In Israel, many expenses are denominated in a foreign currency, and payable in shekels.
By PHILIP BRAUDEshekels 88(photo credit: )
The ancient Chinese had three curses of increasing severity: May you live in interesting times; May you come to the attention of those in authority; May you find what you are looking for.
The second of these curses is alluded to in Fiddler on the Roof. The rabbi is asked if there is a blessing for the Czar, and replies "May G-d protect the Czar, and keep him… far away from us."
Anyone reading the news over the past months can well understand the first curse. It's getting far too "interesting" for my comfort. As regards financial issues, many people in stress over the ever-rising cost of living. We all know that many expenses have risen sharply over the past year, such as gasoline, which is 15 percent more expensive than a year ago. This rise would have a knock-on effect on everything that has an element of transport to it, such as food, bus fares and air travel.
In addition, the shekel has strengthened against other currencies. This is bad news for people with income in foreign currencies who spend shekels, but good news for people earning shekels. However, the benefit of a lower foreign exchange rate might not always be passed on to the consumer in the form of lower prices, so this is not always beneficially advantageous.
In Israel, many expenses are denominated in a foreign currency, and payable in shekels. This practice is being discouraged by the authorities, but is still prevalent. This risk can be minimized by matching income with expense, or visa versa.
Matching expense to income: I am often asked what currency a mortgage should be taken in. The answer is simple: Match the currency of your income. That way there is no room for currency fluctuations.
Matching income to expense: If you have expenses in a particular currency (say rent in dollars), then try and match income in the same currency. This is easily achievable in planning your investment strategies, as often investment options are available in different currency choices.
When purchasing property under construction, be aware that often the payment amount is linked to the building index, which is normally higher than the CPI. In addition, it is often ratcheted, which means that it goes up with the index, but not down as the index falls. This could often add on many thousands of shekels to the final amount paid.
One can avoid this cost by paying amounts stipulated in the contract earlier than the due date. I would, however, caution to do this in consultation with your property lawyer, to ensure your other rights are not prejudiced.
An area of concern is when a person reaches retirement age. The cost of elderly care is often far greater than a younger person's cost of living. To cater for these expenses, it is imperative that one has saved and invested appropriately during one's working years. In this regard, it is important to have developed a long-term investment strategy, which includes exposure to investments generating higher returns over the investment cycle.
A common conception is to avoid "risk," and keep money "safe." The erosion effects of inflation eat away at the "safe" money, causing a greater risk of the retirement goal not being met. When one takes a long-term view, the short-term volatility is compensated for.
It is important to understand that if one invests in asset-backed investments (such as property), then one can expect that in due course the value of the investment would take into account both foreign currency movements and the effects of inflation. This is why such assets are called an "inflation hedge."
Lastly, one can invest in asset classes that match the increase in the cost of living. This is easily explained in the case of gasoline. As the cost of oil rises, so does the cost of gasoline at the pump. This has a knock-on effect on the price of just about everything else. An investment exposed to oil would also rise, and generate returns, which could fund the increased costs of living.
Although it is impossible to control the macroeconomic forces around us, with careful analysis and planning, we can compensate for them on a day-to-day micro-level.
pbraude@anglocapital.comPhilip Braude is an accountant, personal financial planner and licensed investment marketer. He is CEO of Anglo Capital Ltd.
