Money Talks

The Singdollar soared to a record high of S$1 to RM3.44 on Jun 8 – making shopping and eating trips across the Causeway very attractive. But is a strong Singdollar always better for the average consumer? What about investing?  Enya Rodrigues, research analyst at ValueChampion, breaks it down. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gone are the days where the only way to trade stocks is through a physical broker. With a plethora of financial tools and readily available information, more people are choosing to manage investment portfolios on their own. But is this for everyone? Tim Phillips, Head of Content & Investment Lead at ProsperUs, CGS-CIMB Securities, explains what it takes to go solo.  See omnystudio.com/listener...

Finding a good financial planner who understands your needs and goals can be a challenge – and breaking up with one may be even tougher. Luke Yap, financial planner with Great Eastern, talks about penalties and potential risks, and how your relationship with a financial planner boils down to trust and communication.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you tell if that delectable Bordeaux wine with a dark fruity note is more than just a conversation piece and could make you some real cash? Andrea Heng gets Nico Monroy, Southeast Asia director at Cult Wines, to pop the cork on what makes a fine wine investment worthy.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A childhood interest introduced by their father turned into a business when Jarod and Joses Ng saw how profitable flipping luxury watches can be. But does buying a brand name watch always guarantee a return? The directors of Watch Capital tell Andrea Heng the highs and lows of investing in luxury watches.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 informat...

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...

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 infor...

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...

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.