Infinity Financial Advisors

[andymodo]

Hi,

Anyone had experience, good or bad, with this firm, based in KL? I was cold-called the other day and wondering whether I should bother meeting with them - any member experience would be much appreciated. Thanks

[chainarong]

Cold calling from a financial advser company, it must be going well.

[PCA]

well apparently they must have presented interesting stuff when you are considering to meet up. If you could elaborate then probably some people here might give advise if it's worthwhile and point out what is of importance.

[ExpatJ]

Never ever meet a financial advisor who cold calls. That's basic financial knowledge 101.

[Asiantravel]

Well if they want your business that badly you can get them to take you to a nice lunch if they pay for it and then you can tell them to bugger off

and don't agree to anything and don't sign anything!

[yoshiwara]

It is almost always the case that someone looking for a financial advisor in Thailand is looking for a low-risk investment with a higher return than can be gotten from a bank.

The FA will of course promise to deliver this, but cannot. The FA's objective is to secure investment in products which will yield him (the FA) upfront commissions which will wipe out any possible returns in the first 2 years of any investment. The investor is unfortunately a willing victim chasing higher returns.

[PattayaPhom]

Infinity and Devere group have been around a long time and have advisors worldwide. They will probably offer products from Generali which previously did perform well and at around 12% in the early 2000's...its worth meeting up with them and see what they present to you.....yes the advisor will get commission but that dosnt mean the produce dosnt perform well

[andymodo]

It is almost always the case that someone looking for a financial advisor in Thailand is looking for a low-risk investment with a higher return than can be gotten from a bank.

The FA will of course promise to deliver this, but cannot. The FA's objective is to secure investment in products which will yield him (the FA) upfront commissions which will wipe out any possible returns in the first 2 years of any investment. The investor is unfortunately a willing victim chasing higher returns.

I'm sure you're right but I'm looking for advice on investing outside Thailand and what taxes I would be liable for in those cases. I'm not looking for mega returns but I am looking for more than the 3-4% on offer here. For example, my Australian 5 year TD is at 6.9% (less 10% withholding tax). So I was interested in just chatting seeing as he is coming to my office...but maybe I should just find a good tax accountant?

[yoshiwara]

It is almost always the case that someone looking for a financial advisor in Thailand is looking for a low-risk investment with a higher return than can be gotten from a bank.

The FA will of course promise to deliver this, but cannot. The FA's objective is to secure investment in products which will yield him (the FA) upfront commissions which will wipe out any possible returns in the first 2 years of any investment. The investor is unfortunately a willing victim chasing higher returns.

I'm sure you're right but I'm looking for advice on investing outside Thailand and what taxes I would be liable for in those cases. I'm not looking for mega returns but I am looking for more than the 3-4% on offer here. For example, my Australian 5 year TD is at 6.9% (less 10% withholding tax). So I was interested in just chatting seeing as he is coming to my office...but maybe I should just find a good tax accountant?

Sounds about right to me.

[cheeryble]

Infinity and Devere group have been around a long time and have advisors worldwide. They will probably offer products from Generali which previously did perform well and at around 12% in the early 2000's...its worth meeting up with them and see what they present to you.....yes the advisor will get commission but that dosnt mean the produce dosnt perform well

Once again this may, repeat may, be survivorship bias.

Generalis or whoever wouldn't be there saying "we got 12%" unless they happened to get it. IOW many firms may have instituted totally similar strategies and failed.......but of course you don't see or hear about the failures.

IOW the only guy you notice at the roulette table is the one who happens to have a stack of chips in front of him.

[Bill999]

It is almost always the case that someone looking for a financial advisor in Thailand is looking for a low-risk investment with a higher return than can be gotten from a bank.

The FA will of course promise to deliver this, but cannot. The FA's objective is to secure investment in products which will yield him (the FA) upfront commissions which will wipe out any possible returns in the first 2 years of any investment. The investor is unfortunately a willing victim chasing higher returns.

So you expect the financial advisor to work for nothing?

And, no, I'm not an FA.

[Asiantravel]

It is almost always the case that someone looking for a financial advisor in Thailand is looking for a low-risk investment with a higher return than can be gotten from a bank.

The FA will of course promise to deliver this, but cannot. The FA's objective is to secure investment in products which will yield him (the FA) upfront commissions which will wipe out any possible returns in the first 2 years of any investment. The investor is unfortunately a willing victim chasing higher returns.

So you expect the financial advisor to work for nothing?

And, no, I'm not an FA.

Why should you pay to be ripped off? Here are some cases of the new type of financial scams by self-proclaimed and registered small investment advisers that state securities enforcement officials are encountering:

http://sos.georgia.g...nt_advisers.htm

Edited October 15, 2012 by Asiantravel

[Cloggie]

They can setup a special fund for you 10% interest per year, 100% RISK free. You transfer the money and they do all the work for you - success guaranteed!!!

[Pib]

They can setup a special fund for you 10% interest per year, 100% RISK free. You transfer the money and they do all the work for you - success guaranteed!!!

Gosh, I didn't know financial security was so easy. 10% gain per year with absolutely no risk...awesome. Can I just put cash in an envelope and mail it to them? Why in the world do so many people invest in the stock market casino with deals like this available.

