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The Exchange - a Supplement of npTribune| February 2015
SPECIAL
Are Youths Earnin
Stocking Up for the Future It is not uncommon to see youths earning at least four figures from stocks. Yonas Ngaturi yonasngaturi@nptribune.com
While his peers could be consulting lecturers, 19-year-old Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) Accountancy student Uma Nandan Jeyaratnam is consulting his stockbroker on prospective investments. Nandan has approximately made $1,400 in virtual stocks in two years - a seven per cent return of his US$20,000 (S$27,030) investments in stocks. This is an approximate that is expected to increase as Nandan plans to invest long term. “I can quite confidently say that the only way to achieve financial freedom (no longer needing to work to support your lifestyle) is to invest,” he says. In today’s context, stocks have become a very low barrier-to-entry field, primarily due to technological advances. Aspiring traders and investors can look up the Internet to get started on stock trading and get tips from experts.
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“I can quite confidently say that the only way to achieve financial freedom (no longer needing to work to support your lifestyle) is to invest.” - Student, Uma Nandan Jeyaratnam
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For example, American high schooler Connor Bruggemann, was able to make US$290,000 (S$391,978) in a year through trading on his laptop and mobile phone. Initiatives from the Singapore Exchange (SGX) are enticing more youths to go into the world of stocks. Investor Education Day organised by SGX, aims to teach students the risks and returns of investments. SGX also partnered up with Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Singapore to hold basic investing lessons. “It benefits the young traders and investors substantially from the high quality and structured education format delivered by CFA and event speakers,” says Mr Amos Tay, 38, stock remisier. However, the performance of the stocks can be easily affected by external and internal forces like the country’s economic climate and the company itself. “The most obvious risk is that if inappropriate strategies are deployed, or if one invests in a company with a poor balance sheet and unstable financial condition,” an option trader who only wants to be known as Mr Huang Chi. However, Mr Liang Tan, 49, a business owner, reckons that the risks provide good lessons for younsters “One lesson that my child learnt from this is the concept of money. It’s hard to earn but so easily lost with one mistake,” he says. “I would encourage youths to start stock trading as soon as they can. It gives an insight how economics and businesses work. More importantly, it offers an alternative source of income, ” he adds.
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It is No Double Trouble for Working Youths
Youths portray a positive insight in working part-time during Rachel Yeo rachelyeo@nptribune.com
Piles of clothes are casually dumped on her hands as she scrambles to allocate a fitting room for eager shoppers to try out clothes. This is part of a typical workday for Siti Fazira, 18, who works in retail store Dorothy Perkins while pursuing her diploma in Integrated Events Management in Republic Polytechnic (RP). Fazira also manages the cashiering booths and handles customer enquiries. She works part-time at least twice a week, sometimes immediately after a hectic day of classes. It is common for students to work part-time, especially during the holidays. Schools are even encouraging students to work part-time. In Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP), students have a myriad of part-time jobs to choose from on the homepage of NP’s learning board, MEL. However, many students are still shying away from extra jobs during school weeks. Only 20 per cent of youths surveyed online work part-time during school periods. In addition, 74 per cent of respondents who do not work part-time cited school commitments for their reasons. Half of the respondents also do not encourage students to work during school periods. “Working can be very exhausting, especially if I have to complete my projects and assignments hurriedly before I rush down to work,” Fazira adds. “I thought I could work nearby school after lessons because it feels convenient,” says Bridget Bay, 18, an Infocomm Security Management student studying in Singapore Polytechnic (SP). “However, my school and work schedule always seem to clash so I just decided to concentrate on school.” She used to work in food and beverage (F&B) and retail stores during school periods, but eventually left after a few weeks because it took a toll in her time management. Since Fazira began working in March 2014, she has been paying for her own expenses and has stopped taking money from her parents.
“I think it is something I my friends also work because themselves financially instead o Juggling with school is als many of them remain unfazed commitment. Ng Yu Wei, 18, and Video diploma, sacrifices duties at Café Mondo in Orch “Work eventually became is fun to work with my colleagu According to the Ministr employment firms now offer part-time work. Companie arrangements too, but face the appropriate time slots. Café Mondo’s staff consi students. Ms Widayawati, 33, student part-timers to text th group every week. Then, she c “I would prefer to hire timetables,” says Ms Widaya timetables, she will be able to more easily. When students cannot m to last minute projects and understanding, as she knows th Working youths also en footsteps, as long as one has th “I think it’s okay to work your school work well,” adds Y
