MONEY FM 89.3 - Your Money With Michelle Martin

With fresh graduates in Singapore facing a tougher job market, is entrepreneurship a realistic alternative - or a much bigger risk than it appears? Lance Alexander speaks with Adrian Yeo, Director & Co-Founder, Feel Fresh , about choosing entrepreneurship over a full-time job, starting a business with a secondary-school friend and building an oral-care brand without external funding. Adrian shares why he became an entrepreneur, the personal story behind Feel Fresh, the financial risks involved and the toughest lessons from running a business. Plus, what should students and fresh graduates test before taking the plunge, and how can they tell whether entrepreneurship is right for them?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI stocks have swung sharply between fear and excitement. Is the pullback in chipmakers a buying opportunity, or are investors still expecting too much? Lance Alexander speaks with Arun Pai, Partner at Monk’s Hill Ventures, about what is driving the volatility and which businesses could face a real threat from AI. They also examine Costco’s latest results and the price investors are paying for its shares. Plus, with Nike’s earnings due after the interview, what would show that its turnaround is making progress?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lance Alexander speaks with Koh Yan Ping, CEO of the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO), about the challenges women in Singapore face when returning to work after a career break. Drawing on SCWO’s study, Women and Work Transitions, they examine why women leave the workforce, how employers view gaps in a CV, and why knowing about government support schemes does not always lead to a job. How do the challenges differ for new mothers and older women returning after years of caregiving? And what can employers and policymakers do to create more flexible and sustainable career paths for women?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lance Alexander speaks with Yee Shen Hao, Financial Services Manager and co-founder of The Wealth Stewards Group at PhillipCapital, about how investors should assess the performance of their investment portfolios. Is comparing your returns with the Straits Times Index or S&P 500 always useful? What should you measure beyond headline returns, and how can you tell the difference between normal underperformance and a strategy that needs to change? They also discuss choosing the right investment benchmark, accounting for risk, fees, inflation and currency movements, and whether your portfolio remains on track to meet your financial goals.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lance Alexander speaks with Dr Tan Ru San, Senior Consultant, Department of Cardiology, National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS), about the critical weeks after a heart attack and why leaving hospital does not mean the danger has passed. Why should LDL cholesterol be checked again within four to six weeks? How low should “bad” cholesterol go, and what happens if a patient is still not meeting the target? They also discuss the risk of a second heart attack, the role of medication and lifestyle changes, and what patients should do if they experience side effects or have concerns about their treatment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lance Alexander speaks with Cheng Chye Hsern, Head of Investment, Providend, about the US Federal Reserve’s latest interest rate hike and where rates could be heading next. With Singapore T-bill yields rising, should investors be parking more cash in T-bills, what are the risks, and what other options are worth considering? They also examine what higher interest rates mean for Singapore REITs and the three local banks - DBS, OCBC and UOB. Should investors rethink their holdings? Plus, why has gold come under pressure despite persistent inflation, and does it still deserve a place in investors’ portfolios?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is the recent market turbulence creating buying opportunities? Michelle Martin looks at Bank of America’s call on Nvidia and other stocks it believes are now attractively priced, as bond-market warning signals loom over a new trading week. Plus, the battle for the obesity-drug market intensifies as Novo Nordisk searches for its next growth chapter against Eli Lilly, while another pharma stock rockets on an injectables deal with the Wegovy maker. In Up or Down, why has Microsoft climbed back to its highest close of 2026, why did the launch of the long-awaited Tesla Semi fail to excite investors, and what are insider buying and a bigger share-buyback programme telling us about Singapore-listed Nam Cheong and Seatrium? And in the Last Word: Avengers: Endgame returns to cinemas - and seven years later, Earth's mightiest heroes are back on top at the box office.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore declared war on diabetes a decade ago, yet the condition still affects around one in eleven adults, while rising obesity adds to concerns about Type 2 diabetes. Michelle Martin speaks with Dr Anuradha Negi, Senior Consultant Endocrinologist at the Aspen Diabetes & Endocrine Clinic, about what everyone should understand about Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, who is most at risk, and the practical steps that can help prevent or better manage the condition. They also examine the growing role of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). How much more can a sensor reveal compared with a finger-prick test? Who benefits most from having glucose readings throughout the day? And with CGM currently subsidised in Singapore for eligible patients with Type 1 and certain rarer forms of diabetes, could some people with Type 2 diabetes benefit from wider access? Plus, Dr Negi explains the limitations of CGM, when traditional glucose testing may still be necessary, and what good diabetes management looks like beyond medication.