How to Upgrade to IMG's New Preferred Membership Online

Good news to IMG members and partners!

Just recently, International Marketing Group has upgraded it's membership into IMG preferred membership with added benefits! On top of the top 10 membership benefits, here are some added perks and privileges exclusive for IMG members. 

The New IMG Preferred Membership

Below is an email sent from IMG's newsletter:

To our dear IMG members and partners:

Since the launch of our new IMG Preferred Membership, many of our members who have availed of this membership have been enjoying a new world of exclusive perks, exclusive discounts and exclusive benefits.

In connection with this, we would like to inform you that, starting Wednesday, March 1, 2017 (12:00AM, Manila Time), all new IMG membership applications will already be Preferred. As such, the new membership fee of P4,500.00 will already take effect for Philippine code and for International membership,the new rates that will apply to your respective country will soon be available in our ejoin site. Likewise, the new fee of P1,500.00 will apply to all Accreditation Renewals (all codes) and P700.00 for all Membership Upgrade (all codes).

Besides our Top 10 benefits, our IMG Preferred Membership initially offers these additional privileges in partnership with the following providers: 

1. Fidelity Mutual Life

Fidelity Life is a mutual benefit association exclusively created for the IMG Preferred Members. It provides IMG Preferred members P50,000.00 life insurance with free memorial concierge service through Everest. As an additional benefit, the IMG management has successfully negotiated the waiver of membership fee that is usually required from all Mutual Benefit Association members, for all new IMG Preferred Members until further advise...

2. Everest Memorial Services 

Everest Memorial is a 24/7 FREE concierge service for IMG Preferred Members and their immediate families. Our trained Family Assistance Officers will help members in organizing personalized funeral plans when they need it. During the very difficult time, our preferred members and or their family members need not look for the best-priced suppliers; nor coordinate set-up and deliveries of funeral services. Members will just focus on giving the perfect send-off to their loved one and Everest will do the rest.  Everest is prepared to provide the convenience and peace of mind when you need it most... 

3. Ozone International 

Ozone Therapy has been popular with people from all age categories: from the younger generation who uses ozone therapy as a disease-preventing measure, to senior citizens who want to maintain an active lifestyle, and even to patients who use Ozone Therapy to complement their prescribed medical treatment. This medical breakthrough is now available to all IMG Preferred Members at a special discounted rate of P5,000/session (P1,000 discount) or P50,000/program (P10,000 discount).

Please check your emails to read full email newsletter from IMG. 

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How to compute your MOST annual premium

Lately we have been receiving emails requesting a proposal or quotation with IMG's partner company, Philam Life with its product - Multiple Option Super Term (MOST). 

As much as we want to send you a proposal, as part of our advocacy in sharing financial education, we want people (especially IMG members) to become their own money manager. 

Looking for a quotation or proposal? Learn how to compute your MOST annual premium

Instead of depending on an agent or your IMG trainer, why not learn how to do-it-yourself (DIY).

So today, let me share to you how to compute your Multiple Option Super Term annual premium.

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Understanding Deposit Insurance of Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC)

Here's a basic information on the scope of deposit insurance and the application of the maximum deposit insurance coverage.

Source: Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation

Disclaimer: We are not connected in any way with PDIC and this article is for informational purposes only. 

Maximum Deposit Insurance Coverage (MDIC)

PDIC pays deposit insurance on all valid deposits up to the Maximum Deposit Insurance Coverage (MDIC) of P500,000 per depositor of a closed bank. For purposes of computing deposit insurance, accounts maintained in the same right and capacity for a depositor's benefit, whether in his own name or in the name of others, are added together and in no case shall exceed the MDIC.

Deposits are considered valid if, upon determination of PDIC, these deposits are recorded in the bank's records, and are evidenced by inflow of cash.

What  are covered by PDIC deposit insurance?

PDIC insures valid deposits in domestic offices of its member-banks, as follows:

By Deposit Type:

- savings

- special savings

- demand/checking

- negotiable order of withdrawal (NOW)

- time deposits

By Deposit Account:

- single account

- joint account

- account "By", "In Trust For" (ITF) or "For the Account of" (FAO) another person

By Currency:

- philippine peso

- foreign currencies considered as part of BSP's international reserves

PDIC member-banks

Consist of institutions authorized by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to perform banking functions in the Philippines:

- banks incorporated under Philippine laws, such as commercial banks, savings banks, mortgage banks, development banks, rural banks and cooperative banks and stock savings and loan associations

- domestic branches of foreign banks

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Lapsed Kaiser Long-term Healthcare Policy? Here's what to know and do

Have you experience missing your Kaiser Long-term Healthcare dues? 

