Money Talks

You have money left at the end of the month after paying your bills. Should you invest it to grow your wealth or spend it on insurance for protection? And what happens if you cannot afford to do both? On the Money Talks podcast, Gidon Jerome Kessel, Group Head of Deposit and Wealth Management at UOB, and Toni Fung, Chief Customer and Marketing Officer at Prudential Singapore, talks about striking...

Earlier this year, a rare Pikachu card sold for US$16.5 million at an auction, but does that make Pokémon trading cards a serious investment? On the Money Talks podcast, Andrea Heng speaks with Roy Raftery, head of pop culture at Stanley Gibbons, about what drives trading card prices, why some cards can lose value quickly and whether they deserve a place alongside alternative investments su...

Being young means you can afford to take more investment risks. But should you be taking more risk if you're still in your 20s and 30s? On the Money Talks podcast, Andrea Heng speaks with Koay Hui Sien, head of iShares Fixed-Income product strategy for APAC (excluding Japan) at BlackRock, about how investors in this age group can assess their risk tolerance, balance growth with diversification and...

With oil prices hovering around US$100 a barrel, stubborn inflation and higher interest rates creating uncertainty, investors may be wondering which risks actually matter to their portfolios. Andrea Heng speaks with Kelly Chia, head of investment strategy at UOB Private Bank, on what you should prepare for before the next dip. This episode is brought to you by UOB. See omnystudio.com/listener for...

It started as a text message from someone she thought was her daughter. By the time Lena Soon, a financial adviser of more than 20 years, realised something was wrong, she had lost almost S$4000 to a scam. On the Money Talks podcast, she joins Andrea Heng to recount how the scam unfolded, the warning signs she missed and tips on how to have a conversation with a loved one you suspect is a scam vic...

What happens when you realise your ageing parents may not have enough money for retirement? Providend CEO Christopher Tan joins Andrea Heng to discuss the options when parents face a retirement shortfall. From tighter budgeting to leveraging the family home, learn how adult children should assess their own finances before deciding how much support they can afford to give. See omnystudio.com/listen...

The US Federal Reserve has raised interest rates, prompting questions about what higher borrowing costs could mean for Singapore households and whether spare cash should go towards paying down debt or investing. MoneyOwl's Chuin Ting Weber joins Andrea Heng to explain how to think through that decision and why paying down debt can sometimes leave you with less liquidity when you need it most. See...

Two ETFs can track the same S&P 500 companies but have different tax, cost and dividend implications for Singapore investors. The choice between a US-domiciled ETF and an Ireland-domiciled UCITS ETF may also affect potential US estate tax exposure and long-term returns. Andrea Heng speaks with Mahesh Sethuraman, CEO of Saxo Singapore, about how different investors can benefit from these ETFs....

Starting April 2027, parents will receive S$2,000 a year for each Singaporean child from age one to 16, as part of a new financial support scheme from the government. But if you don’t need the money for day-to-day expenses, how can you invest it towards your own retirement? On the Money Talks podcast, Andrea Heng speaks with SingSaver’s Ayush Goyal about putting the new SG Child Suppor...

Rising US Treasury yields may sound like a distant problem, but could they eventually affect your mortgage, investments and the prices you pay in Singapore? UBP's Paras Gupta joins Andrea Heng on the Money Talks podcast to explain the relationship between your mortgage and the US bond market, and what investors should consider if borrowing costs remain elevated. See omnystudio.com/listener for pri...

Surviving a critical illness may be only the start of the financial journey. A Singlife study estimates that recovery can cost around S$170,000 and stretch for an average of 27 months, with expenses extending beyond medical treatment. Andrea Heng speaks with Singlife Group Head of Products Helen Shen about the “recovery gap”, including out-of-pocket expenses, lost income and caregiving...

South Korea’s KOSPI has been on a rollercoaster ride, surging on AI stocks. Christy Tan, global investment strategist with Franklin Templeton Institute, joins Andrea Heng to discuss what’s driving the Korean stock market's volatility, the impact on the Korean won and why investors may need to actively rebalance diversified ETF portfolios. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...

