Why get advice as a Private Client? We have always limited our practice to the one area where we consistently excel -- wealth management. We do not provide custodial, banking or other services that might dilute our advisory capabilities. Our clients retain us to make good investment decisions and we take this obligation very seriously. That means accumulating wealth, but protecting what you already have too.

Here are a few reasons to subscribe to the advisory services we offer for Private Clients.

• Ongoing advice. We see our clients as long term partners, not just a quick sale. Our advice is personalised and regular. Your risk appetite and investment objectives are stored in your account profile, and your latest investment policy is accessible online. On a regular basis we remind you to undergo a portfolio review, to ensure your investments stay on track and your risks are properly managed.

• Objective analysis. We use a proven, sophisticated framework for long-term investing, and value analysis for short-term opportunities. Our state-of-the-art optimization improves your long-term returns without incurring more risks. Importantly, it lets you know what your risks are. We translate these complex models into understandable implementation plans using our recommended products. We aim to do what is best for you, even if it sometimes means not investing, or buying products that we don't sell. Our advisory services give you access to additional tools, such as Buy signal and Portfolio Backtester.

• Relevant research. We write balanced research on topics that are close to your heart: the use of CPF savings, property investments, timing equity and bond markets, controlling risk...to name a few. Sometimes we suggest you sell (or hold), not just buy. The quality of our analyses is indicated by their re-publication, in the Straits Times, Business Times and The Edge. Our approach is summed up in the book Insider Trading, described as "arguably the best book written in Singapore for the Singaporean investor".

  Example topics covered

  • Are we over the worst of the sub-prime panic?
  • Commodity bubble: time to trim exposure?
  • Are REITs good investments?
  • Is Singapore property affordable now?
  • Funding your child's education

• Licensed specialists.. All our representatives are individually licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Our senior advisers have extensive experience in financial services, often in positions advising the CEOs and boards of major financial institutions, and have studied at world-class universities, such as MIT. Private Client advisers have no sales quotas and use a standard objective framework for recommendations, so there is no pushing of unsuitable products.

Comments on our Private Client service: "In a perfect world, all investors would have access to financial advisers they trusted for portfolio guidance...dollarDEX, formed in late 1999 for investors in Singapore, has an Online Adviser feature at www.dollardex.com...Once enough information is gathered, simulations are run through a computer model, and a live adviser provides specific recommendations on things to buy and sell in the portfolio." A guide to some of the best online investment-management tools, Asian Wall Street Journal, June 2003. "Research by dollarDEX Investments has thrown up a few of these lessons: One, adding just a small portion of bonds to a portfolio can reduce the risk of your investments, without lowering returns...Two, the CPF Special Account is 'highly attractive' under current conditions. Most conservative investors would do better to top up their accounts rather than invest it. The SA pays 4 per cent, risk-free...Most investors have very inefficient or highly risky portfolios of thematic funds. Rebalancing - which is likely to involve the painful process of realising a loss by selling an investment - will go a long way to control risk and help them sleep better." Doing a rebalancing act, Business Times, June, 2003.

What is a Private Client?

A Private Client is any investor at dollarDEX whose investments (based on original investment amount) currently equals or exceeds $50,000. This entitles our client to lower charges, and the option to subscribe to a range of advisory services as described below. A Private Client+ is any investor at dollarDEX whose original investment amount currently equals or exceeds $250,000. This entitles our client to even lower charges, and options to subscribe to an even wider range of advisory services as described below.

What advice options are available?

We currently offer the following levels of advice to Private Clients

• Gold: A dedicated adviser, personalised portfolio construction & recommendations every 3 months, exclusive reports, and unlimited free peer-to-peer switching. This will suit clients who want the benefit of a properly designed portfolio, regular reviews and who generally prefer a buy and hold strategy but would like to take advantage of short-term opportunities from time to time.
• Gold Timer: Same benefits as Gold but in addition includes unlimited free switching, even from cash to equities. This will suit clients who want the benefit of a properly designed portfolio, regular reviews and who generally prefer a buy and sell strategy - those who would like to re-position their portfolio on a frequent basis.

How much does the advice cost?

Please refer to pricing scheme for investments for the latest charging structure.

How do I subscribe to the advice services?

Once you are a Private Client you may opt-in to the advice services through our online ongoing advice subscription page.

How may I try out the advice services?

A personalised portfolio construction and recommendations report is usually available at no charge for first-timers. You may discuss this face-to-face by making an appointment or request for advice online.