Money and Me

As 2026 begins, Money and Me takes a moment of introspection - looking not just at how much you made, but how you spent. What did money add to your life in 2025 - and what quietly drained your peace, health, or joy? Hosted by Michelle Martin, this episode features Christopher Tan, CEO of Providend, who introduces a powerful reframing: Return on Spending, not just Return on Investing. From a $10,000 wedding anniversary to resisting ego-driven purchases, Christopher shares how values - not status - guided his big financial decisions. The conversation explores how spending today shapes the future story of our health, ageing, and relationships. Listeners are invited to do a simple year-end money audit - no spreadsheets required - before setting their goals for the year ahead.  

Defense stocks swing sharply as US President Donald Trump pivots from threatening dividends to floating a staggering US$1.5 trillion military budget. Hosted by Michelle Martin, this episode unpacks why names like Lockheed Martin, L3Harris Technologies and AeroVironment surged - and what it says about policy-driven markets. We also look to Europe, where defense stocks extend a four-day rally as geopolitical tensions reshape spending priorities. In Asia, Hong Kong gets a boost as China-backed tech champions debut, led by AI firm Zhipu AI alongside chip and robotics players. UP or DOWN tackles movers including CrowdStrike and Fast Retailing, while Singapore stocks pause near record highs. And finally, from AI fridges to strange CES gadgets, we ask whether tech innovation is getting smarter - or just louder.

As the China growth narrative fades, attention is shifting from the New Economy to an overlooked source of income: high-dividend state-owned enterprises. Raymond Cheng explains why China’s energy and infrastructure giants have delivered strong returns even as oil prices fell. We explore how Beijing’s policy reset has effectively programmed state firms to return more cash to shareholders. Why Hong Kong-listed H-shares may offer higher yields than identical A-shares in Shanghai — and why that matters now. Plus, what Southbound Connect flows, falling bank rates, and balance-sheet quality tell cautious investors about China’s role in a diversified portfolio. Hosted by Michelle Martin with guest Raymond Cheng, Chief Investment Officer for North Asia at Standard Chartered Bank’s Wealth Solutions unit.

When prices barely move after big news, that’s often the loudest signal of all. Nvidia’s Vera Rubin chip debut at CES promises cheaper, faster, lower-power AI - yet the stock barely flinched, raising questions for both traders and long-term investors. Michelle Martin unpacks what muted price action really means when expectations are crowded and positioning is full. Geopolitical shock from Venezuela has sent gold and silver surging - what does seasoned investor Simon Ree, founder of the Tao of Trading think of the possibilities ahead; follow-through, or a fade? From memory-chip spillovers to crowded AI trades, explore markets with Michelle and Simon in this conversation.

He was told borrowing could boost his retirement - instead it wiped out his peace of mind. A real-life Singapore case shows how a retiree lost a large portion of his savings after taking loans to buy complex insurance-linked investments. In this episode, we unpack why borrowing to invest is especially dangerous once your paycheque stops. We break down the red flags hidden in structured products, leverage, and “projected returns” that sound reassuring but aren’t guaranteed. You’ll learn what questions retirees - and their adult children - must ask before signing anything involving debt. Hosted by Michelle Martin, this Money and Me episode helps you protect retirement capital by understanding what not to do before it’s too late.

The biggest threat to your money in 2025 wasn’t what everyone was shouting about, it was your reaction to them. As markets whipsawed through tech shocks, AI scares, and policy pivots, many investors hurt themselves trying to react. This episode reveals the real wealth destroyer hiding beneath the headlines. We unpack volatility, false market narratives and why first impressions often lead investors astray.  The conversation challenges the obsession with timing, predictions, and expert forecasts. Hosted by Michelle Martin featuring Chin Hui Leong, the Co-founder, The Smart Investor, this is a reset on how clever investors think through the headlines as we head into 2026.

Why do intelligent, hard-working people still struggle financially in retirement — and what do they miss along the way? Straits Times Invest Editor, Tan Ooi Boon and author of Retire With More Money discusses the money traps and glimmering opportunities available to us here in Singapore to retire well using foresight. From CPF blind spots and property laws to marriage, legacy planning and investment traps, this conversation tackles the issues people avoid until it’s too late. We unpack real-life cases of devastating financial mistakes - and the quiet habits that protect wealth over decades. This is a discussion for readers, investors, and lifelong learners who believe thinking well is the foundation of living well. Money and Me - hosted by Michelle Martin.

Markets are shifting fast - not just what you invest in, but how you stay ahead when trading never stops. As NASDAQ moves toward a 23-hour trading day, investors face a world that’s always-on, faster, and more volatile. At the same time, AI enters its second phase, with infrastructure players like Micron powering the data-centre boom. And AI is no longer just in servers - it’s moving onto our faces, as smart eyewear reshapes consumer tech. So which trends are structural, which are cyclical, and where should investors be wary of hype? We break it all down, hosted by Michelle Martin and Swapnil Mishra, Author of "Investing for the Clueless, Reckless and Overly Cautious".

Do markets still have room to rally - and where should investors really be positioned for 2026? After a strong run for equities in 2025, global wealth manager Lombard Odier lays out how investors should think about the next phase. We unpack the CIO Office Viewpoint with Jack Siu, Head of Discretionary Portfolio Management, Asia at Lombard Odier. The conversation explores why Lombard Odier is underweight the US, overweight emerging markets, and tactically cautious on Japan. We dig into standout opportunities in South Korea, healthcare, materials - and the risks markets may still be underpricing. A practical discussion on portfolio positioning, sector-level alpha and what investors should do next, hosted by Michelle Martin.

S-REITs are on track for their strongest year since 2019, delivering double-digit returns as borrowing costs ease and yields remain compelling, but looking ahead, what do investors need to keep an eye on for 2026? The episode explores standout S-REIT sectors, the key metrics that matter most in a falling-rate world, and how income investors can position portfolios today. We also unpack what Hong Kong Land’s move into private funds means for listed REITs like Keppel REIT - and whether dilution risks are rising. Joining the conversation is Kenny Loh, REIT Specialist and Wealth Advisory Director, hosted by Michelle Martin.