Being a trusted adviser to our affluent clients for over two decades, our wealth management philosophy—making life decisions before money decisions—is rooted in our experience of managing over S$1 billion worth of our clients’ hard-earned assets.

In this week’s Money Wisdom episode, our co-host Isaac chats with Chris about the importance of planning for the next generation of leaders at Providend, which began in 2021, outlining a 10-year roadmap and why this long runway is important.

Chris reflected on how the founding team has never quarrelled over money, which can be rare, and how they chose to decline offers from interested buyers, and how maximising wealth was never their primary goal. He explains how these principles underpin Providend’s Philosophy of Sufficiency and our core values.

You can read Chris’s article on this topic in The Business Times here.

Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

The host of this episode, Isaac Ong, is a Client Adviser at Providend, the first fee-only wealth advisory firm in Southeast Asia and a leading wealth advisory firm in Asia.

The full list of Providend’s Money Wisdom podcast episodes from Season 4 can be found here.

Did you know that our Providend’s Money Wisdom podcast is now available in video format on YouTube? Follow us on our YouTube channel for new episode on Thursday at 8pm.

“It’s not about the ability to retire but also how we utilise the time while we are on this planet. In the last three years, I was travelling with just one backpack. Every item I buy has to fit in that backpack. If I buy something new, it means that I have to give up something else.”

We are back with part two of our Providend Conversation with Jeshua, a 28-year-old who travelled during the COVID-19 pandemic to over 50 countries, navigating through the uncertainty of vaccinations, all while working remotely and keeping costs low.

In this episode, Jeshua opened up about his reasons for choosing to study at a polytechnic versus the junior college and university route and why he considered it a ‘shortcut’ in his filmmaking and creative journey.

Jeshua believes that education is really about learning, and for him, it’s less about being in a ‘branded’ education institution and having a certificate. He also shared how his parents reacted to the choices he made: “It wasn’t like I was going to drop out of school to do drugs or join a gang.” In fact, he considers himself to have graduated from the “university of life”.

His thoughts on ‘fitting everything into one backpack’ is truly a wonderful depiction of life and something for us to think about – what really matters to us and what we should or should not carry in our own ‘backpack’ in life and how to live the most meaningful life that we possibly can.

It has been a joy having Jeshua with us, and we hope you find his story as inspiring as we did.

Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

The host of this episode, Christopher Tan, is Chief Executive Officer of Providend, Singapore’s first fee-only wealth advisory firm and author of the book “Money Wisdom: Simple Truths for Financial Wellness”.

The full list of Providend’s Money Wisdom podcast episodes from Season 4 can be found here.

Did you know that our Providend’s Money Wisdom podcast is now available in video format on YouTube? Follow us on our YouTube channel for new episode on Thursday at 8pm.

Being a trusted adviser to our affluent clients for over two decades, Providend celebrates its 24th birthday this year, a milestone that reminds us just how far we’ve come!

In this special Money Wisdom episode, we sat down with three of our leaders: Christopher Tan (Group CEO), Moon Shary (Group COO & Executive Director), and Evelyn Goh (Deputy CEO & Chief Advisory Officer), to answer some of the most frequently asked (and Googled) questions about Providend.

From “Where is Providend located?” and “When did Providend start?” to broader questions such as “How is Providend still around?” and “Why is Providend so expensive?”, no topic was avoided. They also addressed questions on our fee structure, whether changes are anticipated, and the often-asked succession question: “Who will be Providend’s next CEO, COO, and Deputy CEO?”

Candid, light-hearted, and filled with insights, this episode is a rare behind-the-scenes look at what makes Providend who we are today, how far we’ve come in our journey, and our vision for the future.

As the leading fee-only wealth advisory firm in Asia, we celebrate this milestone with heartfelt gratitude to our clients for their trust and to our colleagues (our fellow bearies) for their dedication. Together, you have made Providend who we are today — a light in the financial world.

Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

The host of this episode, Christopher Tan, is Chief Executive Officer of Providend, Singapore’s first fee-only wealth advisory firm and author of the book “Money Wisdom: Simple Truths for Financial Wellness”.

The full list of Providend’s Money Wisdom podcast episodes from Season 4 can be found here.

Did you know that our Providend’s Money Wisdom podcast is now available in video format on YouTube? Follow us on our YouTube channel for new episode on Thursday at 8pm.

