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Factfinding – Never make assumptions!

It’s easy to dismiss fact-finding as “just another tedious step.” We are habitual beings, and it’s natural to rely on our past experiences and biases, making it all too easy to jump to conclusions.

I learned the price of skipping this step the hard way. Not conducting due diligence once cost me dearly:
– Personal Loss: I lost a close friend.
– Business Disaster: I nearly sank my entire F&B business.

The F&B Trap: The High Cost of Friendship Bias
What happened? I regarded my partner as a reliable friend. This close friendship created a massive blind spot, and I assumed he was doing his due diligence on every aspect of the business. I overlooked critical details because of this emotional assumption.

The Coaching Wake-Up Call
I truly thought that devastating experience would teach me, but I was wrong. A few months later, my coach pointed out I was doing it again!
When a different friend shared a story about being victimized by his business partners, I immediately and completely sided with him—without gathering any facts. My coach showed me I was making the exact same mistake by relying on sympathy and history rather than objective information. I could have repeated my business mistake easily with that assumption.

Why Fact-Finding is My #1 Rule Now
This lesson is now foundational, not just for my business, but for my current work as a Financial Advisor.
Fact-finding isn’t just for business owners; it’s vital in every professional sphere:
Financial Review: We must analyze a client’s status without assumptions to create an accurate plan.
Corporate Insurance: Gathering vital, unbiased company information is non-negotiable.
Conflict Resolution: It is essential for understanding all sides of a story fairly.

As we approach the new year, this post serves as my personal commitment to mindfulness: to stop, breathe, and develop a process to gather information before forming an opinion.

If this story resonates with you—if you’ve ever been blindsided by your own assumptions—I hope this post gives you that same clarity my coach gave me.

Important: The information and opinions in this article are for general information purposes only. They should not be relied on as professional financial advice. Readers should seek unbiased financial advice that is customised to their specific financial objectives, situations & needs. This advertisement or publication has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

Published By:

YEO KOON TECK 楊坤德

Thriving as a self-employed individual is a result of strategic financial planning and a commitment to growth. Along the way, I’ve cherished the joy of learning through real-life experiences and the inspiring people I’ve met. Starting my career as a salaryman earning just $1,500 a month, I achieved a major milestone by paying off my mortgage within 15 years through disciplined financial management.

In 2019, I took a bold leap by launching an F&B business while maintaining a full-time job to manage the risks. Today, that venture has flourished into a successful enterprise generating approximately $2 million in annual revenue.

Inspired by my journey, I’m passionate about sharing the power of effective financial planning with friends and clients, helping them achieve their financial goals while continuing to pursue my own aspirations.

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根据《个人数据保护法》，鑫盟理财私人有限公司征求您的同意向您收集并使用您的个人信息。鑫盟理财将根据公司的个人数据保护政策所阐述的用途使用您的个人资料（例如姓名，证件号码，联系电话，邮寄地址，电邮地址和照片）。 该政策可在本公司网站上查寻，网址为 https://fa.com.sg/data-protection-policy/.

