Your Money with Michelle Martin

Join Michelle Martin, as she speaks to Kenneth Lou, CEO, Seedly, Kelvin Lam, Singapore Country Manager, YouTrip, Dhruv Arora, Founder & CEO, Syfe and Kelvin Teo, Co-Founder & CEO, Funding Societies about FinTech in Singapore, its future and how it impacts the operations of multicurrency management, robo-advisors and peer-to-peer lenders.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year, the Singapore Writers Festival honours the work of Rex Shelley as the Literary Pioneer for 2019, who is best known for his novels centered around the lives of Eurasians in Singapore and Malaysia. We get to know the author Rex Shelley through the eyes of his children - Michael, Linda and Martine Shelley.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He joined a gang when he was 13, tried drugs three months later, and was addicted to heroin by the age of 15. He’s been imprisoned five times and have spent 20 years in jail. Now at 50 years old, he was recently conferred a Certificate Of Merit by Yellow Ribbon and is an anti-drug advocate and motivational speaker doing preventive drug education in schools with the Central Narcotics Bureau, volunteer welfare organisations and social agencies. Bruce Stevens Mathieu, an ex-convict, anti-drug advocate and motivational speaker talks about his journey of getting back on the right path.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Michelle Martin, as she speaks to Willie Chang, CEO at Wowoo Exchange Singapore & Ashish Varma, COO at Wowoo Exchange Singapore about the growing ecosystem of leading cryptocurrency solution providers in Singapore and the challenges that come with mainstream acceptance of this revolutionising form of currency.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brexit was supposed to happen last Friday, but was once again delayed and as the UK enters its third election campaign-period in four years. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson had apologised for failing to deliver his “do or die” pledge to leave the EU by October 31 and blamed the Parliament for hindering his Brexit plan and said an election is the only way to break the deadlock. Patrick Bourne, Irish Ambassador to Singapore weighs in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you need to know when buying properties overseas in emerging markets like Vietnam, Cambodia, The Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia or in countries like Australia? Can you get a loan in these markets? Do you have an exit strategy and who can you sell your property to? Are you aware of the tax implications? We find out with Mohamed Ismail Gafoor, Chairman and CEO of Propnex Limited.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Michelle Martin, as she speaks to Anna Vanessa Haotanto, Advisor & Former CEO, The New Savvy about the biggest financial challenges facing modern women.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, the 31st of October, was supposed to be the day that Britain exited the European Union. But Brexit has been delayed and the country is facing one of its most highly-staked elections yet on December 12th for key party leaders Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn as they could face extinction. With Brexit once again delayed, what would it take for Britain to leave by the extended deadline of January 31st? Dr Jikon Lai, Assistant Professor at the Centre for Multilateralism Studies, S Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University shares more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore first multi-currency mobile wallet, YouTrip, is the first multi-currency fintech issuer in Singapore to be granted the Mastercard prepaid license. Having partnered with Mastercard and EZ-Link to launch in Singapore in August last year, YouTrip will take over from EZ-link as issuer and stored value facility holder of YouTrip accounts. What are the fees for this prepaid YouTrip card with Mastercard, and how do the fees compare to similar cards offered by companies like Transferwise, Revolut and Instarem? Caecilia Chu, Co-founder and CEO of YouTrip shares more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to Chubb's Cyber Preparedness Report 2019, nearly two-thirds of Singapore SMEs reported experiencing a cyber incident in the past 12 months, up from 2018. Yet, Singapore SMEs are less worried about the impact of cyber risks on their businesses. Moreover, over half of cyber incidents were caused by a risk SME leaders had already identified but failed to prevent it from happening, showing a clear gap between perceived and actual preparedness. Andrew Taylor, Cyber Underwriting Manager at Chubb Asia Pacific shares more. You can find out more about the Cyber Preparedness Report 2019 at Chubb’s website.