Mentioned in this episode:

Register for Our Providend's Heritage Webinar Today!

Providend is hosting an exclusive webinar where we’ll unpack what fee-only wealth advisory really means, why we chose this model when we started 24 years ago, and how to decide which advisory approach best suits your needs.

Get Our Money Wisdom II Book Today!

Some long-time listeners might know that the inspiration behind this entire podcast was our CEO, Chris’s book. We're proud to announce that we have launched our second edition of the book titled Money Wisdom II: More Simple Truths for Financial Wellness.

Welcome to the third episode of our Milestones by Decade mini-series! We’re excited to continue this journey with more insightful conversations with our Client Advisers. In each episode, we reflect on the lessons and advice they wish they’d received a decade ago, offering practical tips for navigating key milestones, from your 20s to your 50s.

As the leading fee-only wealth advisory firm in Asia, we’ve had the privilege of guiding clients from all walks of life at different stages for over two decades. In this mini-series, we hope to be able to impart both life and money wisdom to you, to inspire you and help you avoid costly mistakes.

In this episode, Amelia chats with Evelyn, one of Providend’s founding members and our Deputy CEO & Chief Advisory Officer, who is in her 50s. With heartfelt honesty, Evelyn opens up about the lessons, mindset shifts, and life choices she wishes she had known in her 40s. From balancing the demands of family and career, facing moments of burnout, to discovering the power of kindness to oneself and the importance of “yutori", that precious mental space we all need, this is one episode you wouldn't want to miss.

If you’re navigating your 40s or 50s, or supporting someone who is, this episode offers comforting insights and encouragement that remind us it’s okay to slow down, be kind to ourselves, and focus on what truly matters.

Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

The host of this episode, Amelia Wong, is the Senior Content & Digital Marketing Executive at Providend, the first fee-only wealth advisory firm in Southeast Asia and a leading wealth advisory firm in Asia.

The full list of Providend’s Money Wisdom podcast episodes from Season 4 can be found here.

Did you know that our Providend’s Money Wisdom podcast is now available in video format on YouTube? Follow us on our YouTube channel for new episode on Thursday at 8pm.

Mentioned in this episode:

Subscribe to Our Mailing List Today!

If you’re interested in getting more of our thought leadership contents, click this link to subscribe to our newsletter today: https://providend.com/#newsletter-subscribe

“Some of the guesthouses are closed due to the pandemic, so I had to pitch a tent along the road to stay a night.”

In this three-part episode, we are joined by Jeshua, a 28-year-old who travelled during the COVID-19 pandemic to over 50 countries, in a span of three years!

He navigated through the uncertainty of vaccinations and avoided quarantines & visa applications, all while he was working remotely and keeping costs low – with a total estimated spent of just US$3000.

Jeshua has always been a proponent of working remotely, and this travel-experience was simply an extension of his belief. In fact, he found it ‘abnormal’ to do what everyone else was doing. He shared: “The worse lesson we can pick up is that everything in life progresses in a sequence.”

Through his travels, he discovered that there are more ways to define success than by being rich, such as generosity and happiness. It is important how we view others in the community and look out for one another. “If we become so developed and neglect those around us, we have lost the plot!” This is indeed a good reminder on what living a meaningful life is all about – the people around us.

It has been a joy having Jeshua with us and we hope you find his story as inspiring as we did. Part 2 and Part 3 oof this interview will be published soon. So do keep a look out for it!

Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

The host of this episode, Christopher Tan, is Chief Executive Officer of Providend, Singapore’s first fee-only wealth advisory firm and author of the book “Money Wisdom: Simple Truths for Financial Wellness”.

The full list of Providend’s Money Wisdom podcast episodes from Season 4 can be found here.

Did you know that our Providend’s Money Wisdom podcast is now available in video format on YouTube? Follow us on our YouTube channel for new episode on Thursday at 8pm.

Welcome to the fifth episode of our miniseries on Finding Your Ikigai, where we invite a series of guests to explore what it truly means to live a good life, incorporating the concept of Ikigai alongside Providend’s Philosophy of Sufficiency. 

As trusted advisers to affluent clients for over two decades, we’ve always advocated that clients prioritise life decisions before financial ones. These life decisions are what we refer to as “Ikigai” decisions. 

In this episode, our Founder and CEO, Christopher Tan, sits down with two of his long time friends and army buddies, Han Kiat, an Associate Professor, and Maurice, an Accountant, to talk about all things ikigai and the role it plays in their lives. 

