ASNB organises financial planning camp for children
SANDAKAN: Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad (ASNB) organized the Child Financial Planning Camp yesterday aimed at producing potential investors among the younger generation.
The event which was held at Four Points by Sheraton here was attended by some 400 children and 600 parents.
The camp was dedicated to children aged seven to 12, where ASNB educated participants on the value of money, the importance of saving and investing.
Chief executive officer cum executive director of ASNB, Mohammad Hussin said through the camp, ASNB focused on children as early exposure was crucial to influence their attitudes, views and understanding of money and value.
“Our goal is to help the children who join this camp to understand the importance of managing money wisely and thus make it as good as possible through thrift and savings,” he said.
The Children’s Financial Planning Camp was held five times this year in Shah Alam, Selangor; Sibu, Sarawak; Seremban, Negeri Sembilan; Sandakan, Sabah and Kuala Lumpur with a target of about a thousand participants for each event.
The main activity of the camp is the ‘I’m about to be a Smart Investor’ (Saya Bakal Pelabur Bijak) Seminar designed specifically for children aged 7 to 12 years and group activities such as ‘I’m a Smart Spender’ (Saya Bijak Berbelanja) ‘Know the Risks and Returns’ (Kenali Risiko dan Pulangan) and ‘Insta-Invest’ (Instalabur).
Mohamad explained that through the ‘I’m a Smart Spender’ activity, every participant will receive an allowance of RM50 and they will be given five minutes to spend it in the bookstore and school canteen.
The winner will be selected based on prudent shopping whose criteria is the purchase of quality goods at reasonable prices.
In the ‘Know Your Risks and Returns’ game, participants were taught that every action and decision can have a positive or negative impact on the amount of money they have.
Popular television personality, Dato ‘Aznil Haji Nawawi or Pak Nil was invited to the ‘Ceria Bersama Pak Nil’ session, where he shared his experience and advice on how participants can manage money wisely for their future.
Mohamad said the parents of the participants joined the 360 Days Investment Seminar which included financial planning, the advantages of investing and the method of building the right education fund.
ASNB, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) currently offers 10 unit trust products, of which six are fixed price units namely Amanah Saham Bumputera (ASB), Amanah Saham Bumiputera 2 (ASB2), Amanah Saham Didik (ASD), Amanah Saham Wawasan 2020 (ASW 2020), Amanah Saham Malaysia (ASM) and Amanah Saham 1Malaysia (AS1M).
The minimum eligible age to start the investment is six months and the minimum investment is RM10. Parents can start or increase investment for their children at any time at ASNB branches or agents or via internet banking.