Ever wondered how life stacks up for working professionals in the UK versus Singapore?

From student loans and taxes to housing, healthcare, and retirement — we’re breaking down what financial life really looks like on both sides.

Joining us is Ali Zafar, Founder of LifeSmart Financial Literacy, who flew in from the UK to study how Singaporeans handle money.

Unpack:

- What everyday financial life feels like for a UK working professional

- Why some grads start off S$100,000 in debt before even working

- The real cost of “free healthcare” and what taxes actually buy you

- How CPF compares to the UK’s system — and which one *actually* works better

- The surprising personal story that pushed Ali to start teaching financial literacy through games

Is the grass greener on the other side?

Tune in to find out — because this episode might just change how you see your own paycheck.

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🎧 The Financial Coconut:

Your weekly source for empowering financial knowledge and unlocking possibilities. We explore personal finance, investing, and entrepreneurship to help you build a richer life. Join us as we explore personal finance, investing and more.

Get ready to take control of your financial future and live your best life, financially wise: https://linkin.bio/thefinancialcoconut

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⚠️ Disclaimer:

The content discussed in this episode is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. The information provided is based on our understanding at the time of recording and may not reflect the current regulations or market conditions. The opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily represent those of The Financial Coconut. Please do your due diligence before making any investment or financial decisions.

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The F&B game in Singapore has never been tougher — soaring costs, demanding diners, and trends that change overnight. So how do you stay relevant when everyone’s fighting for the same customer?

Reggie and Amir sit down with two industry powerhouses who’ve built and rebuilt success from scratch:

Meet the Guests:

- Sarissa Rodriguez-Schwartz – CEO, SJS Group, a New Yorker-turned-Singaporean restaurateur who’s redefining what “value” means in dining.

- Andrew Ing – COO, OUE Restaurant Group, managing icons like Chatterbox, Hanen, and Délifrance. A veteran who’s spent 40 years shaping how Singapore eats, drinks, and connects.

Learn:

- Why the middle ground in dining is vanishing fast.

- The art of charging more — and still making customers happy.

- How to create experiences people can’t stop talking about.

- What truly keeps a restaurant brand alive in 2025.

It’s real talk from operators who’ve weathered every storm — and they’re not sugarcoating it.

Tune in to learn what it really takes to stay relevant in the restaurant business in 2025 and beyond.

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🎧 The Financial Coconut:

Your weekly source for empowering financial knowledge and unlocking possibilities. We explore personal finance, investing, and entrepreneurship to help you build a richer life. Join us as we explore personal finance, investing and more.

Get ready to take control of your financial future and live your best life, financially wise: https://linkin.bio/thefinancialcoconut

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⚠️ Disclaimer:

The content discussed in this episode is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. The information provided is based on our understanding at the time of recording and may not reflect the current regulations or market conditions. The opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily represent those of The Financial Coconut. Please do your due diligence before making any investment or financial decisions.

Help us get to know you better: http://bit.ly/thefinancialcoconut-survey

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Thinking about quitting your job… but without a backup plan? 🤔

Before you take the leap, you’ll want to hear this.

We sat with Pui Wah Loh, Former Director of the NTU Career & Attachment Office (CAO), a veteran with over 40 years of experience in employability, higher education, and career consulting. He has worked with thousands of graduates and professionals and now runs his own consultancy, keeping close to the pulse of the job market.

Get answers on:

- Is taking a career break riskier now than it was 10 years ago?

- Why “underemployment” might be a bigger issue than unemployment.

- How AI and changing industries are reshaping the roles we think are safe.

- The one factor that could make or break your return to the workforce after a break.

And the big question: *Is there ever a “right time” to quit without a plan?*

Don’t miss this — your next career move might depend on it.

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🎧 The Financial Coconut:

Your weekly source for empowering financial knowledge and unlocking possibilities. We explore personal finance, investing, and entrepreneurship to help you build a richer life. Join us as we explore personal finance, investing and more.

