Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Budget 2025 introduces key initiatives to drive Singapore’s green transition, including incentives for electric heavy vehicles, a phased-in road tax for EVs, and major investments in public transport. With $60 billion allocated to expand and renew the rail network and $1 billion to enhance bus services, the goal is for 8 in 10 households to be within a 10-minute walk of a train station. And to support sustainable living, the Climate Friendly Households Programme will provide an additional $100 in Climate Vouchers to help households adopt energy- and water-efficient products. Budget 2025 also focuses on building a more inclusive society, with greater support for caregivers, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. The Home Caregiving Grant will be enhanced to provide better financial assistance, while new and improved schemes are set to benefit at least 80,000 seniors. To empower persons with disabilities, the government is increasing subsidies and expanding eligibility for adult disability services. On MONEY MATTER’s Budget 2025 Conversation, Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian speak to Terence Ho, Associate Professor at SUSS and Nicholas Fang, Director of Security and Global Affairs at Singapore Institute of International Affairs and Director of Strategic Consultancy Black Dot, to find out more.

Budget 2025 brings more support for households and businesses. Every Singaporean household will receive S$800 in CDC vouchers, while eligible HDB households get up to S$760 in U-Save rebates. Families will benefit from S$500 LifeSG credits for young children and top-ups for students' education accounts, alongside higher ComCare Assistance and pension support. For businesses, a 50% corporate tax rebate (capped at S$40,000) and increased wage co-funding will provide financial relief. But are these measures enough to tackle Singaporeans' cost-of-living concerns?  On MONEY MATTER’s Budget 2025 Conversation, Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian speak to Terence Ho, Associate Professor at SUSS and Nicholas Fang, Nicholas Fang, Director of Security and Global Affairs at Singapore Institute of International Affairs and Director of Strategic Consultancy Black Dot, to find out more.

Budget 2025 introduced the SG60 Package to commemorate Singapore’s 60th year of independence, offering a range of benefits for individuals, families, and businesses. Singaporeans aged 21 and above will receive SG60 Vouchers of up to $800, while a 60% Personal Income Tax Rebate will provide additional financial relief. Parents of babies born in 2025 can look forward to the SG60 Baby Gift, and all Singaporeans aged 18 and above will receive a $100 SG Culture Pass to support local arts and heritage. On MONEY MATTER’s Budget 2025 Conversation, Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian speak to Terence Ho, Associate Professor at SUSS and Nicholas Fang, Director of Security and Global Affairs at Singapore Institute of International Affairs and Director of Strategic Consultancy Black Dot, to find out more.

As Singapore prepares for Budget 2025, all eyes are on the government’s plans to tackle cost-of-living concerns, enhance job security, and drive economic growth. With Finance Minister and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong set to deliver his first Budget statement in this role, many are expecting measures that provide both immediate relief and long-term strategies for Singapore’s future. So what will Budget 2025 introduce to support workers and businesses in a changing economy? And how will it address social challenges such as income inequality and rising living costs? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Tan Ern Ser, Adjunct Principal Research Fellow, IPS, National University of Singapore, to find out more.

According to a new study by DBS, Gen Z and millennial retail investors are falling behind their older counterparts in building their financial future. In fact, this age group is allocating just 15% to 17% of their salaries to investments. Why is that? And what can Gen Zs and millennials learn from their older counterparts? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Derek Tan, Head of Regional Property Research, DBS Group Research, to find out more.

Singapore equities began the day in the positive territory, following mixed performance in the US and Europe on Friday. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) rose 0.3 per cent to 3,889.66 points after 35.6 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have ComfortDelGro. The land transport operator had said today that it has a “zero-tolerance policy towards any kind of fraud and wrongdoing”.  That’s in response to media publications alleging its indirect, wholly owned subsidiaries of scams and fraudulent taxi transactions.  Elsewhere, from Singapore’s non-oil domestic exports charting a surprise decline in January, to how new downloads of DeepSeek were suspended in South Korea – more local and corporate headlines remain in focus.  On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with David Kuo, Co-founder, The Smart Investor.

Another week, another VAR debacle. Why does this keep happening in Singapore football, and what can be done to ensure accountability? Plus, could Forrest Li truly be in the running to become FAS President? Deepanraj Ganesan and Zia-ul Raushan get stuck in on Sports Minutes. READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/billionaire-forrest-li-seriously-considering-a-run-for-presidency-of-football-association-of Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

Aspire is an all-in-one finance platform designed to help modern businesses manage their financial operations seamlessly. Founded in 2018 by Andrea Baronchelli and a team of former Lazada executives, Aspire was created to bridge the financial service gap for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Southeast Asia. By leveraging technology and a deep understanding of the entrepreneurial landscape, Aspire is redefining business banking for a new generation enabling founders to focus on what they do best: building and growing their ventures. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Andrea Baronchelli, Co-Founder and CEO of Aspire, to share more.

In a world where swiping left and right has become second nature, are dating apps still the best way to find love or have singles outgrown them? With AI-powered matchmaking, evolving dating trends, and an abundance of dating platforms promising more meaningful connections, technology continues to shape modern romance. But with digital fatigue on the rise and a growing desire for organic, real-world relationships, some argue that love in 2025 is best found offline. On The Hot Seat, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Willynn Ng, Chief Tribe at TanTan Tribe / Regional Head at TanTan International and Terry Chia, Interior Designer at Lemonfridge Studio, to find out if dating apps are still relevant in 2025.   Presented by: Hongbin Jeong Produced and Edited by: Alexandra Parada (alexparada@sph.com.sg), Hongbin Jeong, and Naz Want to get featured on our show? Drop me an email today!

Megacap stocks dominated in 2024, creating nice returns for anyone invested in the Nasdaq-100 and S&P 500. But some believe the megacap growth could pause in 2025, leaving room for other stock market segments to take the lead. Does that mean investors need to reset their exchange traded fund portfolio for the year ahead? What are some of the critical ETF selection criteria and which ETFs may be the winners in 2025? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Vance Tan Hong Meng, Financial Services Manager, PhillipCapital, to find out more.