Young that time, I witnessed 2 of my neighbours' fathers retired at age 55 as that was the official retirement age then.
I hit 55 this year.
I just had a "wu liao" (nonsensical) thought.
Imagine in an alternative universe, where we have high youth unemployment as economy "hentak kaki" (like in Taiwan?), and we don't have problems producing babies since that's the only "entertainment" when we don't have career aspirations as deterrent.
To make way for youths, everyone has to retire by age 55.
And you can take out ALL your CPF at age 55. You know, how it was meant to be when created by the founding fathers.
No CPF minimum sum, no CPF Life.
How?
Would you be glad and happier?
Or would you suddenly feel a bit sheepish trash talking big daddy all these times?
Especially when you realise you don't do too well on your own... You prefer to have a pet owner - woof, woof!
Ever wonder why NS55, CDC, and other big daddy "handouts" nowadays always come in the digital form?
For IT dinosaurs like me, I surely miss those hardcopy paper voucher days!
Have you also noticed the booths around high traffic shopping areas offering smart phone courses for senior citizens?
Yup, big daddy laying the groundwork.
Singapore fell behind China with WeChat Pay and Alipay - Mainland Chinese tourists coming to Singapore a decade ago were surprised Singapore so "behind"!?
Yup, when I was in Shanghai, they were already using mobile payments at the wet markets.
Once big daddy realised it, we quickly developed our own PayLah! and other apps.
The benefit is that big daddy can better target and monitor their handouts do what as they are intended.
For eg, if $300 is given to lower income families to offset their grocery bills, the recipient cannot then use the digital $300 to buy Toto or enter our casinos integrated resorts...
Big daddy knows!
As for the ugly side, like "kiam siap gui" boyfriends who after a breakup, demand gifts given to their girlfriends back!?
Trudeau's Canada very shamelessly froze the bank accounts of those citizens who financially supported the truckers' strike.
That's low.
Of course, that would not happen in Singapore! (I not stupid; I don't want to be invited for kopi)
Anyway, we are living in interesting times!
In my lifetime, I can witness a new innovation in money.
The last time money had such an innovation was when the Chinese invented paper money!
And that's even longer than when policemen wore shorts...
It's fun and refreshing to find some "ang moh" financial YouTubers do play the role of the 2 dots in the Tao symbol!
Those of us who are snake oils (day job working as sales, marketing, advertising, PR; etc...) would cringe with all the hyperbole dished out.
It's true.
The best way to make money attending all these "get rich" seminars and masterclasses, is to "steal with pride" how they conduct the trainings, "creatively" pour the course materials into new bottles, and then start selling yourself as the next "financial guru" - "If you believe me; follow me!"
Of course, it helps you can speak and do motivational talks in public.
Those who can't, can do YouTube videos. I mean you just have to talk into the camera. No?
As for those who are camera shy, well, there's still blogging.
You'll be surprised how many people are willing to spend money on courses without knowing the real name of the trainer or how he/she looks in real life.
It's like a blind date!
I kid you not.
Then again, these "trainers" with brown paper bags over their heads charge the lowest... Ar ber then?
Those who dare to show face and use real names, of course can and should a charge a lot more!
Why?
That's because "potential" students can CSI the trainers' background and credentials.
Think about it for a moment. If you drive a Mercedes or BMW, would you take financial advice from someone taking the Comfort Delgro bus?
If you stay in a condo, would you attend property courses from someone who stays in a HDB flat?
P.S. That's why "financial gurus" would rent villas, sports cars, take pictures in front of yachts they don't own to project that "success" to "bei kambings".
Those of you in real estate or insurance sales, you know the trick of wearing fake luxury watches, right? Fake it until you make it!