Get ready to take control of your financial future and live your best life, financially wise: https://linkin.bio/thefinancialcoconut

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⚠️ Disclaimer:

The content discussed in this episode is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. The information provided is based on our understanding at the time of recording and may not reflect the current regulations or market conditions. The opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily represent those of The Financial Coconut. Please do your due diligence before making any investment or financial decisions.

Help us get to know you better: http://bit.ly/thefinancialcoconut-survey

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What does retirement really look like? For many, it’s slowing down. But for today’s guest, life only started getting more vibrant after she retired.

👉 From leaving a high-pressure corporate career in her 40s...

👉 To experimenting with side hustles and running her own café...

👉 To becoming a senior model and launching a fashion movement with a cause...

She’s proving that retirement doesn’t mean the end of your story – it can be the boldest chapter yet.

✨ Meet Yan Ong, founder of Fashion for Cancer SG, a senior model, entrepreneur, and self-proclaimed “grey influencer” redefining what it means to stay relevant, purposeful, and full of colour in later life.

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s possible to reinvent yourself, find joy in unexpected places, or just break out of the retirement stereotype — this episode is one you don’t want to miss.

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🎧 The Financial Coconut:

Your weekly source for empowering financial knowledge and unlocking possibilities. We explore personal finance, investing, and entrepreneurship to help you build a richer life. Join us as we explore personal finance, investing and more.

Get ready to take control of your financial future and live your best life, financially wise: https://linkin.bio/thefinancialcoconut

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⚠️ Disclaimer:

The content discussed in this episode is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. The information provided is based on our understanding at the time of recording and may not reflect the current regulations or market conditions. The opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily represent those of The Financial Coconut. Please do your due diligence before making any investment or financial decisions.

Help us get to know you better: http://bit.ly/thefinancialcoconut-survey

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if your next big business move wasn’t in Singapore… but in Borneo? But what it is really like on the ground?

In this episode, we’ll unpack:

- Why Borneo might just be the next big space for entrepreneurs.

- The everyday hurdles — from supply chains to staffing — that outsiders rarely see.

- How to grow without losing the “human touch” in a tech-driven world.

- Why sustainability isn’t just a buzzword there — it’s survival.

Featuring:

- Janice Yeo – Managing Director, Borenos Sdn Bhd, the force behind Borenos Fried Chicken, who turned a hometown favorite into a rising F&B brand.

- William Hu – Founder, CEO & Group Director, NEX EcoVentures Sdn Bhd (899 Group), on building sustainable businesses in agriculture and beyond.

- David Wu – Minimalist in the City, Financial Coach.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in the grind here at home, this episode might just spark new ideas about where — and how — you could expand next.

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🎧 The Financial Coconut:

Your weekly source for empowering financial knowledge and unlocking possibilities. We explore personal finance, investing, and entrepreneurship to help you build a richer life. Join us as we explore personal finance, investing and more.

Get ready to take control of your financial future and live your best life, financially wise: https://linkin.bio/thefinancialcoconut

📍 LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE

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Get daily tips, insights, and community:

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Discover our other shows and deep dives on YouTube

⚠️ Disclaimer:

The content discussed in this episode is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. The information provided is based on our understanding at the time of recording and may not reflect the current regulations or market conditions. The opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily represent those of The Financial Coconut. Please do your due diligence before making any investment or financial decisions.

Help us get to know you better: http://bit.ly/thefinancialcoconut-survey

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever wondered if building your career overseas is really worth it—or if staying closer to home could actually give you more?

Join us with two remarkable guests who’ve lived the global career life, then made the bold decision to return home.