Here are the things we need to know and do: 

Lapsed Kaiser Policy? Here's what to know and do 

According to Kaiser policy Article VIII: Contract Price and Grace Period:

If payment is not made on or before the due date, this Contract shall lapse. However, the Member shall be given a grace period of one (1) month from due date to pay the due installment. Benefits may be provided to the Member during the grace period only after the due installment is paid.

If payment is not made before the end of the grace period, this Contract shall, without need of notice to the Member, be terminated and shall no longer be of any force or effect. The Member shall lose all rights and privileges except the right to reinstate, subject to the requirements for a new applicant for Membership in effect at that time.

The Member shall be given a period of two (2) years from the first unpaid due date to reinstate this Contract. If reinstatement is not made within that time, KIH shall unilaterally cancel this Contract without need of notice to the Member. All payments previously made by the Member shall also be forfeited in favor of KIH as liquidated damages.

Kaiser Policy Article VIII: Contract Price and Grace Period

Here's a TL;DR (too long; didn't read) version:

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How to Open a Kaiser Long-term Healthcare Account?

Kaiser International Healthgroup, Inc. is a partner healthcare provider of International Marketing Group (IMG). Its long-term healthcare program is one of the most sought after products of Kaiser covering people beyond ages 60 for their healthcare needs. So, how does one avail or open an account in Kaiser? 

Here are your options:

1. Talk to an IMG financial trainer or be your own agent.

Since IMG is the only exclusive distributor of Kaiser International; one must talk to an IMG financial trainer. A financial needs analysis must be done, identifying the desired and needed healthcare protection especially during retirement years and matching it with the person’s capability to save. 

Another option is that one may opt to be his/her own financial expert or agent by joining IMG, attending its finance and product training, and doing his/her own financial needs analysis. 

We encourage the latter as we believe in empowerment and minimizing agent-client relationship, removing the middleman. 

Open a Kaiser Long-term Healthcare account with IMG

2. Fill-up Application Form 

2.1. Paper Application

An application form must be filled up. Details should be accurate as these will be verified with legal documents upon claims. A self-disclosure questionnaire is also provided. 

If a person has existing health concerns, he/she must declare it. However, for Kaiser to approve its application, medical records may be required else coverage may not be approved or may be approved with limitation such as “No Insurance Benefit” (NIB). 

Submit to your IMG financial trainer with a photocopy of a valid I.D.

Kaiser International Long-term Healthcare Application Form. 
(Version Nov.2011. A recent version may be available)

2.2. Online Application

If online transaction is preferred, then one must request online proposal from his/her IMG financial trainer. If one does not have an IMG trainer, one may request from the below link:

Click here to request a Kaiser Healthcare quotation or proposal

Please fill-up form with accurate details. A link will be sent to your email requesting to complete the application form. Details and questionnaire the same as the paper application is applied. 

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Have you ever wondered who is behind LifeatIMG?

Hi I'm Teof Bacalso, also known as Tiyo Pilo. 

Life at IMG Admin

We have specifically placed in our "about" section of the blog who the people of Life at IMG are. But not everyone seems to have visited that page. So here we are:

The admins behind Life at IMG: Bacalso Siblings

I, Teof Bacalso (right), am most of the time the author of the blog. My brother, Vincent (left), is the artist/designer and my sister, Leah (center), is in charge of inquiries. 

We also have co-authors like Raizza Gomez, for our travel articles, and other trainers and finance advocates as contributors such as Sir Jess Faller of Prosperpinoy and his contribution - minutes to wealth. We also have Chloe Bacalso, and Joma Levy Dosdos for some finance and entrepreneurship articles. 

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Access your IMG online account

Are you a member of IMG already? Did you know you can access a member's online account? 

In this account you will receive news, your tools, materials and monitoring. Basically it serves as your virtual office. Thus regardless wherever you are in the world, you have access to these materials. 

