CFA Society The Bahamas Financial Literacy
www.cfasociety.org/bahamas What is Debt?
www.cfasociety.org/bahamas What is ‘Debt’
Dictionary.com defines debt as: Noun 1. something that is owed or that one is bound to pay to or perform for another 2. a liability or obligation to pay or render something 3. the condition of being under such an obligation
www.cfasociety.org/bahamas Debt Picture in The Bahamas
www.cfasociety.org/bahamas Bahamas has $2.3Bn in Consumer Debt Outstanding as at Sep 2017
$156M is Past Source: Central Bank of The Bahamas www.cfasociety.org/bahamas Due Source: Central Bank of The Bahamas www.cfasociety.org/bahamas Good Debt vs. Bad Debt
www.cfasociety.org/bahamas What is ‘Good Debt’
• Good debt is an investment that will grow in value or generate long-term income. • Good debt “pays for itself” – The funds that are borrowed are placed in an investment that generates sufficient return to both a) repay the original amount borrowed, plus the cost of said debt; and b) provide additional value for the owner
www.cfasociety.org/bahamas Source: Central Bank of The Bahamas www.cfasociety.org/bahamas What is ‘Bad Debt’
• Bad debt is debt incurred to purchase things that quickly lose their value and do not generate long-term income. • Bad debt may also be considered debt that carries a high interest rate.
www.cfasociety.org/bahamas Source: Central Bank of The Bahamas www.cfasociety.org/bahamas Good Debt vs. Bad Debt
Good Debt Bad Debt • Small Business • Credit Card Debt Loan • Vacation Loan • Loan to purchase • Payday Loan shares • Cash Advance • Land Acquisition Loan Loan • Car Loans
www.cfasociety.org/bahamas Good Debt vs. Bad Debt
• Grey Areas: – Home Loan – Debt Consolidation Loan – Education Loan • School Fees • University/Special Skills Education – Credit Card Cash Back/Rewards Programs
www.cfasociety.org/bahamas Appropriate Levels of Debt
www.cfasociety.org/bahamas Debt Level (Advanced vs. EM Countries)
• In an October 2017 report, on the subject of Household Debt and Financial Stability, the IMF opined that: “although finance is generally believed to contribute to long-term economic growth, recent studies have shown that the growth benefits start declining when aggregate leverage is high” • The report mentions that household debt-to-GDP is higher in advanced economies (approx. 60+%), whereas household debt-to-GDP in emerging market economies is lower (approx. 20+%)
www.cfasociety.org/bahamas Debt Levels (Advanced vs. EM Countries)
• The same report states that during 2016: “... In the highest quartile, the household debt-to-GDP ratio fell only slightly from 88 percent to 86 percent in advanced economies and continued to rise from 28 percent to 32 percent in emerging market economies.” • Using The Bahamas 2016 consumer debt of $2.37Bn vs. a GDP of approx. $10Bn, household debt-to-GDP is approx. 24 percent – Slightly higher than avg. EM household debt-to-GDP level
www.cfasociety.org/bahamas Debt Levels (Advanced vs. EM Countries)
• Is this a bad thing? Not necessarily
• The IMF Report goes on to say: – “On average, an increase in household debt boosts growth in the short term but may give rise to macroeconomic and financial stability risks in the medium term...the negative medium-term consequences of increases in household debt are more pronounced for advanced than for emerging market economies.”
www.cfasociety.org/bahamas Household debt Total, % of net disposable income, 2015
Source: OECD (2018), Household debt (indicator). doi: 10.1787/f03b6469-en (Accessed on 08 February 2018) www.cfasociety.org/bahamas Household debt Total, % of net disposable income, 2015 Bahamas – approx. 230%
Source: OECD (2018), Household debt (indicator). doi: 10.1787/f03b6469-en (Accessed on 08 February 2018) www.cfasociety.org/bahamas What is an “appropriate” level of Debt?
• Central Bank of The Bahamas guidelines recommend a 45% TDSR for individuals • What is “TDSR”? – Total Debt Service Ratio (TDSR) is the percentage of household income dedicated to meeting debt repayment obligations • Many households with TDSR’s above the recommended level struggle to meet their monthly repayments due to other commitments (e.g. utility bills, rent, groceries, etc)
www.cfasociety.org/bahamas Debt Management Strategies
www.cfasociety.org/bahamas Strategies to manage debt
• Minimize the use of debt to purchase consumables • Avoid high-interest rate debt and excessive fees – Reduce and eliminate high-interest debt • Prepay debt where at all possible • Plan and save for “big-ticket” purchases • Create a budget to track spending as well as debt service
www.cfasociety.org/bahamas Conclusion
• Debt is a tool – Used wisely, it can help to create wealth and improve standard of living – Used unwisely, it can lead to financial challenges and ruin
www.cfasociety.org/bahamas Thank You
www.cfasociety.org/bahamas