Author: Burn Gutierrez

How To Convince Your Valentine Date To Invest

So you are still single. And you are a part of the less than 2% of the investing Filipino population, and a staunch advocate at that.

But you are aware that your Valentine date tomorrow is a spender and knows nothing about investing. You are hoping that the ash marked as cross on your forehead this morning will give you discernment and wisdom to finally convince the apple of your eye to learn and decide to invest. (For Christians who attended the Mass or worship services today, Ash Wednesday: Did you just go to the church to be marked with the ash on your forehead?)

You believe it’s your mission to spread the good news of investing. Hallelujah! But how are you going to do that to tomorrow? Continue reading How To Convince Your Valentine Date To Invest

Should You Rely Your Retirement on SSS/GSIS Pension Alone?

My grandfather died when I just entered my first year in college. That was a year after he persuaded me to take the scholarship exams entitled to all residents and high school graduates of my mother’s hometown in Pampanga. He was very patient that he even accompanied me throughout the application process. He even waited outside the examination venue until I finished.

The reason? I didn’t know much about the Kapampangan dialect except for “mekeni”, “nanung lagyu mu?”, “ebun”, “masanting”, “maragul”, “manyaman”, and…never mind. 😛 He had to be there for me to be my translator.  To speak the dialect was supposed to be a proof that I am a legitimate half-Kapampangan. A requirement to become eligible for the scholarship. But technically and biologically-speaking, I’m a Batangpangan (Batangueño–Kapampangan) born in Manila.

To cut the story short, I passed the scholarship exam and went on to finish college with top honors. I placed 46th…among 55 students. 😛 And I owed everything both to my parents and to my departed grandfather for believing that I could get the scholarship and finish it. Continue reading Should You Rely Your Retirement on SSS/GSIS Pension Alone?

I Trade With My Loose Change

If you are an active trader and you happen to read my post on how my stock portfolio looks like, you would say that I’m a very boring investor.

My 3-guard combo stock market strategy is made up of three parts where the biggest part is dedicated to long-term investing. This is where I buy shares from two of my favorite companies: Ayala Land (ALI) and the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).

Guess why I chose them for my long-term investing. Cost-averaging for these two companies is like feeding green leafy vegetables for my portfolio’s longevity. 😛

The second biggest part is intended for my medium-term investing which uses the strategic averaging method. For the past few months, I have First Philippine Holdings (FPH), Meralco (MER), and Metro Pacific (MPI) that I buy below prices and continue to buy until target prices are hit. And then sell them all. But I may consider one of them to be part of my long-term investing soon. Continue reading I Trade With My Loose Change