Log-in to your IMG online account

Let's take a look in this video what's inside IMG members' online account and how to access this account: 

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Mutual Funds: Money Cost Averaging Strategy

One thing is guaranteed in the market: it goes up and down. Thus in investing in mutual funds it is very important to know the risks involved. Yes we can lose money in mutual funds, but to minimize and manage the risk, one must constantly do additional investments and invest with a long-term horizon. 

Related Content: How to lose and not lose money in mutual funds.

This strategy is often called: Money cost averaging. How does this strategy work?

Money cost averaging in mutual funds

Money cost averaging is a strategy to systematically purchase shares of mutual funds (can also be applicable in stocks) to minimize investment risk in a fluctuating market. 

This strategy is very simple. A constant amount should be invested at a specific time interval (e.g. monthly) regardless of market condition. 

However, this strategy does not guarantee (as all other strategies) a profit or prevent loss thus it is important to consider one's ability to continue and stick with one's financial plan. 

For example, given the following details: 

Monthly Investment of 5,000
Investment Horizon: 6 months
And price per share fluctuating as shown in the table below: 

Example of money cost averaging simplified

Looking at the table above, the total amount invested for 6 months is P30,000 and was able to accumulate a total of 900 shares. Now to get the current market value, we need to multiply the total number of shares and the current market price at month 6 which is P50.

Thus:

900 shares x P50.00 per share = P45,000!

So the total growth for the past 6 months is 50% of the total investment. 

If the person invested one-time, big-time on the first month: 

Total investment on month 1: P30,000
Number of shares bought: P30,000 / 100 = 300 shares
Current market value at month 6: 300 shares x P50.00 per share = P15,000!

The investor could have lost 50% of the total investment.

Now blowing this up: 

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How to lose and not lose money in mutual funds

Is mutual funds risky? Yes it is. 

Can you lose money in mutual funds? Yes you can.

Can you also gain big time? Absolutely.

Can you then manage or minimize the risk? Ofcourse, you can! 

The answer to all these questions is basically financial education. Being financially educated does not only mean having investments or financial products. But by knowing when, how, and why you invest, at the same time understanding how to manage or minimize the risks involve. 

After understanding about mutual funds: What is a mutual fund?

Understanding its advantages: 9 advantages of mutual funds.

And why it is important to invest in mutual funds: In-depth understanding of mutual funds

Today, let us learn how to manage and minimize the risks involved in investing in mutual funds.

Anything in life, there will always be risks. Example: driving is very risky. You hear a lot of car accidents causing property damages or even death. But it does not mean that everybody should avoid or stop driving. We just need to "learn" and "apply" basic guidelines and strategies to keep us safe. Same with investing in mutual funds. 

Here are few examples how to lose money and more importantly how not to lose money in mutual funds:

1. How to lose money: Thinking short-term. 

We jump into investments because we see the potential returns. However, when the market goes down, a lot of investors panic. So instead of investing in the long-term they withdraw their funds too soon. 

Losing money in mutual funds by withdrawing too soon (source: Philam Asset Management, Inc.)

Taking Philam Strategic Growth Fund as an example, looking at the graph above, the person invested last April 10, 2015 and withdrew his money on July 1, 2016. 

Related Content: How to compute your earnings in mutual funds?

Percent loss from 595.58 to 561.37 NAVPS = 5.74%

Assuming he invested 100,000: 

His 100,000 becomes: 94,256

Minus early redemption fee of 1 year to less than 2 years: 0.5% 

Actual Value: 93,784!

Therefore, how to not lose: Invest for the long-term

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How to Compute your earnings in Mutual Funds?

Mutual Fund is an alternative investment vehicle to grow your money for your long-term goals. Understanding how it works and knowing its advantages are the first step in investing in mutual funds. Once a person has started his mutual fund account, it is always a basic question, “So, how does one earn in mutual funds?” The answer is simple:

Related Content: What is a Mutual Fund?

Compute your earnings

Every time you invest in mutual funds, you will regularly receive a Statement of Account. Depending on your mutual fund company, you will receive it monthly, quarterly or any other regular intervals may it be in hard copy or through email. The Statement of Account or SOA will show your investment data including your account number, date of investment, investment amount, NAVPS or the price per share when you bought it, and your total number of shares bought.

