Check out the latest offerings in the financial product space, and consider new ones at two comparison sites.
AIA SMART G268
BY AIA SINGAPORE
What: A single-premium, three-year endowment plan with guaranteed returns of 2.68 per cent a year.
The single premium or cash value of the plan, whichever is higher, will be paid out if the person insured dies.
The plan includes accidental death benefit for the first year, with an additional 10 per cent payout if the person insured dies because of an accident.
The catch is that you can get this endowment plan only if you take up a new regular premium savings plan with AIA. This is offered from Dec 14 to Jan 29.
SingCapital chief executive Alfred Chia says this would be for consumers who want the regular plan, not the other way round.
"It is important for consumers to consider carefully which regular plan will suit them, as the plan is of a longer period. The focus should be on the suitability and the returns of the regular plan."
He also reminds consumers of the surrender penalty for the endowment plan, and there is a cap on the single premium, which depends on the regular premium of the regular plan that you eventually choose.
Mr Chia says: "I hope this will spur healthy competition among insurers to offer attractive plans for consumers."
GOBEAR INCLUDES
CREDIT CARDS IN THE MIX
What: GoBear, which started as an insurance search engine, has added credit cards to become a more comprehensive comparison site.
It started comparing more than 100 credit cards in Singapore early this month, and has put together a directory of reward and benefit features offered by each card.
GoBear says users can personalise their search based on spending amounts and patterns.
The site also now has a tool called the GoBear Rewards Converter that can help users calculate rewards, and shows the best credit card options
GoBear Singapore expects its site to attract 20 per cent more new users.
GET.COM NOW
COMPARES HOME LOANS
What: Comparison site Get.com has added home loans to its stable of credit cards.
It compares new and refinancing home loans with the best fixed rates and best floating rates, according to the type of property you own. Get.com started this last month. It makes comparisons across 14 banks and financial institutions.
With the first United States interest rate hike since June 2006 announced last Wednesday, homeowners are likely to find the site rather timely as they navigate and contemplate rising interest rates ahead.
The Home Loan Genius comparison tool shows you key features of the home loan packages, including average interest rates, monthly instalments and the locked-in period.
