BJ: I do understand your apprehension , but what I do know is they are both extremely professional, good at what they do, and have been doing, for quite a few years here. And that's good enough for us. Can't really say any more than that...
V.S.
Sorry Dawn, posted this after your bit. Delete it if you wish.
Financial Advisor
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Vital Spark
- Legend
- Posts: 2047
- Joined: Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:34 pm
- Location: Arcos de la Frontera, Spain
guy's
watch how you go, this is one of the biggest scams in Asia, i hope your investment is safe but i've heard of about 4 people that have been conned this way, same deal some BS stratgey thats sounds great with a plush office to impress people and one day there no place to be seen
i strongly suggest that you get people like this checked out prior to investing money in them as i would hate to see you loose out
normally if something sounds too good to be true then it normally is
watch how you go, this is one of the biggest scams in Asia, i hope your investment is safe but i've heard of about 4 people that have been conned this way, same deal some BS stratgey thats sounds great with a plush office to impress people and one day there no place to be seen
i strongly suggest that you get people like this checked out prior to investing money in them as i would hate to see you loose out
normally if something sounds too good to be true then it normally is
Dawn - excellent modding - thank you!
May I be allowed a final comment on all this, after which I promise to get back into the box for another year or so?
I totally understand the doubters and also the kind thoughts of good natured folks telling us to beware. In similar circs, I would feel exactly the same. I have to admit, however, that if you distrust Friends Provident, then perhaps you have a 'personal security issue' which you should 'address', in modern parlance. These two people in Bangkok, however, are totally genuine and we have known them, and enjoyed their company, for nigh on ten years now, through thick and thin. Their office is entirely workable, friendly and 'normal' - nothing glitzy at all. They are not fly-by-nights or scam artists - they just do their job better than anyone else we know.
If you're still not sure, then you already have all the info you need to contact them, and quiz them all you like about their background, credentials, etc., and I am sure that they will be happy to oblige. One e-mail is hardly a major investment...
Enough of this. If you need more (and I can give you more if you really need it) then please PM me or VS, and leave poor Dawn to her life and her dogs.
Have a prosperous life, and thanks, Dawn, for allowing this on here. I will now get back into the box and pretend to behave...
P.
May I be allowed a final comment on all this, after which I promise to get back into the box for another year or so?
I totally understand the doubters and also the kind thoughts of good natured folks telling us to beware. In similar circs, I would feel exactly the same. I have to admit, however, that if you distrust Friends Provident, then perhaps you have a 'personal security issue' which you should 'address', in modern parlance. These two people in Bangkok, however, are totally genuine and we have known them, and enjoyed their company, for nigh on ten years now, through thick and thin. Their office is entirely workable, friendly and 'normal' - nothing glitzy at all. They are not fly-by-nights or scam artists - they just do their job better than anyone else we know.
If you're still not sure, then you already have all the info you need to contact them, and quiz them all you like about their background, credentials, etc., and I am sure that they will be happy to oblige. One e-mail is hardly a major investment...
Enough of this. If you need more (and I can give you more if you really need it) then please PM me or VS, and leave poor Dawn to her life and her dogs.
Have a prosperous life, and thanks, Dawn, for allowing this on here. I will now get back into the box and pretend to behave...
P.
Apart from that Mrs Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play? - Tom Lehrer
Parahandy......its not Friends Provident that we don't trust..its your advisors..you did not deal directly with Friends Provident..you went thru a third party..therefore there is scope to defraud..we are not here to scaremonger..but to offer another view..I hope your investment is secure..but when you deal with a third party you never know...please don't discount the views of all of us in here...there is a lot of experience in here that can help others...thats why this forum is here...
Well Parahandy (and VS) I think you made your point exteremly well!! YOU guys are happy and in a nutshell that's what really matters!!
Having spent 25 years in financial services I fully appreciate the comments - both For & Against - posted on this thread.
A 40% gain, or thereabouts, over 12 months is a great result and circa 100% since around 2003 (when Parahandy & VS 'tested the water') is also a highly commendable achievement! I'm sure these gains are (or should be) endorsed by Valuation Reports received directly from Friends Provident International as opposed to, or in addition to, KFMS.
I, Parahandy & VS, appreciate these are currently 'paper' profits - not 'realised' profits - but a nice cushion should the markets move against them. It would now take some form of 'disaster' to wipe out these gains in the short term - or a prolonged 'bear' market to erode these gains over the longer term.
I've visited the website of KFMS (Thailand) and I agree the information they provide may be considered sparse. They do however admit being "one of the newer financial service providers in Thailand". That said, I don't see what harm it would do them to provide their establishment date as all businesses have to start at some point in time. I did notice they report "profits/gains they've made since January 2001" so maybe that's the date they commenced business in BKK (?)