Statement of Account: FAMI Mutual Funds (edited to hide investor data)

Statement of Account: Soldivo Mutual Funds (edited to hide investor data)

Now, to compute your potential earnings let us refer to the sample Statement of Account of Philequity Mutual Fund below:

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Payment Options for your Kaiser Healthcare Account

Kaiser International Healthgroup, Inc. is a partner healthcare provider of International Marketing Group (IMG). Its long-term healthcare program is one of the most sought after products of Kaiser covering people beyond ages 60 for their healthcare needs.

After opening your Kaiser long-term healthcare program, you would want to know how to do your subsequent payments. Here are some of the payment options for your preference:  

Related Content: How to open your Kaiser Health Savings Account?

Pay your Kaiser bills online

Recommendation Legend:

1 - Highly Recommended

2 - Recommended

3 - Least Recommended

Option 1. Pay through Cash (3) 

1.1. Go to an IMG financial center near you. Pay to the cashier. 

1.2. Remit to a trusted IMG member preferably a Senior Marketing Director position as they can issue a "Sales Associate Temporary Receipt" (SATR). However, we encourage directly remitting to an IMG financial center to avoid untoward incidents like non-remittance of payments. 

Option 2. Pay through Check (2) 

For check transactions, please write the following in the payee: 

"International Marketing Group" or "Kaiser International Healthgroup, Inc."

Please make sure there are no mistakes or misspelled words as check transactions are very strict. 

Option 3. Bank Deposit (1) 

You can pay through the below bank accounts:

Kaiser International Healthgroup, Inc.

BPI: 3711-0062-13

BPI Family Savings Bank: 6251-0171-64

Unionbank: 0020-3000-8451

Then remit to a financial center near you or submit transaction slip to a trusted IMG financial trainer. 

Important Note: Please take note that payment through bank deposit  requires you to let IMG or Kaiser know your transaction as no specific data (like your policy number) is included through bank deposit transactions.

Option 4. Over the Counter Credit Card (3) 

You can pay through credit card using the form below:

Kaiser Credit Card Payment Form

Click this link to download form

Print form, input details and remit to an IMG Financial Center near you. 

Important Note: There are also feedback on credit card transactions that charges are not reflected right away. Especially those that opt to do a monthly deduction on their credit card. Reason: credit card may expire and updating of the credit card form was not done. 

Option 5. Using the Online Policy Management System (OPMS) (3)

Log-in to your Kaiser Online Policy Management System (click here)

If you don't have access or have forgotten your password to your online account just request access. (click here) Just input your email address, your policy number and your application number and Kaiser will send you your online access through your email add. 

Kaiser online access request

Once you are logged in your online account, just click pay bill now.

Pay bill online using your Kaiser Online Policy System

Then choose from all the payment options provided. Online options include: money remittance, bank deposit, online bank transfer, debit card via Bancnet, credit card via Paypal.

Online payment options for your Kaiser premiums

Important note: Please follow specifically the instructions provided. Failure to do so may incur errors in the transaction. 

Another note: Since the online system was just recently launched last 2015, there have been quite a few errors including but not limited to payments not being reflected right away even if the payments are already made, lapse status even if you are actively saving. It is important not to be worried about this as the system is still being polished. Just make sure your online transactions are stored in case the need to trace transactions is required. 

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IMG Membership Benefit: Financial Education Workshop

One of the major benefits of being an IMG member is our Financial Education Workshop. As financial education classes are never taught in school, IMG is one the companies that has been consistently filling that gap. And finally, IMG has officially adapted a program from the IMG's counterpart in the US and Canada: World System Builder of World Financial Group. 

The program is based on the book "Saving your Future" and workbook "Financial Foundation Educational Program Workbook" by World System Builder. (2015). X press WSB, Inc. 2099 Gold Street, PO Box 2028, Alviso, CA 95002. And we proudly say, that IMG is the only company given exclusive access to these materials. 

Here is a sneak peek of IMG's Financial Education Workshop benefit:

Classroom Training and Workshop

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IMG's New Membership Platform

Being in IMG, sometimes we can't help but mention the following words: recruit, sales, upline, downline, insurance, investment, healthcare, business meeting or seminar. And a lot of times, our friends and even our family members are allergic to those words.

