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Showing posts from February, 2014

14 Call Center Interview Questions & Answers

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The call center industry is one of the fastest growing in the country these days. As recently as ten years ago, there were only a few call center agents and the word call center was hardly ever used in the country. Today, almost every family has at least one member working in the call center industry. The reason for this boom is partly economics. In the Philippines, low paying jobs are very notorious and while call centers set up shop here because of the low labor costs, Filipinos decide to work for the call center industry because it pays higher than average wages. Consider this: if you are an average worker with an entry level position, you probably are getting paid seven to ten thousand a month; meanwhile, an average employee in the call center industry with an entry level position will get around fifteen thousand pesos a month, plus free dental and health benefits (HMO). Call centers also will pay your SSS (Social Security), PAGIBIG (home building fund), and PhilHealth (health ins...
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The Different Kinds of UITFs and How to Choose the Best UITF For You

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There are several kinds of UITFs available. In this post, I will be introducing the different kinds of UITFs available in the market these days. Basically, we can classify them based on what instruments they invest in. Stock or Equity UITFs. These UITFs invest in stocks. Some examples are the BDO Equity Fund, BPI Equity Value Fund, and the RCBC Equity Fund. Stock or Equity UITFs are high risk and very volatile. In 2008, the Union Bank large Cap Philippine Equity Fund lost about 45% but gained 85% the following year. Ideally, those who will invest in Stock or Equity UITFs should not touch their investment for at least 10 years. This will give the UITF time to recover from losses. This kind of UITF is best for people investing for their retirement. Bond UITFs. These UITFs invest in bonds. Bonds are essentially loans. When someone buys a bond, they are lending money to a government, or a company. In exchange for that money, the government or the company will pay a cer...
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What is a UITF and How do UITFs Work?

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Unit Investment Trust Funds or UITFs are very popular among Filipinos. It has become a vehicle for the middle class to take part in the stock market without putting out a lot of money or studying stock trading. I started investing in UITFs when I started having disposable income three years ago. When I first read on UITFs, I found it disconcerting that everything written on blogs, in an attempt to demystify UITFs was either overwhelming (with information) or too technical. I also noticed that most articles about UITFs don’t explain the different kinds of UITFs, often sticking with just explaining Stock or Equity UITFs (UITFs that invest in stocks). In this post, I shall try to attempt to explain what UITFs are in a manner that is not too technical and less overwhelming, and I shall be limiting it to Stock and Equity UITFs. In another post , I will be talking about the different UITFs available . So please note that since I will be talking about Stock or Equity UITFs only in this a...
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In Search of the True Allies Wonder Peanuts

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I was going to have a three day weekend last weekend and decided to visit my sixty eight year old friend in Camiling. Since I was going to Camiling in Tarlac, I decided to pass by San Fernando in Pampanga where they make the most delicious salted peanuts ever called Allies Wonder Peanuts. My initial plan was to get off at SM Pampanga, buy Allies Wonder Peanuts, and go back to SM Pampanga to catch a bus to Camiling. My plan was flawed. There were no buses going to Camiling from SM Pampanga and the store that sold Allies Wonder Peanuts was still 2 jeepney rides from SM Pampanga. But I decided to just brave the situation, buy my Allies Wonder Peanuts, and find a way to get to the Dau bus terminal where (I was told) buses pass by going to Camiling. I initially took a jeepney going to SM San Fernando where I was to take another one going to the Allies Wonder Peanuts store. I was dropped off at the market and had to walk a few meters to SM San Fernando. Walking on a street without any mo...
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What Happens if your Stock Broker in the Philippines Closes?

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Recently, I was asked by a friend from the office what will happen to her stocks if COL Financial closes. Her plan is to hold on the stocks in her COL Financial account for a very long time. I happen to also have a COL Financial account but since I don’t intend to keep the stocks in my COL Financial account for a very long time, I really didn’t bother to check what will happen if COL Financial or any other stock broker in the Philippines closes down. In the Philippines there is a company which acts much like the PDIC in which it ensures investors’ stocks and cash left (cash balance) with stock brokers, it is called the Securities Investor Protection Fund or the SIPF. The PDIC is a company that insures your bank deposits should a bank close down. READ:  12 Tips on How to Save Money COL Financial is a member of the SIPF. The cash balance that you have with COL is insured through the SIPF up to 100,000 pesos only. Please note that this limit only applies to the cash balance in y...
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