BT Money Hacks

Investing in private markets can help reduce overall portfolio volatility, as they tend to have a lower correlation with public markets. Sure sounds good but what are the hidden complexities to look out for before you take the plunge? Howie Lim finds out. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down useful financial tips. Highlights: 01:13 Are private assets available to retail investors...

Why the sudden Midas touch? Blame it on global uncertainty. But gold, it's not just for pirates and pharaohs anymore! This lustrous metal has been having a moment, shining brighter than a supernova in 2024 but at about $3300 an ounce, have retail investors missed the boat? Howie Lim speaks to the experts to find out. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down useful financial tips. Hig...

"Keep calm and stay invested”, they say. That’s easier said than done. In fact, long-term investing is suddenly under fire because of the uncertainty surrounding markets these days. So should we cut and run or stay the course? Howe Lim speaks to the experts to find out. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down useful financial tips. Highlights: 01:04 The viability of long...

Think crypto’s just for tech bros and meme coin gamblers? Think again.  In this episode of Money Hacks, Howie Lim digs into the surprisingly high crypto adoption rates in Singapore with Coinbase’s Hassan Ahmed and crypto communications professional Deborah Tan-Pink.  From common misconceptions and beginner mistakes to why stablecoins might just be the sneaky MVPs, we break do...

June is upon us and it’s time to get out! But can you still find bargains during travel peak time? Have you considered an alternative destination and how else can you maximise your travel budget? Howie Lim speaks to Cyndi Hui from Skyscanner to find out. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down useful financial tips. Highlights: 02:15 The value maximisation continues 05:25 If f...

Exchange-traded funds are an excellent entry point into the stock market for new investors. They’re cheap and typically carry lower risk than individual stocks since a single fund holds a diversified collection of investments. How’ve they been doing so far with all this market volatility? Howie Lim finds out from Dina Ting of Franklin Templeton. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Tim...

Given the potential for Reits to outperform in a muted Singaporean economy due to their attractive dividend yields, the question arises: should investors consider shifting their investments from banks to Reits? Howie Lim finds out from the experts. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down useful financial tips. Highlights: 01:10 The current landscape 03:26 Reits vs. banks vs. STI? 06...

In the middle of May, the US said they would lower tariffs from 145 per cent to 30 per cent, while China's retaliatory tariffs on US goods will drop to 10 per cent from 125 per cent. This is promising but doesn’t take away from the fact that the tariffs may have dealt a blow to Chinese markets already. Is China still worth investing in, then? Howie Lim speaks to the experts to find out. Syno...

You’d like a marble counter top, zebra wood for your floors and designer fixtures. But before all that, shouldn’t you figure the budget out and if you have the money? If not, maybe there are loans out there to tap on. For more insights on how to ‘hack’ your home renovations, Howie Lim speaks to Jenn Ong, managing director of GXS Bank. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Ti...

Rising costs and uncertainty have knocked the long heralded $1 million off its pedestal. Or has it? Is $1 million enough to retire on? If not, how much is enough? And how quickly can one get to their magic number? Howie Lim speaks to The Weeblings, content creators who are a quarter way there for insights. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down useful financial tips. Highlights: 01...

Can personal finance be as simple as ‘staying in your lane’ and not ‘speeding’? Surely it’s more complex than that. Or is it? Howie Lim speaks to financial advisor and author George Stefanou about his ‘5 lanes of personal finance’ theory.  Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down useful financial tips. Highlights: 01:28 How to classify n...

The Trump tariffs have released market mayhem. How is your 60/40 portfolio doing? Should you rejig this classic investment strategy and how can you balance your defensive positioning with the growth potential of your investments? Howie Lim speaks to Audrey Goh from Standard Chartered Bank and Pete Tan from PhillipCapital for insights. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down useful f...

As it becomes more challenging to earn a decent interest rate on our savings, it’s time to look beyond fixed deposits and T-Bills, for that matter. Are there instruments which afford the same returns as fixed deposits but greater flexibility? Howie Lim speaks to Michele Ferrario of StashAway and Willie Keng from dividendtitan.com to find out. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks...

