MAM
Global Image Re-Positioning 2007
Suddenly, there is a new global tidal wave of change all over the Asian region, the obvious signs are people on the move, new developments and properties popping up all over the region and a nouvo-consumerism is appearing at every corner, customers are buying shiny and wonderful things with beautiful packaging and companies are addressing their hunger with massive blitzes. Unseen by the masses but clearly visible to global circumnavigators, a new storm is building, wiser and well seasoned, like homing pigeons, immigrants are returning to their homelands…soon it will cut a clear path.
Global Re-Immigration
Currently, there are far more opportunities mushrooming for Asians, plus the quality of life can be far greater and more economical than what’s being offered in most foreign lands. During and following WWII, in search of paradise, these immigrants originally came to the West seeking freedom, opportunities and a higher quality of life. These western societies certainly did offer all that and more. Not any longer.
The West is tangled up in problems. In the US alone, tension between Republicans and Democrats demonstrate that they are not simply opposing parties, rather they are arch enemies whose ideological divide has created a deadlocked and stagnant society which would be hard to imagine a decade ago. The war issues are almost like an internal US civil war of ideologies. There is also this new issue of constant daily harassment and unjustified racial profiling all over the West, targeting each and every individual with a slight difference in skin tone, accent or culture. This has fueled the mega-movement further.
The so-called ‘clash of civilization’ as some would like to see happen, has contributed largely to this now unstoppable movement. Almost every Muslim and most Asians are being targeted. Today in America, children are worried about their old parents being embarrassed and humiliated for being Muslim, non-white or slightly different, while the same parents worried about the future of their young children and wonder how they will ever find a promising future in such a suspicious environment. West is no longer tolerant or accommodating anything that is Muslim in origin or tradition, period.
The trillion dollar Iraq war and the outcome of 9-11 have created a mega shift in attitudes. All this is adding nothing but fire to the re-location movements. The grassroots level ethnicity, which provided innovative colors, different languages and foreign accents, are leaving the backroom engines slowly and steadily. There is already a shortage of a highly qualified force at very economical rate all over the western economies. Immigrants knew then very well when to move in and they know now when to get out.
Currently there are all kinds of research and studies showing steady decline in population in the west and for the first time, there are clear indicators that American youth will be looking towards Asia for greater opportunities and potentials, unlike their parents who were on the path of glory from the start.
Global Image Re-positioning
In order to shift perceptions en masse, it requires mega shifts of options at the ground level. The world’s latest and most advanced grand and luxurious shopping malls are erupting by the thousands in the East. India alone has a middle class larger than the entire population of USA. The land of the ‘fakirs and the snake charmers’ have an uncontrollable nouvo-consumerism, ready to devour anything that shines.
The powerhouse image maker of the past, Hollywood is simply now old and exhausted, while Bollywood is in a $4 billion dollar-per-year frenzy. Paris the heart and soul of fashion is for the passé, as there are some 100 new fashion centers that have arisen mostly in Asia. The East is not only replacing formerly western dominated industries, they are adjusting for the latest innovation and technology resulting in far superior and dazzling ideas.
The sunshine days for Eastern iconization are here, corporate image and brand name identities that were only using Western standards are now shifting in a big way to the East. Studies have clearly shown Asia to be the driving force behind branded goods; way over Europe and USA, obviously the wealthy population is far bigger than the west.
The movement for creating local Asian brands is picking up heat, using latest tools of the trade and the software that is capable of spinning colors and dazzling graphics that would dwarf any top agency in New York or London . The issues of cyber-branding and corporate images are becoming very real – demanding cutting edge knowledge and very superior sets of skills.
Amidst all this activity – is the Dubai phenomena. A fine example of what a single city can do in less than 10 years. Inspired by this great experiment there are now some 100 cities in the Middle East, India and China all poised to embrace the Dubai model of rapid growth and re-deployment of government services to attract business and opportunities. There are clear indicators that such attempts will be equally successful in most such anxious cities. Just like the earlier rapid urbanization of the US following World War II, where hundreds of cities simultaneously sprouted throughout the landscape.
A few years ago, India adopted and proved the outsourcing model, making the biggest IThole in the US and becoming the global centre of software to the world. China became the world’s largest factory, and the Middle East is on its way to becoming the region full of luxury buyers via hundreds of world-class luxury centers of providing new standards and new benchmarks in modern living. All this combined creates a new, Eastern-oriented, mental shift to image and branding.
Global Hyper-Acceleration
While it took a century to brand the Eiffel tower, Coke, Disney or Benz, recreating similar icons in Asia would now take a fraction of that time. One of the main reasons being, the speed at which all interaction and information now flows in this hyper-technologically driven society.
Here, it’s micro-miniaturization yielding premium prices. A corporate society with compulsive innovations that continuously creates smallest things for large and deep pockets. This acceleration will further mount to frenzy and will become its own revolution when a billion plus cyber-entrepreneurial-warriors hit the e-commerce highways.
