Special shoutout to Executive Senior Director Colin Ong ChFC, CLU for achieving IDA百人团队(IDA100) for the 4th consecutive year and 世界华人保险500强团队(CIA500)皇冠会员 from 2020 to 2022. And there’s Executive Senior Director Shenile Teo who was recognised as 世界华人保险500强团队(CIA500)桂冠会员 for the 7th consecutive year and IDA Honorary Lifetime Ambassador!

In addition, both Colin and Shenile, together with Executive Senior Manager Sherin Lew Chiew Quan (under Director Goh Yeow Hua) and Senior Financial Consultant Patricia Lim Sze Nee (under Shenile) were invited to share their experiences on the big stage.

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Thank you for making our 17th edition so memorable. We were thrilled to see everyone again, including Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment who gamely participated in the 5km category!

As our event Guest of Honour Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law put it, “The Great Eastern Women’s Run holds a unique place in our local sporting calendar as Singapore’s only all-women's race – championing the unity of women in health, wellness, community and friendship. It is an excellent testament to the power of sport in bringing people together, advocating healthy living, and making a positive impact on our wider community.”

Indeed, we continue to uplift communities through the race, with our hardworking Great Eastern’s Financial Representatives and employees raising $260,000 for beneficiary organisations, Daughters Of Tomorrow and Singapore Cancer Society. This will be channelled towards programmes that support underprivileged women in their back-to-work journeys and help cancer survivors to integrate into everyday life.

1. As the reigning champion fundraiser for the last three years, were there expectations to retain your title as the top fundraiser?

The 2023 fund raising effort was the most challenging we had so far.

Firstly, we had a target to increase the amount raised by 20% compared to what we did in 2022 (which was approx. 40K+). We do this because we want to do more for our beneficiaries.

Secondly, doing good through corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become more habitual for most people and this is a great development. Yet this also means many of the donors are already actively contributing to other CSR efforts outside of Great Eastern Women’s Run.

To encourage more new reps to take part in this worthy cause, we invited two new members into JKLA who is participating in the Fundraising Challenge for the first time!

(Note: JKLA stands for the team members’ initials. Kristiana Anthon and Lydia Lee were in the same fundraising team for the past three years. In 2022, they were known as JKLM with Joanne See and Marie Mak. In 2023, they are known as JKLA with Janice Zhang and Annie See.)

2. What were your thoughts when you first signed up for this and how did you feel when the fundraising period closed?

It was a bitter sweet moment: bitter because that marked the end of what we could raise for this year; sweet because we know we have fought a good fight and finished the race well!

3. Any parting words that JKLA would like to share with the Fin Rep community about doing good/fundraising etc

Do right! Do good! And you shall do well!

As the game-changing race for generations of women, we will continue to create the space and stage for women of all ages and ambition to be the greatest version of themselves. Thank you again to all Fin Reps who have supported, made donations and contributed to the success of the race in one way or other. See you again for the next race!

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Need an energy booster for a strong and sustained momentum that would last all the way to year end?

This is it!

• The qualifying period for this challenge tracks issued policies from 28 Sept 2023 to 31 Dec 2023. Qualifying Products include all RP Life and A&H plans, excluding GREAT SupremeHealth, GREAT TotalCare, GREAT Wealth Advantage and all single premium plans.
  
  
• Qualifying Indicator includes 2 x FYC recognition for all eligible A&H plans (including GREAT CareShield) and 20% FYC recognition for GREAT Flexi Goal, GREAT Wealth Multiplier, GREAT Retire Income and GREAT Lifetime Payout respectively.
  
  
• With Fast Start, representatives stand to qualify for up to $21,000 in incentive pay out. For example, to be eligible for October Fast Start 200%, representatives must issue a minimum of $2,000 Qualifying FYC by 31st October 2023 AND a minimum $10,000 Qualifying FYC (i.e. tier 1) by the end of Q4 challenge. In such instance, representatives would qualify for 200% of base incentive tier 1 i.e. $500 x 200% = $1,000. Qualifying period for Fast Start tracks issued policies from 28 Sept 2023 to 31 Oct 2023.

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Be someone's lifeline this season of love. Do you know each pint of blood can save up to three precious lives? Register here for the Great Eastern Blood Donation Drive: https://forms.gle/QjTTd1f89DMzzqJn8 to gift a new lease of life.

Great Eastern Blood Donation Drive

• Fri, 1 Dec from 10am onsite @ CFE in Pickering

Here are some tips to have a pleasant donation experience.

Still wondering about where your donated blood and how it would help? Here’s a snapshot of blood usage in Singapore. Bonus! How to boost your iron sufficiency for a successful donation.

Congratulations to the 373 Financial Representatives among you who are recipients of Great Eastern Long Service Award 2023! Thank you for achieving your career milestones with us, especially to the special three who had chalked up a remarkable 50 years of service each while another eight of you have attained equally impressive 45 years of service.

This award recognition is for those who have been with Great Eastern for 10 years and above, based on multiples of five-year block (i.e. 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 & 50 years) in honour of their enduring commitment and contributions to Great Eastern.

We hosted the recipients, including their Immediate Officers and Directors to a luncheon at Park Royal Collection, Marina Bay Singapore in celebration of the occasion, with Managing Director - Regional Agency, FA and Bancassurance, Patrick Peck providing the opening address of appreciation.