I note KFMS have some form of investment control system in place called Kinetic Fund Monoriting System. This suggests they 'actively switch' out of or into funds as markets trends dictate. (As I believe was mentioned by VS)
I find that interesting because I too offered and applied a daily monitoring/management system which triggered 'buy' - and more importantly - 'sell' signals to protect initial capital and/or protect historic gains. I believe this is one reason I attracted clients because it was possible to demonstrate "active fund management" as opposed to being at the mercy of the market(s)
(NO - I'm not attempting to solicite business - I'm retired!)
I guess I could write a book on the subject but I'll try not too in fear of being percieved as a 'bore'!! May I however offer an overview of the postings and comments made on this thread ........
There ARE numerous horror stories of people losing money! IF the money is lost 'fair & square' as a result of negative market conditions and/or simply a bad choice of investments that hurts but it's not fraud. When someone 'steals' your money by tricking or lying to you then of course that IS fraud!!
I note that KFMS are Agents for a number of reputable companies. Friends Provident International (FPI) being one of them and the institution which Parahandy and VS use for their investments. FPI (and all the other companies listed on the KFMS website) are located in highly regulated environments.
FPI (as all the other companies listed) offer various investment plans and a wide range if investment funds covering global stock & bond markets etc etc BUT they DO NOT or will not recommend in which funds money should be invested. They act soley as the Custodian of the funds invested as opposed to offering financial or investment advise - that's where KFMS, or any other brokerage, comes into the equation.
A GOLDEN RULE: NEVER make your cheque payable to an 'individual' OR the 'name of the brokerage'! If you're asked to - run a mile! You should make your cheque (or TT wire transfer) payable to an Institution or Company that is known to you OR where you can perform due diligance. There MAY be a genuine investment opportunity where there's no option other than to pay a company direct but only if you can be certain of and satisfied with their credentials.
Finally, people are more willing to make an investment if they personally know the people involved - or a referal from a relative or trusted friend. Parahandy & VS have put their trust in people they have know for around 10 years. That said, their money is held by a reputable and regulated third party so the only 'risk' they are taking is in the ability of these people to 'manage their money'. Whilst there's no guarantees for future performance those two people at KFMS (or whoever at KFMS) have done a bloody good job to date!
The option: Don't put your trust in anyone or any financial institution - simple deposit money into a bank or building society or similar and accept whatever current interest rates they offer. Each to their own.......
Parahandy & VS - I think you can sleep well at night - but you already do!!
bradders
Having spent 25 years in financial services I fully appreciate the comments - both For & Against - posted on this thread.
A 40% gain, or thereabouts, over 12 months is a great result and circa 100% since around 2003 (when Parahandy & VS 'tested the water') is also a highly commendable achievement! I'm sure these gains are (or should be) endorsed by Valuation Reports received directly from Friends Provident International as opposed to, or in addition to, KFMS.
I, Parahandy & VS, appreciate these are currently 'paper' profits - not 'realised' profits - but a nice cushion should the markets move against them. It would now take some form of 'disaster' to wipe out these gains in the short term - or a prolonged 'bear' market to erode these gains over the longer term.
I've visited the website of KFMS (Thailand) and I agree the information they provide may be considered sparse. They do however admit being "one of the newer financial service providers in Thailand". That said, I don't see what harm it would do them to provide their establishment date as all businesses have to start at some point in time. I did notice they report "profits/gains they've made since January 2001" so maybe that's the date they commenced business in BKK (?)
I note KFMS have some form of investment control system in place called Kinetic Fund Monoriting System. This suggests they 'actively switch' out of or into funds as markets trends dictate. (As I believe was mentioned by VS)
I find that interesting because I too offered and applied a daily monitoring/management system which triggered 'buy' - and more importantly - 'sell' signals to protect initial capital and/or protect historic gains. I believe this is one reason I attracted clients because it was possible to demonstrate "active fund management" as opposed to being at the mercy of the market(s)
(NO - I'm not attempting to solicite business - I'm retired!)
I guess I could write a book on the subject but I'll try not too in fear of being percieved as a 'bore'!! May I however offer an overview of the postings and comments made on this thread ........
There ARE numerous horror stories of people losing money! IF the money is lost 'fair & square' as a result of negative market conditions and/or simply a bad choice of investments that hurts but it's not fraud. When someone 'steals' your money by tricking or lying to you then of course that IS fraud!!
I note that KFMS are Agents for a number of reputable companies. Friends Provident International (FPI) being one of them and the institution which Parahandy and VS use for their investments. FPI (and all the other companies listed on the KFMS website) are located in highly regulated environments.
FPI (as all the other companies listed) offer various investment plans and a wide range if investment funds covering global stock & bond markets etc etc BUT they DO NOT or will not recommend in which funds money should be invested. They act soley as the Custodian of the funds invested as opposed to offering financial or investment advise - that's where KFMS, or any other brokerage, comes into the equation.
