The Gift of Paying It Forward

Benjamin Koh Jia Hao

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A Monthly Curated Newsletter

When was the last time you received kindness from somebody? When was the last time you extended an act of kindness to someone else, and to what end? As it turns out, there can be tremendous merits and outcomes in paying forward a kindness received with a good deed to somebody else, especially when done out of gratitude. The concept of "Paying It Forward" is nothing new, but in our world, I believe we could do with more compassion and selflessness as it brings out the best in us.

The Art of Paying it Forward Without Spending a Dime

When we pay it forward we commit an act of selflessness that transcends our connection to other humans on the planet, elevating the human experience in a positive way. Whether it’s a showing of kindness, faith, or even compassion, it all makes a difference and can potentially trigger a chain reaction of reciprocated behavior.

The Power of Altruism

Classical economics adopts a model that says people are primarily driven by material self-interest. Political science assumes that people are driven to maximize their power. But this worldview is clearly wrong. In real life, the push of selfishness is matched by the pull of empathy and altruism. This is not Hallmark card sentimentalism but scientific fact: As babies our neural connections are built by love and care. We have evolved to be really good at cooperation and empathy. We are strongly motivated to teach and help others.

The Paying it Forward Paradox | Wayne Baker | TEDxUofM

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Proudly Brought to You I seek to reach out to people who believe in safeguarding the interests of their loved ones. Let me know if I can be of help to someone you know or care about. We can make a difference to lives when it matters most. Cheers.
Benjamin Koh Jia Hao

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DISCLAIMER

This is not an official AIA newsletter. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of AIA Singapore Private Limited (Company Registration No. 201106386R) (AIA), any other agency, organisation, employer or company. Assumptions made in the analysis are not reflective of the position of AIA other than the author.

© Benjamin Koh Jia Hao, All rights reserved.

Testimonials and Referral Notes

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Chee Hin (Engineer)

Ben has been very approachable, proactive and clear in bringing information across. From addressing my queries on critical illness to expressing my concern on legacy planning, Ben shared openly and genuinely with the emphasis on mine and my family well-being.

Jordon (IT Engineer)

Benjamin is a very patient and knowledgeable consultant. He is able to relate and cater to my needs. Although my policies were not bought through him, he made efforts to meet and understand what transpired between me and my previous consultant's advice and advised accordingly. He made me feel like I'm talking to a friend unlike others!

Tianfu (Executive)

Bright, cheerful and resourceful is some of the traits that makes Ben easy to be around with. Despite joining this industry for a short time, his pro-activeness has motivated him to go the extra mile understanding his client's need, short term and long term objectives. The continuous effort in asking for feedbacks, following up with clients and always seeking of ways to improve himself enabled him to go straight to the point with clear explanations. Ben also does his best to make every session enjoyable for you! Give him a shot and he will make your dollar count.

Naomi (Piano Teacher)

I've known Ben for about 6 years and we're good friends. Before advising me on my uptake of policy, he made sure to discuss with me my financial situation and proposed a policy that is suitable based on my current situation and budget. Also, he made it a point to explain the importance & differences of the plans with me. The details and information he has provided has really been insightful & helpful towards my financial planning. I'm very satisfied with the sessions I've had with Ben so far.

Chiang Teck Fung (Retiree)

I can only summarise Benjamin in 3 words: Helpful, patient & responsible. Helpful: Despite not being the agent that sold us the plan (he took over the policies as our previous agent was not doing a good job), and having to take over with many backlogs, Benjamin went the extra mile to ensure all our pending claims and doubts are addressed. He's been a great help even outside of financial planning; I was having trouble figuring out how to pay my electricity bills online as well as requiring to clarify certain medical check-ups SMS, Benjamin was there to guide me step by step even though it is not within the scope of a financial advisor. Patient: Benjamin went on to explain and update me on my existing portfolio. He was very professional and gave me a very detailed yet neutral updates. I had many questions especially when it has been sometime since I was updated on my portfolio. This is especially true in terms of a policy that I've gotten recently that does not seem to fit my objective. Benjamin patiently explained to me the advantage & disadvantage of the policy. I am very thankful for his timely advise as I've gotten this policy under the wrong impression and Benjamin was able to guide me through it and break down information to easily understandable pieces. Responsible: After having to experience a very bad encounter with my previous advisor (not picking up calls, not submitting claims for me). I made it a point that the next financial advisor I get must uphold a high sense of responsibility as I do not want the same situation to repeat itself. Though I did not voice this requirement out, Benjamin has been very proactive, responsive and even despite there being hiccups in the claims process (AIA require a more detailed breakdown on my bill), he never failed to update us or return our call when required. I am very assured with him taking over mine & my family's entire portfolio. Thank you for servicing me!

Huiting (Manager)

Benjamin and Liliani are very friendly and knowledgeable in their field of work. They recommended the insurance policy that best suited my needs in my current stage of life. From Liliani's sharing of Insurance, I better understood the importance of protecting my wealth and well-being from the potential risks that could happen to me. From the sessions with them, I am assured now to be free to do the things I want, and have a peace of mind without having to worry about any unexpected bad events happening to me and my family financially.