The Financial Coconut Podcast

Singapore's National Day Rally 2026 changed how family support works. In the past, families got a bigger payout for each additional child, more money for the second child, even more for the third. That system is gone. Every child now receives the same flat support each year, no matter their birth order.
Our guests explained why this matters more than the dollar amount itself: incentive-based payouts push people toward having more kids, while flat, universal support signals something different, that the government backs parenting itself, not a specific birth count.
The change does not fix everything.
Singles are still left out of the conversation, and policy moves faster than culture does.
Removing the incentive for "just one more child" may make the support feel more honest, but it also resets what people expect family policy to do.
Does support built on consistency actually change how Singaporeans plan families, or does the amount still matter most?

---

🎧 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.

Every Singapore business that outgrows Singapore looks north. Most stop at Johor. It's close, it's familiar, and anything further feels like a different order of decision. Sabah is three hours away and does not make the shortlist.
Closing that gap is now Kevin George Ukang's job. Five months into running Invest Sabah, after sixteen years inside a regional development authority, his pitch to Singapore SMEs is narrower than you'd expect: tourism, logistics and food processing, with cold chain the loudest gap of the three.
Hotels in Kundasang sell out while travellers are still looking for beds. Cold storage runs short in a state built on perishables. Foreign investors can hold full equity, though native title land stays off the table. None of that makes Sabah easy. It makes it early.
If you've been weighing where to grow next, has Sabah ever made your list, and what would put it there?
Explore STTOS's trade and investment support and watch the full episode on YouTube for the key insights.
#TheFinancialCoconut #STTOS #Sabah #SingaporeSME #InvestSabah #BusinessExpansion

---

🎧 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.

Everyone says Singapore stocks are going cheap. So one guest pulled the Bloomberg numbers before walking into the studio: small caps here trade at 13 times earnings on average. Hong Kong? About four. Malaysia, 11. Her verdict: not undervalued. "Fairly priced."
Meet Lawrence Loh, the NUS professor who has scored SGX-listed companies on governance for over a decade, and Hwee Li Ong, the SAC Capital CEO who takes companies to market. No sell-side spin, no vague optimism, no box-ticking. Just data, hard questions, and the odd coconut analogy.
In this Chills with TFC, they break down why large companies outscore small ones on governance every year without fail, why REITs top the governance scores year after year, and whether family-run firms deserve a place in your portfolio.
So which is it for you: are Singapore small caps cheap, or just bad at explaining themselves?

---

🎧 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.

Most investors love talking about equities.
But in a world of higher interest rates, geopolitical uncertainty, tariff risks, AI disruption, and shaky market narratives, fixed income may be more interesting than many people realise.
Natalie Tan, Head of Wholesale for Southeast Asia, and Nathaniel Wilson, Fixed Income Investment Specialist at Aberdeen Investments, break down how bonds, credit strategies, investment grade, high yield, emerging market debt, frontier bonds, and short-duration fixed income actually fit into a portfolio. Not as “boring stuff for retirees”, but as tools that can help investors manage volatility, generate income, and think more clearly about risk.
The big shift? Yields have reset higher. That means fixed income may no longer be just the defensive sidekick in your portfolio. Depending on your objective, it could play a bigger role than expected.
For Singapore professionals who usually think “CPF is my bond” or go all-in on equities, this may be worth rethinking. Are bonds finally interesting again?
Learn more about Aberdeen’s investment solutions here:
https://www.aberdeeninvestments.com/en-sg/investor/investment-solutions/credit

Disclaimer:
This content is produced in partnership with Aberdeen Investments for educational purposes. It discusses the strategies and is not financial advice. Investments 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 any investments are suitable for their portfolio. For more information on Aberdeen Investments: Investment Solutions for Investors | Aberdeen Investments

#TFC #FinancialCoconut #FixedIncome #AberdeenInvestments #CreditInvesting

---

🎧 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.

Burnout stories are common. What is rare is someone who actually steps off the “helicopter track” and rebuilds life from scratch. Dr Faith Nadine Choo, The Side Quest Doctor, did exactly that. After clocking 70 to 80 hours weekly and surviving 30‑hour hospital calls, she realised she was running on empty. Her turning point came during a palliative posting, watching a patient her age face terminal illness. That moment forced her to confront what she was truly chasing.
Dr Faith eventually broke her medical bond, paid a six‑figure penalty, and redesigned her life around freedom, health and meaningful work. Today she works 20 to 25 hours weekly, earns 8 to 10K, writes, podcasts and builds a life that fits her values.
This conversation is for anyone questioning the grind, exploring FIRE or wondering what “success” should look like in Singapore’s high‑pressure system.
Save this if you’re navigating burnout, career pivots or planning your own version of financial independence.
Tell us: What does a life built around freedom look like for you?

---

🎧 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.