Rules to Live (And Save) By

I’ve highlighted 10 easy financial planning principles to guide expats to their financial goals. Don’t downgrade your lifestyle when you retire. Aim to earn at least as much as you do now, adjusted for inflation We often find that folks are willing to compromise with future earnings and accept that they will earn less on a monthly basis when they retire. We believe … Read more

Houston, We Have A Problem

Comparing investment risks between here and abroad Dear Sven, What advice do you have for a Vietnamese/US dual citizen who wants to buy a house in the US instead of saving money in Vietnamese banks or investing in domestic assets in such unstable conditions? And what about renting the house while staying in Vietnam? I’m … Read more

Stocks, Mutual Funds and ETF’s

Dear Sven, I read one of your previous articles where you explained the potential benefits and pitfalls of buying stocks on the Vietnamese stock exchanges. You mentioned a few companies that could potentially produce attractive returns for investors. I am a novice investor and do not have the time to manage a portfolio of stocks … Read more

Setting up workplace pensions and insurance for employees

Dear Sven, I have been running a successful diving school in Vietnam for many years now and have a loyal team of employees, most of whom are Vietnamese. I am worried that when they want to retire or are unable to work due to illness or injury, they will not have sufficient savings/insurance in place … Read more

Bull & Bear: Top stocks to watch in Vietnam

Dear Sven, I’ve been living in Saigon for a number of years now, and have always been interested in using a bit of my money to buy shares in the Vietnamese stock market. I’ve read that the government will lift the restrictions on the purchase of local stocks by foreign investors starting September 1. I … Read more

Look East

India discovers a strategic partner in Vietnam When Idian and Vietnamese politicians sign agreements, listen carefully: you’ll likely hear entrepreneurs rubbing their hands. Companies in Vietnam have been thriving since the economic reforms of Doi Moi swung open its doors to international trade in 1986. Nearly 25 years later the Association of Southeast Asian Nations … Read more

The One Percent

What the Vietnamese Nouveau Riche are doing with their money “If I have to describe the Vietnamese wealth management industry in one word, that word would be ‘primitive,’” says Afonso Vieira, the managing director of Total Wealth Management, a Singaporean company with offices in Singapore, Tokyo, Shanghai and Ho Chi Minh City. “You can ask the … Read more

How much debt should I have?

Dear Afonso,How much debt should I have? Of course the answer is none. But every individual has a unique situation, and there are no definitive answers that can guarantee financial success for everyone. We can use developed countries’ lending rules to limit the amount of money one can borrow as a rule of thumb for … Read more