Your Chinese Horoscope: What to Invest in 2016

If you believe in Chinese horoscopes, here are the financial products you should check out in Singapore, according to your zodiac sign.

We can’t say whether the Chinese horoscope is accurate, because fortune telling isn’t our field. But if you do believe in it, well, there’s a range of assets and financial products out there that you need to know about.

Here’s what we’d do with our money, if we believed the horoscope 100%. Mandatory disclaimer: consult financial experts, not fortune-tellers, before making any major money decisions.

1. The Rat ?: 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008

Supposedly, the Rat will have good fortune with jobs and real estate in the year of the Monkey.

The horoscope says this year is the ideal time for a Rat to switch to a new career - they will find abundant help and a good mentor even if they run into problems. If you intend to do this though, we’d suggest you save an emergency fund first. This should be at least three months of your income. This will provide for your financial security when you switch jobs.

The horoscope also says the Rat will do well with real estate investments. Now we’d be careful and take this with a pinch of salt - Singapore’s property market has been faring badly of late, and it’s unlikely that property values will rise in the coming years; not with cooling measures like the Additional Buyers Stamp Duty (ABSD). But if you are dead set on getting involved, get a qualified mortgage broker to compare your loans.

Mortgage interest rates are on the rise, so you may want to find loans with a fixed rate. And remember to get the lowest rate possible.

2. The Ox ?: 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009

According to the horoscope, the Ox will be rewarded for hard work this year. However, this is only if they’re willing to take centre stage, and demonstrate it. So don’t be too shy this year if you’re a Ox.

In terms of wealth, they will have many opportunities to earn more this year, as their reputation of being skilled workers will come to the fore.

If this situation comes true, we suggest you look at being prudent with your savings. Save at least 15% of your household income every month. It is common for people to overspend when they first get a raise or a large bonus, so be sure to keep things under control.

Remember to compare bank accounts to ensure you get the highest interest rate on savings.

3. The Tiger ?: 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010

The horoscope says the year of the Monkey is going to be tough on Tigers. You will face many new challenges in your career, for which you will not have the solutions. You’ll have to swallow your pride and ask for help often, so things are not looking up in terms of promotions or raises.

In terms of investments, the Tiger will be the target of many greedy scammers this year, and should be risk-averse. Whew, rough.

In this situation, we’d park our investments in something safe as houses. We’re thinking Singapore Savings Bonds, or other investment grade fixed income securities. Think AA rated bonds, sourced through a reliable financial advisor.

While there are fees involved with wealth managers and financial advisors, they are often worth paying if you don’t know your way around a balance sheet or prospectus.

4. The Rabbit ?: 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011

The Rabbit will supposedly face many challenges, but not have serious difficulty dealing with them. They will meet great people to work with in their career, but are not likely to see a big shift in income.

According to the horoscope, any wealth opportunities will come from the Rabbit’s personal reputation - they will be approached by the right people when the time comes.

Now we’re not sure what to make of this one. If you are going to seize an investment opportunity, don’t do it just because a friend approaches you with it. It is inadvisable to invest in new businesses, or to make unofficial loans with interest - you are more likely to lose money than to make it.

5. The Dragon ?: 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012

Dragons who are in management are supposed to do well this year (something about organising the chaos that the year of the Monkey creates). According to their horoscope, promotions are likely if they work well with colleagues and delegate. In terms of wealth, it’s suggested that the Dragon may see a big, unexpected windfall this year - perhaps an old investment will perform better than expected, or a cash prize is on its way.

If either of these things happen to you, it might be a good nest egg to start investing with. Look for passive investments with a return of at least 5% per annum. This could be an insurance policy, or products like the Straits Times Index Fund (ST Index Funds.)

You can start buying the ST Index Fund for as little as $100 a month, through banks like POSB or OCBC.

6. The Snake ?: 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013

Their horoscope says the Snake will face some sort of short lived problem or challenge at work this year. If they are able to overcome it well, they may see a small increase in their fortune in the coming years. Otherwise, there will be no great loss to them.

