24 June 2019

End of Life - Death Certificate

Sharing some nuggets with dealing with End of Life issues ...

Upon death, there is a need to obtain a Death Certificate.  Usually, if a person passes away at a Restructured Hospital, the Death Certificate is automatically issued.  But if a person passes away in a private hospital, then you need to bring the Cause of Death letter issued by the hospital to a Police Post to register for an official Death Certificate.

Other things required:
- NRIC of the reporting person
- NRIC of the person who has passed away

The Police Officer will punch out the NRIC to void it.  There is no fee involved.

And you could politely ask the Police Officer if he could make a few copies of the Death Certificate. Be nice!  You are going to need a couple of copies for the following purposes:
  • Application from Town Council to book a space for the wake within the estate
  • For family members who need the cert to apply compassionate leave
The original Death Certificate is needed if you are doing a HDB tenancy transfer.

Incidentally, the Death Certificate is also attached with a permit from NEA for cremation. This permit is needed by the Undertaker to apply for cremation services on your behalf.

Related:

17 June 2019

Switched to Keppel Electric, Saved Some

The liberalization of the electricity supply market has thrown up a multitude of options for power suppliers and consumers. Each of the suppliers has tried to differentiate from the rest. So of course, that makes it really hard for consumers to figure out what works best for them.

I decided to go with Keppel Electric on their fixed price plan, betting on the assumption that prices will only keep going up. I mean, does it ever come down? Ever?

Got a bit confused with the billing system.  During the transition period, I continued to receive the ol' SingPower bills. These were for the rest of the services - e.g. gas and water. It took some getting used to Keppel Electric, and I thought they weren't billing me initially. I eventually realised that I was receiving the Keppel Electric bills. They had gone all 'digital' - strictly via electronic means. That took some getting used to as I am more used to checking my bills that come in the through snail mail.

Setting up payment was quite simple though. Their Internet application is basic and simple. It was straightforward to set up routine GIRO or Visa payment arrangements.

So am I getting any saving by switching?  My average utility bill (power, water and gas) was averaging $230 prior to this. Since switching (based on 3 months data), it looks like it's now averaging $200. So presumably the switch has resulted in $30 saving from the energy bill.

p/s: The energy bill is on the high side due to heavy use of aircon in this household.

14 June 2019

What the fish? There goes Boardroom out the door!

What the fish.

Boardroom's parent company, G K Goh, through its Salacca vehicle, is carrying out a "voluntary unconditional cash offer". That's another good stock exiting.

Can you feel the increasing preponderance of the recent trend?

  • Good company bought out and exits from SGX.
  • Shitty company hitting rock bottom and suspended.

At this rate, all we will have left soon will only be the mediocre.

Sigh.

On the bright side, that's more spare cash with which to hunt another fish.

10 June 2019

Phone Smashed in the Land of the Rising Sun

Wifey and I went to Japan for a couple of weeks, not too long ago. Hanami season and all that. Yeah. Nice. Really. Should go if you have not. Go, go, go.

Our last stop was back in Tokyo as we were flying out from Haneda to return home.

So there we were, on the last evening of our wonderful holiday, standing at that amazing crossing at Shibuya. Throngs of people, including dumbstruck tourists like us, adding to the bloody mass, er mess.


And of course, holding on to our mobile phone to take wonderful pictures for momento. [Who still use cameras these days?]

Then, all of a sudden (deja vu of primary school essays?), some random guy ran past us, bumping into my wife along the way. Shit. Literally, coz that's what wifey said.

Guy in suit. Looked like a local. He apologised. BUT DID NOT PICK UP THE PHONE THAT HAD GONE FLYING!  WTF.  Bloody hell.

On hindsight, I realised why you shouldn't pick up someone else's phone that you had caused to go flying.

The phone was all cracked up!! We were not laughing. Should have seen the look on wifey's face.  She was damn angry with me. She couldn't get angry with the random stranger mah, coz he had run away.  Haiz, time to replace her iPhone.

On a more positive note, we were reminded that we could claim damages from our travel insurance. Oh yes. Forgot all about it. And that's another story still waiting to unfold.

06 June 2019

Quit Like a Millionaire, by Millennial Revolution



I'm quite a fan of Millennial Revolution and have been following them for awhile They are on FIRE! The couple (FIRECracker and Wanderer) hails from Canada and travels the world quite a bit.

While the circumstances of Canadian investment and personal finance options may be different, nonetheless, there are useful ideas that are useful and relevant.

I heard them on the radio once when I was in Australia. Or was it New Zealand? I can't remember. [Early signs of Alzheimer? *shrug*] It was so fun to hear them live. Bubbly interview.

They have just published a book that they have been working on, entitled "Quit Like a Millionaire". And it is at the pre-ordering stage.

So here's a shout out for them.  I am so getting a copy.

p/s: There are some freebies for pre-orders. Check out the instructions at their link above.

03 June 2019

$3,000,000 for Retirement; How about $1,750,000 instead?

So there was an article in the papers a few weeks back that said a $3,000,000 portfolio is needed for retirement. That seems daunting. Scary. Seemingly beyond the possible.

I presume that magic number was derived based on a need to generate $120,000 per year for 4% extraction from the $3,000,000 portfolio.

But this can be reduced significantly for a Singaporean couple who can max out their CPF accounts. If both husband and wife (assuming of same age) can meet the Enhanced Retirement Sum ($250,000 to $275,000), they can collectively generate close to $50,000 per year from age 65 from CPF LIFE payouts (CPF LIFE Estimator).

That being the case, the investment portfolio will only need to generate the remaining shortfall of $70,000 per year. That means a portfolio of $1,750,000.  Seems far less daunting.

So all in, that is a combined investment portfolio of $1,750,000 investment portfolio, plus $250,000-$275,000 each in CPF-SA account.  More do-able?

For more info on CPF LIFE:  How much CPF LIFE payout will I receive?

p/s: Ok ok, so if you math it up, it should be $2,250,000 to $2,300,000 in terms of net asset value.