Money and Me

What if the smartest real estate play isn’t buying buildings, but financing them? In this episode, we dive into the rising world of real estate credit, an asset class delivering stable income in today’s shifting interest rate landscape. eith Ong, CEO of RealVantage, joins Michelle Martin to explain how credit compares with direct property and S-REITs. Discover how investors can gain exposure, what risks and returns to expect, and the vehicles that suit different risk and liquidity profiles. Hear real examples of how RealVantage structures investments in this space. A must-listen for those seeking income, diversification, and capital protection. Hosted by Michelle Martin.

Wall Street’s on fire — global indices are smashing records while Singapore’s STI breaks 4,200 for the first time. Hosted by Michelle Martin, this episode asks what’s fueling the rally: Fed rate cut hopes, AI productivity, or strong earnings. Cheng Chye Hsern, Head of Investment at Providend, shares his insights on whether Singapore banks can keep leading the charge. With T-bill yields sinking to 1.59%, we explore where investors can turn for income. From safe-haven options to riskier plays, which assets still look attractive? Plus, the impact of messy U.S. inflation and tariffs on Fed policy, and what to watch as we head into year-end. 

Are your early life experiences shaping how you relate to money? Are you avoiding facing the reasons behind why you find yourself in the same money messes repeatedly? Hosted by Michelle Martin, this episode explores how our emotional state influences every financial decision we make. Guest Douglas Lynam shares his extraordinary journey from growing up watching his parents split, to becoming a Benedictine monk, U.S. Marine, educator, and now a financial advisor. Hear how his book Taming Your Money Monster reveals the deep psychology behind money habits.  Learn how you can uncover your money motivators and blocks and how striving to do good in the world could help you on your money journey..

Lump sum cash or a drip approach to your CPF funds? After you pass, have you decided how you would like your CPF funds disbursed? Michelle Martin walks you through the myths, strategies and considerations to make the most of Singapore’s CPF system.  There is a new free resource to help you get the most out of it—The CPF Playbook by Pang Zhe Liang. Hear Christopher Tan, CEO of Providend,  tackle whether your savings are  ‘locked-in’ to what happens to your CPF after you pass on. Chris shares strategies to grow your retirement nest egg, key considerations before investing your CPF, and how to decide whether to use it for your mortgage. We also dive into CPF LIFE, the 1M65 strategy, and lesser-known ways to maximise your CPF for a secure future.

S-REITs are on a winning streak — how early in the cycle are we? Is the run sustainable? Hosted by Michelle Martin, this episode features Kenny Loh, Wealth Advisory Director and one of Singapore’s leading REIT specialists, to unpack July’s standout performers and the key drivers behind their double-digit returns. We dive into why the S-REIT Index hit record highs in early July, and whether the ambitious 12-month target of 1,159 points is realistic. Could rate cuts, yield spread changes, and macro shifts open the door for investors to rotate out of local banks and into REITs? Kenny weighs the pros and cons of such a move, and outlines allocation strategies for income seekers. We also explore the REIT sub-sectors that may prove most resilient in H2 2025. Recorded ahead of Kenny’s 2H 2025 S-REIT Market Outlook session at SGX, this is your insider’s guide to the evolving REIT landscape.

Three banks, three sets of earnings — but only one clear standout. DBS defied expectations with stronger Q2 profits, while UOB and OCBC faced headwinds. Hosted by Michelle Martin, this episode with Tim Phillips, Founder of TimTalksMoney, unpacks what drove each bank’s performance, from shifting interest income to tariff impacts. We explore how leadership changes could redefine strategic priorities for the next decade. Plus, we switch gears to dissect position sizing and country diversification through ETFs, and how investors can balance concentration with broad exposure. The conversation closes with when to let winners run, when to take profits, and how to ensure your portfolio is truly diversified. 

A 90-day US-China trade truce lifts Asia-Pacific markets, but the bigger buzz is in Singapore’s telecom scene as Keppel sells M1 — to an unexpected buyer. Hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang, this episode unpacks the impact on rivals StarHub, SingTel, and Simba, and whether market share shifts are coming. In the US, Intel’s CEO Lip-Bu Tan goes from “conflicted” to “success” overnight after meeting President Trump, sending shares up. We also discuss analyst downgrades for Sembcorp Industries and UOB, Ford’s EV push, lithium stock spikes from CATL’s mine halt, Paramount’s billion-dollar UFC rights deal, and Straco’s profit plunge. Plus, a check on the Straits Times Index movers, from Venture Corp to Sembcorp.

Chinese companies are eyeing the region to expand their markets amid this trade war. Today on Money and Me, Michelle Martin takes you to a story quietly gathering momentum — one that could redefine Asia’s capital markets. Deal-making is back, with IPOs, dual listings, and share placements surging across Southeast Asia as Chinese and Hong Kong companies look to internationalise. Hosted by Michelle Martin, this episode features Jason Saw, Group Head of Investment Banking at CGS International Securities, who unpacks the forces driving this trend, from “China Plus One” evolving into “Plus Two or Plus Three,” to the hot sectors likely to benefit. Hear why Yangzijiang and Food Empire are part of the conversation, which SEA markets are emerging as the biggest winners, and how investors can position for the next wave of capital flows reshaping the region’s growth story.  

Tighter rules are reshaping the property game in Singapore. From the High Court ruling that 99-1 ownership splits can be deemed tax evasion, to the Housing Development Board’s new Prime and Plus flat classifications with stricter resale conditions, today’s buyers face a whole new set of constraints. Add in the long-term implications for downgrading or cashing out, and the decision matrix has never been more complex. Hosted by Michelle Martin, this episode unpacks what these changes mean for investors and first-time buyers alike, and asks the big question: with rising restrictions at home, could overseas property be the smarter play? Daniel Sim, Founder of Golden Goose Properties chats with Michelle Martin to share his thoughts.

Will your favourite pharma players suffer greatly because of Trumps' proposed massive pharma tariffs? Will embodied AI bring China ahead in the AI race vs the West? Can Palantir's monster results continue or is the market already pricing in perfection with this company? Michelle Martin and Arun Pai discuss geopolitics, innovation, and valuations. From Trump’s jaw-dropping plan to slap 250% tariffs on pharmaceutical imports, to the growing rift in AI strategy with open vs closed models. Michelle Martin and Arun Pai from Monk’s Hill Ventures connect the dots; Will Trump’s pharma gamble squeeze margins—or spark opportunity? Is the AI Cold War creating investible divergence? And is Palantir’s AI-fueled surge still worth chasing after a record-breaking quarter? Plus, how Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs is rewriting the pharma playbook with radical price transparency.