Money and Me

Thinking of investing in gold online in Singapore? What should you check before buying gold online, and how does it compare with physical gold bars and gold ETFs? Lance Alexander speaks with Sunil Kashyap, Co-founder, Finmet and Former Chairman, Singapore Bullion Market Association, about ownership, costs and risks. They examine buying and selling prices, storage fees, how to verify your gold holdings and what happens if a provider closes. Plus, how much gold should you hold, how can Singapore dollar movements affect your returns, and when should you consider selling?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you pass on wealth without leaving yourself short? Lance Alexander speaks with Helen Shen, Group Head of Products, Singlife about balancing legacy planning with your own retirement and healthcare needs. Through two hypothetical family scenarios, they explore when to transfer wealth, whether to leave a lump sum or distribute it in stages, and how to adapt plans as family circumstances change. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US midterm elections have handed Democrats control of both chambers of Congress, triggering a Wall Street rally and raising questions about the outlook for AI regulation, trade and investment. What does the political shift mean for investors? Meanwhile, Anthropic's IPO could become one of the biggest stock market listings in history, but does its potential trillion-dollar valuation make sense? As the US and China compete over rare earth supplies, are MP Materials and Lynas Rare Earths worth watching? And with the Bank of Japan holding interest rates at 1.25%, where are the opportunities in Japanese stocks? Lance Alexander speaks with Arun Pai, Partner, Monk’s Hill Ventures on Money and Me to unpack these developments and the risks investors should consider.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Selling your property could leave you with hundreds of thousands of dollars, but how much of that money is actually yours to use? After repaying your mortgage, refunding CPF savings and covering selling costs, what's the smartest way to manage the proceeds? Should you buy another property, invest in stocks or bonds, pay off debts or set aside money for retirement? Lance Alexander speaks with Grace Tay, Associate Director, Finexis Advisory to explore how Singapore homeowners can make the most of their property sale proceeds, with practical examples and common financial mistakes to avoid.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Microsoft, Alphabet and Amazon have delivered strong cloud growth, but with Big Tech's AI spending plans reaching US$750 billion amid slowing growth in some core businesses, are investors right to be concerned? Which tech stocks offer value after the latest earnings? Meanwhile, McDonald's is preparing to report its next results. Is the fast-food giant worth buying ahead of earnings? Lance Alexander speaks with Simon Ree, founder of Tao of Trading, about Big Tech valuations, AI spending risks and the investment case for McDonald's.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eight new exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have joined the Singapore Exchange in October, offering investors access to the S&P 500, Nasdaq-100, global equities, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and artificial intelligence. But which ones are worth considering, and do more ETFs necessarily mean better diversification? Lance Alexander speaks with Tim Phillips, Founder, TimTalksMoney about the differences between these funds, the risks of investing in individual markets and AI, and what investors should know about fees and currency exposure. They also discuss whether global ETFs are truly diversified and how Singapore investors can balance local stocks with overseas investments.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does gold still deserve a place in your portfolio? Lance Alexander speaks with Ole Hansen, Head of Commodity Strategy, Saxo, about gold prices, central bank buying and the impact of inflation and interest rates. They explore how much gold to hold, physical gold versus gold ETFs, and whether silver and platinum offer alternatives.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How should investors build an Asian stock portfolio, and which markets offer the best opportunities? From Singapore's dividend-paying stocks to AI-driven semiconductor companies in South Korea and Taiwan, and overlooked opportunities in Australia, where should retail investors focus? Lance Alexander speaks with Sam Konrad, Investment Director at Jupiter Asset Management about specific stocks worth examining, the thinking behind selecting them, how much to allocate to different markets, and the risks of concentrating too heavily on AI. They also explore why China and Japan may be less attractive, and when investors should consider rebalancing their portfolios.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What makes a trading card valuable - and can you sell it for a profit? Lance Alexander speaks with Roy Raftery, Head of Pop Culture at Stanley Gibbons, about Singapore’s trading card community and its role in Asia’s collectibles market. They explore what drives Pokémon card prices, how grading, fees and resale demand affect profits. Plus, the risks of hype, counterfeits and poor storage, alongside lessons from the NFT boom and bust. Find out what beginners should know about counterfeit cards, price swings and the risks of turning a hobby into an investment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How much can you afford to give your ageing parents without putting your own retirement at risk? Lance Alexander speaks with Elijah Lee, Senior Financial Services Manager, Phillip Securities about budgeting for parents’ expenses, preparing for eldercare costs, sharing responsibilities among siblings and weighing the financial impact of leaving work to become a caregiver.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.