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CPF savings in the Special, MediSave and Retirement Accounts will continue to enjoy a 4% interest rate floor until the end of 2027. But what does that mean for the money you have outside CPF? Michelle Martin speaks with Elijah Lee, Senior Financial Services Manager at Phillip Securities, about how investors should weigh CPF’s relatively attractive returns against liquidity and the potential for higher investment returns elsewhere. They discuss whether CPF should be viewed as part of your overall portfolio, whether having a secure CPF base gives you room to take more risk outside it, and why comparing CPF’s 4% directly with REIT, dividend-stock or bond yields can be misleading. Plus, when might investing your CPF savings make sense, how should the equation change as you approach 55, and who should think twice before locking more money away in CPF?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Forget AI stocks for a moment — some of Asia’s biggest gains are coming from shipping, with TS Lines, SITC International and Mitsui OSK Lines surging as freight rates climb. Michelle Martin examines whether the rally has further to run. Also on Market View: Meta rolls out a new generation of AI devices as its Muse agent runs into resistance from Amazon; Wall Street retreats as bond yields bite; and it’s Up or Down on Palantir, McDonald’s and Keppel REIT. Plus, what could a potential StarHub-M1 deal mean for StarHub, Keppel and the future shape of Singapore’s telecom market?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when significant wealth arrives before you feel ready to manage it? Whether through an inheritance, divorce settlement, the death of a spouse or the sale of a business, suddenly taking responsibility for substantial assets can be as emotionally challenging as it is financially complex. Michelle Martin speaks with Stephen Davies, CEO and founder of Javelin Wealth Management, about why the first move may be to do nothing, what to prioritise in the first month, and the question he asks before talking investments: “What’s it all for?” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do we behave the way we do — and why do certain patterns keep showing up in our relationships, work and lives? The Enneagram describes nine personality types, each shaped by different motivations, fears and desires. Michelle Martin explores what the Enneagram can reveal about our blind spots, how we respond under stress, and whether understanding what drives us can help us grow beyond our habitual patterns.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI spending is exploding — and the money is moving across chips, data centres, banks and consumer technology. Michelle Martin looks at Alibaba’s sweeping AI ambitions, Jamie Dimon’s US$1 trillion hyperscaler spending forecast, UOB’s play on AI financing and Meta’s new AI agent. Plus, what’s moving Lennar, Peloton, Apple and India’s National Stock Exchange — and would you trust an AI agent to shop and spend your money?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As artificial intelligence makes information instantly accessible, what should children actually be learning? Michelle Martin speaks with Parvin Kaur, Center Director of Growing Up Gifted, about why academic knowledge alone may not be enough, what “higher-order thinking” looks like in a preschooler, and how teaching methods traditionally associated with gifted education can be used with children of different abilities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Government bond yields are climbing, with the US 10-year Treasury recently crossing 5% — painful for existing bondholders, but potentially offering more attractive income for new investors. So are bonds becoming a better opportunity, or are higher yields warning of greater risks ahead? Michelle Martin speaks with Thu Ha Chow, Head of Fixed Income Asia at Robeco, about what is driving the bond sell-off, where she sees opportunities across fixed income, how to think about duration and currency risk, and whether investors should choose individual bonds, bond funds or ETFs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The end of an era at Berkshire Hathaway: Warren Buffett steps down as chairman after more than six decades, with his son Howard taking the chair. But could one of Buffett’s favourite trades — Japan’s five great trading houses — offer investors a way to continue following his playbook? Michelle Martin breaks down why the yen fell even after the Bank of Japan raised rates to a 31-year high, and reveals which major Asian economy now has even lower interest rates than Japan. Then it’s Up or Down: Kylian Mbappé leaves Nike for On, a Wendy’s franchisee files for bankruptcy protection, Disney appoints its first CTO, Google’s Gemini raises fresh AI security concerns, and Nestlé faces mounting risks in Russia. Plus, why Goldman Sachs sees close to 30% upside for ST Engineering — and how Resident Evil just scared up a franchise-record opening at the box office.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Events like Hyrox are drawing a new generation into high-intensity competition. But being able to run fast, lift heavy or boast an impressive VO₂ max doesn’t necessarily mean your heart is healthy. So how do you know whether your heart is actually ready for strenuous exercise? Michelle Martin speaks with Dr Bharat Vashdev Khialani, Consultant Cardiologist, Department of Cardiology, NHG Heart Institute, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, about the difference between fitness and heart health.