BT Money Hacks

Your CPF Special Account (SA) has been your financial security blanket for decades — a rock-solid 4 per cent return, no questions asked. But Singapore's about to shake things up. By 2028, a new life-cycle portfolio scheme changes the game. Is it a long-overdue upgrade or a risk not worth taking? Howie Lim finds out from Christopher Tan, CEO of Providend and Genevieve Cua, wealth editor of Th...

As AI takes the wheel in wealth management, will your 'perfect' financial plan survive a market crash? Algorithms crunch numbers, but only a human can manage emotions. Join Howie Lim and Javelin Wealth's Polka Mishra as they dissect the friction between AI's efficiency and the indispensable, empathetic role of the human advisor. Find out who’s truly in the driver's seat of your financial fut...

Ever wondered if owning Mona Lisa's eyeball is smarter than buying a whole share? Forget high prices! Fractional investing lets you grab a slice of giants like Tesla and Amazon. Howie Lim gets the experts to demystify liquidity, costs, and security. Precision diversification without the huge upfront cost—find out how to build serious wealth, one fraction at a time. Synopsis: Every Monday, Th...

Money moves are changing. Young investors chase crypto volatility while retirement nest eggs look obsolete. Perhaps financial security needs to be redefined - from saving a million to mastering the skill of making money. Howie Lim gets some financial survival tips from Zachary Young from Atlantis Labs. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down useful financial tips. Highlights: 01:00...

Is passive investing a Trojan horse? Index funds, once the safest bet, now harbour extreme concentration risk, leaving investors vulnerable in volatile markets. Discover why active ETFs are the essential upgrade. Unlearn the "comfort" of index tracking and gain the adaptability to chase alpha. Howie Lim explores the future of ETFs with the experts. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks...

Feeling the job switch itch? Don't resign yet! The market is cautious, but salary bumps of up to 15 per cent are real. Hear legal experts on contract risks, from clawbacks to non-compete clauses. Howie Lim gets the fine art of negotiation—what to ask for, and when to start—to protect your career and maximise your next move. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down useful...

Is your portfolio trapped by comfort? Familiarity masks hidden risks, turning winners into dangerous concentrations. Discover the subtle signs of shared risk drivers—beyond sector labels—and learn measured, panic-free strategies to trim concentrated positions. Stop chasing the herd. Howie Lim gets true diversification tools from the experts. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times b...

Technology alpha: myth or opportunity? Can tech fortunes be found in adoption and R&D? Apparently, author Igor Pejic thinks so. Howie Lim gets him to decode Big Tech risk, spot the real game-changers from the hype, and navigate the volatile waves of AI, geopolitics, and regulation. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down useful financial tips. Highlights: 01:22 Technology alpha...

Singapore’s economic growth forecast is tougher. How do national priorities—from AI to advanced manufacturing—actually translate into winning investment strategies for you? Howie Lim gets advice from experts Daryl Liew from PhillipCapital and Cheng Chye Hsern from Providend on balancing policy-driven potential with global diversification. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Time...

The SME dream is built on hustle, but what if your retirement plan hinges on a highly speculative sale? Stop gambling on perfect timing. Howie Lim speaks to Grace Tay of finexis to uncover the true surplus after "oxygen" and "risk," dissecting the firewall between business and personal wealth. Learn how to structure your enterprise for a passive paycheck—because succession isn't selling, it'...

Be wary of the seductive danger of leverage investing. The competitive reality is, most lose everything but there are things you can do - like the portfolio pyramid - which can help you navigate this high risk move. Howie Lim gets advice from the experts. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down useful financial tips. This episode is sponsored by OCBC Securities. Highlights: 01:30 Br...

Is the "fixed" in fixed income now a fallacy? As the Year of the Horse trots in, we’re hunting for genuine yield. Forget outdated Singapore Savings Bonds (SSBs) and duration fears. Howie Lim dissects credit risk, the AI capex bubble, and the one thing retail bond investors miss with Goh Rong Ren from Eastsping Investments. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down useful fi...

