Investing 25K per year from Malaysia
Investing 25K per year from Malaysia
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Discussion

tom5678

Original Poster:

79 posts

167 months

Thursday 28th February 2013
quotequote all
ETA: Investing, not investigating!

I'm moving to Malaysia in August. Whilst there I will be looking to save the equivalent of £25,000 per year, rising to 35/40K after the first year. On returning to the UK the money will be used to purchase a house. I'd like little risk and the money needs to be accessible with 6 months notice without incurring any penalties. I will be paid in MYR.

Any help or advice is much appreciated.

Tom


Newc

2,195 posts

212 months

Thursday 28th February 2013
quotequote all
Assuming you know approximately when you're returning, so you can time the maturity dates right, then the lowest risk approach is to swap to GBP when you receive the cash, then put it in to UK build soc / bank fixed term bonds and apply to receive interest gross, or do it via the channel islands. This will get you 2% to 3% at the moment.

Higher returns can be achieved for a higher risk profile.

tom5678

Original Poster:

79 posts

167 months

Thursday 28th February 2013
quotequote all
Newc said:
Assuming you know approximately when you're returning, so you can time the maturity dates right, then the lowest risk approach is to swap to GBP when you receive the cash, then put it in to UK build soc / bank fixed term bonds and apply to receive interest gross, or do it via the channel islands. This will get you 2% to 3% at the moment.

Higher returns can be achieved for a higher risk profile.
I was hoping there would be a way of achieving a slightly higher rate of return? UK interest rates are so crap I (perhaps wrongly) assumed that investing elsewhere would be better?

ringram

14,702 posts

278 months

Thursday 28th February 2013
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Currency risk is going to cloud matters.
Plus counterparty risks with foreign entities if you are looking to invest with them etc.

That being said, if it was me, Id be looking at an offshore account to house the savings in a good jurisdiction and investing in some solid global stocks and bonds. I wouldn't put anything into the UK (except a bullet). Also the offshore account might work well for you in the future. Don't forget you will become a non resident for tax purposes.

Newc

2,195 posts

212 months

Thursday 28th February 2013
quotequote all
tom5678 said:
Newc said:
Assuming you know approximately when you're returning, so you can time the maturity dates right, then the lowest risk approach is to swap to GBP when you receive the cash, then put it in to UK build soc / bank fixed term bonds and apply to receive interest gross, or do it via the channel islands. This will get you 2% to 3% at the moment.

Higher returns can be achieved for a higher risk profile.
I was hoping there would be a way of achieving a slightly higher rate of return? UK interest rates are so crap I (perhaps wrongly) assumed that investing elsewhere would be better?
Well yes there are, but not at the zero capital and fx risk you seemed to be looking for.

What's your risk appetite? Would you for instance be happy to invest in something that might lose you 20%?



tom5678

Original Poster:

79 posts

167 months

Thursday 28th February 2013
quotequote all
Thanks for your replies.

What return is possible with a potential loss of 20% attached?

amokwa

478 posts

227 months

Friday 1st March 2013
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Look into UK portfolios that are invested on the Ghanaian stock exchange, good returns at the moment.

jeff m2

2,060 posts

181 months

Friday 1st March 2013
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amokwa said:
Look into UK portfolios that are invested on the Ghanaian stock exchange, good returns at the moment.
That's a hefty bet on cocoa futures smile

Maybe 50 /50 Global large cap and Global real Estate.
With six months to go stop contributions and keep on deposit.

Don't get kidnapped.


Newc

2,195 posts

212 months

Friday 1st March 2013
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tom5678 said:
Thanks for your replies.

What return is possible with a potential loss of 20% attached?
Well, -20% or more for a start...

Sorry, not trying to be facetious, but I feel you're coming at this the wrong way. In very broad terms, the risk/returns rise as you move through
- cash accounts
- government bonds
- funds
- index trackers
- single listed stocks and bonds
- simple derivatives
- speculative stocks, eg Falkland oil prospectors
- FX trading
- complex derivatives, eg with an overlaid FX component
- venture capital
- spread betting

So you have to be comfortable with the product (rule #1 - never invest in something you can't explain to your grandmother), and you have to be matched on the timings (index trackers will generally be up over a 5 year period but might well be down in any one 12 month period).

If you have any pointers on preference and timings I'm sure the collective here can then make some suggestions for you to research.





anonymous-user

84 months

Saturday 2nd March 2013
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ANZ bank in Singapore, you can do everything over the internet, and close enough to get to if you want, in Malaysia I like public bank, I would not use Hsbc they are too arrogant and think they get expat business by right, Std C and City bank are in country and ok.

anonymous-user

84 months

Saturday 2nd March 2013
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When you get here do not invest in anything 'advised' by a 20 something Aussie