THE Philippine stock market ended at a two-year high on Thursday.  The market is buoyed by good economic prospects, as well as a strengthening Philippine currency. Hopefully, we can see the index breach the 4,000-mark soon, while there are forecasts that the peso will strengthen further to P43 or even P42 to a dollar. It is widely believed that our country has good fundamentals which are being reflected by some economic indicators. President Aquino aims to expand the economy by as much as 8 percent, not bad at all. Asian economies are expected to outperform American and European markets and if our current situation is any indication, I’d like to believe in such a bold statement.

Those who took positions and made investments last year are smiling today; they have since experienced a big boost in their portfolios. Those who experienced losses during the crash of 2008 but stayed in the market have begun sleeping comfortably again. Will the current condition usher in a bull run as many analysts predict? Only time will tell. Risk-management techniques such as diversification, cost averaging, modern portfolio, etc., are all prudent steps to make risk more bearable and, at the same time, take advantage of the surge in the markets today.  While there is always the risk of market correction which will temper, if not reduce or wipe, the gains will always be a real issue, I will not rain on our parade just yet. My view is, if you are investing for the long term, continue to do so regardless of market conditions. Reviewing your portfolio vis-à-vis your investment objectives and staying within your risk tolerance should always be your primary plan of action.

There are other investments one can always consider: fixed income, money market, real estate, business ventures, gold, precious metals, art, etc. Creating your investment portfolio is best if you always consider other instruments. However, there is one investment that I always recommend: investing in memories with your loved ones.

Sometime ago, I interviewed a good friend and one of our pastors in Victory Church, Paolo Punzalan. He told me something that struck a chord, and one that I will never forget. He said it is his goal to invest in memories with his family. While spending money for a family vacation can affect your cash flow and even your portfolio, the gains you will get from such an investment can’t be measured by any financial standard. While our investments can go south and we risk the chance of losing our hard-earned monies, we can never go wrong when we build on the memories we have with our loved ones by investing time and money on them. I fondly remember all the family vacations I went through growing up and my kids always talk about the trips we take. It’s not just vacations that we can invest in—it can be as simple as going to the mall, park, movies, and especially going to Church and praying together.  As we invest, we must always put God in the center, and we can be assured that our investments will grow: in money and in relationships, as well.

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deuteronomy 6:4-7, NIV).

Appears in Business Mirror, 09.14.2010

The 3rd No Nonsense Seminar on Finance was a successful one. To those who attended, my sincerest gratitude and I pray that you learned something valuable. To those who helped me promote this event, my thanks too!

God bless.

… conclusion

Obviously, the 3^rd major mother who influenced me and continues to influence me is the mother of my children. My partner, my best-friend and my wife:  Maria Mia Mapa – Tiongson. I met my wife when we were both very young (college) but I was attracted to her character more than I was with her incredible beauty. I saw many things I liked about my mom in her and they were similar in many ways, a gentle frame housing an incredibly passionate spirit. She was also like my grandmother in the sense that she was very entrepreneurial and very steadfast in making our common goals a reality. She was like my mom and my grandmother and more. She always had great ideas about what to do and would not be afraid to thread difficult paths if she so believes in it.

I was pushed into being an entrepreneur at a very young age because of Mia. When boyfriends and girlfriends would talk about dates, outings gimmicks, Mia and I was talking about business opportunities. Marriage did not dampen the fiery spirit of my wife, she was even more passionate because she was now doing things for her family. Mia was always sensible in many things, especially in financial matters. While many will look at me as the financial coach I profess to be, the real expert is not me but my wife. My endeavors brought peaks and valleys to my family and in most cases, it is the efforts of my wife that smoothen the bumpy road I take them into. All the mistakes I made in my adult life were because I did not listen to my wife or I did not get her counsel. My wife can put an accountant to shame when it comes to tracking and recording money and like her mother and my grandmother, she also did not take up any business course in college (she is a licensed interior designer).

My wife successfully established two business ventures already and for over a decade, a multi-awarded insurance professional and financial adviser. She juggled successful careers while running the household and putting up with an idiot like me. Although she is also a Registered Financial Planner like me, Mia’s approach to finances is practical, sensible and devoid of ridiculous theories that only complicates matters. My wife is also great in transitioning from careers and her biggest transition is to stay more at home now, schooling our boys (home schooling), watching a close eye on my teenagers, balancing the little money I manage to get while putting up with an egghead like me. Although she is in transition, I can guarantee that Mia will come out with bigger ventures and like her past endeavors; she will stamp it with her seal of excellence — while I still continue to be an egghead and an idiot. My wife is a great in many things and I love her not only because she is extremely beautiful, not only because she is a terrific mother, not only because she is a great partner, not only because of her innate sensibility, not only because she makes me feel loved day in and day out (even on days I don’t deserve it)… I love her so much because she loves Jesus more than she loves me and her kids. She is more than the light of my home, she is the heart that pieces us together and I feel the love of God because I see her love for God.

My wife, mother and grandmother are incredible women of character and of love but more so, they are incredible women of faith and have dedicated their lives not only for their families but more so, to God. These women though they can stand on their own and gleam with pride because of what they can do chose to be in the shadows of her husband and never took the limelight away for themselves even if they so deserve. These incredible mothers not only influenced me and many others, they molded us in many ways – allowing us to be great at what we do at the expense of their self. No award, gift, reward or blog can give them the honor they deserve – it is the way we live our lives that will truly bring honor our mothers.

“A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.” – Proverbs 31:10-12, NIV