Could I use the money contributed voluntarily to my CPF?

The General Election has generated much more interest in the CPF:

YT:
hmmm.....if I already use the cpf for my first hdb. Now, I got cash to top up my OA. Can I use the OA to buy my second property.....say, a condo?

AK:
Yes, of course, You could use the money in your CPF OA for purchase of a second property. It doesn't matter how the money found its way into the OA.

You could do Voluntary Contributions to max out the annual Contribution Cap, you could do it and see the money flowing into your OA, SA and MA. If your MA is maxed, then, the money flows only into your OA and SA.

I think this gives those who think they might need their CPF-OA money for purchase of a second property (or for some other purposes) some flexibility while earning higher interest. If they decide not to, then, simply keep the money in their CPF accounts and the money goes towards retirement funding. For people who have decided that they want to make contributions to their CPF for retirement funding purposes, then, it is probably better to do a MS Top Up to their SA which also gives them income tax relief for the first $7K contributed per year.

The CPF is a self-help institution. If we are able to help the system to help ourselves, we should give it serious consideration.

Important note:"If you have already used CPF for a property and wish to use CPF for your second property, you can only use the excess CPF Ordinary Account savings for your second property after setting aside half of the prevailing Minimum Sum in your Special and Ordinary Accounts. The total CPF allowable for your second property is also capped at 100% of the Valuation Limit."(Source: http://www.moneysense.gov.sg/)

Related post:
Should a 20 yo do a VC or MS Top-Up?

Is InvestX Congress 2015 value for money? It depends.

When a reader asked me for my opinion about InvestX Congress 2015 which is happening next month, I said I feel it is a value for money event and she said whether it is going to be value for money depends on how much she would be able to absorb. 

Then, she sent me this sticker:

I think that is a very responsible way to behave and my respect for the reader went up a notch.

However, having been a teacher before, I know it is also my responsibility to be as clear as possible in my delivery, be it spoken or written. I tried my best to ensure my students understood me.

Even as I blog and talk to myself, I try to be coherent or I might not understand myself. So, I certainly hope that, as a blogger, I have been an effective communicator too.

Certain topics are more difficult to communicate, especially those which are more technical. It could be very challenging for the speakers then, especially if they were to give a speech to an audience who are not familiar with the topic and its jargons. From some of the feedback from readers regarding InvestX Congress 2014 about how they had difficulty understanding one of the speakers (whose topic was interesting but the details very technical), I know this to be true.

Well, at InvestX Congress 2015, I don't know the other speakers but I know Victor Chng and Rusmin Ang quite well and have seen them in action many times before. For those who have gone for their Dividend Machines workshop, they would know that Victor and Rusmin are very good trainers. They know their stuff and they deliver well.

AK with his readers at a Dividend Machines workshop.

Dividend Machines is, of course, about investing for income. I believe Rusmin is going to talk a bit about that at InvestX Congress 2015. However, he and Victor have interest in investing in growth companies which is something rather different from pure income investing. They will be talking more about this at InvestX Congress 2015.

Dividend Machines cost almost US$250 per person and I thought it was great value for money for what was delivered. What about the early bird tickets at S$99 each for InvestX Congress 2015 which is also a full day event? 

See why I think it is a good deal?

InvestX Congress 2014.

In case you would like to know, yes, AK will be at InvestX Congress 2015. 

There is going to be a 1 hour panel discussion at the event and I will be on the panel. So, if you are going to the event, I will see you there. 

Oh, if you have decided to go, please get your tickets early. Don't pay the full price. Yes, you would expect AK to say something like this.

Get your early bird tickets: HERE.

Date: 
17 October 2015, Saturday.

Time: 
9am to 6pm (Registration starts at 8.30am).

Venue: 
Suntec Convention Centre, Level 3, Summit 1.

"Whether socks or stocks, I like buying quality merchandise when it's marked down." Warren Buffett.

Related post:
AK is a panelist at InvestX Congress 2015.