A GOLDEN RULE: NEVER make your cheque payable to an 'individual' OR the 'name of the brokerage'! If you're asked to - run a mile! You should make your cheque (or TT wire transfer) payable to an Institution or Company that is known to you OR where you can perform due diligance. There MAY be a genuine investment opportunity where there's no option other than to pay a company direct but only if you can be certain of and satisfied with their credentials.
Finally, people are more willing to make an investment if they personally know the people involved - or a referal from a relative or trusted friend. Parahandy & VS have put their trust in people they have know for around 10 years. That said, their money is held by a reputable and regulated third party so the only 'risk' they are taking is in the ability of these people to 'manage their money'. Whilst there's no guarantees for future performance those two people at KFMS (or whoever at KFMS) have done a bloody good job to date!
The option: Don't put your trust in anyone or any financial institution - simple deposit money into a bank or building society or similar and accept whatever current interest rates they offer. Each to their own.......
Parahandy & VS - I think you can sleep well at night - but you already do!!
bradders"A man who doesn't change his mind will soon have no change to mind!"
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DawnHRD
- Legend
- Posts: 2627
- Joined: Thu Sep 22, 2005 10:39 pm
- Location: Not always where I want to be
I thought it was clear that any further discussion of this company was to be via pm? Any further posts about this company will be deleted. Please continue the discussion of this particular company via pm, if you wish to discuss them at all.
"The question is not, can they reason? Nor, can they talk? But, can they suffer?" - Jeremy Bentham, philosopher, 1748-1832
Make a dog's life better, today!
Make a dog's life better, today!
good luck on your investment, i guess if you have know them 10 years that sounds a bit better
one of the guys i know that got conned over in Asia was conned for over 70,000 GBP, a life savings for him and now he's fxxked for cash and he's 58 year old so not much chance to make it back up again
I'm glad your happy with your investment and your right its up to people what they want to do with there cash, nothing to do with me but I still advise to tread carefully for anyone thinking about this type of investment, I’ve been in Asia since i was 24 (12 years) and I’ve seen some seriously professional con jobs that the creativity has super impressed me
Just be careful and do your homework there’s a lot unscrupulous tossers in this world
one of the guys i know that got conned over in Asia was conned for over 70,000 GBP, a life savings for him and now he's fxxked for cash and he's 58 year old so not much chance to make it back up again
I'm glad your happy with your investment and your right its up to people what they want to do with there cash, nothing to do with me but I still advise to tread carefully for anyone thinking about this type of investment, I’ve been in Asia since i was 24 (12 years) and I’ve seen some seriously professional con jobs that the creativity has super impressed me
Just be careful and do your homework there’s a lot unscrupulous tossers in this world
My apologies Dawne for mentioning company names! 
I was following this thread with interest and, for what is worth, decided to make a contribution, it was not my intention to offend you or anyone.
Thank you for allowing my post to be displayed, I'll try to be a bit more attentive in the future.
bradders
I was following this thread with interest and, for what is worth, decided to make a contribution, it was not my intention to offend you or anyone.
Thank you for allowing my post to be displayed, I'll try to be a bit more attentive in the future.
bradders"A man who doesn't change his mind will soon have no change to mind!"
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DawnHRD
- Legend
- Posts: 2627
- Joined: Thu Sep 22, 2005 10:39 pm
- Location: Not always where I want to be
Bradders, I hate to admit it, but I hadn't even seen your post, until you mentioned it now!bradders wrote:My apologies Dawne for mentioning company names!
I was following this thread with interest and, for what is worth, decided to make a contribution, it was not my intention to offend you or anyone.
Thank you for allowing my post to be displayed, I'll try to be a bit more attentive in the future.
Mine was posted a minute after yours, so I was writing as you posted. The last one I saw was Big Jimmy's & I never thought to check back to see if there was another after that. 
That'll teach me to be a bit more observant, won't it?
"The question is not, can they reason? Nor, can they talk? But, can they suffer?" - Jeremy Bentham, philosopher, 1748-1832
Make a dog's life better, today!
Make a dog's life better, today!
Normally in this case you sign up with the fund manager directly, but your IFA takes commission due to the signing which is all well and good for them. You authorize your IFA to issue fund switching instructions to the fund manager on your behalf. The IFA does not have the power to withdraw from the investment. The fund manager will usually have an online fund tracking site where you can see all the fund details in your own name. 40% is a reality, I have seen it. I have friends in Glasgow too. Thanks.
Jim
Jim
I have investments in funds (unit trusts for Brits) through Scottish Provident. www.spila.com
For calendar 2007 in pounds sterling I got:
India 54%, China 47% and FarEast ex Japan 36%
What goes up can comer down of course but IMO Asia is where the action is so find a way to invest in Asia if you can.
For calendar 2007 in pounds sterling I got:
India 54%, China 47% and FarEast ex Japan 36%
What goes up can comer down of course but IMO Asia is where the action is so find a way to invest in Asia if you can.