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Michelle Martin, as she speaks to Kenneth Lou, CEO, Seedly, Samuel Rhee, Founding Partner & CIO, Endowus and Terence Tan, Head of Education & Business Development, IG Markets about their Epic Guide to Short-Term Investment Strategies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Michelle Martin, as she speaks to Carlos Lee, President Elect of Insurance and Financial Practitioners Association of Singapore (IFPAS) about what we need to know about the importance of acquiring financial literacy at a young age and the ways our millennial community can go about achieving such knowledge.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason Erik Lundberg, Author of ‘Most Excellent and Lamentable: Selected Stories’ talks about his new book. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Michelle Martin, as she speaks to Liyana Dhamirah, Founder, Virtual Assistants Singapore and Author, Homeless: The Untold Story of a Mother’s Struggle in Crazy Rich Singapore about how she emerged a successful entrepreneur in the face of immense adversity and how we can go about planning our budget plans more effectively.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While more women aged 50 and above in Singapore are going for their first breast cancer screening, a majority still do not get a second check-up until two years later. How can women take charge of their health? Anna Pak Burdin, Vice President & General Manager for Southeast Asia, Discovery Networks Asia Pacific weighs in. She also talks about what she's doing to expand Discovery Networks in APAC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) has launched its new strategic vision called the “City of Good”, where individuals, organisations and leaders in Singapore work together to build an inclusive society and foster a culture of others-centeredness. Melissa Kwee, CEO of NVPC shares what NVPC is doing to build advocacy and how you can play a part in creating an inclusive society in Singapore. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Michelle Martin, as she speaks to Arun Pai, Chief Kristals Officer, Kristal.AI about how the Brexit delay will impact global markets, as well as his perspectives on whether Hong Kong will lose its position as Asia's Top Financial Hub and the latest developments in the Libra Saga.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Investors look at a changing world in terms of opportunities in thematic investing. Where are the possible value areas if we looked at regions, industries or sectors? Three investors weigh in on healthcare stocks, last-mile delivery companies, FANG stocks and even take  listener questions on how to get started investing in the China market.  Guests: Kenneth Lou, CEO, Seedly, Sudhan, Seedly Content Strategist & Investment Lead, Ex Motley Fool (Singapore) and Elijah Lee, Philip Securities Independent Financial Advisor, Seedly Top Contributor speak with Michelle Martin  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are the hot mega-trends ahead for the property sector? Michelle Martin speaks with Darius Cheung, Co-Founder and CEO of 99.co to find out. We also learn about 99.co's binding agreement to take over operations of ASX-listed REA Group’s consumer brands iProperty.com.sg in Singapore and Rumah123.com in Indonesia and how 99.co plans to position itself for market leadership in Singapore and Southeast Asia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wong Lai Chun, Senior Assistant Director at the Samaritans of Singapore and Author of ‘Do I Matter? A Journey to Building Your Self-Esteem’ talks about the journey of building our own self-esteem and why it is a work in progress. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No dental subsidy, no sick leave, no insurance or wait.... is there a way to change that? Michelle Martin, speaks to Grace Ng, Director, Education & Development, National Arts Council and Edward Choy ( last seen in Urinetown) about the realities of  freelancing and plans the NAC has to support freelancers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to World Bank estimates, Singapore sent around US$6.2 billion overseas last year, exclusive of remittances coming into Singapore. You’re likely to have sent money overseas at some point but have you been doing so at the low costs while still getting highly competitive rates? We find out what CurrencyFair offers with Paul Byrne, CEO of CurrencyFair.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it a good time to buy your first landed property now? What are some factors to consider before you buy a landed property?  Mohamed Ismail Gafoor, Chairman & CEO of Propnex Limited even breaks down the sums for a couple earning $15 000 jointly if they are aiming for a landed freehold property.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Michelle Martin, as she speaks to Crystal and Dr Greg Lim-Lange, Co-Authors, Deep Human: Practical Superskills for a Future of Success  about their new book and the skills held within that can be applied when it comes to making big financial decisions that can grow one’s wealth in big ways.