Money Talks

Visit any beauty, fitness or wellness service and it’s likely that a package deal will be offered to you. While a package may be more cost-effective on a per-session basis, is it always a better deal than paying for a single session? Seow Kai Lun, managing editor at The Simple Sum, breaks it down for Andrea Heng on the limited series This or That. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today’s volatile stock market coupled with an uncertain economic outlook, should investors be looking at picking specific stocks or buying index funds? Adam Wong, editor-in-chief at personal finance and investment website The Fifth Person, weighs the options for Andrea Heng on the limited series This or That. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new Build-To-Order (BTO) flat can take more than four years to build. A resale flat in the same vicinity will likely cost you significantly more. So what should a prospective home buyer to do? Andrea Heng gets property agent Jooann Tay to weigh the options on the limited series This or That. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Season 2 of Money Talks kicks off with a limited series called “This or That”, where guests weigh the pros and cons of each option. With car prices at an all-time high, thanks to record-breaking Certificate of Entitlement (COE) fees, would it make more financial sense to lease a car instead of owning one? Andrea Heng puts the question to Julian Kho, general manager of Sgcarmart. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From a bride who insisted on renting a S$15,000 wedding dress, to grooms screaming at vendors on their wedding day, wedding planner Hellen Lie from Rosette Designs and Co has seen it all. She gives guest host Elizabeth Neo tips on saving costs and tells us what wedding couples really shouldn’t scrimp on. Am I Adulting Right is a limited series. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Getting that first paycheck as a young adult can be exciting – and daunting. How do you balance spending and living for today, while also saving and investing for your future needs? Guest host Elizabeth Neo gets answers from Gregory Van, CEO of Endowus and 29-year-old Rita Goh. Am I Adulting Right is a limited series. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gone are the days when you need to use up your leftover foreign currency at the airport or carry wads of cash during an overseas trip. Dinesh Dayani, co-founder of Dollars and Sense, analyses the pros and cons of multi-currency apps.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first tweet created. A picture of a bored ape. An animated kitten. Virtually anything digital can be converted and sold as an NFT or non-fungible token. But is there value to owning a digital certificate of an item that can be easily duplicated? Saniya Ramchandani, Blockchain Insights Lead for Momentum Works, breaks it down. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore has become a magnet for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, thanks to its image as a safe and modern financial hub. Adding to the wealth mix are family offices, which oversee all aspects of a family’s wealth, often to the tune of S$100M or more. Bryan Henning, Senior Vice President of Eton Solutions, shares a glimpse into this rarefied world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With property prices and home loan rates at all-time highs, is it still worth owning a property for rental income in Singapore? Ryan Ong, partner at real estate consultancy Stacked Homes, gives advice on choosing an investment property, including why being close to an MRT station doesn’t always guarantee the best rental yield. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How an adult manages his finances has a lot to do with the money lessons he learnt as a child. This week, Ruperto Ancajas, portfolio specialist at Foord Asset Management, gives his top tips on how to teach children to save, spend and yes – even invest.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are the rising prices of eggs, meats and fruits putting a strain on your wallet? Food prices in Singapore rose 7.5% year-on-year in December 2022, the fastest increase since 2008. What can you do to combat high food prices? Dawn Cher, author of personal finance blog SGBudgetBabe, shares her top tips. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With China rapidly reopening its economy after three years of strict COVID-19 controls, investors are hopeful that this will be a bright spot for 2023. John Lin, Chief Investment Officer of China Equities at Alliance Bernstein, outlines the risks, opportunities and policies to watch out for. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With low service fees and easy to use apps, robo-advisers have gained popularity in recent years especially with younger investors. But the ease of use could become an issue if you are prone to over-checking and panic selling. Ferris Wee, Master Trainer at the Institute for Financial Literacy, shares tips on optimising usage on a digital investing platform. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s nothing to suggest that women aren’t good at investing, but data shows that they are not as involved in growing their personal wealth as men are. Oi-Yee Choo, CEO of private market investment platform ADDX, shares her views on how women can take better control of their own finances. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2022 was volatile and with market recovery only expected towards the end of 2023, are there still investment opportunities to be had? Christopher Ng, trainer at financial education company Dr Wealth, discusses investment strategies and money lessons for the year ahead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is set to rise from 7 per cent to 8 per cent in January 2023. Household budgets are expected to tighten and spending habits will need to be adjusted. Sumit Agarwal, Professor of finance, economics and real estate at NUS Business School, explains why the GST hike is unavoidable, and what you can do to manage it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to the latest OCBC Financial Wellness Index, Singaporeans were worst off in 2022 than 2021 and more have picked up bad habits, like rolling over credit card debt and spending beyond their means. Vasu Menon, executive director of investment strategy at OCBC Bank, shares tips on how you can achieve better financial wellness. