The DollarsAndSense Podcast

Would you work an extra day every week for $1,000 more a month? That's an additional $12,000 a year. But is the extra income worth giving up your evenings, weekends or personal time? In this episode of the DollarsAndSense Podcast, Tim, Feng Yi and Deanna debate what it really takes to earn more — whether through side hustles, career progression or taking on additional responsibilities at work...

If the market suddenly falls 20% or 30%, should you keep investing the same amount — or is that exactly when you should invest more? Dollar-cost averaging (DCA) is popular for a reason: invest a fixed amount regularly, stay disciplined and avoid trying to predict where markets are heading. But there’s an interesting limitation. If prices fall significantly, traditional DCA still tells you to inves...

With US markets experiencing sharp swings, how can investors build their portfolios while managing volatility and keeping trading costs low? In this episode of the DollarsAndSense Podcast, host Feng Yi speaks with Vik, Director and Head, Securities Retail Sales at Phillip Securities, about navigating market volatility, dollar-cost averaging, and how zero-commission investing can help investors bui...

Singapore investors may know SGX for local stocks, but Singapore Depository Receipts (SDRs) offer access to selected overseas-listed companies while still trading in Singapore dollars during SGX market hours. In this episode of the DollarsAndSense Podcast, Feng Yi and Deanna speak with Bernice, SGX’s product manager for SDRs, and Han Hui, a trading representative from UOB Kehian, to explain how SD...

CFDs allow traders to take advantage of short-term market movements, whether prices are rising or falling. They can also be used to access global markets, trade with leverage or hedge an existing investment portfolio. However, CFD trading is very different from long-term investing. While leverage can give you greater market exposure with less upfront capital, it can also amplify your losses when a...

Having insurance does not automatically mean you are adequately protected. A serious illness, accident, loss of income, or unexpected family situation can change your finances overnight. The key question is whether your coverage can support you and your dependants when it matters most. Recorded on-site at InsureXpo by CIMB 2026, host Deanna Lim and Helen Shen from Singlife discuss common protectio...

How much money do you really need to retire comfortably in Singapore? Is the famous $1 million retirement goal realistic, or should you be focusing on something else? In this special episode of the DollarsAndSense Podcast, filmed live at **InsureXpo by CIMB 2026, we sit down with Prof Sharon Ng to discuss what financial independence actually means—and why retirement planning isn't just about...

Market volatility can be uncomfortable, but it's also a normal part of investing. In this special episode of the DollarsAndSense Podcast, recorded live at InsureXpo 2026 by CIMB, we speak with Diana Teo, Team Lead, Equities at CIMB Chief Investment Office, about how investors can stay disciplined when markets become uncertain. We discuss why emotions often become the biggest obstacle to long-...

Scams are becoming more sophisticated and Singaporeans are attractive targets because of our savings, digital habits and trust in official communications. In this episode of the DollarsAndSense Podcast, Feng Yi and Timothy discuss why scam and cybercrime remain a major concern in Singapore, why seniors may be especially vulnerable to high-value losses, and how different age groups are targeted thr...

Can ordinary Singaporeans really build $10 million by age 65? In this special episode of the DollarsAndSense Podcast, recorded live at InsureXpo 2026 by CIMB, we sit down with Mr Loo Cheng Chuan, founder of the 1M65 movement, to discuss his latest and most ambitious idea yet: 10M65. When 1M65 was first introduced, many people believed it was impossible. Today, countless Singaporeans have embraced...

Is $1 million enough to retire comfortably in Singapore? For years, hitting the million-dollar mark has been seen as the ultimate financial milestone. But in today’s world, rising costs, longer lifespans, and inflation, is it really enough? In this episode, we break down how long $1 million can actually last, the impact of inflation and healthcare costs, why your lifestyle matters more than the nu...

Most Singaporeans go to Johor Bahru thinking they’ll save money — on petrol, groceries, meals or a quick massage. But after factoring in the travel time, queues at the checkpoint and everything else that happens along the way… is it still worth it? In this episode of the DollarsAndSense Podcast, we speak to a frequent JB traveller who makes the trip almost every week. From how she plans her trips...