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US Treasury yields have crossed 5% — so is this finally the moment to lock in attractive bond income, or could yields still climb from here? Michelle Martin speaks with Swapnil Mishra, author of Investing for the Clueless, Reckless and Overly Cautious, about where he sees opportunity across short and long-duration bonds, and why Singapore’s booming bond market is giving local investors more choices. They also unpack an unusual market puzzle: why are gold and the US dollar attracting investors at the same time? And after gold’s big run, are new buyers purchasing protection — or simply chasing performance? Plus, what should investors make of AI leaders themselves calling for greater caution?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Fed has raised rates, but markets are rallying as oil prices and bond yields ease. Could the rate hike also provide a much-needed boost to Singapore banks — and why might UOB emerge as a bigger beneficiary? On Market View, Michelle Martin examines what the changing rate environment means for Singapore banking stocks and whether Wall Street's best day in six weeks has legs. Then it's UP or DOWN: Jensen Huang says Nvidia could sell twice as many chips next year — can the stock keep delivering? Is Zscaler an overlooked cybersecurity opportunity? And could relaxed rules for conservation shophouses unlock new value at Boat Quay? Plus, Pokémon turns 30. Michelle looks at how Pikachu and friends became a multibillion-dollar nostalgia machine — and why Pokémon cards are still attracting serious money three decades later.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Human beings can split the atom, engineer artificial intelligence and peer billions of years into the history of the cosmos. But has our wisdom kept pace with our capabilities? In Eleven Seconds Before Midnight: Humanity, the Cosmos, and the Species We Must Become, Dr. Farshad Shishehchian argues that humanity needs to look beyond the divisions of nationality, culture and ideology and learn to cooperate as a species. The book places our brief existence against the vast scale of a 13.8-billion-year-old universe, while exploring threats ranging from AI and climate change to pandemics and nuclear weapons. What can the cosmos teach us about being human? Why, despite extraordinary scientific progress, do tribal divisions remain so powerful? And can curiosity, open-mindedness and global cooperation help close the gap between what humanity can do and what it is wise enough to do? Michelle Martin speaks with Dr. Farshad Shishehchian, CEO of Blue Aqua International and author of Eleven Seconds Before Midnight: Humanity, the Cosmos, and the Species We Must Become.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A polished presentation, an impressive property and the promise of an 8%, 10% or even 15% return — but do you actually know what you're buying and where those returns are coming from? Recent investment controversies involving Singaporeans are a reminder that a real property or business can sit behind an investment and still leave investors nursing substantial losses. So what questions should you ask before transferring a single dollar? Michelle Martin speaks with Daniel Sim, Founder of Golden Goose Properties, about why even sophisticated investors can get caught, the warning signs to watch for and the five questions he believes every investor should ask before committing their money.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S-REITs have raised at least S$4.5 billion in equity funding this year, while average distribution yields of around 6.2% continue to tempt income investors. But after years of weak capital performance, are investors still being paid to wait—or overlooking deteriorating assets and balance sheets? Michelle Martin speaks with Kenny Loh, REIT Specialist and Wealth Advisory Director, about where he would average down, which headline yields may be value traps, whether banks and bonds now offer better income, and if data-centre REITs provide genuine exposure to the AI boom.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michelle Martin unpacks Kevin Warsh’s first Federal Reserve rate hike and Donald Trump’s response, before examining what it could mean for the yen, the Bank of Japan and the Bank of England. Also in focus: why Lumentum and Coherent led the S&P 500, Amazon’s Generac deal, Anthropic’s Singapore expansion and Salesforce’s US$63 billion target. Plus, Boeing’s 737 Max delays, Metrocon’s Catalist debut and ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming overtaking Gautam Adani as Asia’s richest person.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than nine in ten respondents to the Caregiving Welfare Association’s ongoing survey have experienced—or expect to experience—caregiver overwhelm. Yet guilt, family expectations and the fear that nobody else can provide the same care often stop caregivers from taking a break. Michelle Martin speaks with Steven Yeo, Executive Director of the Caregiving Welfare Association, about recognising burnout, balancing employment with caregiving, preparing someone else to step in and making respite a normal, planned part of care. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grab makes a US$1.5 billion bet on Atome, while Nvidia’s Jensen Huang pushes back against calls to slow AI development. Michelle Martin unpacks what it means for investors, plus the pressure from US$100-plus oil and rising bond yields, a setback for crypto stocks, record oil-shipping costs and Metrocon’s market debut. And in the Last Word: Apple’s next wave of products.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Healthcare decisions are made for patients — but how often are they made with them? Michelle Martin speaks with Ann Single, CEO of the Patient Voice Initiative and President of HTAi, about what meaningful patient involvement looks like, whether it can lead to better healthcare decisions, and what Singapore can do to put patient voices at the heart of its healthcare system.