First Metro: ‘Invest in a mix of assets to get better yield’

CEBU, Philippines — First Metro Securities Brokerage Corp. (FirstMetroSec) has intensified its presence in Cebu taking advantage of the rising interest of the market, especially the younger bunch putting their hard-earned money to different investment instruments.

FirstMetroSec has brought in its legendary “Fundsmart” to Cebu in a roadshow. FundsMart is an investment funds supermarket that empowers one to invest in the country’s top peso-and dollar-denominated mutual funds and Unit Investment Trust Funds (UITFs).

It gives the public over 130 mutual funds and UITFs to invest in from the country’s leading investment providers.

During its recently held Cebu roadshow, financial experts from asset management companies encouraged investors to diversify their portfolio and not put everything in one basket for better yield.

For as low as P1000, one can already build its wealth through sound investment.

During the roadshow, FirstMetroSec brought Andrew Caw, ATR Asset Management Inc.’s managing director and chief marketing officer, and three other financial experts—Imelda Estrada, vice president and VisMin branch head of First Metro Asset Management Inc.; Dominic Yatco, vice president and head of institutional business of BPI Wealth; and Zed Matubis, vice president and head of wealth sales of Manulife Investment Management and Trust Corp.— to Cebu to discuss the various financial opportunities available in the market through FundsMart.

Caw told first-time investors to avoid putting their hard-earned money into a single investment instrument.

By investing in a mix of assets, investors can safeguard their money from significant losses. If one investment performs poorly, the impact on the overall portfolio is minimized because other investments may perform well, Caw said.

First Metro Securities Brokerage Corp. Matubis encouraged participants “that now is the best time to invest.”

Matubis expressed his preference for portfolio investing rather than single-fund investing, emphasizing that a well-diversified portfolio can benefit from the gains of various investments, with some outperforming others.

Matubis explained that investing is essential to prepare for the future, especially in light of inflation.

He explained that Inflation is always going to be there and “if you’re doing nothing, if you’re just saving and not investing, you’re basically hurting yourself because your future ability to spend money will be hurt by inflation.

Estrada, however, advised first-time investors to develop their financial plans and goals to determine the most suitable investment tool for achieving them.

FundsMart currently has 31,000 customers, a huge jump from the 1,400 count in 2016.