For Han Kiat and Maurice, choosing to serve in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) beyond the mandatory ten years was not just a commitment, it became their ikigai, a purpose they held closely for much of their early adult lives. Now as fathers, they reflect on their shared experiences, even as their sons serve in different vocations during their National Service. Does a different path diminish the value of their own ikigai? And how did they bridge the gap between those differences with their sons?

They reflected on how simple, ordinary moments, and being there for one another over the years, can become something deeply meaningful and also part of their ikigai.

You may find Han Kiat's full letter mentioned in the podcast here: https://providend.com/finding-ikigai-saf-fatherhood/

Through deep conversations with our advisers, you will gain clarity on what matters most in life and what needs to be done to live a good life, both financially and non-financially—with your Ikigai goals at the forefront of your wealth plan.

Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

The host of this episode, Christopher Tan, is Chief Executive Officer of Providend, Singapore’s first fee-only wealth advisory firm and author of the book “Money Wisdom: Simple Truths for Financial Wellness”.

The full list of Providend’s Money Wisdom podcast episodes from Season 4 can be found here.

Did you know that our Providend’s Money Wisdom podcast is now available in video format on YouTube? Follow us on our YouTube channel for new episode on Thursday at 8pm.

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Our Money Wisdom II Book Today!

Some long-time listeners might know that the inspiration behind this entire podcast was our CEO, Chris’s book. We're proud to announce that we have launched our second edition of the book titled Money Wisdom II: More Simple Truths for Financial Wellness.

“At some point in time, we see the higher purpose of why we are doing certain things.”

This reflection sets the tone for our latest episode, where we are glad to sit down with Terence Quek to hear about his journey to discovering his life purpose—and how he is living it out today.

As the leading fee-only wealth advisory firm in Asia, we’ve always believed that life decisions should come before money decisions—especially when it involves your hard-earned savings. Understanding what truly matters in life gives clarity to the financial decisions that follow.

Terence’s path took him from the navy to entrepreneurship. Today, he wears many hats: Founding Member and Director of Project Happy Feet, Master Associate and APAC CEO of Emergenetics, and CEO of the Singapore Institute of Directors—the list goes on. Yet, through all these roles, one thing remains constant: his desire to make a positive impact.

We hope you find his story as inspiring and meaningful as we did.

Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

The host of this episode, Christopher Tan, is Chief Executive Officer of Providend, Singapore’s first fee-only wealth advisory firm and author of the book “Money Wisdom: Simple Truths for Financial Wellness”.

The full list of Providend’s Money Wisdom podcast episodes from Season 4 can be found here.

Did you know that our Providend’s Money Wisdom podcast is now available in video format on YouTube? Follow us on our YouTube channel for new episode on Thursday at 8pm.

Welcome to the fourth episode of our miniseries on Finding Your Ikigai, where we invite a series of guests to explore what it truly means to live a good life, incorporating the concept of Ikigai alongside Providend’s Philosophy of Sufficiency.

As trusted advisers to affluent clients for over two decades, we’ve always advocated that clients prioritise life decisions before financial ones. These life decisions are what we refer to as “Ikigai” decisions.

In this episode, our Founder and CEO, Christopher Tan, has a chat with Choon Jin, an accountant by training whose career has spanned corporate mergers and acquisitions, insurance leadership, and regional consulting, before making the leap into entrepreneurship and reflecting on the role of balancing different 'Ikigais' in his life.

Choon Jin talks about how he began questioning what he truly wakes up for, leading to a career switch that better aligned with his values. He also shares that a turning point came when he had a heart attack while overseas, forcing him to confront not just his Ikigai at work, but also the need to prioritise another: his family.

Through deep conversations with our advisers, you will gain clarity on what matters most in life and what needs to be done to live a good life, both financially and non-financially—with your Ikigai goals at the forefront of your wealth plan.

Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

The host of this episode, Christopher Tan, is Chief Executive Officer of Providend, Singapore’s first fee-only wealth advisory firm and author of the book “Money Wisdom: Simple Truths for Financial Wellness”.

The full list of Providend’s Money Wisdom podcast episodes from Season 4 can be found here.

Did you know that our Providend’s Money Wisdom podcast is now available in video format on YouTube? Follow us on our YouTube channel for new episode on Thursday at 8pm.

Mentioned in this episode:

Download Investment eBook Today!

