Money and Me

A Singapore retiree has sparked a lot of conversation after revealing she receives roughly $4,600 a month from CPF payouts . We examine the numbers behind her strategy For listeners turning 55 today, the key question is whether replicating this strategy is still possible under today’s CPF rules. We explore the role of the Enhanced Retirement Sum (ERS) , annual top-ups and the powerful impact...

Is Singapore’s property market quietly shifting after Budget 2026?  In this episode of Money and Me, hosted by Michelle Martin , we break down what new policies on foreign work passes, AI investment and housing demand could mean for buyers and investors. Michelle speaks with Christine Sun, Chief Researcher and Strategist at Realion Group (OrangeTee & ETC), about whether the absence...

Is the so-called “sleepy” Singapore market waking up - or are we at the start of a full-blown IPO revival? In this episode of Money and Me , hosted by Michelle Martin, we unpack Southeast Asia’s reopening equity capital markets with Art Karoonyavanich of DBS. Trading volumes are up to S$1.65 billion a day in early 2026, and billion-dollar deals like UI Boustead REIT are landing s...

Oil is spiking, AI firms are being blacklisted, and inflation just ran hotter than expected - what does that mean for your money in March? As US-Israel strikes on Iran and retaliation across the Gulf rattle markets, we examine how a potential Strait of Hormuz disruption could drive energy prices higher and reignite inflation fears globally — including in Singapore. Then we turn to AI turmoil...

Is the world quietly walking away from U.S. tech - and should you? In this episode, hosted by Michelle Martin, we unpack the US$52 billion exodus from U.S. equities - the fastest in 16 years - where is smart money going? Guest Swapnil Mishra, author of  Investing for the Clueless, Reckless and Overly Cautious , explains what “rotation” really means beneath the headlines. We examin...

When the Dow drops 800 points in a day, is it panic - or opportunity knocking? In this episode, hosted by Michelle Martin, we break down the brutal US selloff triggered by fresh 15% tariffs and rising policy uncertainty under President Trump. Guest Cheng Chye Hsern, Head of Investment at Providend, explains which sectors are taking the hardest hit - and where investors can pivot strategically. We...

In China’s 2026 market, survival isn’t about buying the dip - it’s about finding the moat. In this episode, hosted by Michelle Martin , we dissect why investors are shifting from momentum plays to structural dominance with Willie Keng, Founder of Dividend Titan ( https://www.dividendtitan.com/ ). We explore four defining themes and why hyper-competitive sectors are being left beh...

What if the real AI opportunity in 2026 isn’t in the stocks everyone already owns? In this episode, hosted by Michelle Martin, we explore whether the crowded “AI Builder” trade is reaching diminishing returns and where capital could rotate next. Guest Raisah Rasid, Vice President, Global Market Strategist, JP Morgan Asset Management, maps out under-owned sectors quietly integrati...

Is Singapore witnessing a durable capital markets revival - or the final act of a liquidity-driven surge? In this episode, hosted by Michelle Martin, we examine whether the STI’s charge past 5,000 marks a structural re-rating of Singapore equities or a cyclical rebound fuelled by policy tailwinds. With Jason Saw, Group Head of Investment Banking at CGS International, we unpack Budget 2026&rs...

What if you could own a slice of a prime building in Singapore for the price of a holiday - and trade it like a stock? In this episode, hosted by Michelle Martin, we unpack whether real estate tokenisation is a breakthrough or just a buzzword. What do you actually own? How does tokenised property differ from a REIT? How as an investor can you tell  whether liquidity is real or theoretical? Do...

If AI can replace junior lawyers overnight, what does that mean for your portfolio tomorrow? In this episode,  hosted by Michelle Martin , with guest Arun Pai, Associate Partner, Monk’s Hill Ventures  we unpack how an AI model from  Anthropic  is unsettling legal firms and deepening the AI scare trade across tech markets. Why did billions evaporate in a single s...

From Singapore’s AI ambitions to China’s EV and bubble tea giants - where is the smartest risk-reward right now? Singapore’s Budget 2026 signals an accelerated AI roadmap just as Chinese growth names like BYD, XPeng, Pop Mart and Guming Holdings capture investor attention, hosted by Michelle Martin. We unpack Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s innovation-led strategy and what i...

