a friend yesterday as she waited for the Guarantee Letter that would allow her to be admitted to the ward.

As much as I hate to say it, it is a fact that many Malaysians do not know or understand the limits of the group insurance cover provided by their employer.

During my employment as a Senior Manager with a toll highway concession company, the employee hospitalization benefits that I enjoyed had the following limits:

🔹Hospitalization and surgery: RM50k per year.
🔹Outpatient treatment: RM7k per year.

At the time that I was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer in 2001, this was sufficient to pay for my mastectomy (without reconstruction) at a private hospital here in KL.

However, the cost of chemotherapy alone exceeded the limit on outpatient treatment by more than RM20k and there was still radiotherapy to pay for after that.

Thankfully, I had my own personal medical insurance which reimbursed me for the costs that I had to pay out of my own pocket as they were not covered by my employment benefits.

Many people choose not to take up a personal hospitalization plan because they feel they can depend on the medical insurance provided by their employer.

But employers may not provide insurance cover that is sufficient for a more serious medical emergency. With medical inflation in the double digits, it is also possible that what was sufficient a few years ago may have become inadequate over time.

Furthermore, what happens to those who are no longer employed as a result of retrenchment, retirement or other factors? If they do not have their own medical insurance policy then they will become totally dependant on government hospitals which are already stretched in terms of capacity.

While there is no easy solution to the overall issue of affordable healthcare, my advice to anyone who is working and earning a decent salary is to put your own personal hospitalization plan in place. Get whatever you can afford at the present time as something is always better than nothing and it will be possible to upgrade your medical insurance as your financial situation improves.

07/07/2023

Hibah and Takaful.

Some people use these two terms interchangeably. However, they are not quite the same thing.

Hibah is an Islamic concept that allows a person, during his lifetime, to voluntarily gift an asset to another person upon his death. The gift must be specific in nature and includes assets such as a house or cash in a savings account or investment fund.

Takaful, on the other hand, is a system of insurance based on Islamic principles whereby a group of participants mutually guarantee each other against loss or damage.

Under the Islamic Financial Services Act 2013, a Takaful participant may nominate a beneficiary to receive the Takaful Benefit as a gift upon his death through the concept of conditional Hibah. In this way, the Takaful participant can ensure that his heirs will receive the Death Benefit without having to go through the process for property inheritance.

Why is this important?

The sudden loss of a loved one brings with it more than just grief. It also places the family of the deceased in a difficult financial position, more so if the deceased was the main breadwinner of the family.

Hibah allows those left behind to continue living comfortably by providing for the following:

1️⃣ Income Replacement
2️⃣ Debt Cancellation
3️⃣ Education Fund

Have you prepared for your family’s future in the event of your untimely death?

03/07/2023

BMI and insurability.

Insurance/Takaful companies in Malaysia use the Body Mass Index or BMI to determine a person’s insurability based on their weight in relation to their height.

The four BMI classifications are as follows:
🔹Underweight: less than 18.5
🔸Normal: 18.5 - 24.9
🔹Overweight: 25.0 - 30.0
🔸Obese: more than 30

If you are either Underweight or Obese, your application for an insurance policy or Takaful certificate may be subject to a higher premium or declined altogether.

Why?

Although the BMI is not a perfect indicator, it is however generally accepted that an Obese person with a BMI >30 has a higher risk of developing a serious medical condition such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer.

Similarly, someone who is Underweight with a BMI of 18.5 or less, suffers an increased risk of experiencing health problems such as malnutrition, a weakened immune system, anaemia and chronic fatigue.

What can you do then, if your BMI falls within the classification of being either Underweight or Obese?

One option is to apply for a Guaranteed Issuance Offer (GIO) which does not require a medical exam or factor in your health condition. However, a GIO typically does not cover health insurance for hospitalization and surgery or diagnosis of critical illnesses.

Alternatively, if you are borderline Underweight or Obese, you may want to consider taking a little time to improve your BMI through proper diet and exercise before submitting a proposal
for insurance/Takaful cover.

Be mindful however that choosing this alternative requires a commitment from you to achieve your target BMI within a specific time frame of say three to six months.

Have you measured your BMI lately?

29/06/2023

Was at P Hospital yesterday to pick up my new meds.

Met these young agents from Great Eastern Life in the lobby.

It’s tough, approaching people who are complete strangers to explain why life insurance is important.

In a hospital setting, some might be a little bit more aware why a medical card is a must these days. Watching a family member or friend go through a medical emergency and realizing how expensive treatment can be, is a real eye opener.

This is one reason why many life insurance companies/agencies might set up an information counter at a hospital.

It’s also a good way to disseminate information about new insurance plans and products offered by the company.

When’s the last time you reviewed or upgraded your health insurance plan?

Rene'e Life Planner

17/08/2025

31/12/2023

31/08/2023

30/08/2023

04/08/2023

15/07/2023

14/07/2023

13/07/2023

11/07/2023

07/07/2023

03/07/2023

29/06/2023

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