Here’s what you’ll hear:

• The real trade-offs between global roles abroad and regional success at home
• How family, identity, and balance shape major career decisions
• Surprising lessons about growth, discomfort, and redefining success
• What many professionals overlook when considering an overseas posting

Meet our guests:

• Chris Ngoi – Chief Strategy and Business Officer at Libeara (a Standard Chartered subsidiary); SMU Lecturer, with years of experience across Hong Kong, London, and Singapore.
• Hon Mun Yip – A veteran of both multinational corporations and Asian family businesses, with a career spanning five cities and industries from tech to farming, now a Coach, and NUS Adjunct Professor; Global Business Consultant

This isn’t just about careers—it’s about choices, trade-offs, and what really matters when life and work collide.

Tune in to hear their stories and insights that might just change the way you think about your own path.

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🎧 The Financial Coconut:

Your weekly source for empowering financial knowledge and unlocking possibilities. We explore personal finance, investing, and entrepreneurship to help you build a richer life. Join us as we explore personal finance, investing and more.

Get ready to take control of your financial future and live your best life, financially wise: https://linkin.bio/thefinancialcoconut

📍 LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE

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Get daily tips, insights, and community:

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Discover our other shows and deep dives on YouTube

⚠️ Disclaimer:

The content discussed in this episode is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. The information provided is based on our understanding at the time of recording and may not reflect the current regulations or market conditions. The opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily represent those of The Financial Coconut. Please do your due diligence before making any investment or financial decisions.

Help us get to know you better: http://bit.ly/thefinancialcoconut-survey

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

SSB rates are down. T-bills are down. Your cash is losing its mojo.

So, what’s the next move?

Everyone’s asking the same question:

“Where can I park my cash to get a better yield, without taking on huge risk?”

Join us as we crack the code on a smarter alternative. We’re talking about a fund designed for one job: to consistently beat cash.

Learn about:

- The exact trade-off: How much more risk for how much more yield?

- The 2022 Test: How it held up during the worst bond market in decades.

- The real-world fit: Is this for your emergency fund, house down-payment, or retirement pot?

With special guests, we get the institutional view on how to make your money work harder when interest rates are falling:

- Natalie Tan, Head of Wholesale SEA, Aberdeen Investments

- Amit Moudgil, Investment Specialist, Aberdeen Investments

- David Wu, Minimalist in the City, Financial Coach

Stop leaving returns on the table.

Listen to the full episode now.

Disclaimer: This content is produced in partnership with Aberdeen Investments for educational purposes. It discusses the abrdn SICAV I - Short Dated Enhanced Income Fund and is not financial advice. Investments in the Fund are subject to risks, including the possible loss of the principal amount invested. This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Investors should read the relevant prospectus and consult a financial adviser to ensure the Fund is suitable for their portfolio. For more information on Aberdeen Investments: https://www.aberdeeninvestments.com/en-sg/investor/investment-solutions/credit/short-dated-enhanced-income-fund

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🎧 The Financial Coconut:

Your weekly source for empowering financial knowledge and unlocking possibilities. We explore personal finance, investing, and entrepreneurship to help you build a richer life. Join us as we explore personal finance, investing and more.

Get ready to take control of your financial future and live your best life, financially wise: https://linkin.bio/thefinancialcoconut

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Discover our other shows and deep dives on YouTube

⚠️ Disclaimer:

The content discussed in this episode is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. The information provided is based on our understanding at the time of recording and may not reflect the current regulations or market conditions. The opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily represent those of The Financial Coconut. Please do your due diligence before making any investment or financial decisions.

Help us get to know you better: http://bit.ly/thefinancialcoconut-survey

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can popping a pill really make you feel like you’ve upgraded from a mid-tier phone to the latest flagship model? In this episode, one of us is skeptical… the other swears by it.

We unpack the booming longevity supplement space with two guests who are right in the thick of it:

- Dr. Eugene He – biotechnologist, naturopath, and CEO of Qurio Pte Ltd, on why he’s betting big on living beyond 120 (without looking it).

- Shantanu Kumar – Co-Founder and CEO of Xandro Lab, on going from broke founder to leading a Singapore-based supplement brand with global ambitions.