Can your child’s $10,000 today really turn into $86,000 - and what does Budget 2026 have to do with it? Michelle Martin unpacks the latest Budget goodies - from CDC vouchers and CPF top-ups to corporate tax rebates - and what they mean for families, seniors and businesses. Daniel Sim, Founder of Golden Goose Properties, breaks down the new voluntary CPF investment scheme and whether those in...

You asked for it! Michelle Martin sits down with Dion Thong, Senior Manager, Retirement Withdrawals Department, CPF Board, to demystify CPF LIFE with questions listeners sent in. They tackle common fears - is CPF LIFE truly for life, what happens to your money when you pass on, and is the “up to 6%” interest too good to be true? We unpack enrollment rules, the threshold for inclusion,...

What if Budget 2026 could change the way you use your SRS , own your first home and teach your children about money? Ahead of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s statement, we unpack ideas that could meaningfully reshape financial security in Singapore from a personal finance perspective.  Elijah Lee, Senior Financial Services Manager, Phillip Securities, shares his view on why SRS reform co...

Hosted by Michelle Martin, this is the show that keeps your peace of mind at the heart of the wealth chase. When everything feels chaotic - wars, inflation, de-dollarisation fears and gold is rising - what if the smartest financial move is knowing when to stop chasing more? Drawing on insights from  Christopher Tan, CEO of Providend , the conversation challenges the reflex to maximise, l...

After years in the penalty box, S-REITs are staging their strongest comeback since before COVID - but the real question is: who’s thriving, and who’s just surviving? The iEdge S-REIT Leaders Index delivered a standout 16.3% return in 2025, its best annual performance since 2019, signalling a shift in momentum as rate pressures ease. But this recovery is uneven, with pockets of strength...

What if the real risk in buying a home isn’t interest rates - but your job? In early 2026, AI disruption, shifting HDB policies and volatile careers are forcing buyers to rethink what “affordable” really means. Shorter BTO waiting times promise relief for young couples, but could trigger unexpected ripple effects across resale. At the same time, the long-standing price gap betwee...

Many Singaporeans treat SRS as a “set it and forget it” tax tool, leaving cash idle at 0.05% while inflation does the damage. Hosted by Michelle Martin , this episode explores why investors are waking up - with ETF holdings in SRS accounts surging 380% to over S$800 million. We break down how SGX-listed ETFs can transform SRS from dormant savings into a long-term growth engine. From lo...

China’s investment narrative is shifting from old economy giants to new-generation growth engines. Michelle Martin speaks with Dr Wealth cofounder Alvin Chow, to explore whether the new CSI A500 index could replace the CSI 300 as investors’ core China exposure. We unpack why CSOP’s new SGX-listed ETF makes it easier for Singaporeans to “buy China” in one trade. Then,...

Money and Me unpacks why global investors may be hedging U.S. exposure rather than fleeing it outright, even as the dollar weakens and trade tensions simmer. Our guest, John Sidawi, Senior Portfolio Manager for Global Fixed Income at Federated Hermes explains how currency hedging has become a core strategy after years of unhedged U.S. outperformance. We explore what a softer dollar could mean for...

Markets are flashing warning lights - and investors are wondering if the rules have changed. Gold and silver tumble after a near-vertical rally as politics collides with monetary policy. We unpack why Microsoft fell despite beating earnings and whether its OpenAI bet is turning from moat into risk. Japan’s bond yields surge to multi-decade highs, reviving fears of a yen carry trade unwind. S...

It used to be the good old reliable way to grow wealth, but is it time to look away from this old favourite?  As concentration risk hits record highs, one dividend investor says the S&P 500 is no longer the “safe default.” Willie Keng of Dividend Titan explains why valuations look disconnected from reality - and what he uses instead to judge fair value. We explore three unexpe...

You think you’re diversified… but what if you’re just betting on the same seven tech stocks again and again? The so-called Magnificent Seven now dominate both US and global indices, quietly shaping returns for anyone holding “broad” ETFs. We examine whether global diversification is becoming important again as big institutional players like Vanguard cut back on UK ex...

Bad news is piling up, yet markets keep climbing - so which signal should investors trust? Gold surges past US$5,000 an ounce as investors hedge against trade wars, political risk and warnings of a looming “capital war” from Ray Dalio. Elon Musk claims robots will outnumber humans and could make up most of Tesla’s long-term value, even as the car business faces slowing deliveries...