The Financial Coconut Podcast

Would you buy an ETF just because it is cheaper, more tax-efficient and easier to access from Singapore?
With new UCITS ETFs coming to SGX, that choice is about to become much more relevant for local investors.
But convenience is only one part of the equation.
In this episode of Chills with TFC, Reggie, Dawn, Chuin Ting Weber and Kang Wei Chin unpack what investors should actually look at before choosing an ETF: the index underneath it, withholding tax, brokerage costs, bid-ask spreads, liquidity and whether “passive” really means passive.
They also get into a surprisingly important question: when an ETF says “World”, how much of the world are investors actually getting?
The ETF wrapper may look simple. What sits inside it can be very different.
So if two ETFs track similar markets, what matters most to you: lower fees, tax efficiency, easier access or broader diversification?
Watch the full conversation on YouTube.
#ChillsWithTFC #TheFinancialCoconut #SingaporeInvesting

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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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Help us get to know you better: http://bit.ly/thefinancialcoconut-survey
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A customer watched her live stream for SIX months before buying anything. The reason? "You're not someone that fly by night."
Dawn sits down with two homegrown Singapore care brand founders - to break down how small local players actually win in a market dominated by Korean giants and Western imports.
It's not bigger ad budgets. It's not paid magazine awards (those are scams - they tell you why). It's the founder showing up, every day, on TikTok Shop, on Telegram, at Artbox booths, until the trust compounds into customers who buy 38 times instead of once.
If you're building a brand in a saturated category, skincare, F&B, fashion, anything, the playbook is in here.
#TFCBusinessShow #SingaporeBusiness #FounderLed #Ecommerce #SmallBusinessSG #Skincare

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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
Spotify
Apple Podcast
YouTube

🔗 CONNECT WITH US
Get daily tips, insights, and community:
Instagram
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Whatsapp
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📺 MORE FROM OUR NETWORK
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.
Learn about our events
Help us get to know you better: http://bit.ly/thefinancialcoconut-survey
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At 24, Nicholas thought he was choosing between photography and film production.
Then he spent 36 hours in a concrete cell.
Lights on around the clock. Air-con blasting. Almost nothing except time to think. And one question kept coming back:
“Is this all my life is worth?”
The arrest didn’t instantly give him a new career. But it forced him to question the path he had spent years building. Then came another reality check: his four-year university degree cost about S$32,000, while just two days in hospital came to S$43,000. Seeing how his father’s financial planning helped him through that moment changed how he understood the work.
Nicholas eventually went from a decade in fine arts to financial consulting — carrying lessons from sport, art, relationships and one of the most difficult periods of his life into a completely different career.
Topics covered:
What happens when the career you studied for stops making sense
The arrest that left Nicholas in a cell for 36 hours
Why a pain-relief cream led to interrogation, a raid and arrest
Facing the possibility of major hip surgery at 24
The S$32K degree vs S$43K hospital bill that changed his perspective
Moving from fine arts and photography into finance
Starting a new career with almost no relevant technical background
Why freedom at work still requires discipline
How around 50 character references changed his view of relationships
Why trust became central to the way he works
How creative skills can still matter after a major career pivot
Why your career does not have to become your identity
Nicholas's advice to younger people: trust the process and bet on yourself
Practical, candid conversations on work, money, and everything in between. Like, follow, and subscribe to Wise & Shine for more.
#WiseAndShine #CareerPivot #CareerChange #SingaporeCareers #GenZCareers #TheFinancialCoconut

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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
Spotify
Apple Podcast
YouTube

🔗 CONNECT WITH US
Get daily tips, insights, and community:
Instagram
TikTok
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Whatsapp
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📺 MORE FROM OUR NETWORK
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.
Learn about our events
Help us get to know you better: http://bit.ly/thefinancialcoconut-survey
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most of us plan for the hospital bill.
But what happens if you cannot work for months… or even a year?
Daniel was chasing FIRE. Then cancer forced him to stop working… but not in the way he had planned.
At 34, Daniel found a lump after a 5km run. Nine days later, he was diagnosed with stage 2B Hodgkin lymphoma.
Six months of chemotherapy followed: 12 sessions, 13kg lost and a treatment bill of over $300,000.
His hospitalisation plan covered the treatment. His employer continued paying him for six months, while an early Critical Illness payout provided additional support.
The bigger lesson? Preparing for illness is not only about paying the hospital. It is also about buying yourself enough time to recover.
Prudential Singapore’s Health Gap Years poll found that 67% of respondents expected severe-stage critical illness recovery to take more than a year. Yet only 29% believed they had enough savings to get through it.
Daniel and medical oncologist Dr Hsieh Wen-Son join us to discuss the money, treatment and the difficult reality of life after a cancer diagnosis.
If you had to stop working tomorrow, how long could your finances last?
Brought to you in partnership with Prudential Singapore.

Disclaimer: This content is for general information only and is not medical or financial advice. Costs, recovery experiences and insurance coverage differ by person and policy. Speak to qualified healthcare and financial professionals before making any decisions.
#TheFinancialCoconut #ChillsWithTFC #Prudential #PrudentialSingapore #HealInYourHealthGapYears #CriticalIllness

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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
Spotify
Apple Podcast
YouTube

🔗 CONNECT WITH US
Get daily tips, insights, and community:
Instagram
TikTok
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Whatsapp
Newsletter

📺 MORE FROM OUR NETWORK
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.
Learn about our events
Help us get to know you better: http://bit.ly/thefinancialcoconut-survey
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For years, the credit card debate had two camps: Team Miles or Team Cashback.
Now, Trust Bank is adding a third contender, which is Stockback.
This week on Chills with TFC, Reggie sits down with Dawn from SG Budget Babe, personal finance YouTuber Demi Zhuang and Johnathan Chua from The Daily Ketchup Podcast to compare how they reward their spending.
Dawn reveals why becoming a mum pushed her from cashback to miles. Demi shares the surprisingly elaborate card strategy she uses while furnishing her new home. Johnathan knows firsthand how even a small oversight, like a forgotten S$17 Uber charge, can affect a credit score. Now he's gotten way past that and on track to shaping his financial health and freedom.
Then comes the big question: could everyday spending help more Singaporeans take their first step into investing?
With the Trust Freedom Card, you can now turn everyday spending into investing. Earn 3% Stockback on eligible purchases, and once your Stockback reaches S$10, it will be automatically invested into your chosen stock or ETF.
Would you choose cashback, miles or stocks?
Watch the full conversation on YouTube.
Sponsored by Trust Bank. This content including any mention of stocks or ETFs is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any investment product. Investments involve risk and may lose value. This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
3% Stockback in US Stocks and ETFs promo is valid until 31 Dec 2026. This will change to 2% Stockback on Local Eligible Spend and 0.5% Stockback on Foreign Eligible Spend from 1 Jan 2027.
T&Cs apply. Visit trustbank.sg for more info.

#TheFinancialCoconut #ChillsWithTFC #TrustBank #Stockback #CreditCardsSG #SingaporeFinance

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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
Spotify
Apple Podcast
YouTube

🔗 CONNECT WITH US
Get daily tips, insights, and community:
Instagram
TikTok
Telegram
Whatsapp
Newsletter

📺 MORE FROM OUR NETWORK
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.
Learn about our events
Help us get to know you better: http://bit.ly/thefinancialcoconut-survey
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.