Investors of the Roundtable

In this roundtable, we welcome back AK71, one of Singapore’s OG personal finance bloggers and dividend investors, whose portfolio generates over S$240K in annual dividends. He shares how he built his wealth, compares Singapore bank stocks with REITs, and gives his take on the banks today—including whether investors should consider selling. We also discuss his retirement plans and what he intends to do with his CPF savings when he turns 55. All this and more in our latest episode!

00:00 Intro

01:30 Hustling

04:01 Singapore banks vs REITs

12:40 View on Singapore banks now

16:40 Sell Singapore banks?

21:32 Peace of mind

25:08 Retirement

29:17 CPF at 55

34:33 Investing in the age of social media

Vanguard’s new global ETF, VALU, launched in August 2026—but how does it stack up against the popular VWRA? In this episode, we compare their holdings, assets under management, expense ratios, and other key features. We also explore VALU’s small-cap exposure, whether it could make a meaningful difference to long-term returns, and the big question for existing VWRA investors: Is VALU compelling enough to make the switch? All this and more in our latest episode!

Grab CEO Anthony Tan has invested nearly US$30 million of his own money in Grab shares—but should investors follow his lead? In this roundtable, we examine what insider buying may signal, assess Grab’s mobility, delivery and fintech businesses, and explore whether the company can achieve sustainable profitability amid cut-throat competition. We also discuss Grab’s financial performance and key risks before sharing our thoughts on whether Grab stock, at its current valuation, are worth considering.

After navigating a difficult period of slowing growth and cost-cutting, Sea Limited has staged an impressive business comeback—but can it sustain the momentum and unlock its next phase of growth? In this roundtable, we take a closer look at Sea’s three core businesses (Garena in digital entertainment, Shopee in e-commerce and Monee in digital financial services) to assess their growth prospects and competitive positions. We also explore the opportunities ahead, the key risks investors should watch, and whether Sea’s current valuation offers an attractive entry point for long-term investors. All this and more in our latest episode!

Is financial independence becoming unaffordable in Singapore? In this roundtable, we compare median household incomes with HDB and car prices in 2005 and 2025 to examine whether Singaporeans are genuinely finding it harder to get ahead—or whether our expectations and lifestyles have also changed. We explore how rising living costs and lifestyle inflation can make financial independence feel increasingly out of reach, before discussing what financial independence truly means and whether it remains a realistic goal for the average Singaporean today. All this and more in our latest episode!

00:00 Intro

00:50 Housing, cars, salaries

05:32 Why does it feel unaffordable?

10:43 Inflation

12:26 Financial independence

18:00 Comparison

How much debt should you actually have? And is becoming completely debt-free always the best goal? In this episode, we examine property loans using the 3-3-5 rule and discuss whether it makes sense to borrow for home renovations, cars and education. We also explore when car debt might be justified, why some people prefer the security and freedom of owing nothing at all, and how to strike the right balance between using debt and building wealth. All this and more in our latest episode!

Does spending more time researching investments actually lead to better returns—or simply more stress? In this roundtable, we explore the "Return on Effort", a hidden metric that could change how you invest. We examine why successful investing is often more about managing yourself than constantly managing your portfolio, and why doing nothing can sometimes be the smartest move. Finally, we discuss how to choose an investing approach that delivers satisfactory returns while fitting your time, temperament and lifestyle. All this and more in our latest episode!

The Johor Bahru–Singapore RTS Link promises faster, easier cross-border travel—but could it divert Singapore’s retail spending across the Causeway? We examine how the RTS may change shopping habits, which Singapore malls and retail S-REITs could be most exposed, and whether increased spending by Malaysian visitors could offset some of the impact. We take a closer look at Frasers Centrepoint Trust, Lendlease Global Commercial REIT, CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust, Starhill Global REIT and Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust—and whether investors should avoid these REITs or view any market weakness as an opportunity. All this and more in our latest episode!00:00 Intro

00:56 RTS

03:53 Impact on SG retail

14:28 Regional impact

16:31 Impact on retail S-REITs

17:21 Frasers Centrepoint Trust

18:33 Lendlease Global Commercial REIT

19:28 CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust

20:11 Starhill Global REIT

20:30 Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust

21:10 Factors to consider

24:16 What to do as an investor

27:42 Sheng Siong

How should you invest when markets are volatile and uncertainty is high? When prices are swinging sharply and headlines are changing daily, it can be difficult to know whether to buy, sell or simply stay on the sidelines. In this discussion, we break down the key factors investors should consider when evaluating opportunities, managing risk and positioning their portfolios during unpredictable markets. Tune in as we share practical perspectives on staying disciplined, avoiding emotional decisions and investing with greater confidence amid uncertainty.
00:00 Intro

00:57 Key factors

01:22 Business model

05:42 Balance sheet

06:49 Allocation

The KOSPI more than doubled in 2026 before plunging 40%—but what drove this extraordinary boom-and-bust cycle? We unpack three key factors that fuelled the spectacular rally and magnified the subsequent crash, while examining the role of volatility, investor sentiment and leverage in the market. With KOSPI valuations now significantly lower, is this an attractive buying opportunity, or could the market have further to fall? Finally, we also discuss whether Singapore’s similarly top-heavy Straits Times Index could ever face the same risks and scenario. All this and more in our latest episode!00:00 Intro

01:07 KOSPI rise & fall

04:13 Leveraged ETFs

05:55 Volatility

09:45 Bubble

13:41 Opportunity?

17:41 Allocation

18:15 Semiconductor cycle

19:21 Leverage in the system

23:35 STI concentration