Donavan Group Consulting in Singapore and Tokyo

Growing up during the last major recession means that today’s millennial college entrepreneurs are already in the savings mindset. They’ve learned how to live with less than previous generations, which has made them much more conscious of how much things cost. Unlike other generations, they’re looking to offset the cost of things like tuition, housing, food, entertainment, and healthcare expenses. Knowing where they are going and what they want means that millennials are also empowered to say no to paying too much or relying on credit too often. That’s why this new breed of young entrepreneurs is constantly on the lookout for money-saving tips. Growing up with technology has also enabled these entrepreneurs to do price comparisons online and access deals and discounts for everything from appetizers to phone cases. However, there may be some unfamiliar money-saving tips that can help millennials. The millennial wants to save money in areas that aren’t essential to launchi...

When I got my first paycheck after college, I was so excited about all the stuff I could finally afford to buy. I was living at home with my parents at the time, so my expenses were low and my shopping wish list was long. Then my dad asked me if I had set up my 401(k), or thought about other investment accounts like an IRA or a brokerage fund. My head began to spin: I barely made enough money after taxes and paying for insurance to save up to move out. Now I was supposed to put more of my income into an account I couldn't touch? And even risk losing some of it in the stock market? Now, I understand how important (and smart!) it is to start investing for long-term goals like retirement from your first payday. That's because of compound interest—when your interest earns interest, a hundred dollars can grow into thousands over time. So if you put $5,000 in an account with an interest rate of seven percent and contribute $200 a month, after 30 years you'll have a l...

The term “independent financial adviser” was originally used to describe advisers who work independently for their clients rather than representing an investment, insurance or banking company. According to Cerulli Associates, the independent financial adviser sector is the fastest-growing segment in the financial services market, having grown assets in 2015 by 6.2 percent versus Wall Street firms, which shrunk by 1.9 percent in asset value. Many of the most-successful investment professionals have come to realize the value of independence – both for themselves and their clients – and want to provide unbiased and independent advice. The following are some aspects that pertain to most independent advisers: Independent advice Independent advisers are not tied to proprietary funds or investment products. They have the freedom to choose from a wide range of investment products and services and to customize their solutions according to each client’s needs. This fre...