Worry not! Because right now, after IMG's Malaysia Convention, held last April 17, 2016, IMG has officially launched its new platform: IMG's Membership Platform!

Here is how it works:

IMG has a new platform: IMG's Membership Platform

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Multiple Option Super Term (MOST) by IMG and Philam Life

After understanding the basics of life insurances, its different types and knowing how to compute your protection needs , it is important to translate all this knowledge through execution and application. And as International Marketing Group (IMG) is a believer of the BTID strategy, we have partnered with one of the largest life insurance company in the Philippines: Philam Life with its powerful product - "Multiple Option Super Term" (MOST).

must have protection at its best - life insurance

Recommended Reads:
1. Understanding the basics of life insurance
2. What Type Of Life Insurance Do You Need?
3. How Much Life Insurance Protection Do You Need?
4. What Is Buy Term Insurance And Invest The Difference (BTID) Strategy?

Read more »

How does Kaiser Long-Term Healthcare Work?

Kaiser International Healthgroup, Inc. is one of the product providers of IMG offering people (as of writing) the only Long Term Healthcare Program in the Philippines. 

It’s a 3-in-1 product that solves the 3 major financial needs of Filipinos: investment, life insurance and long-term healthcare. 

This long-term care product is called the Kaiser Ultimate Health Builder. How does it work?

prepare for your long-term healthcare needs

The long-term care program has 3 phases: the accumulation period, extended period, and the start of long-term care period (maturity).

Kaiser International Healthgroup, Inc. (photo: Kaiser website)

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1. Accumulation Period (7years)

This is the part where the plan holder is made to save for 7 years. 

At this period, the plan holder gets to have the following benefits:

- Free Annual Physical Exam

- Free Dental Benefits

- Waiver of Installment due to death

- Waiver of Installment due to disability

- Basic Medical Benefits

- Member’s choice of room and board

- Annual Benefit Limit (starting at 50,000 per year depending on the plan)

During this period, pre-existing conditions are not covered. This is to protect the healthy plan holders and the company. If pre-existing conditions are covered, then everyone will be selling inside the hospitals.

2. Extended Period (13years)

Since it is also an investment product, the funds have an extended period or what we call growing and waiting period as the funds are allowed to be invested and grow at an average rate of 10%. 

The plan holder no longer needs to contribute in his account but just have to wait for its maturity. The funds inside Kaiser are invested in mutual funds handled by one of the top investment companies in the Philippines. 

The benefits in this period include:

- The same as the accumulation period but the payments are already deducted from the funds inside Kaiser.

- Term Life Insurance for 20 years (starting at the accumulation period up to the end of extended period)

- Accidental Death and Dismemberment for 20 years (starting at the accumulation period up to the end of extended period)

- Lifetime Network access to over 500 major hospitals

- Additional Health Bonus when the market is at top performance

- Receives the VISA card after full contribution from the accumulation period

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What is a Mutual Fund?

It is a company where it pools funds from many investors and professionally managed by fund managers investing the funds in a diversified portfolio of investments such as stocks and bonds. Defining it simply in the IMG way, it is a vehicle where a person is able to invest in solid businesses being able to have the opportunity to earn what the wealthy people are earning. So how do mutual funds work? 

Investing made easy through mutual funds

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How much life insurance protection do you need?

Buying a car insurance is simple. If your car is worth 1M, you need a 1M of coverage to cover the car in the event of a total loss. Same with your house, if the value of the house is 5M, then you'll need a 5M of coverage in case of disaster. However, when it comes to life insurance, people can't apply the same valuation because they don't know how to calculate how much they need.

Compute your financial needs

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What is Buy Term Insurance and Invest the Difference (BTID) Strategy?

The primary purpose of a life insurance is for protection and income replacement. With that, IMG believes that the best product for protection purposes is buying term insurance. While most insurance companies are offering whole life and investment-linked products, IMG believes that the reason most Filipinos are not insured or underinsured is because of the affordability of premium. It does not mean however that their products are not good, it just means that since most Filipinos are not properly insured, the best way to help Filipinos get enough protection is by making people understand its importance and at the same time offer a very affordable premium. With that IMG believes in the “Buy Term, Invest the Difference” (BTID) strategy. So, what is the BTID strategy?

The purpose of life insurance is to protect our income 

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