TBC

Legacy Beyond Wealth is a new podcast series by Providend that invites you into the heartfelt, often complex conversations behind legacy planning. In this series, we follow the story of Richard and Eva, successful business owners approaching retirement, now faced with tough questions: How can they distribute their assets wisely? How do they protect the legacy they’ve built? And most importantly, how do they preserve family harmony among their three children?

Being a trusted adviser to affluent clients for over two decades, Providend understands that true legacy planning is not just about transferring wealth. It is about passing down values, protecting relationships, and creating peace of mind for the next generation. Through this podcast, you’ll get a rare, behind-the-scenes look at real conversations between clients and their adviser.

In Episode 4, Client Adviser Chris and Lawyer Jacqueline reconvene with Richard and Eva to formalise the family trust and sign a carefully drafted Letter of Wishes. The session anchors months of planning in legally binding documents while articulating the couple’s guiding principles for future generations.

With the deed executed, Chris presents practical “living legacy” steps of storytelling, annual family trips, and mentoring, that embed those principles into daily life. Richard and Eva leave with a completed structure, clear next actions, and a renewed understanding that legacy extends beyond assets to the values that they hold dear.

At Providend, we believe good legacy planning should preserve not just wealth, but also relationships. It should offer clarity, not confusion. This is the final episode of this mini-series and we hope it sparks reflection and a deeper appreciation for what it truly means to leave a legacy.

Listen to the previous Episodes here: Episode 1, Episode 2 and Episode 3.

Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

The voice talents for this episode are Ray and Annette, Client Advisers, voicing Richard and Eva, our CEO, Christopher, voicing as their Client Adviser, and Jacquleine, voicing as the Lawyer, at Providend, the first fee only wealth advisory firm in Southeast Asia and a leading wealth advisory firm in Asia.

The full list of Providend’s Money Wisdom podcast episodes from Season 4 can be found here.

Did you know that our Providend’s Money Wisdom podcast is now available in video format on YouTube? Follow us on our YouTube channel for new episode on Thursday at 8pm.

Legacy Beyond Wealth is a new podcast series by Providend that invites you into the heartfelt, often complex conversations behind legacy planning. In this series, we follow the story of Richard and Eva, successful business owners approaching retirement, now faced with tough questions: How can they distribute their assets wisely? How do they protect the legacy they’ve built? And most importantly, how do they preserve family harmony among their three children?

Being a trusted adviser to affluent clients for over two decades, Providend understands that true legacy planning is not just about transferring wealth. It is about passing down values, protecting relationships, and creating peace of mind for the next generation. Through this podcast, you’ll get a rare, behind-the-scenes look at real conversations between clients and their adviser.

In Episode 3, Chris, the Client Adviser, meets with Jacqueline, the Lawyer, to refine the legacy plan for Richard and Eva by discussing the crucial role of the trustee. Their focus is on ensuring the trust funds are managed fairly and professionally to protect the family’s harmony and uphold their values.

Chris highlights the benefits of appointing a corporate trustee to avoid family conflicts, while Jacqueline explains the flexible trust supporting both children and elderly parents. After reviewing options based on service and fees, Richard and Eva choose their preferred trustee. The episode concludes with plans to draft legal documents and begin onboarding, moving their legacy plan forward.

At Providend, we believe good legacy planning should preserve not just wealth, but also relationships. It should offer clarity, not confusion. In each episode, you’ll hear how a thoughtful, values-based approach can bring peace of mind, not just for the clients, but for generations to come. 

Listen to the previous Episodes here: Episode 1 and Episode 2.

Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

The voice talents for this episode are Ray and Annette, Client Advisers, voicing Richard and Eva, our CEO, Christopher, voicing as their Client Adviser, and Jacquleine, voicing as the Lawyer, at Providend, the first fee only wealth advisory firm in Southeast Asia and a leading wealth advisory firm in Asia.

The full list of Providend’s Money Wisdom podcast episodes from Season 4 can be found here.

Did you know that our Providend’s Money Wisdom podcast is now available in video format on YouTube? Follow us on our YouTube channel for new episode on Thursday at 8pm.

Mentioned in this episode:

Download our RetireWell™ eBook Today!

Our popular RetireWell™ eBook has been updated! RetireWell™ is a methodology that Providend has developed to design a retirement income plan that will provide you with a safe and reliable stream of income for the rest of your life.