How do you turn your flailing portfolio around if it had an abysmal time in Q1? What were the mistakes you made and what can you do about them to have a fruitful rest of the year? Howie Lim speaks to David Kuo from The Smart Investor and Hugh Chung from Endowus for advice. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down useful financial tips. Highlights: 02:13 Do not do this anymore 07:04 N...

About two in three Singaporeans are considering a job change within the next 12 months. Are you one of them? Do you know what it entails financially to switch roles? Have you considered all the angles? Howie Lim speaks to Susan Fanning from Aon to get the answers. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down useful financial tips. Highlights: 00:57 The great resignation and the war for t...

Singapore’s real estate investments are increasing, despite a slow down in the 2nd half of 2024. But it’s not just the residential segment. Plus, what are the opportunities in the region? Howie Lim speaks to Greg Hyland, head of capital markets, APAC at CBRE to find out how trends and opportunities are shaping up in the region. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down use...

With some much uncertainty these days - economic, financial and geopolitical even - how can we make sure our money, portfolios and funds stay healthy and protected? Correspondent Howie Lim finds out from the experts. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down useful financial tips. Highlights: 01:12 Geopolitical drivers explained 03:41 Sectors affected and sectors to consider 06:15 Sin...

Is your business ready to capitalise on the opportunities presented by Budget 2025?  In our latest episode of Money Hacks, host Howie Lim dives into the details of Budget 2025 with Christopher Gee, deputy director at the Institute of Policy Studies, and Yong Jiahao, corporate tax partner at KPMG. From corporate tax rebates to AI readiness and talent development, they unpack how this year&rsqu...

If you’re financially prepared, being laid off may not be so daunting. But that’s key: being prepared. How long does it take to do that and what are the steps to take? Howie Lim speaks to Daphne Tan from CMC Markets Singapore and Zac Ng from PhillipCapital. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down useful financial tips. Highlights: 01:13 Drivers of current retrenchment wa...

Managing personal finances can feel overwhelming, especially when traditional tools focus more on restrictive budgeting than on holistic, fulfilling financial planning. Can we do it ourselves or should we get help? Howie Lim speaks to content creator Tim Phillips and Isaac Ong from Providend to find out. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down useful financial tips. Highlights: 01:0...

As economic uncertainty increases, personal finance management becomes that much more complex. Or does it have to be? How can we preserve and grow our wealth even during volatile times? Howie Lim speaks to Shang Saavedra, author and financial educator to find out. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down useful financial tips. Highlights: 00:57 Cut your budget or grow your income 04:...

How did a home baker and former banker build herself a successful business hawking her delicious macarons and other baked gems? Howie Lim speaks to the founder of Annabella Patisserie to find out. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down useful financial tips. This episode is brought to you by WorldFirst. Highlights: 01:34 The biggest challenges with cross-border payments 02:46 How c...

It’s time to make your spending work harder for you. It’s a step up from making your money work for you. Credit cards can offer astounding rewards and cashback but you have to put in some effort. Howie Lim gets expert help from Audrey Yap, a content creator with lobangsis.com Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down useful financial tips. Highlights: 01:05 Choosing the ri...

How do we safeguard our wallets during the festive season without taking the joy out of the celebrations? And should we use our bonuses to fund the merriment? Howie Lim speaks to Seth Wee, content creator and finfluencer from sethisfy.com and Dhanesh Sharma, financial services manager at PhillipCapital to find out. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down useful financial tips. Highl...

How will gold fare in 2025 now that it’s had rather a stellar 2024 and, let’s face it, decade? Should we be shoring up on this safe haven asset or letting some of it go? What headwinds or tailwinds will gold face moving forward? Correspondent Howie Lim speaks to Albert Cheng, CEO, Singapore Bullion Market Association and Robin Tsui, APAC gold strategist & SPDR gold sales specialist...