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A target to have women fill 20 per cent of board seats in Singapore by 2020 was set in 2017, but the latest figures have shown that only 15 per cent of board seats in the top 100 listed companies are filled by women. At Hilton Asia Pacific, diversity and inclusion has been key to its success as Asia’s top multinational workplace, with Lara Hernandez, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Hilton Asia Pacific taking the lead to provide a supportive physical and cultural environment for women at Hilton. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Michelle Martin, as she speaks to Arun Pai, Chief Kristals Officer, Kristal.AI about developments in the financial markets investors should take note of.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How prepared is Singapore for the next wave of technology disruption? Guest: Tan Lee Thong, Regional Financials Lead for ASEAN & North Asia at Workday weighs in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It started by a group of young entrepreneurs and came from one of its co-founders’ late grandmother’s original fried chicken skin recipe, and has since turned this family recipe into a business. Cemani is also Singapore's first homegrown direct-to-consumer brand for chicken chips, as they procure the chickens directly from Andrew’s family-run chicken farm. Andrew Goh and Lim Jing Xi, Co-founders of Cemani Chicken skin snack shares more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guest: Kenneth Lou, CEO, Seedly, Yeap Ming Feng, Head of Content & Growth of Seedly and Alvin Chow, Co-founder and CEO of DrWealth share how the current Sandwich Generation can end the pressures for the next.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It is for everyone - rich or poor. If you love those around you, this is one of the best things you can do for them. Unlike a will, that kicks in when you've passed, this one, kicks in while you are alive.... Michelle Martin, as she speaks to Lim Fung Peen, Director, Yuen Law & Author of 'Lasting Power of Attorney: A Guide to LPA and How to Set It Up' about the Lasting Power of Attorney, or LPA, and why it is vital for all Singaporeans to start thinking about arranging for one.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK-based fintech player TransferWise, has launched a multicurrency account travel card that aims to help travellers and businesses avoid the typical high foreign exchange markup rates.Guest: Venkatesh Saha, Head of APAC and Middle East Expansion of Transferwise, Juvena Huang shares her experience using the card off the beaten path.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can the URA price indices help buyers and investors decide when and what to buy or invest in? Do the current real estate market favor the buyers or the sellers? And is it a good time to buy or sell now? All these and more with Mohamed Ismail Gafoor, Chairman & CEO of Propnex Limited.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to a survey commissioned by Kaspersky and conducted by market research company Savanta, 84% of parents worldwide are worried about their children’s online safety. Yet, they only spend a total of 46 minutes, on average, talking to their children about online security through their entire childhood. How can parents struggling to talk about online safety with their children approach this topic? Shan Loy, Academic Partners Manager at Kaspersky APAC weighs in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Tan, CEO of Providend and Executive Director of MoneyOwl talks about his new book, 'Money Wisdom: Simple Truths for Financial Wellness' and shares his advice on what are the four things about CPF you must know to better plan your retirement.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's homegrown and it's here to help you save. Qanvast is a platform for to link up homeowners with the talent who can renovate your home. Michelle learns about the Qanvast Guarantee, a free service that safeguards up to $50,000 of your renovation deposit. Guests: Daniel Lim, co-founder of Qanvast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Michelle Martin, as she speaks to Arun Pai, Chief Kristals Officer, Kristal.AI about what makes Singapore the world’s most competitive economy and gain his perspectives on the latest financial matters that you should definitely take note of.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jian Yang, the man with the largest Barbie collection in the world and author of ‘#FlushableFashion’ talks about creating stylish, fashion pieces for his Barbie dolls which he made out of toilet paper and spend only 10 minutes per piece.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Michelle Martin, as she speaks to David Kuo, CEO, The Motley Fool on the reasons behind his popular financial advisory's site cessation of operations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recently Singapore removed the age limit for IVF treatments. But how much ballpark are you looking at? Michelle Martin finds out with Rebecca Liew, Content Strategist at Seedly shares who breaks down the price differences of IVF costs at private hospital versus public hospitals and looks at other costs that may be involved.