The Financial Coconut Podcast

Creators, freelancers, and micro-business owners often only think about contracts, IP rights, payment terms, and legal recourse after something goes wrong.
But by then, it may already be messy.
In this live TFC Business Show session, recorded live at Whiskdom Cafe, we unpack what creators need to know to protect their work and get paid properly.
We discuss what happens when a stockist does not pay, why contracts matter, what creators should look out for before signing agreements, how IP ownership works, when trademark registration becomes important, and how AI may affect copyright protection.
Because once your creative work starts making money, you are not “just doing passion” anymore.
You are building a business.
And businesses need protection, paperwork, and proper recourse when things go wrong.
This conversation is for creators, freelancers, designers, performers, IP owners, and anyone building something from scratch.
Featuring:
Reggie Koh - Founder, The Financial Coconut
Chanel Lee - Creator & Founder, Tasty Toastys
Pin-Ping Oh - IP Lawyer, Bird & Bird
Laura Kee - VICPA (Visual, Audio, Creative Content Professionals Association) Singapore
Subscribe for more conversations on business, money, work, and building better lives.
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.

Two helpers. Two drivers. Two cars. That was middle class life back home for our guests in KL, Jakarta, and Hong Kong. So why on earth did they choose to leave it behind for a 4-room HDB and the MRT?

Sit down with Shen, Music Programme Director, Mickey Salim, and Theros, Founder, Yinvest.co to unpack the viral IG post comparing middle class life across ASEAN. They get into the painful trade-offs: cheap drivers and lower living costs back home vs reliable healthcare, public transport, and shorter commutes here. They dig into the unspoken comparison Tetris with neighbours and church friends, the kids in tuition until 11pm, and what "middle class comfort" actually looks like in 2026 Singapore.

If you've ever felt the grind and wondered if it's worth it, this one's for you. Drop your home country's version of middle class in the comments.

#TheFinancialCoconut #ChillswithTFC #MiddleClass #ASEAN #SingaporeLife
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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.
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.

What do you do when the job market is trash and you’ve got a Masters degree but zero interest in a cubicle? You hitchhike to Thailand, obviously.
Hear from Yihui and Jake, two 'crazy guys' who went viral for hitchhiking from Singapore all the way to Krabi. But this isn't just a travel vlog, it’s a deep dive into the 'Fun Employed' lifestyle.
We’re talking about the reality of 'unemployment maxing,' the pressure of seeing your peers get married and buy BTOs while you’re volunteering on a potato farm, and whether 'brand name' internships actually matter when the world is falling apart.
Unpack:
How do you actually hitchhike across borders in 2024?
Is taking a year off a brilliant move or a career suicide?
Dealing with the 'FOMO' of seeing friends move on with 'adult' life.
The Scholarship loophole
Why one of them is finally looking for a job while the other is still chasing the next adventure.
If you’ve ever felt like quitting your job to go see the world, this is the reality check (and the inspiration) you need.

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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.

Why is it that in one of the wealthiest nations on earth, we still feel like we’re never quite 'safe'?
Sit down with a true legend in the Singapore literary and academic scene. Eight years ago, she changed the national conversation with her bestseller This Is What Inequality Looks Like. Now, she’s back with a new project that might be even more uncomfortable…because this time, it’s about you.
Introducing our guest: Teo You Yenn
A sociologist, Associate Professor at NTU, and Director of the Centre for the Study of Social Inequality. You Yenn has a unique gift for taking heavy academic research and turning it into stories that resonate with every Singaporean, from the low-income to the high-flying professional.
In this episode, we explore:
Why her old book shot back to the top of the charts the moment her new one was announced.
Beyond Poverty: Why her latest research shifted from studying "them" (the low-income) to studying "us" (the middle and upper class).
The Concept of "Unease": We’ve all felt that nagging anxiety about our finances and our future, even when the numbers say we’re "fine." You Yenn explains the systemic reason why this feeling is collective, not just personal.
Why she chooses to "chase the thing down" and bring academic research out of the ivory tower and into the public square.
The Shared Struggle: How inequality isn't just a problem for a small group, it’s a system we are all entangled in, and it’s affecting our mental health more than we realise.
"I thought I was an outsider looking in... until I read this. Then I realised, I’m right in the middle of it."
Tune in to find out why you feel the way you do about your life in Singapore.

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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.

The traditional marketing funnel, awareness, consideration, conversion, is dead. Real buyers don't move in straight lines. Some jump straight to purchase. Others sit on the bench for six months. And some only buy because their friend did.
Recorded live at the UOB FinLab SME programme, we dig into what actually moves people from curious to converted.
From community-led growth to founder content, nano influencers to post-purchase loyalty, this episode covers the full picture.
Meet the Guests
Laura Kantor Hero Marketing, Southeast Asia, Canva - Building community without a single paid ambassador, and why Canva's growth engine isn't ads, it's people.
Vanessa Tan CMO, STRYV - From launching POCO phone at Xiaomi Indonesia to competing with Dyson and Philips, lessons in brand-building for challenger brands.
Don Siah Founder, Diamond Ateliers - From random Instagram videos to a flagship store on Orchard Road, how radical trust-building converts high-ticket buyers
Key Takeaways:
The 3 things buyers always look for before they pull the trigger (it's not more information)
The trust formula for big-ticket purchases
Why nano influencers (under 5,000 followers) can outperform celebrity endorsements
The difference between content that attracts and content that converts, and why you need both
Founder-led content: why putting your face on the brand is your biggest unfair advantage
How to extend customer lifetime value even for products people only buy once
Whether you're running a small business, scaling a startup, or trying to compete against the giants, this episode is packed with real, battle-tested strategies you can steal today.
If you're still marketing like it's 2015, this episode will change everything.

Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review

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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.