Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Aspire is an all-in-one financial platform designed to simplify business finance for modern companies worldwide. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Singapore, Aspire serves over 50,000 businesses across 30+ markets, helping them save time and reduce costs by consolidating financial operations into a single, user-friendly platform. The platform offers multi-currency business accounts, corporate cards, global payments, yield products, expense management, and AI-powered insights, giving companies real-time visibility and control over their finances. Aspire caters to businesses of all sizes from startups and SMEs to mid-sized enterprises, and supports a variety of industries, including eCommerce, consulting, Web3, and venture capital. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Holly Fang, Global Head of Network, Aspire, to find out more.

Singapore shares were little moved today as Asian equities traded mixed. The Straits Times Index was flat at 4,344.24 points at 12.52pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$650.64M seen in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Seatrium. That’s as the offshore and marine energy solutions company failed in a Singapore court appeal to block a US$126.6 million rig contract payment to a customer on Friday.  Elsewhere, from what to watch out of ongoing trade talks between US and China in Madrid, to worries arising from a sharp slowdown in the Chinese economy, more economic headlines remain in focus.  Also on deck – a look ahead to the Federal Reserve’s rate decision due in the early hours of Thursday.   On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with David Kuo, Co-founder, The Smart Investor.

Investment-Linked Insurance Plans, or ILPs, have long been one of the most hotly contested financial products in the market.  On one hand, they are promoted as a two-in-one solution, combining life insurance protection with access to investment funds, promising long-term wealth growth while keeping you insured.  On the other, critics argue that high fees, lock-in periods, and complex structures make ILPs an expensive way to invest, leaving most policyholders with disappointing returns compared to simpler alternatives like “buy term and invest the rest.” Can ILPs truly help you grow your money, or are they more beneficial to insurers and agents than to policyholders? On The Hot Seat, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Farhan Samsudin, Deputy Director of Financial Advisory at Synergy Financial Advisers and Eddy Cheong, CEO, Havend, to find out more. 

Vibefam is a growth operating system for service-based businesses. Designed to go beyond basic scheduling software, Vibefam helps entrepreneurs streamline operations, manage clients, and unlock new revenue opportunities. While the platform has built its strongest traction in the health and wellness space powering gyms, yoga studios, and fitness coaches, it also supports a growing range of service verticals including sports, pottery, and calligraphy workshops. With its integrated suite of tools, Vibefam enables businesses to handle bookings, payments, marketing, and analytics all in one place, while also laying the groundwork for future offerings in embedded finance. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Serene Lim, CEO & Co-Founder, Vibefam, to find out more.

Equities just bounced back to new highs, but was that tiny dip all the correction we’re going to get? Or are investors underestimating the risks ahead? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Steve Brice, Global CIO, Standard Chartered, to find out more.

Singapore shares dipped today despite a broadly positive day in the region. The Straits Times Index fell 0.2% to 4,347.25 points at 2.25pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$836.62M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have CapitaLand Investment and CapitaLand China Trust. That’s after CapitaLand Investment said today that CapitaLand Commercial C-Reit’s public offer was 535.2 times subscribed.  Meanwhile, from what an in-line inflation print out of the US means for investors to how the Singapore Exchange will launch an index that tracks listed companies that are not constituents of the Straits Times Index, economic and local headlines will dominate the conversation today. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Benjamin Goh, Head of Research and Investor Education, SIAS.

Apple’s thinnest iPhone yet — the iPhone Air — has just launched, but reactions are far from unanimous. Praised for its sleek design, it’s also drawing criticism for its smaller battery, single camera, and premium price tag. Is this a bold design move that will win over consumers, or a gamble that risks alienating Apple fans? And what could it mean for Apple’s performance and future strategy? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Aloysius Low, Founder and Editor, Can Buy or Not, to find out more. 

Investors are most active during a surprising window on Monday mornings, a prime opportunity for wealth managers to engage. Tools like the Intent Index are helping advisors spot early signals, enabling timely, proactive decisions that can strengthen client relationships and drive better portfolio outcomes. On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Michael Davies, Founder, Nextvestment,to find out more about what this data means for wealth managers, how teams can adapt to evolving client behavior, and the practical steps advisors can take to act on these insights.

In an age of streaming platforms and endless digital playlists, it might seem like vinyl records would be long forgotten. Yet in Singapore, a quiet revival is underway — led by ART/ST Records. Through their bespoke lathe-cut vinyl workshop, Singaporeans are turning personal memories, wedding vows, and even everyday moments into one-of-a-kind keepsakes. So what’s behind vinyl’s resurgence? And why does this form of preservation resonate so deeply with people today? On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Charlyn Yap and Lee Sin Yee, Co-founders of ART/ST Records, to find out more. 

Singapore shares were little moved today as investors continue to look ahead to the latest consumer inflation print out of the US. The Straits Times Index was down 0.03% at 4,345.09 points at 11.45am Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$583.16M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have UOL, after the property developer has entered an agreement to sell Kinex, a retail mall, for US$375 million.  Elsewhere, from how the US producer price index fell month-on-month in August for the first time since April, and what that means for the Federal Reserve, to how Chipotle is planning to venture into Asia for the first time – more international and corporate headlines remained in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian dived into the details with Terence Wong, CEO, Azure Capital.