Investing in Experience: UP INVST | IPOV

Hi guys! I am back!

As I've said in my previous post, I really want to continue doing this blog, and so, here's my post about my UP Invst adventure with my friends, Mikee (left) and Jela (Center).  Yup, the little girl on the right is me.

After 2 research rounds we got a chance to a apart of the 5 finalists of UP INVST. We were then given roughly around a week to practice for our presentation which was held on PSE Ortigas last December 10, 2016. Thankfully our professors and the department was supportive enough to excuse us from our class so that we may prepare for the finals.

It was my first time joining a competition and I was really nervous because we were competing against students from ADMU and UP-D but we still manage to piece out a 10-min presentation for our case.

By the time, we were on the venue, I kept freaking out and forgetting my lines. I remember stuttering a few times while delivering my parts but I was generally surprised that 15 minutes (with a Q & A portion) came by so fast.

After that, we were able to rest for a few minutes before they announce the winners, and we were really surprised to be called on stage! We won 2nd runner up and won a cash prize!

All in all it was a good experience. I really encourage students to just go and join extra curricular or competitive activities because they will be able to challenge you beyond how the four corners of the classroom can ever do and remember, there's no harm in trying out new things!

Investing in Experiences: Online Stock Trading Seminar

Last Monday, I attended the Online Stock Trading Seminar of the DLSU-D JFINEX. It's their annual stock trading seminar which aims to encourage students to create their on online stock accounts and start investing early. For 2 years, COL Financial has been their partner in spreading financial literacy and letting the community know that investing in stocks are not only for the rich and wealthy but for every Filipino! COL also set up a booth where student are inquire and fill up account forms.

Mr. Jed Velarde, a training consultant from COL Financial, was invited to talk this year. I really enjoyed listening to him and he gave us a lot of tips on how we should perceive the market and look at it from a long term perspective. He gave a lot of stories and analogies that were simple yet effective that both students and professors understood and related upon like comparing the amount of groceries you can buy then and now to explain inflation. He is such an engaging speaker and was able to even make students laugh at some of his jokes. 

I learned 3 important things from Mr. Velarde which are:

Be an Investor - Mr. Jed encouraged us to think of ourselves as investors in the stock market and not traders. Traders are usually does person who closely watch the market and day trade which is to buy and sell a stock on the same and gain profit through  share price appreciation. He told us that it would that, although there is nothing wrong with being a trader, it entails a lot of risks and as students who wish to maximize the growth potential of our portfolio we have yet to afford such risks. He recommend being an investor instead where you can continuously invest in the market.

Invest for the Long Term - We should also invest in the market with a long horizon in mind. The market is constantly changing however, in the end, its trend will always go up especially in a developing country like the Philippines which still has so much potential to grow moving forward. Which is why if you are going to invest now, keep in mind that you will doing so for the next 30 to 40 years into the future.

Do it Regularly - Invest in the market regularly. Mr. Velarde suggests monthly, quarterly or maybe semiannually and make sure to invest in stocks with good fundamental which will certainly continue to grow and be more profitable in the future. The trick to this strategy is to continue investing even if the market if high or low. COL Financial  believes that thru peso cost averaging you will be able to create a sizeable portfolio with low cost stocks especially in the long term and you may do this as well through their EIP.

So if you are a student and you are interested in creating your own stock account you may do so thru COL Financial starting with 5000PHP. Here's what you'll need to open one. I hope you'll find it helpful and see you in the next post! 

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored or anything of that sort. Also credits to the DLSU-D JFINEX for the posters and guidelines on the COL account requirements.

Investing in Experiences: Why become part of a student organization during your university years?

This week the College of Business Administration and Accountancy Student Council launched their TatakPinoy: Tatak CBAA recruitment week, so in a typical the IPOV fashion, I'm going to list 3 reasons why you should join a student organization in your school!

1. Building connections

As part of the Executive Board of an organization, you get a chance to work with and collaborate with different organizations within and outside your university. You get to meet fellow student leaders especially during events and event meet well-known professionals in your field. In a way , you are already starting to make contacts and you will be most likely to be remebered by students and professors because you are active in the college.

2. Resume Builder

When you become an part of an organization you will be able to attend seminars and training workshops sponsored by the organization or its mother institution. Most of the time you will get discounts in this events as well. It is also a good way for you to be able to fill your resume with events you have attend and those will surely boost your credibility as applicants in the future.

3. Freebies!

I love the quote in the string bag, it's really inspiring and perfectly describes long term investing!

Honestly, this is my favorite part. There are organization which are very generous to their members and will give them freebies when possible. Take DLSU-D JFINEX for example, by signing up as one of their members, I got a string bag and loot bag with goodies for 135PHP. I already consider this a bargain considering that they  organization about an average of 18 to 20 events in a semester and most of them will be free of members. And, as an avid advocate of finance, attending in this events are crucial so that I can continuously gain financial knowledge. I also recieve a really cute email from DLSU-D JFINEX welcoming me this academic year!

DLSU-D CBAA Students, visit their booth now! (string bags  and fans await!)

Next week I will be posting about the Recruitment Week organized by the USC and CSO! Stay tuned!

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored by the council or organization.