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should couples have joint or separate bank accounts? Tan Siew Lee, Head of Wealth Management Singapore at OCBC Bank, says while it’s important to agree on common financial expenditure and align expectations, couples should also have financial independence. She offers advice on this episode of Money Talks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The answer to this question can only be found if you have a personal budget and take it seriously. Podcaster and finance blogger Junus Eu breaks down how budgeting helps you understand your relationship with money and achieve your financial goals. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thinking of what happens when you die and making active plans to manage your assets may seem morbid, but legacy planning is important for everyone with dependents. John Yeo, Lead for Client Advisory, MoneyOwl discusses the need for wills and other aspects of legacy planning. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Phoe Chuan An and Tan Sher Yun started their online business out of a bedroom when they were still undergraduates. Today, Style Degree is known for selling home organisational goods and boasts a healthy social media following. But is starting an online business as easy as it looks? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a climate of rising home loan rates, it’s tempting to go for the lowest or cheapest package. What else should you be looking out for before signing or refinancing your mortgage loan? Paul Wee, Vice President of PropertyGuru Finance at PropertyGuru Group shares his insights.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Singapore, it’s common to take on some form of debt – be it education or mortgage loans, credit card bills or instalment payments. So when does debt become bad? There are some red flags, explains Tan Huey Min, General Manager of Credit Counselling Singapore on this episode of the Money Talks podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A two-hour wait at a physical bank branch was enough to put off Ho Hean Chan from future visits. With the emergence of digital retail banks in Singapore promising seamless interactions, the Banking and Capital Markets Assurance Leader at PwC Singapore says the battle between digital and traditional retail banks will come down to who offers a better customer experience. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With elderly parents and two young children to care for, Mabel Tan knows all too well the strain of having to juggle her finances and save for retirement. The financial services director at Great Eastern talks about how to prioritise and why open communication is key. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just getting started on your investment journey? Start with less risky Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) before taking the plunge in the stock market, says co-founder of the Smart Investor David Kuo. He talks ETFs, robo-advisors and explains why you should trust but verify all information before investing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With borders reopened, post-pandemic travel has been marred by skyrocketing airfares, flight cancellations and lost luggage. Aaron Wong, Founder of travel website MileLion, shares travel tips and hacks to scoring good deals and why travel insurance is non-negotiable.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A strong Singapore currency, good stock dividends and low-risk government-backed bonds are just some of the reasons that make Singapore securities an attractive investment. Alfred Chia, CEO of SingCapital, explains why Singapore securities should be part of any investor’s portfolio.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What investments do you need to make in order to retire in your 50s in Singapore? Sarah Al-Khaldi sits down with veteran finance journalist Goh Eng Yeow who stopped work full-time when he was 56. He talks about his journey and how he did it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most of us in Singapore are already covered by MediShield Life in case of health emergencies. So do we really need additional medical insurance? It is the first thing you need to buy, says Christopher Tan, CEO of Providend. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyone has insurance - often on the advice of well-meaning friends or insurance agents. But are we paying too much for too little coverage? What's the difference between whole life and term and should you start paying insurance for your children? Christopher Tan, CEO of Providend gives a clear run-down of dos and don'ts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By some estimates – and depending on who you ask – the cost of raising a child in Singapore can be as high as half a million Singapore dollars for one child. How do we balance needs and wants and can we ever be financially ready? Sarah Al-Khaldi gets some answers from Sam Lai, founder of LifeWork Coaching and a mother of four. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore residents working here contribute to the Central Provident Fund (CPF). Some think it keeps their hard-earned money locked up but it can also be a tool for investment and a big plank for retirement. Editor-in-chief of The Fifth Person Adam Wong takes Sarah Al-Khaldi through the nuts and bolts of the CPF.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Propnex CEO Ismail Gafoor gives his views on why he thinks resale is better than BTO flats, why saving for a dream home is not a good idea and what all his wealth has taught him about money and happiness. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Financial analyst Christopher Chong who runs the Honey Money SG YouTube channel is 31 years old and on FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early). Sarah Al-Khaldi finds out how much he saves, why he maxes out his CPF contributions and why all of it is a daily sacrifice. Reach us at: [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Co-founder of The Smart Investor David Kuo opens our brand-new personal finance podcast, and he drops a few golden rules about how to kick off your journey towards financial freedom, what to do with your salary or bonus (hint: not a fancy holiday), why a bear market is good news and what he discovered after years of investing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.