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Innovative builder iMax SG has recently launched their newest modular home, PhyeFly, which is a 270-square feet modular home that can uniquely extend its space with a quick swivel motion. The compact modular home comes with a full suite of amenities including an open kitchen, cosy living area, modern bedroom, and sleek toilet, and is designed to accommodate two people comfortably. From institutional projects to leisure concepts, and even disaster relief, the purposes of PhyeFly are limitless. Desmond Poh, Founder and Managing Director of iMax SG shares more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They serve high-net worth families and individuals and manage over $1.8 billion dollars in client assets. Hong Kong-based Raffles Family Office has an office in Singapore. Managing partners of Raffles Family Office Kendrick Lee and Jaydee Lin talk about the burgeoning start-up space, health tech and identify other areas which wealthy families in Asia are looking to.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

24-days away from Brexit, Michelle Martin chats with the affable Irish Ambassador to Singapore and asks what would a no-deal Brexit would mean to Ireland’s economy. Brexit aside, Michelle finds out why Guinness has lasted 150 years in Singapore on the very anniversary of its arrival here, what the Ambassador's top pick is for the upcoming Irish film festival is, and if she is likely to see him at the U2’s upcoming concert in Singapore.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’re looking to buy your next private home but can’t decide whether to go for a resale flat or a new launch? What are some of the pros and cons of buying a resale flat versus a new launch? And if you’re buying it for investment purposes, which should you get instead? We discuss with Mohamed Ismail Gafoor, Chairman & CEO of Propnex Limited.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to a McKinsey 2018 Power of parity report, slightly less than four women hold leadership positions for every ten men in business and politics worldwide. Here’s one company that wants to make a change. In its efforts to drive leadership gender parity, FCM Travel Solutions has launched Womenwise in Asia - an initiative guided by a vision for women to be equally represented, valued and rewarded. Vicki Parris, Senior Director of Customer Experience for FCM Travel Solutions, Asia shares more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She’s the creator and festival director of Singapore’s most prominent and perhaps even Asia’s most luxurious jewellery exhibition, the iconic Singapore JewelFest. Angela Loh, CEO and Founder of JeweLuxe international talks about which popular jewellery pieces you should get and how you can repurpose your old, yet timeless jewellery.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Michelle Martin, as she speaks to Adrien Jorge, CEO, Propseller and Prem Hirubalan, COO, Propseller about digital real estate seller-centric platforms and how will they change the way homeowners buy and sell their properties in the future.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Michelle Martin, as she speaks to Freddy Lim, CIO, StashAway about StashAway’s new income portfolio, the benefits of investing in income portfolios and the most recent market movements.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been a decade since he and his Leadership team, some of Australia’s most respected hoteliers, founded First Contact - Australia’s leading provider of front-of-house services who pioneered the Workplace Concierge concept in 2006. Their premise of delivering five-star hotel-style concierge services to the commercial property sector has often been touted in transforming the way corporations and premium office buildings all over Australia service their workplace, visitors and employees. They believe the most influential person for an organisation is the one who makes the first contact with the customer. Paul Schmeja, CEO of First Contact shares more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to the new Global Internet Phenomena Report by Sandvine, video streaming accounted for nearly 58 percent of the total downstream volume of internet traffic around the world. Meanwhile, Cisco predicts that this trend of video content isn’t slowing down anytime, as video is expected to represent 80 percent of all consumer internet traffic by 2021 – up from 67 percent in 2016. Tham Why Keen, Founder and CEO of Red String Video Co shares more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Glenn van Zutphen, sitting in for Michelle Martin, as he speaks to Kenneth Lou, CEO, Seedly and Adam Wong, Editor-In-Chief, The Fifth Person  about how we should go about planning our retirement funds, right from our 20s on to our 30s to our 40s and into our twilight years.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.