[Naam]

They can setup a special fund for you 10% interest per year, 100% RISK free. You transfer the money and they do all the work for you - success guaranteed!!!

Gosh, I didn't know financial security was so easy. 10% gain per year with absolutely no risk...awesome. Can I just put cash in an envelope and mail it to them? Why in the world do so many people invest in the stock market casino with deals like this available.

hey Pib! wait for me and get a bigger envelope. i'd like to add my cash too and we save on postage.

[Naam]

They can setup a special fund for you 10% interest per year, 100% RISK free. You transfer the money and they do all the work for you - success guaranteed!!!

Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy and a number of oriental Jinns who work for them guarantee the suck-cess

[Pib]

They can setup a special fund for you 10% interest per year, 100% RISK free. You transfer the money and they do all the work for you - success guaranteed!!!

Gosh, I didn't know financial security was so easy. 10% gain per year with absolutely no risk...awesome. Can I just put cash in an envelope and mail it to them? Why in the world do so many people invest in the stock market casino with deals like this available.

hey Pib! wait for me and get a bigger envelope. i'd like to add my cash too and we save on postage.

Sounds good....I've got the envelope ready and found the address to use:

Bernard L. Madoff

Inmate #61727054

Butner Medium FCI

PO Box 1000

Butner, NC 27509

[HardenedSoul]

I don't anything about Infinity but, 9 times out of 10, anyone who cold calls you is probably working for a boiler room operation.

You really don't want to get involved.

Even if it isn't a boiler room and the company is completely legitimate, do you really want to entrust your money to someone who has to cold call in order to get clients?

[Naam]

They can setup a special fund for you 10% interest per year, 100% RISK free. You transfer the money and they do all the work for you - success guaranteed!!!

Gosh, I didn't know financial security was so easy. 10% gain per year with absolutely no risk...awesome. Can I just put cash in an envelope and mail it to them? Why in the world do so many people invest in the stock market casino with deals like this available.

hey Pib! wait for me and get a bigger envelope. i'd like to add my cash too and we save on postage.

Sounds good....I've got the envelope ready and found the address to use:

Bernard L. Madoff

Inmate #61727054

Butner Medium FCI

PO Box 1000

Butner, NC 27509

then we are in good hands. Madoff made much more than 10% ...........for himself.

[ajarnpot]

Infinity and Devere group have been around a long time and have advisors worldwide. They will probably offer products from Generali which previously did perform well and at around 12% in the early 2000's...its worth meeting up with them and see what they present to you.....yes the advisor will get commission but that dosnt mean the produce dosnt perform well

are they really in the same league as devere? I am sure devere were kicked out of Singapore and Dubai? which is pretty imporessive in itself, also have an impressive growth plan? all risk on employees, including office rent, telephone, electricity... the creaters are real genius

Edited October 17, 2012 by ajarnpot

[andymodo]

This is why I posted to Thaivisa -a good spritited dicussion and advice - end result, I not going to waste any time with Infinity and I talked to a knowledgable accountant back in Oz instead and now feeling pretty comfortable...thanks all for raising the red flag (which I should have seen myself)!

[anon210]

This is why I posted to Thaivisa -a good spritited dicussion and advice - end result, I not going to waste any time with Infinity and I talked to a knowledgable accountant back in Oz instead and now feeling pretty comfortable...thanks all for raising the red flag (which I should have seen myself)!

Got a cold call today with a Infinity guy who had a Filipino name. I just told him I was not interested. He was flabbergasted... And I hung up on him. I absolutely hate these cold-callers.

[steveromagnino]

Investment 101 in Thailand for Thai workers

1. If earning income in Thailand

15% LTF

15% RMF

100,000b life insurance 12/7

- these 3 are tax deductible and so you are already quids in straight up even if the market isn't going that well (actually people investing in the first 2 3 years ago are between 50-80% up as it is a fairly straight stock market play...plus you get 30% tax back (approx assuming middle upper tax bracket etc)

2. Play around with the rest

- some in TDs and money

- some in gold if you feel like a james bond villain

- set up an etrade account in Hong Kong and start fiddling around yourself in the US markets if you so wish

- set up online accounts elsewhere and invest yourself in the markets

3. Expats paying tax back at home

- ok this one you need (maybe) some help on from an accountant but mostly the information is available online anyhow

Not sure why you need some cold caller guy to tell you how to do much of the above except maybe item 3.

[yoshiwara]

It is almost always the case that someone looking for a financial advisor in Thailand is looking for a low-risk investment with a higher return than can be gotten from a bank.

The FA will of course promise to deliver this, but cannot. The FA's objective is to secure investment in products which will yield him (the FA) upfront commissions which will wipe out any possible returns in the first 2 years of any investment. The investor is unfortunately a willing victim chasing higher returns.

So you expect the financial advisor to work for nothing?

And, no, I'm not an FA.

No, that wasn't my point. My point was that commissions are very often front-loaded, surrender value can be awful and returns are promises not guarantees.

Often a FA will chase returns with second- and third-line stocks underestimating the level of risk wanted by the client. The client is convinced by the successful track record of the last 3 years perhaps, but certainly would not think of requesting the trading record of the FA over that period. My main objection however is that I wouldn't entrust core savings to a relatively low-visibility outfit in Thailand.