Expect debates, insider stories, and surprising truths about:

- The science behind longevity and what’s hype.

- Building a supplement brand in one of the most competitive industries.

- How livestreaming is rewriting the rules of selling health products.

If you’ve ever wondered whether longevity supplements are miracle fuel or just clever marketing — this is the episode you don’t want to miss.

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🎧 The Financial Coconut:

Your weekly source for empowering financial knowledge and unlocking possibilities. We explore personal finance, investing, and entrepreneurship to help you build a richer life. Join us as we explore personal finance, investing and more.

Get ready to take control of your financial future and live your best life, financially wise: https://linkin.bio/thefinancialcoconut

📍 LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE

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Get daily tips, insights, and community:

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⚠️ Disclaimer:

The content discussed in this episode is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. The information provided is based on our understanding at the time of recording and may not reflect the current regulations or market conditions. The opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily represent those of The Financial Coconut. Please do your due diligence before making any investment or financial decisions.

Help us get to know you better: http://bit.ly/thefinancialcoconut-survey

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thinking about switching careers, but unsure if leaving the stability of an MNC for a startup is the right move?

In this episode, we dive into:

- Why some mid-career professionals are pivoting to deep tech startups

- The surprising opportunities in Singapore’s growing innovation scene

- What it really takes to thrive in a startup environment compared to a corporate giant

- How structured training can bridge the skills gap for those looking to make the leap

Our Guests:

- Kang Ming Song, Manager, SGInnovate Power X, who oversees the PowerX program designed to help professionals transition into deep tech careers.

- Jeremy Leow, Cybersecurity, a mid-career professional who made the leap from MNC life into the startup world through PowerX.

If you’ve ever wondered whether a startup could be your next chapter — or how to future-proof your career in a rapidly changing tech landscape — this is one episode you don’t want to miss.

Learn more about the programme:

- PowerX Programme: bit.ly/3VslLdW

- Deep Tech Central: bit.ly/3Vpq9ub

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🎧 The Financial Coconut:

Your weekly source for empowering financial knowledge and unlocking possibilities. We explore personal finance, investing, and entrepreneurship to help you build a richer life. Join us as we explore personal finance, investing and more.

Get ready to take control of your financial future and live your best life, financially wise: https://linkin.bio/thefinancialcoconut

📍 LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE

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Discover our other shows and deep dives on YouTube

⚠️ Disclaimer:

The content discussed in this episode is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. The information provided is based on our understanding at the time of recording and may not reflect the current regulations or market conditions. The opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily represent those of The Financial Coconut. Please do your due diligence before making any investment or financial decisions.

Help us get to know you better: http://bit.ly/thefinancialcoconut-survey

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What would you do if you walked away from a six-figure corporate job in your 20s to completely reimagine your life?

We sit with Asher Chua, a former workaholic who traded quotas and endless sales calls for something entirely different. He’s experimented with side hustles, built his own consultancy, and even made some bold life decisions while juggling a wedding and buying a home.

Here’s a taste of what you’ll hear:

- Why he left the comfort of a high-paying tech sales career

- How he manages risk while building a solo business

- What financial milestones gave him the courage to quit

- The surprising role his partner played in shaping his journey

And beyond the numbers, Asher shares his vision for family, freedom, and what a "good life" in Singapore means to him.

Tune in to hear a candid story about money, mindset, and making big life changes.

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Welcome to The Financial Coconut, your source for empowering financial knowledge and unlocking possibilities. Join us as we explore personal finance, investing and more.

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Disclaimer: The content discussed in this episode is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. The information provided is based on our understanding at the time of recording and may not reflect the current regulations or market conditions. The opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily represent those of The Financial Coconut. Please do your due diligence before making any investment or financial decisions.

Help us get to know you better: http://bit.ly/thefinancialcoconut-survey

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.