The wait is finally over. National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) has officially announced National Education Savings Scheme (Simpan SSPN) dividend rate for the previous financial year. If you’ve been following the news, you’ve probably seen the figure circulating. But as a licensed financial planner, I want to help you look beyond the headlines. Because …
Let me guess. You walk into Lotus’s or AEON with a rough budget in your head — maybe RM300 for the week’s groceries. You grab the usual stuff. Biscuits for the kids. 3-in-1 coffee for your night shift. Sweet soy sauce for your ayam masak kicap. Then you reach the cashier. Total: RM412. And your …
If you feel like your ringgit isn’t stretching as far as it used to, you’re not alone. From the kopitiam to the petrol station, the steady climb in prices is a daily reality. Inflation isn’t just an economic term; it’s a silent force eroding your purchasing power, making long-term goals feel distant and monthly budgets …
If you are a dividend investor, Malaysian Real Estate Investment Trusts (MREITs) have likely been a cornerstone of your portfolio. They offer predictable passive income and historically came with a convenient tax feature: a flat 10% withholding tax on dividends. However, a significant regulatory change has taken effect, fundamentally altering how REIT distributions are taxed …
A client came to me recently, visibly frustrated. Both she and her husband had diligently contributed RM8,000 each into their child’s SSPN account—RM16,000 in total—expecting to claim RM16,000 in tax relief. Instead, they discovered they could only claim RM8,000 between them. She looked at me and said: “Why didn’t anyone tell us the rules changed?” If …
Every November, my calendar fills up with the same conversation. Clients message me in a panic, looking for last-minute receipts to lower their tax bill. They’ll buy a new laptop, go for a dental check-up, or renew their medical insurance. And while those are all valid strategies, I always ask them the same question: “Have …
The tax filing season for YA2025 has started, so I have prepared this article for you as a reference. The images below show the personal tax reliefs available to be claimed. Make sure you have the receipts or proof when you claim the respective relief. Keep the proof for at least seven years in case …
You didn‘t go through years of medical or pharmacy school to be broke. Yet, here you are: juggling shift work, on-call duties, and perhaps a growing sense that your financial life is on autopilot—or worse, stuck in survival mode. In my work with Malaysian healthcare professionals, I meet two distinct mindsets. There’s the houseman desperate …
A few weeks ago, a client in her late 20s sat across from me. Pharmacist. Single. Good salary. She looked at her projected retirement number — RM2.8 million — and asked me a question that stopped me cold: “If I save RM2.8 million but never get to travel, never enjoy time with friends, never take …
I had a consultation with a senior healthcare professional last week. Let’s call her Dr. Aina. She is 55 years old, at the top of her field. Her days are long and her schedule is full. When she sat down in my office, she didn’t want to talk about expanding her practice or opening a …