Artificial intelligence (AI) promises market nirvana, but is it a silver bullet or just another risk factor? Does AI really democratise knowledge and accelerate trading? How come it fails to conquer the ultimate portfolio killer: human indiscipline? Join Howie Lim and OANDA's Philip Waters as they attempt to cut through the hallucinations. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down use...

If you think Valentine's Day is the ultimate commitment, think again. Forget flowers and chocolates; money is the real love language. What else is there beyond joint accounts? What’s the 'financial foreplay' for testing compatibility and why is equities-investing your relationship's final exam? Howie Lim gets insights from Jeremy Tan, CEO of Tiger Fund Management. Synopsis: Every Monday, The...

If 2025 left your portfolio feeling like a runaway train and before you chase the next shiny AI stock or panic-sell everything, take heed. How can you cut through the noise, the greed, and the well-meaning, inflation-averse relatives? Howie Lim finds out why systematic rebalancing beats FOMO, how to generate cashflow now, and where to find safety and growth in a chaotic 2026. Synopsis: Every Monda...

Bull markets breed bad habits. You might be confusing a great company with a great investment! Jose Mayora of Divita Value-Growth Fund reveals to Howie Lim the crucial and simple valuation metric retail investors must focus on when the hype runs high. Which overlooked sectors offer real compounding potential and why might the most boring investment strategy might be your best? Synopsis: Every Mond...

New year, clean slate. But does your money reset have to feel stressful?  In this episode of Money Hacks, Emily Liu explores a softer way to plan for the year ahead. Financial consultant Patrine Choo and Gen Z money author Lillian Zhang share how they reflect on the past year, manage emotional money habits, and turn big goals into small, doable steps.  From automating savings to letting...

This episode is your financial ‘crystal ball’! Did 2025 leave your portfolio feeling... something? As cash yields drop, find out where the real returns hide. Ditch nominal gains as Howie Lim gets the expert-led playbook for a more resilient 2026. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down useful financial tips. Highlights: 00:45 2025 review 04:57 Private market warning 08:5...

Your business is your biggest asset—but is it your smartest retirement plan? SME owners often risk starving personal wealth by betting everything on a future sale. Howie Lim learns the essential strategies for valuing your business, achieving tax-smart profit extraction, and building a separate, resilient retirement portfolio from Grace Tay, associate director, finexis advisory. Stop risking...

Future-proof your finances? That's what your advisor wants you to believe. Chris Miles, the anti-financial advisor, rips up the rulebook on saving for the "long haul," the myth of "money making money," and why high-risk is just high nonsense. Howie Lim gets the real cheat code from him.  Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down useful financial tips. Highlights: 00:42 The 'long...

Forget the blue chips. Singapore’s iEdge Next 50 indices are outperforming the STI by significant margins, signalling a seismic shift in market focus. Are mid-caps the new sweet spot for growth, offering higher potential with less small-cap volatility? Experts dissect the fundamentals, risk management strategies, and macro indicators essential for navigating this exciting segment. Synopsis:...

Feeling squeezed by school fees, ageing parents, and volatile markets? You’re not alone.  Howie Lim chats with OCBC’s Timothy Liew, a wealth-management pro and fellow parent, about investing wisely when life gets expensive. Timothy opens up about his disastrous first trade, how he builds his core-and-satellite portfolio, and why diversification beats get-rich-quick dreams every ti...

If you’re worried about inflation eating into your savings, discover the art of "right-siting" your insurance. We're not just cutting premiums; we're freeing up capital for smarter investments. Learn how to identify over-insurance, maximise value, and even use tech tools to ensure your coverage fits your evolving life. Howie Lim speaks to Chan Wai Kit from Life Insurance Association (LIA) fo...

Forget slogging until 65 before retiring or taking a break. Discover the rising trend of mini-retirements – a "Project You" career pause that's surprisingly achievable. Howie Lim gets experts to reveal how to plan, fund, and navigate these strategic breaks, turning your financial fears into a roadmap for investing in yourself. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down useful fin...

Is a strong work ethic enough to escape the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle? Many Singaporeans prioritise immediate gratification over long-term financial security. We need to challenge the old ideas of saving and explore automated strategies with Benjamin Tan from Chocolate Finance. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down useful financial tips. Highlights: 00:57 Automating savings: $5 a...