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is one of the market’s biggest investment narratives starting to shift? Michelle Martin speaks with Alvin Chow, Co-founder of Dr Wealth, about calls to slow frontier AI development, the surge in cybersecurity stocks and where the next AI winners could emerge. They also unpack the Fed’s rate decision, inflation and oil risks, before putting McDonald’s and Tencent under the spotlight.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could the next big AI trade be protecting us from AI itself? Michelle Martin looks at the surge in CrowdStrike and Palo Alto Networks as cybersecurity stocks emerge as beneficiaries of growing fears over increasingly powerful AI. Then, JPMorgan makes a bullish call on IREN as the former Bitcoin miner reinvents itself as an AI data-centre player. Plus, what oil above US$100 and rising bond yields mean ahead of the Fed; why ByteDance and a US tungsten producer are up; Bank of America slides; and could S-REITs finally offer investors an “oasis of calm”? And in the Last Word: BTS agency BigHit Music is coming to Singapore in search of its next male K-pop star.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Nvidia just one slice of a much bigger AI investment story? CEO Jensen Huang describes artificial intelligence as a five-layer cake: energy, chips, infrastructure, models and applications. Michelle Martin speaks with Brandon Ho, CFA, Head of Investment Advisory Singapore, to unpack where companies including Constellation Energy, TSMC, Broadcom, Micron, Microsoft, Alphabet, Palantir and ServiceNow fit within the stack. Which layers are already translating AI demand into revenues and profits? Where are valuations relying heavily on future expectations? And can spreading investments across the five layers really diversify AI exposure — or are they ultimately all riding the same spending boom?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore’s rise is often described as an economic miracle. But was it really a miracle —what is the secret to Singapore's economic success? Michelle Martin speaks with Keen Meng Choy, professor of economics and economic history and co-author of The Economic History of Singapore, the first comprehensive economic history of Singapore stretching back to the 14th century. Which competitive advantages have endured, and can they survive deglobalisation, geopolitical rivalry, AI and an ageing population? From the sectors that could drive Singapore’s next reinvention to the risks investors may be underestimating, discover what 700 years of history can tell us about where Singapore creates wealth next.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could artificial intelligence become too powerful to control? Michelle Martin examines warnings from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and the growing debate in Washington over whether AI development needs stronger safeguards. Then, Bank of America sees a potential US$30 billion opportunity for Marvell as AI infrastructure expands, while escalating Middle East tensions push oil above US$100 a barrel. Plus, what investors should watch from the Fed and Bank of Japan this week, and why Dell, Chinese healthcare, Keppel and UOB are up - while Singtel is down. Finally, Practical Magic 2 casts a spell over the North American box office. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can breathing pure oxygen under pressure help us heal — or even age better? Michelle Martin speaks with Dr Gerard Ee, Founder and Medical Director of The Clifford Clinic, to unpack the science behind hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). They explore what actually happens inside a hyperbaric chamber, the medical conditions HBOT is used to treat, and what the evidence says about claims around longevity, recovery and maintaining physical ability. Dr Ee also explains the crucial differences between medical hyperbaric chambers and the soft-shell “oxygen pods” appearing in wellness studios, the risks consumers should know about, and the questions to ask before paying for a session. Plus: the health and fitness measurements that may tell us more about how well we’re ageing — and one practical thing we can do now to live well for longer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’re living overseas for a few weeks or months, what’s the smartest way to pay without carrying a wallet full of cards — or wiping out the value of your miles with foreign-currency fees? Michelle Martin speaks with Tim Phillips, Founder of TimTalksMoney, about building a simple two- or three-card strategy for spending abroad. They unpack when 4-miles-per-dollar cards really deliver, the spending caps to watch, and when a multi-currency card may actually leave you better off. From flights and accommodation to groceries, transport, rent and ATM withdrawals, find out which card to reach for — and why you should almost always choose local currency when a merchant offers to charge you in Singapore dollars.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are consumers falling out of love with Lululemon’s famous leggings? Shares plunged after disappointing earnings and a weaker outlook - but the bigger question is whether fashion itself has moved on. Meanwhile, DBS analysts see a stronger yield opportunity in S-REITs than Singapore bank dividends. What has changed in the income equation? Michelle Martin also looks at what falling US bond yields mean for tech stocks before playing Up or Down on Nvidia’s US$12.9 billion Hugging Face acquisition, SpaceX’s return to the US$2 trillion club and Volkswagen’s plan to cut 50,000 jobs. Plus, why is the Dutch central bank moving part of its gold reserves away from the US - and does it tell us anything about changing perceptions of geopolitical risk?