Ringgit and Sense

Sim Wie Boon speaks to Wong Wai Ken, Malaysia Country Manager, for the robo advisor Stashaway about thematic investments. They'll be discussing why thematic investments have become more popular in the past two years, what are the risks and opportunities associated with thematic investing and how to assess a theme. Image credit: Unsplash.com

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As a result of Covid-19 related withdrawals, almost half of the EPF members have less than RM10,000 left in savings, and 3.6 million of them now have less than RM1,000. These shocking figures point towards the likelihood that Malaysia will experience a huge problem with a majority of its lower to middle income elderly living in poverty in the coming decade. So what do we need to do to address this issue? Sim Wie Boon speaks to Balqais Yusoff of EPF about the impact of Covid-19 on EPF withdrawals and the looming retirement crisis ahead. Image credit: Shutterstock.com

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The year is ending and it's time to look back and do some financial upkeep. What are the financial checklists you should cross off before we close the year off? Steve Lim of Affin Hwang Asset Management talks to Sim Wie Boon about this. Image credit: Shutterstock.com

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Do you remember your first car? What went into the decision to buy that specific car? Was it the price? The look? Or a decision made by your parents? Daniel Fernandez of dsf.my and BFM's Cruise Control talks to Sim Wie Boon about buying your first car and what should be the considerations to make when deciding to buy one. Image credit: Shutterstock.com

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A recent nation-wide survey conducted by Luno Malaysia aimed at understanding the financial management habits of everyday Malaysians found that more than half of Malaysians say the most important purpose of having money is to safeguard their family’s long-term well-being, meanwhile nearly a third of them were more inclined to seek financial advice from family members or peers compared to more professional sources. So how exactly do Malaysians view wealth? We find out on this episode of Ringgit and Sense. Image credit: Shutterstock

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Having a child can be expensive. Even before you lay eyes on that bundle of joy, you're probably already calculating the cost of seeing the doctor, having the baby, staying at the maternity ward and the post martum care itself. And that's just the first few months, what about when the kid grows up? Education, hobbies and whatnot will cost alot money. So where do you begin? How much do you have to save? In conjunction with World Children's Day happening on November 20, Sim Wie Boon speaks to licensed financial advisor Annie Hor on how to save for your child. 


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Budget 2022 is the largest budget to date at RM332.1 billion. According to the government, no sector has been left out and it will help each and every Malaysian. So what’s in it for you? What should you keep an eye out for? Thanneermalai Somasundaram of Thannees Tax Consulting Services explains.

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One of the toughest jobs in the world is being a parent, so it’s doubly hard as a single parent. Apart from work obligations, household chores, and looking after the kids, usually all of the financial burden falls on the single parent as well. So how would a single parent financially plan for the future?  Sim Wie Boon speaks to licensed financial planner Gunaseelan Kannan, from Blueprint Planning to get his thoughts on the matter.

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Have you ever been asked to be a guarantor for someone else’s loan? Often it is a partner or relative who asks, but nowadays it can also be friends or work colleagues. Usually it is difficult to refuse and you would be surprised at just how many of us often agree to be one without thinking of the long term consequences. Farah Razali of Zul Rafique & Partners shares some advice on the risks and consequences that comes with being a guarantor.

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It’s a wonderful thing to be able to say you are newly debt-free. Paying off your debt is like being handed a blank piece of paper on which to write the next chapter of your life. But while many of us aspire to be debt free, the reality is that most of us will have to live with debt until old age. Is this a bad thing though? How can you make debt work for you and live with it positively? What are the important factors to consider when in debt? Felix Neoh of Finwealth Management answers all these questions.

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