The luncheon saw waves and waves of hearty laughter and endless cheers. It was an afternoon that left all feeling uplifted and inspired by the Long Service recipients, as everyone basked in that familiar and familial sense of strong camaraderie.

Great Eastern is privileged to have the best in the industry with us, and we will continue to nurture and nourish you, so that we are stronger together and the indisputable Number 1!

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Attendees were treated to a generous sharing by an industry panel of high achievers who spoke candidly about their journey of triumphs and struggles in this profession as well as their fearless determination in pushing boundaries and achieving exceptional results Beyond the inspiring anedoctes, Associate Director Zhang Zheyuan, Executive Senior Consultant Zoe Yap Mui Ling, Senior Director Timothy Tan, emphasised on how they are transforming the lives of customers by bringing them peace of mind and financially securing their future.

The seminar provided the attendees with snapshots of the scope of Financial Reps, including what to expect and the meaningfulness of this GREAT career. They left inspired, knowing better the ways they could accelerate their professional careers, like the roaring engines on an F1 track.

Central banks are likely nearing the end of their monetary tightening cycles. At this juncture, the global economic slowdown is deemed manageable and even necessary for inflation to converge at acceptable levels, with expectations that it will persist into 2024. The US economy continues to exhibit robust growth, while Europe grapples with challenges. In contrast, China is in the midst of a secular slowdown. Emerging market (EM) economies are also under restrictive financial conditions, likely prompting their central banks to reduce policy rates. The base-case scenario is a gradual global economic slowdown alongside easing inflation. Potential risks originate from geopolitical tensions and potential delayed effects of tight monetary policies. Investors should maintain a degree of optimism for the rest of the year but also remain vigilant, as unforeseen events could reshape the landscape.

This quarter, we maintain a 'neutral' stance on global equities due to ongoing economic uncertainty and valuation concerns, despite short-term market strength. While central banks are tightening policies, we do not anticipate a global recession over the next few months. Our 'positive' stance on global bonds continues as developed market central banks near the end of their rate hike cycles, offering long-term return potential with higher yields. We prefer investment-grade to high-yield credits due to stronger fundamentals in the former.

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It was hot in the classrooms! And it was hard work! But that did not stop close to 40 Great Eastern Financial Representatives and employees from volunteering to be part of the financial literacy movement to empower youths in money matters. They facilitated a two-day programme conducted in partnership with JA Singapore for two schools reaching out to almost 600 students who learnt about spending within budget, saving and investing wisely and using credit cautiously.

We thank all volunteers, some of whom are repeat volunteers of this programme. Thank you for your support and time, especially to our Great Eastern senior management participants – we appreciate you walking the talk to inspire and galvanise more people into volunteering.

We also held a customised fireside chat focusing on how to use and optimise CPF for Housing, Healthcare and Retirement to the alumni and employees of Bettr Academy, a leading social enterprise operating a specialty coffee and beverage business in Singapore. The engaging session was led by Director Regina Chia and supported by Senior Financial Consultant Jasmine Chee.

Incidentally, both Regina and Jasmine were also volunteers for our Fin Lit mentorship programme in one of the schools. Find out more about why and how they continue to volunteer during the peak season that’s Final Sprint.

1. Please describe what you did as a volunteer for Bettr Academy and the youth mentoring in school

During our voluntary engagement at Bettr Academy, we delved into the intricacies of the Central Provident Fund (CPF) and its operational mechanisms, providing a comprehensive understanding of its services and uses. Subsequently, at the school, we participated in an immersive, activity-oriented programme centered around personal finance and career planning, ensuring a hands-on and engaging learning experience for the students.

2. What prompted you to sign up for this despite a packed schedule and it’s the final sprint season?

Doing good is a consistent and regular effort, regardless of Final Sprint. Our motivation stems from a deep-seated commitment to giving back to society as well as the conviction that these are causes worth making time for. Financial literacy volunteerism aligns seamlessly with the ethos of our day-to-day work as insurance agents, yet it signifies a heightened dedication to extend this valuable information to a broader audience, particularly those who may have limited exposure to such critical topics.

We are impassioned about equipping students with the necessary tools and insights, ensuring they have ample time to learn and grow, and the space to make and learn from their mistakes. It's disheartening to witness many adults struggle to navigate financial transitions due to a lack of foundational knowledge. Fostering financial awareness now will yield a more financially astute and empowered society in the future.

3. What do you suggest for future volunteering events and why?

Considering the challenges in attracting volunteers due to limited recognition, social media restrictions, and the need for visibility, it's imperative to augment the appeal of future volunteering events. Relying on the feel-good factor needs to be partnered with shedding more light onto these works that we do and providing further acknowledgement to enhance participation.

Editor: We know! Which is why we are recognising Regina and Jasmine for their efforts to spread the good and the love! And we feature as much as possible the social good done by our Fin Reps and agencies. Please keep up the GREAT work!

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Credence Family Day organised by Credence Group on 7 Oct 2023 was a vibrant event during which financial reps as well as their families and friends bonded over having fun and doing good. Over 20 activity stations kept kids and adults entertained, from balloon sculpturing to archer and handicraft. Food and drink stalls also lined the area, serving delicious treats.

40 low-income families and their children, identified by Community Development Council, joined the carnival as special guests, creating a warm and communal atmosphere. All activity stations and food stalls were managed by passionate volunteers from Credence Group.