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if we managed our health the way we manage our money - investing early, tracking risk and thinking about long-term returns? Functional nutritionist Jieun Wrigley of Rapid Nutrition Therapy says preventive-minded individuals are moving beyond conventional annual health screenings towards more detailed biomarkers, biological-age profiling and inflammation tracking. But which tests are genuinely useful, and which belong to the increasingly crowded world of wellness hype? On Live Well with Michelle, Jieun joins Michelle Martin to explore the idea of health as “biological capital”: what newer health panels can reveal, where she believes conventional screening may fall short, and how nutrition fits into a proactive approach to longevity. And for the busy, burnt-out professional who doesn't have hours a day to optimise their health, what actually moves the needle?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore’s housing market could be entering a new phase. The BTO household income ceiling is rising to S$16,000, while the Executive Condominium ceiling moves to S$18,000 - potentially widening the pool of households eligible for public and subsidised housing. At the same time, thousands of new BTO flats are coming onto the market, with a growing number of HDB flats reaching their Minimum Occupation Period in the years ahead. Could more supply finally shift some bargaining power back to buyers? And should someone planning to buy over the next year or two move now - or wait? Looking further ahead, could Long Island eventually do for the East Coast what reclamation once did for Marine Parade? Michelle Martin speaks with Ivan Cai, Chairman of Crestbrick, about whether Singapore’s housing ladder is being reshaped, where demand could intensify, what greater supply could mean for resale and private property prices, and the decisions prospective home buyers should be thinking about now.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Singapore still the world’s busiest port - or does it depend on what you’re measuring? Michelle Martin looks at Singapore’s place in global shipping as Ningbo-Zhoushan overtakes it on container volumes. Then, could financing become the next constraint on the AI boom? Barclays warns Asian banks may be reaching their lending limits on data centres, even as Singapore-based firms dominate regional fundraising. Plus, why Nvidia is putting US$3.5 billion into MediaTek, why analysts see Dell benefiting from both Nvidia and SpaceX, and what rising oil prices mean as Wall Street enters its historically difficult month of September. In Up or Down: Amazon, Microsoft and OpenAI, Victoria Beckham Holdings, Mapletree Industrial Trust and Frasers Property.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two people with the same cancer diagnosis might actually need completely different treatments. Here is where digital diagnostics can make a difference. Michelle Martin speaks with Arun Krishna, Area Vice President, Asia at AstraZeneca, about why diagnostic gaps remain a major challenge across the region and where AI can step in. On Live Well with Michelle, listen for a fascinating discussion on how digital diagnostics could reshape the future of healthcare in this part of the worldSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For much of 2026, investors have been waiting for US interest rates to fall. After Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh’s hawkish Jackson Hole debut, should they be preparing for another hike instead? Michelle Martin speaks with Simon Ree, Founder of Tao of Trading, about what Warsh’s inflation-first message could mean for the Fed’s next move, why Christopher Waller could provide the next important signal, and where a renewed higher-rate environment could hit Treasuries, the US dollar, equities and the Singapore dollar. Plus, why does Simon like the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV), what are the risks, and why might Singapore investors consider the Ireland-domiciled IUHC instead?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Musk-Altman rivalry takes another turn as OpenAI moves to cut off its models from SpaceX-owned Cursor. Michelle Martin looks at what the clash could mean for competition in AI. Closer to home, ComfortDelGro lands a major Copenhagen Metro contract - could it give the stock a much-needed lift? Plus, CXMT reports booming sales, corn and wheat prices surge, GuocoLand’s profit tumbles and Petronas delivers stronger first-half numbers. And as Wall Street closes out a winning August, has Fed Chair Kevin Warsh just put a September rate hike firmly back on the table? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you have high standards, a strong sense of right and wrong - and an inner critic that rarely takes the day off? You may recognise some traits of Enneagram Type 1, often called the Perfectionist. Michelle Martin speaks with Cindy Leong, Founder of The Enneagram Academy, about what really drives Type 1s, why their desire to improve things can sometimes sound like criticism, and what they need from the people closest to them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Enter the moneyverse with Michelle and her guest who explains that there are invisible rules to the systems that generate and perpetuate wealth and economies we all need to understand. Why can you know how to budget, save and invest - and still struggle to get ahead? Michelle Martin speaks with Lionel Lee, author of Into the Moneyverse: The Real World of Money and Why Financial Literacy Alone Won’t Save You, about the difference between financial literacy and “money literacy”. Plus, how can you move from being a passive player in the "moneyverse" to Active Player 1? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.