The US has stepped in to support the Japanese yen after it fell to a 40-year low. What does the intervention mean for Singaporeans investing in Japanese stocks or planning a holiday there? Simon Ree from The Tao of Trading joins Andrea Heng to explain what could make a stronger yen last. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it take to build six figures in passive income from property at the age of 30? JNA Sales Force co-founder Christian Oh now earns about $100,000 in rental income from a total of nine properties, including a coffee shop. He joins Andrea Heng to share how one early setback shaped his approach to investing and the lessons he's learnt as a landlord. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

The government has removed the 15-month wait-out period for private homeowners buying non-subsidised HDB resale flats, marking the end of one of Singapore's property cooling measures. PropNex executive chairman Ismail Gafoor joins Andrea Heng to explain why the rule was lifted, what it could mean for HDB resale prices and how this affects anyone thinking about right-sizing. See omnystudio.com/list...

The Japanese yen has fallen to levels not seen in decades, leading many to ask if this is the right time to exchange some money for the next holiday. Mercer's Cameron Systermans joins Andrea Heng to explain what's driving the currency's valuation, what could change in the months ahead and how holidaymakers and investors should think about currency risk. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

With electricity tariffs hitting record highs, many households are weighing whether to lock in with a fixed-rate plan or wait for prices to ease. David Broadstock from The Lantau Group joins Andrea Heng to explain how the different pricing models work and what you need to consider before making the switch. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SpaceX's blockbuster initial public offering has put the spotlight back on companies going public, but recent listings on the Singapore Stock Exchange have told a very different story. What separates successful IPOs from costly disappointments? Brandon Ho from Arta Finance joins Andrea Heng to unpack why valuations fluctuate and how large-scale IPOs could affect your investments – even if yo...

Many investors assume that going green means settling for lower returns. But is sustainable investing really a trade-off between doing good and growing your wealth? Eugenia Koh from Standard Chartered Bank joins Andrea Heng to unpack some of the biggest misconceptions about building a green portfolio and whether sustainable investments can match traditional returns. See omnystudio.com/listener for...

The AI boom is lifting Singapore's electronics exports, but does that mean there are good investment opportunities in local companies? Veteran markets and business journalist Ven Sreenivasan joins Andrea Heng to discuss which sectors could benefit from the global AI surge and whether you should add them into your long-term investment portfolio. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recent changes to executive condominium (EC) rules could affect how buyers plan their next property move. From a longer minimum occupation period to changes in financing, the new measures may reshape who finds ECs attractive and whether they still fit into an upgrading strategy. Andrea Heng sits down with Ryan Ong from Stacked Homes to discuss how to assess whether buying an EC still makes sense....

More than 610,000 Singaporeans are still holding on to Singtel special discounted shares bought decades ago using their CPF savings. With a new law allowing these shares to be transferred into individuals’ Central Depository accounts, many people are weighing whether to sell, hold or diversify these shares. Chua Yi Wen from DBS Bank’s Consumer Banking Group shares with Andrea Heng how...

Men and women are often said to approach money differently, from the way they save to the risks they take when investing. But how much of this is also shaped by biology, upbringing and social expectations? Professor Carmen Shih from the Singapore University of Social Sciences shares with Andrea Heng how these factors influence financial behaviour and what they mean for everyday money decisions. Se...

Taking over an insurance policy from your parents may seem straightforward, but many people do not fully understand what they are paying for or whether the coverage still suits their adult needs. Should you keep, upgrade or surrender these plans? Chan Wai Kit from Life Insurance Association Singapore explains how to assess inherited insurance policies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

Many of our financial behaviours – overspending or obsessing with saving – are shaped by childhood experiences, emotional triggers and inherited habits. Michelle Mah from The Curious Bonsai shares with Andrea Heng how recognising these experiences can help you build a healthier relationship with money. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.