Avoid Going Broke: Financial Planning Before Buying a Property!
Avoid Going Broke: Financial Planning Before Buying a Property!
Being financially literate is the most important thing if you don’t want to go broke. So, in this guide, you will learn how you can turn your financial misery into success with few simple steps
By FinDoctor Malaysia · Last updated
Content

Importance of Financial Planning: A Real-Life Guide
Understanding finances and investments is crucial, especially in this modern age. This is because some high earners still find themselves in significant debt due to poor personal financial planning.
So, in this guide, through a real-life example, we'll show you why it's essential to manage your finances before diving into investments or buying property in Malaysia.

Essential Financial Planning: Crucial Even for High Income Earners
1. En. Ali's Financial Situation
En. Ali is a 36-year-old engineer at an international oil and gas company. He earns nearly RM 20,000 per month. However, despite having a substantial income over the years, his financial situation is less than satisfactory. Here's a snapshot of his assets and liabilities:
Assets and Liabilities
| Assets | Liabilities |
|---|---|
| High-end apartment: RM 1,100,000 | Housing Loan: RM 810,000 |
| BMW car: RM 80,000 | Car Loan: RM 50,000 |
| Unit Trust Fund: RM 60,000 | Credit Card: RM 120,000 |
| Total Assets: RM1,240,000 | Total Liabilities: RM980,000 |
Income and Expenditure
| Income | Expenditure |
|---|---|
| Net Salary: RM 14,100 | Housing Loan Payment: RM 4,100 |
| Car Loan Payment: RM 2,100 | |
| Min Credit Card Payment: RM 6,000 | |
| Unit Trust Fund Savings: RM 400 | |
| Other Expenses: RM 4,000 | |
| Total Income: RM14,100 | Total Expenditure: RM16,600 |
En Ali's income and expenses result in a net deficit of RM -2,500. This forces him to rely on credit cards to cover the income shortfall, leading him into a cycle of bad debts.

Net Deficit: Relying on Credit Cards and Falling into Debt Cycle
2. Financial Analysis of En. Ali
En. Ali, despite his significant salary, is facing financial planning difficulties. A large initial down payment for his apartment depleted his savings, prompting him to resort to credit cards for RM 50,000 worth of renovations.
Over time, his cumulative credit card debt and monthly expenses surpassed his monthly income, leading to a continuous accumulation of debt.

FinDoc Recommendations for Managing Debt and Improving Finances
3. Recommendations by FinDoc
After assessing En. Ali's financial situation, the FinDoc Pro Advisory team proposes the following:
- Withdraw RM 60,000 from the Unit Trust Fund to address the credit card debt, given that the fund's return rate is less than the credit card's interest rate.
- Apply for a Mortgage Refinancing Top Up Loan. This will let En. Ali obtained RM 180,000 at a low-interest rate and reduced his monthly expenses.
- Use the loan for debt restructuring. This will allow him to pay off the remaining credit card and car loan debts.
- Put RM 70,000 into a Flexi Loan Current Account for emergency purposes and to save for mortgage interest for earlier loan settlement.

Revised Financial Status: Improved Stability and Reduced Debt
4. En. Ali's Revised Financial Status
Following these changes:
| Assets | Liabilities |
|---|---|
| High-end apartment: RM 1,100,000 | Housing Loan: RM 990,000 |
| BMW car: RM 80,000 | Car Loan: RM 0 |
| Flexi Current Account: RM 70,000 | Credit Card: RM 0 |
| Total Assets: RM1,250,000 | Total Liabilities: RM990,000 |
Income and Expenditure
| Income | Expenditure |
|---|---|
| Net Salary: RM 14,100 | Housing Loan Payment: RM 4,805 |
| Other Expenses: RM 4,000 | |
| Total Income: RM14,100 | Total Expenditure: RM8,805 |
En. Ali now has reduced expenses and a net disposable income of RM5,295. He no longer needs to rely on credit to cover his income shortfall.
5. Conclusion
Before investing, proper financial management is essential. Without effective debt and income management, even multiple investments could lead to financial instability.
Visit FinDoc Pro Advisory for personalized financial advice, debt management, interest reduction, loan settlement guidance, and tailored bank product recommendations, along with the Pro Report.
Once you manage your finance correctly and are ready to get a property, you might want to check out Tips for Securing a Best Housing Loan Interest Rate.
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