In terms of wealth, the Snake’s horoscope suggests debt problems will be an issue in the coming years, and must be quickly resolved. If you believe in your horoscope, it may be a good year to consider shifting your credit card debt via a zero interest balance transfer. This allows you to move your existing credit card debt onto another card. You will then have a certain amount of time (usually six months), interest free, to pay off the debt.

You can find the best balance transfer options on SingSaver.com.sg

7. The Horse ?: 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014

According to their horoscope, the Horse will be rewarded if they work exceptionally hard this year. If they are willing to volunteer for everything and take on loads of extra projects, they will find financial rewards, although at the slight cost of relationships. The Horse will also do well in disputes and arguments, which helps in legal cases.

Their horoscope also says it is an ideal time for the Horse to rebalance financial portfolios, to take advantage of their new wealth should they choose to work on it.

It’s actually a good idea to rebalance your portfolio every year, regardless of what your birth sign is. This is especially true for 2016, as the global economic situation is tumultuous. Now would be a good time to review your mutual funds to minimise exposure to certain commodities, such as oil. Be sure to speak to a qualified wealth manager about this.

8. The Goat ?: 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015

According to their birth sign, he Goat is often a non-conformist. Their horoscope suggests they will be rewarded for letting go of their quirky, risk-taking side this year. They should demonstrate their talent and skill by boldly proposing unorthodox solutions, for which they will see financial rewards.

The Goat will be dependent on other people for their financial success this year, and will have to focus on improving relationships.

To us, this sounds like the Goat might have a good time with trying to find a side-business this year. Use any unusual ideas or talents you might have - make your own candies, start your pet toilet-training business, etc. It is a good idea to not just save, but try and find alternative income streams.

9. The Monkey ?: 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004

Oddly, the year of the Monkey is supposed to be quite bad for Monkeys. Their horoscope says they must stick to conservative investments this year - they will face competition from their peers at every corner. It is a bad year for them to switch jobs, and they may be the target of scams or envious friends.

If everything is going to be that terrible, Monkey signs may want to keep their money in a product like the Singapore Savings Bond. This is a secure product backed by the Singapore government. It can be cashed out any month for emergencies, and will grow at the equivalent of 2.5% per annum if left to mature for 10 years.

10. The Rooster ?: 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005

The Rooster will face many new challenges and problems they have not encountered before. This means a lot of added stress at work. It will also affect relationships as deadlines get stretched. In terms of investments, the Rooster is supposedly at high risk of being cheated or swindled this year - they may also end up being ripped off on big-ticket purchases, like a car.

However, their horoscope says Roosters will be in the limelight this year, and may be at the forefront of everyone’s attention. They will have fame, and if they cope with the spotlight well, they may even see a windfall from it.

If you believe this, you might want to put your money in a high-interest savings account, and make your bigger purchases next year. When it comes to investments, check for products regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), and avoid unusual or exotic options such as commodities funding.

11. The Dog ?: 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006

Those born under the sign of the Dog will supposedly see wealth this year. They might find a good source of second income, or experience a windfall, from their network of friends. Their horoscope suggests accepting any promotions or offers to switch to a higher paying job, as they will be in a good position to cope.

However, their horoscope also suggests that they need to be especially careful in cultivating relationships this year - any good fortune that they have will be dependent on the goodwill of their friends.

If you believe this, you might want to consider spending a small amount on networking or skills upgrading. The recent S$500 SkillsFuture programme can help to subsidise training costs. Ensure you are in a position to seize any new positions or opportunities provided by your network of friends.

12. The Pig ?: 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

The Pig birth sign is supposed to experience good fortune this year, if they are able to avoid quarrels. Their horoscope says any legal or financial disputes started this year will last a long time, and waste a lot of money. However, the Pig will find that work will seem easier, as most tasks are supposed to fall within their expertise this year.

In terms of investment, the Pig can afford to be optimistic. Their horoscope suggests most of their investments will perform better than expected, so they may want to consider mutual funds or other forms of equities investing. This will provide opportunities for high returns and growth, but it should be done with the help of a qualified wealth manager.

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