Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are considered our modern-day heroes because of their significant contributions to the growing economy as well as their sacrifices for their families. We are all familiar with the stories of OFWs who choose to work in unfamiliar territories to tap into better opportunities for themselves and the future of their families.
However, despite their contribution to the economy and years of hard work in other countries, many OFWs struggle financially. Some of them even go back home with almost nothing to show or no money to use for their retirement.
To avoid this from happening, we have listed some of the investment options that an OFW can explore and put their hard-earned money to work and make their dreams of a secure future a reality, especially in times of uncertainties.
Why Should OFWs Start Investing?
We all know that being an OFW will not last forever, especially if you are working right now on a contractual basis. When you stop being an OFW, you need to have a backup plan that can sustain your finances and help you grow your money. Thus, investing your hard-earned money should be your utmost priority.
Start investing as soon as you can and while you are still working as an OFW. This will surely give you the financial security that you and your family deserve. Your investment should also provide you with a safety net in case anything happens with your employment abroad due to unforeseen circumstances.
What are the Investment Options for OFWs?
Real Estate
Many OFWs have already started investing in real estate. They started buying properties like houses and lots and condominiums for their use or business.
However, there are some OFWs who are thinking that investing in real estate requires millions of pesos in the capital. But if you come to think of it, there are several ways to invest in real estate without giving millions upfront. One of which is buying pre-selling condominiums or properties that you can rent out or resell for a profit.
This option is good for OFWs because the loan payments or other expenses that go into managing the property will serve as "forced savings". Once the property is paid off, the income that you can get from the said property can be used for other investments. Eventually, if you want to sell your property, chances are you will be able to sell it at double or triple its value when you first acquired it.
Stock Market
Another good investment option for OFWs is the stock market. OFWs can invest in the stock market in two ways, either through dividends or capital. You can earn dividends if you are a shareholder of a company, whereas, you can also earn capital gains if the value of your stock rises after some time.
However, a lot of OFWs are hesitant to invest in the stock market because it is intimidating and confusing for beginners since the market can be highly volatile.
In case you are planning on investing in the stock market, it is best to equip yourself with the right information. You can watch various webinars or read articles on stock investing. You may also choose to have stockbrokers assist you.
Mutual Funds
As an OFW, investing in mutual funds is a good option because mutual funds grow your money faster than just putting it in a bank. It is safer and requires low risk too.
Some of the examples of mutual funds that OFWs can consider are the Pag-ibig MP2 Savings Fund and the SSS P.E.S.O Fund. These investments are being offered to Pag-ibig and SSS members who want to save and grow their money faster. Since Pag-ibig and SSS are both government-owned agencies, your investment in their mutual funds is also tax-free.
Meanwhile, if you want to consider investing in private companies that offer mutual funds investments, you may check out Sun Life and Philam Life, which are two of the leading companies for mutual funds in the country because they have some of the highest ROI in the market.
Cryptocurrency
A lot of people are now engaging with cryptocurrency, which is something that you might want to consider too for your investment.
According to financial experts, Cryptocurrency is a digital asset that you can access anywhere in the world. It is designed to be a medium of coin ownership that is stored in a ledger in a computerized database. The value of cryptocurrency fluctuates with time. Therefore, you can earn money from selling the coins you bought at a value higher than your purchase price.
Small Business
Putting up a small business is one of the easiest ways to invest your money. This can be a sari-sari store, a laundry shop, or a water purifying station, which are sure to earn you passive income on a regular basis.
If you have family members that you can entrust to manage the business, then investing in a small business is definitely a good idea. All you have to do is provide the initial capital, and they can manage the day-to-day operations for you.
There is no doubt that investing your money should be a priority, regardless if you are working here or abroad. It will help you grow your hard-earned money and fast-track your journey to achieving the financial security that you and your family deserve.
Regardless of what option you choose, you have to make sure that you have researched it, assess the pros and cons, and determine which will work best for you and your needs. You must also take a look into its benefits and risks to be able to come up with a more informed decision.
If you are planning on investing your hard-earned money in real estate, you may want to consider investing in a Vista Residences condominium property.
Vista Residences, a condominium development arm of the largest country’s largest developer, Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc. offers ready for occupancy and pre selling condominium projects in major cities across the country, which are in strategic locations close to business districts and universities.
If you are looking for a condo for sale in Metro Manila, it has ready-for-occupancy condominiums in Taft such as Vista Taft, Vista Heights, and Vista GL Taft. 878 Espana and Crown Tower University Belt are the RFO condominiums in Espana. There are also pre-selling condominiums around metro manila such as Vista Recto, Plumeria Heights, Tennyson Heights, Bradbury Heights, Sky Arts Manila, and Kizuna Heights.
For a condo in Quezon City, it has 309 Katipunan which is near Ateneo de Manila, UP Diliman, and Miriam College. In its business districts, you may find Wil Towers, Symphony Towers, and Pine Crest. Should you be interested in pre-selling condos in Quezon City, Vista also has projects in the area such as Hawthorne Heights and Vista Pointe.
In another business district at Taguig, you might also be enchanted by Vista’s pre-selling condo— The Courtyard, which is only 15 minutes away from the Bonifacio Global District which is home to the country’s largest businesses and premier institutions.
Another prime location of Vista Residences' ready-for-occupancy condo is in Pasig, one of the fastest-growing cities in Manila. If you are interested in a home situated near booming businesses, lifestyle hubs, hospitals, and popular tourist spots, you may be interested in Cerritos Residences— a ten-storey residential condominium woven into Camella Cerritos East subdivision in Pasig City.
If you’re planning to start a home down south, Vista also offers a preselling condo for sale in Cebu, the Suarez Residences which is a remarkable 29-storey L-shaped mixed-use luxury condominium with a shopping center, hotel, and residential hub all in one tower. With all of these, Suarez Residences is an ideal lucrative investment in the Queen City of the South.
Wherever you may prefer to jumpstart your future, Vista Residences has a variety of condos to offer in all of the country’s premier cities which are all ideal places to live whether you are consistently on the go or planning to settle down.
For more information on Vista Residences, email [email protected], follow @VistaResidencesOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, or call the Marketing Office at 0999 886 4262 / 0917 582 5167.