For many Singaporean investors, dividend investing often starts and ends with local blue-chip stocks. Banks, REITs, telcos. Familiar names, steady payouts, reliable income. But what if you could earn dividends beyond Singapore — while tapping into the long-term growth potential of ASEAN’s developing economies? In this episode, we sit down with Paul Ho from UOB Asset Management and Miko Huang from...

Buying a home is just the start. How you plan for housing affects your retirement — and even your healthcare later in life. In this episode, we break down the real numbers behind housing affordability, retirement payouts, and healthcare costs in Singapore, using CPF planners to show what’s realistic — and what many people overlook. Many thanks to CPF Board for sponsoring this episode. The discussi...

Most of us already have insurance like MediShield Life, life insurance, or critical illness plans. But what about all the other common accidents and injuries that don’t require hospitalisation, sprains, falls, sports injuries, food poisoning, dengue, or even a quick A&E visit? In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked Personal Accident (PA) Plan, and why it can be an important complemen...

Fresh grads — you’ve got your first job, first pay cheque… and a ton of questions about how to manage it all. For this special episode recorded at the Global Shapers x National Youth Council “Future of Finance” event, Deanna Lim, Partner at DollarsAndSense, hosts the podcast with Hazelle Soon, Co-Founder and Chief Trainer at The Joyful Investors. Both were panellists at the event later that evenin...

Talking about money doesn’t have to be intimidating, and the Seedly Personal Finance Festival proves it. Recorded live at Marina Bay Sands during the 2025 edition of Singapore’s largest personal finance event, this episode of the DollarsAndSense Podcast goes behind the scenes with Rohit and Ayush from the MoneyHero team. We unpack what it really takes to organise a 5,000-person finance festival, f...

Being a platform worker in Singapore isn’t easy. One week you’re earning well, the next week your income dips. No paid leave. No employer CPF. No buffer. And when it comes to planning for your home, healthcare and retirement, it often feels like you’re running an uphill race. From 1 January 2025, the new Platform Workers Act marks one of the biggest shifts for this group — introducing mandatory CP...

China is one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing economies, but for the average Singaporean investor, buying into Chinese companies can feel overwhelmingly complex. Different share classes, foreign market access, currency risk… where do you even start? In this episode, we sit down with Emerald Yau from FTSE Russell and Roger Leng from UOB Asset Management to unpack a fuss-free way to ride o...

Recorded at the Seedly Personal Finance Festival 2025, Timothy sits down with Xin Yang, Head of Wealth, Structured Products Advisory, from uSmart to tackle a question every investor asks sooner or later: Should you even try to beat the market? They unpack what “average market returns” actually are, how TikTok and YouTube can give investors false confidence, and why beginners should build a solid f...

Most of us save for retirement, emergencies, and medical bills but we rarely plan for something far more common: long-term disability. In this episode of the DollarsAndSense Podcast, Timothy sits down with Ong Hui Ming, CEO of ECON Healthcare Group, to unpack what long-term disability actually looks like in Singapore and why so many families are caught off-guard. They explore the emotional weight...

Singaporeans travel and spend overseas more than almost anyone, but many still lose money without realising it. Recorded at the Seedly Personal Finance Festival 2025, Dinesh speaks with Yee Won Nyon, Senior Product Manager at Wise, to unpack how multi-currency accounts, mid-market rates, and smarter payment choices can save you real dollars. They break down foreign transaction fees, DCC traps, sma...

For many of us, the first thing we hear about HDB is a comparison, “Last time flats so cheap… why now so expensive?” But when you peel back the numbers, the story isn’t as straightforward as it sounds. In this episode of the DollarsAndSense Podcast, Timothy and Dinesh unpack the truth behind HDB affordability, why flats used to cost less, why they cost more today, and why the full story is more co...

We all want to help the people we care about, but when it comes to money, things can get messy real fast. In this episode of the DollarsAndSense Podcast, Timothy and Dinesh get real about what usually goes wrong when you lend money to friends or family, from unspoken expectations to awkward silences when repayment time comes around. They share honest takes, real examples, and how to navigate this...

Singapore’s latest Household Expenditure Survey says retirees spend about $1,384 a month. But is that really enough? With longer lifespans, rising costs, and evolving CPF rules, retirement planning has never been more important. In this episode, we unpack retirement expenses across income levels, the impact of inflation, and how CPF LIFE payouts and retirement sums (BRS, FRS, ERS) translate into m...