Forget Bezos and Bill Gates for a moment. 1 When it comes to billionaires, Asia Pacific boasts the most number according to the New Straits Times, at 827. 3 And 14 of them are Malaysia’s very own—Robert Kuok of Shangri-la, Ananda Krishnan of Astro and Anthony Tan of Grab to name a few.1,2,3 This week, we learn the finer points of personal wealth management from some of the smartest, shrewdest money-makers in the world.
It’s like being a fisherman
Fifty of the richest Malaysians hold a total net worth of US$87 billion, more than four times the GDP of Iceland. 2,4 Despite their enormous wealth, most of them emerged from rags to riches or built empires from scratch and are therefore extremely careful about where they put their money. For Malaysia’s self-made millionaires, every sen matters.
What also makes them different from other investors is their uncompromising perspective on wealth generation.
Citing the achievement of his first Shangri-La hotel on the crossroads of the world in Singapore, Robert Kuok, the 96th richest on the Forbes billionaire list, revealed in his recently-published memoir, ‘It’s like being a fisherman… You must park your hotel where those schools of fish tend to swim.
Many of our millionaires would tell us: A life of good fortune does not guarantee happiness, nor does it stop one from constantly looking over the shoulder, fearing ill-coming health to catch up with age.
Their drive had always been about attaining a better quality of life, and that is what they seek to preserve most.
Long before Forbes 12th richest Malaysian Tan Sri Syed Mokthar Al-Bukhary built his business empires, his family lost its entire livestock business to a viral mouth and foot outbreak — an indelible lesson in entrepreneurship. 2,9,10 For billionaires like Tan Sri, protecting their fortune is as crucial as growing and managing it. This is why wealth preservation and health protection are the first things on their minds when it comes to financial planning.
The best-serving insurance products are those that are purposefully tailored around one’s livelihood. Apart from the usual life assurance and retirement schemes, they give the most attention to our most important possessions — health and home — for one to fully enjoy the good life he or she has built; for peace of mind.
High-net-worth clients around the world are increasingly looking for creative asset classes that impact and involve the community.11,12
They are going beyond mutual funds to touch lives and empower initiatives through philanthropy, arts, culture and sports. They call it impact investing. The Rise Fund in the U.S., for example, aims to balance competitive financial returns with positive societal outcomes. Its board of founders includes billionaire entrepreneurs, rock stars and royalty.13
Here in Malaysia, our very own client and millionaire Jimmy Choo is doing his bit for shoe designers on a global scale. 14 Mr. Choo, who made his first shoe for his mother at the age of 11 and later served Lady Diana with many others, is investing in the true art of shoe-making. 15
He confides, ‘My shoes are not special because they are elegant, feminine and beautiful, but because I do everything from drawing to crafting. Nowadays many people can design and draw, but they cannot make shoes.’ 16 Since 2015, he has been travelling the globe to change that. Apart from conducting master classes and talking to young people from Africa to Korea, Mr. Choo also started a shoe-making institute in his home country to train young talents seeking proper design education. 14,15,16 The legacy he is creating now will inspire generations of local designers to come.
Impact investing is not new in Malaysia. Our wealthiest have, since the 1900s, been patron contributors to local commerce, community and charity organisations. Ask your Relationship Manager on how you can give your wealth a sense of purpose by making a difference for the local community that you cherish.
The bottom line
Greater control of assets. 20 Sweet spots. Diversified risks through creative class assets. Peace of mind through the protection of livelihood. Preservation of family wealth through education. And never forgetting life’s indispensable possessions — health and home. These are the secrets to solid wealth management, learned through the wisdom and life values of Malaysia’s very own millionaires and billionaires.
To practise the finer points of investing, work closely with your RHB Relationship Manager to design wealth solutions around your family and financial aspirations, as well as to manage them effectively. If you are new to wealth management, call us to arrange a consultation or walk in at any of our Premier branches for a proper introduction.
References:
1. ‘The Billionaires 2018’, https://www.forbes.com/billionaires/#3882a1ee251c
2. ‘Malaysia’s 50 Richest. 2018 Ranking’, https://www.forbes.com/malaysia-billionaires/list/
3. ‘Robert Kuok remains Malaysia’s wealthiest: Forbes’, https://www.nst.com.my/business/2018/03/342579/robert-kuok-remains-malaysias-wealthiest-forbes
4. ‘List of Countries by GDP (PPP)—List by World Bank 2017’, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)
5. ‘Malaysia Billionaires—#1 Robert Kuok’, https://www.forbes.com/profile/robert-kuok/?list=malaysia-billionaires#344bd1715eb5
6. ‘Malaysia’s Richest 2018: Legendary Tyconn Robert Kuok On Trials And Tribulations in Shangri-La’, https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesasia/2018/03/07/legendary-tycoon-robert-kuok-notes-trials-and-tribulations-in-shangri-la/#2471ded41251
7. ‘Which investments have the highest returns?’, https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/032415/which-investments-have-highest-historical-returns.asp
8. ‘The Sweet Spot in Bonds’, http://awealthofcommonsense.com/2015/09/the-sweet-spot-in-bonds/
9.‘Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary (Early life)’, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syed_Mokhtar_Albukhary
10. ‘Cover Story: Syed Mokhtar back in the limelight’, http://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/cover-story-syed-mokhtar-back-limelight
11. ‘I’m an adviser to the world’s richest billionaires — here are 5 surprising insights about their spending’ by John Matthews, Head of Private Wealth Management and Ultra High Net Worth at UBS, https://www.businessinsider.com/billionaires-worlds-richest-people-spending-habits-ubs-wealth-adviser-2017-10/?IR=T
12. ‘New value creators gain momentum. Billionaires insights 2017’, https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/financial-services/Billionaires%20insights/billionaires-insights-2017.pdf
13. ‘The Rise Fund’, http://therisefund.com/
14. ‘Jimmy Choo Net Worth. $50 Million’, http://www.bornrich.com/jimmy-choo2.html
15. ‘JIMMY CHOO STAYING TRUE TO HIS ROOTS’, https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/jimmy-choo-staying-true-to-his-roots-2247873.html
16. ‘Jimmy Choo says Korea must eye global market’, http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/culture/2015/09/199_177841.html
17. ‘Shamsuddin: A driver’s son who realises his vision’, https://themalaysianreserve.com/2017/06/02/shamsuddin-a-drivers-son-who-realises-his-vision/
18. ‘Billionaire Kuok Says His Empire Can Last “Generations”‘, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-01-31/billionaire-kuok-says-his-empire-can-last-generations-
19. ‘Malaysia’s Anthony Tan leads GrabTaxi In Regional App Race’, https://www.forbes.com/sites/susancunningham/2015/02/25/malaysias-anthony-tan-leads-grabtaxi-in-regional-app-race/#1b63e2d877da
20. ‘High-Net-Worth Client Tips For Financial Advisors’ by Justin Kuepper, https://www.investopedia.com/articles/financial-advisors/121814/highnetworth-client-tips-financial-advisors.asp