Overseas Filipino workers are nowadays called our nation’s modern-day heroes. They work hard in a foreign land in the hopes of providing a better future for their family back home.
Payday for them doesn’t mean going for a shopping spree. It usually means heading to the nearest remittance center to send money to their loved ones. Foreign currency allows greater purchasing power for Pinoys, meaning there’s a larger opportunity to save and invest.
My family and I lived in Bahrain. Though my parents had a lucrative career that gave us a very fruitful life, reality still sunk in. They realized that they cannot work abroad forever. Sooner or later, they will need to retire and won’t be earning as much as they used to.
So whether you want to retire soon or you just want to go back to your motherland as soon as possible, here are 8 Best investments for OFWs which you might want to invest your hard-earned money in.
1. Stock Market
Investing in stocks is risky. But if you know the fundamentals and can invest properly, you can manage your risk and ride through the ups and downs of the market.
If you want to equip yourself with the basic concepts and opportunities of stock market investing and online trading, there are online trading platforms such as philstocks.ph and COL Financial that offer free seminars on weekdays and weekends.
Moreover, the good news is that there are now several stockbrokers who cater to OFWs. An example is COL Financial which allows Filipinos living abroad to open an account without the need to visit their office.
Another online platform is Etoro and I’m sure you’ve seen it in ads. Copytrading is where you get to ‘copy’ the trades of your chosen stock market trader. By copying them, you get to earn money as well.
Why is the Stock market a good investment for OFWs?
Investing in the stock market has been proven to be worth the risk. History has a proven track record on how much your money can grow through dividends and capital appreciation, but of course, you need to put in the effort of learning and studying.
2. Unit Investment Trust Funds
UITFs are pooled investments that OFWs can participate in for as low as P1,000. They offer instant diversification for your money. The range of choices is also wide, with different levels of risk that can cater to your preference.
If you have a Philippine bank account, then you could be just a couple of steps away from investing in UITFs.
Fortunately, banks have allowed opening a UITF account online. Yes! Personal appearance in their branches is not needed.
3. Mutual Funds
Similar to UITFs, if you want instant diversification, you can invest in mutual funds. You can manage your investment risk by choosing among several low, moderate, and high-risk mutual funds.
Thankfully, there are also mutual fund companies that accommodate OFWs today. If you already have a COL Financial account, then you can immediately invest in mutual funds through their COL Fund Source facility.
You can also open an account with a mutual fund company such as Philequity, ATRAM, or Sun Life Financial.
Why are UITFs and mutual Funds good for OFWs?
Active participation is not really required here, meaning you don’t have to monitor it several times a day or week unlike investing in the stock market. You leave all that work to a professional Fund Manager who will manage your investment for you.
4.Crowdfunding Investment Opportunities
Crowdfunding cooperative enterprises in the country allows you to invest a small amount of money to become a part-owner of a business franchise, a farm business, and many others.
Online farming follows the concept of crowdfunding or the practice of funding a project/ venture by pooling many small amounts of money from a large number of people, typically online.
Investing in Agriculture can now be done online. There are online platforms such as FarmOn and Philcrowd. Although watch out though. With the onslaught of the pandemic, it might take a while before you reach your ROI.
Why is Crowdfunding a good investment for OFWs?
Stocks, UITFs, and Mutual Funds may be too mainstream for you so why not try crowdfunding? Again, active participation is not required, just be vigilant in investing because scammers are everywhere.
5. Real Estate
OFWs usually lean towards real estate investments. Probably because these are tangible assets compared to stocks and mutual funds which are paper assets. However, most of them fall into the trap of buying a property that only becomes an idle asset.
If you really want to INVEST IN REAL ESTATE then see to it you do any of the two:
have the property rented out or;
sell the property when its value goes up.
Fortunately, the popularity of short-term rentals via Airbnb and Agoda Homes makes it easy for OFWs to earn money quickly by renting out their idle apartment or condo units.
Why is real estate a good investment for OFWs?
Real estate has the potential to yield great returns. Also, if you end up selling your property, you will have a large cash reserve in the millions.
6. Condo Investing
Similar to the previous one, investing in condominium units is always an appealing option for OFWs searching for a haven in the heart of the city.
The quality and convenience that condo units provide is perfect for those who seek a low upkeep dwelling, with high-end amenities, seated within the metro where access to surrounding industries is easier.
However, more than the money matters involved in buying one, there are other factors that will come into play to assess the viability of a condo to meet your needs.
7. Franchising
If none of the above is your cup of tea, then franchising is your next bet if you really want to invest on a business. Franchising let’s you handle a business that has a proven ‘tried-and-tested’ system already.
Again, just be sure that you have someone hardworking, willing to learn, and trustworthy who can run the franchise while you are working abroad.
Why is franchising a good investment for OFWs?
While you are away, you can let your family handle the franchise business. Guide them to be more productive in managing the business and earning income from it instead of merely having them depend on your remittances to cover their daily expenses.
Reminders before you invest…
It’s good that you’re thinking about investing. But before you put any amount on anything, be sure that you have your Emergency Fund that will serve as your backup fund in case things don’t go too well.
Lastly, never invest in something that you don’t understand. OFWs are a target of scammers. So always do your due diligence and study first, before investing your hard-earned money.
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