Money and Me

When geopolitical shocks ripple through supply chains and markets, what should investors hold onto? The war’s ripple effects are spreading - from energy disruptions hitting everyday businesses to growing stress across global markets. Michelle Martin speaks with Swapnil Mishra, Author of Investing for the Clueless, Reckless and Overly Cautious, on how investors are navigating this uncertainty. We unpack why the US dollar is surging as a safe haven while gold behaves unexpectedly. Energy and defence stocks are in focus - but are investors chasing momentum too late? And where can you still find resilience and opportunity in a market defined by volatility, hosted by Michelle Martin.

Where is the Asian equivalent to Fort Knox? How can you invest in physical gold? Michelle Martin breaks down the surge in gold investing as prices hit record highs and uncertainty drives demand for safe havens. With guest Ong Xun Xiang, Head of ETFs at Lion Global Investors, we unpack how gold ETFs offer access without the hassle of storing physical bars. What exactly is a “physical gold ETF,” and is it truly backed by real gold stored in vaults like Le Freeport Singapore? We explore the pros, cons, and misconceptions - from “paper gold” fears to liquidity advantages over jewellery and coins. Plus, what Singapore’s first homegrown gold ETF listing in 20 years means for investors - hosted by Michelle Martin.

Oil spikes, gold stumbles, and private funds start locking the gates - are investors missing the real risks? March has reshaped the investing landscape as geopolitical tensions send oil soaring and markets into flux, hosted by Michelle Martin. Brent crude surges past $120, forcing investors to rethink inflation, energy exposure and portfolio resilience. At the same time, gold’s unexpected decline challenges its role as the ultimate safe haven in times of crisis. We also unpack why private credit funds are “gating” redemptions - and what that signals about underlying liquidity risks. Plus, why Asia may feel the pain of higher oil prices more acutely than the rest of the world - and what investors should watch next.

As Asia ages at record speed, the old “save then spend” playbook is evolving. Michelle Martin speaks with Andy Budden of Capital Group on why a 100-year life demands a complete rethink of investing. From China’s pension pressures to Singapore’s CPF LIFE, the gap between savings and real needs is widening. We explore why income resilience - not just portfolio size - is the new goal for retirees. And how multi-asset strategies are emerging as the bridge between growth, protection, and lifelong income.

From weak demand for REIT fundraising to a sharp selloff in one of Europe’s biggest companies, markets are sending mixed signals, hosted by Michelle Martin with Willie Keng, Founder, Dividend Titan. (https://www.dividendtitan.com) Lendlease REIT’s preferential offering saw a tepid response, raising concerns about investor appetite for yield plays in a higher-rate world. At the same time, Novo Nordisk - once a market darling - has plunged sharply, wiping out billions in value. We unpack whether this is a valuation reset, competitive pressure, or a deeper shift in the obesity drug narrative. What does this mean for income investors relying on REITs and growth investors chasing healthcare innovation? Plus; Michelle and Willie discuss how if the AI craze is leading us to  overlook skills important to build to flourish.  

What if one person, one idea, and one restless night could build a global gaming success? Michelle Martin sits down with 33-year-old Yeo Ying Zhi, founder of YYZ Studio, to explore how indie developers are reshaping the gaming industry. From building Havendock into a 100,000-player hit to creating viral web games like Enchanted Heroes, YYZ shares what it really takes to go solo. We unpack the indie business model - owning your IP, taking full risk, and competing without big studio backing. Hosted by Michelle Martin. 

A niche corner of real estate is quietly delivering strong income - but is it built to last? Michelle Martin explores whether purpose-built worker and student housing can offer investors stable, resilient returns in uncertain markets. Hosted by Michelle Martin, with insights from Centurion Accommodation REIT’s Chief Investment Officer Ginny Ang, we unpack how the REIT beat its DPU forecast and what’s driving demand. We examine why worker housing may behave differently from offices and malls - especially during economic slowdowns. With occupancy already near full, the big question becomes: where does future growth come from? Plus, how rising interest rates and a focus on community well-being could shape long-term returns for investors.

Oil above $110, war risks rising - yet markets are climbing… what’s really going on? Michelle Martin explores the surprising resilience of equities as the Fed holds rates steady despite inflation and geopolitical shocks. We unpack how Middle East tensions - from Iran to Qatar - are reshaping energy markets and reigniting inflation fears. At the same time, capital is rotating into AI, with Nvidia at the centre of renewed chip flows into China. Plus, a bold new frontier emerges: chips in space - could this redefine the next phase of computing and investment? All this and more, hosted by Michelle Martin.

If you want to bank on the picks and shovels play behind the AI Capex spend, you need to understand growth drivers.  Investors have been piling into semiconductors but what if you wanted to look beyond NVIDIA? As computing demands grow, bottlenecks are springing up like traditional copper wiring slowing data transfers because of their heat constraints.  Enter photonics: a whole field devoted to controlling photons or light. We also ask What if the biggest AI winners aren’t the ones building it - but the ones powering it? Michelle Martin explores the $700 billion AI infrastructure surge reshaping markets, from hyperscaler spending by Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet, Meta and Oracle to the hidden bottlenecks in power and data centres. The conversation with Alvin Chow unpacks who really profits from this capex explosion. Michelle and Alvin also explore OpenClaw, the open source viral AI agent phenomenon in China; if OpenClaw boosts productivity, which companies are set to benefit really?

The era of “set it and forget it” ETF investing is being challenged - are passive ETFs no longer enough? Michelle Martin dives into the shifting ETF landscape with Aman Pujara, Director of Quantitative Research and Portfolio Construction at Syfe, as investors rethink the classic “VOO and chill” strategy. Hosted by Michelle Martin, this episode explores why active ETFs are rapidly gaining ground, now accounting for over 80% of new launches in 2026. We examine how  market volatility has exposed the limitations of passive index tracking. Aman explains why active strategies are attracting a growing share of inflows and offering investors more flexibility. The conversation also tackles the hidden opportunity costs of staying fully passive during turbulent markets and the fees involved in active ETF investing. How investors can distinguish true active skill from trend-following products?