Mega Re-Housing Shifts
There is an extraordinary real estate boom, all over Asia, from major cities to unheard of villages. Prices have been continuously doubling and continue to double, with no conceivable end. The re-immigration of highly experienced and qualified people returning home with liquid cash and business ideas led to explosive development in real estate.
The approximately one million apartments being developed in Dubai and UAE alone, is a solid indication of the global desire to explore these regions as long term promises of a newer, modern and higher standard of living. The wheels have started to grind and the machine is on. This region already has billions of their own to manage plus millions coming in with cash and ideas to relocate to the East. With over 100 monumental structures under way, it is only a matter of time before Westerners become well versed with the names and locations of these massive new developments.
Winner and Losers
The business communities in the west will have to adjust to the HR gaps, lack of knowledge base and cost effective work force with international reach, while the business in Asia is already marching to a very dynamic tune. When the dust finally settles on this anti-Muslim and anti-ethnic chase in the west, a decade would have passed, and the global adjustment would have taken a stronghold.
The West is very comfortable with this current outbound movement as it supposedly makes them safer. Depending on one’s location and destination, the final winners are the youth of Asia for possessing and controlling such extraordinary growth options in an endless variety, that is unmatched by any other region in the world.
If you are actively investing to grow your money month after month, you already understand the value of planning ahead. SIPs, long-term portfolios, retirement planning and goal-based investing all point to one thing. You are building a future with intent.
What often gets missed in this process is one foundational question. How well is the income that funds all these plans protected?
Term life insurance fits naturally into this stage of financial planning. It does not compete with investments. It supports them by protecting the income that makes long-term growth possible.
Why Income Protection Is a Core Part of Financial Planning
Every financial plan begins with income. Before money is invested or saved, it is earned.
Over time, this income is allocated across multiple needs:
● monthly household expenses
● EMIs and long-term loans
● savings and emergency funds
● investments aimed at future goals
As responsibilities increase, financial planning becomes layered. Each layer assumes income continuity. Term life insurance exists to ensure that this structure does not become fragile due to overdependence on a single income source.
It adds stability to plans already in motion rather than introducing a new objective.
What does term life insurance do?
Term life insurance provides a fixed payout to your nominee if you pass away during the policy term. The purpose of this payout is practical and clearly defined.
It is intended to:
● replace lost income for a defined period
● help manage outstanding liabilities
● support ongoing household and goal-based expenses
There is no investment or savings component. This keeps the product focused and cost-efficient, allowing individuals to opt for meaningful coverage without diverting funds meant for growth-oriented investments.
Why Term Life Insurance Complements Investing?
Investments and insurance play different roles in a financial plan.
Investments are designed to:
● grow wealth over time
● compound with consistency
● be adjusted as goals and risk appetite change
Term life insurance is designed to:
● provide financial continuity
● protect existing plans from disruption
● remain stable once put in place
Keeping these roles separate improves clarity. Investments are allowed to perform without being forced to double up as protection, while insurance quietly supports the overall structure.
Who Should Consider Term Life Insurance?
Term life insurance becomes relevant when financial planning extends beyond individual needs. This typically includes:
a) Working professionals
When income supports shared expenses or long-term plans, protection becomes essential.
b) Individuals with long-term liabilities
Home loans, education loans and other EMIs often extend over decades. Term insurance ensures these obligations remain manageable.
c) Parents planning future milestones
Education, healthcare and lifestyle goals require continuity over many years.
d) Early planners with rising incomes
Starting earlier allows coverage to align smoothly with career progression and evolving responsibilities.
How Much Coverage Should Be Considered?
Coverage should be guided by financial reality rather than affordability alone.
A well-rounded evaluation typically considers:
● number of years income needs to be replaced
● existing and future liabilities
● long-term goals already planned
● inflation and rising living costs
Many insurance companies offer options starting from 50 lakhs, 1 crore term insurance and higher. It allows individuals to choose coverage based on their income, liabilities and future plans.
How Term Life Insurance Fits Into a Long-Term Plan
Once set up, term life insurance does not demand frequent attention.
It does not require active monitoring, market tracking or performance reviews. Its role is structural rather than dynamic.
By ensuring financial continuity, it allows families to:
● stay aligned with long-term plans
● avoid rushed financial decisions
● focus on execution rather than damage control
When aligned correctly, term insurance strengthens the foundation on which investments, savings and retirement plans are built.
Choose the Right Insurance Partner
Once the need, coverage amount and role of term life insurance are clear, the final and most important step is choosing the right partner.
This decision should be based on:
● clarity and transparency in policy terms
● a strong claim settlement track record
● consistency in servicing and communication
● the ability to support long-term financial planning rather than just selling a product
Term life insurance is a long-term commitment. The partner you choose today will be the one your family relies on years down the line.
When protection is aligned with purpose and backed by a dependable insurer, term life insurance becomes a quiet but powerful part of a well-built financial plan.