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  • 我已阅读并理解鑫盟理财私人有限公司的个人数据保护政策，并同意鑫盟理财私人有限公司根据个人数据保护政策所阐述的用途使用我的个人资料。
  • I have read and understood the disclaimers above and hereby affirm my acceptance of these terms.
  • 我已阅读并理解了上述免责声明，特此声明接受这些条款。
  • I have not been directly contacted or approached by any representative or employee of FAPL with an offer or solicitation to apply for any financial products not offered in my home country.
  • 鑫盟理财私人有限公司的代表或员工并未直接与我联系或提出要约或招揽购买我原居住国境内所不提供的任何金融产品.
  • Financial Alliance Pte Ltd ( “FAPL”) is licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (“MAS”) and allowed to conduct financial advisory activities in accordance with the Financial Advisers Act (Cap. 110) (“FAA”) and the Securities & Futures Act (Cap. 289) (“SFA”) within the jurisdiction of the Republic of Singapore and in accordance with the licenses granted by MAS
  • 鑫盟理财私人有限公司( “鑫盟理财”)持有由新加坡金融管理局(“MAS”)所颁发的牌照，并许可在新加坡共和国境内依据财务顾问法（第110章）和证券与期货交易法（第289章）进行财务咨询等相关业务
  • Any services provided by FAPL to persons not ordinarily resident in Singapore are provided solely on an offshore basis from Singapore, resulting from direct enquiry on the part of the foreign residents.
  • 鑫盟理财为非新加坡居民所提供的任何服务仅限于直接向鑫盟理财发出咨询请求的国外居民。
  • As an integral part of the provision of such services, FAPL may from time to time make available to such residents, documents and information making reference to capital markets products (for example, in connection with the provision of fund management or investment advisory services outside of the foreign jurisdiction).
  • 作为提供此类服务的一部分，鑫盟理财会不时向此类咨询者提供有关产品的参考文件和信息（例如，关于海外司法管辖区以外的资金管理或投资咨询服务等信息）。
  • Such documents and information are provided by Financial Alliance Pte Ltd (“FAPL”) is for general information only and is not intended for anyone other than the recipient.
  • 此类由鑫盟理财所提供的文件和信息仅供收件人做一般信息参考。
  • It does not take into account the specific investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person.
  • 此类文件和信息不会把-个人投资目标，财务状况或其特定需求等考虑在内。
  • It does not constitute the making available of, or an offer or solicitation by FAPL to buy or sell or subscribe for any such capital markets product or to enter into a transaction or to participate in any particular trading or investment strategy nor an advice or a recommendation with respect to such financial products.
  • 鑫盟理财向该人士提供此类文件和信息将不构成要约或招揽购买或出售或认购任何此类资本市场产品，或达成交易或参与任何特定的投资策略，也不构成有关此类金融产品的建议或推荐。
  • These documents may not be published, circulated, reproduced or distributed in whole or in part to any other person without FAPL’s prior written consent.
  • 未经鑫盟理财的事先书面同意，不得将这些文件全文或部分发布，传播，复制或分发给其他人。
  • This document is not intended for distribution to, publication or use by any person in any jurisdiction, where such distribution, publication or use would be contrary to applicable law or would subject FAPL and its related corporations, connected persons, associated persons and/or affiliates to any registration, licensing or other requirements within such jurisdiction.
  • 鑫盟理财无意在分发，出版或使用此类文件可能违反当地法律，或本公司及关联公司或关联人士需要注册，获得许可或符合规定的司法权区向当地人士分发、出版此类文件或供其使用。
  • You shall ensure that you have and will continue to be fully compliant with all applicable laws in your home country when entering into discussion or contracts with FAPL.
  • 在与鑫盟理财进行讨论或签订合约时，您应确保您已完全遵守并将继续遵守您所在原居住国的所有适用法律及条规。

In compliance with the Personal Data Protection Act, Financial Alliance Pte Ltd (“FAPL”) seek your consent to collect and use your personal data (e.g. name, NRIC, contact numbers, mailing addresses, email addresses and photograph) for the purposes of and in accordance with FAPL’s Data Protection Policy, which can be found on FAPL’s website at https://fa.com.sg/data-protection-policy/.

根据《个人数据保护法》，鑫盟理财私人有限公司征求您的同意向您收集并使用您的个人信息。鑫盟理财将根据公司的个人数据保护政策所阐述的用途使用您的个人资料（例如姓名，证件号码，联系电话，邮寄地址，电邮地址和照片）。 该政策可在本公司网站上查寻，网址为 https://fa.com.sg/data-protection-policy/.

By submitting this form, you are deemed to have read and understood FAPL’s Personal Data Policy.

提交此表格，即表示您已阅读并理解鑫盟理财私人有限公司的个人数据政策