127 Some ways to save children's education funds in foreign currencies

Some ways to save children's education funds in foreign currencies	为孩子教育基金储蓄外币的几种方法
For parents that intent to send their children to study oversea, the ultimate currency to be used would be the target country's currency. The conventional method to plan education fund is to save in RM, and then convert them as their child is ready to go oversea. That is to save over a span of 10, 15 or 18 years.	对于想送孩子出国留学的父母们，最终要用到的货币还是当国的货币。最传统的做法是全部储蓄马币，然后在孩子准备出国的时候兑换当国货币。这样大概要储蓄10，15或18年。
That worked fine for many parents for many years. But in 2014, many parents felt the pain when USD appreciated against MYR, suddenly, from RM3.30 to RM4.50 to a dollar. That was a sudden increased of 40%. God knows how many children's education were delayed or diverted elsewhere.	那个方法确是行得通。但在2014年，美元兑马币忽然从3.30升高至4.50兑一美元，这情况让许多父母不知所措。天晓得多少学子必须延迟大学教育或是易地就学。
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We know it is hard to predict currency exchange rate. But today's parents actually can better prepared their children's education funds. They can actually start saving part of the money in foreign currencies. For example, a parent may save in a combination of RM, USD and SGD. When the day come, he may then decide which currency to use to pay the college fees. If parents has intentions to save in foreign currencies, some ways I can think of are as below.	货币兑换率确是不易预测。今天的父母能做的就是做好预备。父母们可以为孩子们一开始就储蓄外币。例如，父母们可以储蓄马币，美金和新币。当孩子要上大学时，再来决定要使用那个货币。若是父母们确有这样的意愿的话，以下是我可以想到的几种方法。
a) Convert RM to foreign currency and keep at home. This must be the easiest, but also the most dangerous and the least productive. By easiest I mean a parent may just drop by any money changer when he has the money and the rate is attractive. By least productive I mean the foreign currency will not be earning any interest. By dangerous I mean it is most susceptible to theft or even termite destruction.	a) 兑换外币收藏在家。这必定是最容易的方法，却是最危险也是最没有生产力的方法。最容易是因为父母只要有钱且兑换率划算，即可到货币兑换商那儿兑换外币。最没有生产力是因为钱不会生钱啊。最危险则是因为钱收在家里容易遭盗窃，甚至遭白蚁蛀食。
b) Convert RM to foreign currency and keep in foreign currency account at banks. This is an upgrade version of a). At least in the banks, the money is more secured, and the banking system has the track record of history of deposits. This makes it easy when the money wants to be remitted to pay for college fees.	b) 兑换外币收在银行。这是a）的升级版。把钱收在银行当然更加妥当，且银行将有所有的存储记录，这样当要汇钱出国的时候就容易许多。
c) Directly save in foreign currency in that particular country. This apparently only applicable for parents has accounts overseas, maybe they have employment or business there. Like many parents in JB work in Singapore, so naturally they have savings account in Singapore. So they can keep the money there for their children. However, if the money is just sitting in FD, the interest would be a miserable 1% perhaps. Here again, parents has to look for better way to grow the money.	c) 直接把外币收在当国。这比较适合在国外有银行户头的父母们，或许她们在当国有工作或者生意之类的情况。比如在新山的父母们挺多是在新加坡工作的，所有自然而然会在新加坡拥有储蓄户头。那他们就可以把钱留在那里。但是如果钱只是留在定期存款的话，利息就只要区区的1%左右。父母们应该寻找更好的生钱方法。
d) Save in foreign currency through offshore insurance. For parents that work in Malaysia, one alternative would be to save through offshore insurance. Companies like Investor's Trust SPC, Hansard International, Premier Assurance Group and Archipelago Insurance do offer such policies. Policies holders would simply pay their premium monthly over a span of 10, 15 or 20 years.	d) 透过离岸保险储蓄外币。对于在本地工作的父母，其中一个选择就是透过离岸保险来储蓄。离岸保险公司如 Investor's Trust SPC, Hansard International, Premier Assurance Group 以及 Archipelago Insurance 都有这类保单。保客只需每月供款10，15或20年即可。
e) Save in foreign currency through Phillip Global Wrap Account (PGWA). Another alternative for parents working in Malaysia would be to use Phillip's investment account - PGWA. Take for example of parents that work in Singapore. They can invest in PGWA to grow their money. They may not have the time during office hour to go to the bank to inquire about investment matters. But in view that PGWA account opening is in Malaysia, parents can actually approach us during weekends, holidays or off-days.	e) 透过Phillip Global Wrap Account (PGWA)储蓄外币。另一个选择是透过辉立公司的投资户头PGWA来达到目的。例如在新加坡工作的父母们即可把他们在新加坡的储蓄投资在PGWA来达到资本增长的目的。一般上这些父母们无暇在工作时间到银行办理投资事宜，但因为PGWA乃是在本地开户，所有父母们可以趁着周末、假日或是休息日来办理。
f) Invest in unit trust funds that accepts foreign currency. There are some funds available locally where the fund house accept other currencies on top of the RM. We called this "multi-currency funds". Example are Affin Hwang SGD Income Fund (MYR Class) and Affin Hwang SGD Income Fund (SGD Class). In this example, client can invest using RM or SGD. Since this fund invest in Singapore securities, client's investment will grow in tandem with Singapore's economy. And if client were to invest using SGD, he can avoid any negative impact to his total return due to exchange rate.	f) 透过投资在接受外币的信托基金。本地有些基金是有接受马币以外的货币的。我们称之为“多元货币基金”。例如Affin Hwang SGD Income Fund (MYR Class) 以及 Affin Hwang SGD Income Fund (SGD Class)。顾客可以选择一马币或新币来进行投资。因此基金乃是投资于新加坡相关证券，顾客的投资可跟随新加坡的经济成长。而若同时是以新币投资的话，顾客可避开货币间兑换率对回酬的负面影响。
Through d) and e), clients has a way to participate in destination country's growth. Example is if client want to send their children to Australia, they may buy AUD policies or invest in Aussie dollar unit trust funds. This way, their AUD money will grow in tandem with Australia's economy and inflation rate.	透过d)和e)这两个方法，父母们即可参与当国的成长机会。比如顾客打算送孩子到澳洲读书，那他们可以购买澳元保单或是澳元信托基金。如此，他们的澳元资产将随着澳洲的经济增长而赢过当地的通货膨胀。
So those are the ways I can think of right now. How much is needed and how you save need planning, and that's what we do. Do contact sateo7689@yahoo.com if you need so.	以上是我目前能想到的。至于需要多少钱以及如何储蓄则另需规划。而后者正是我们的工作。若是您有任何需要请联系sateo7689@yahoo.com。