It is inevitable to avoid crises or market downturns during your long-term investment journey. While we acknowledge that some turbulence is normal in any flight, it doesn't guarantee our hearts can always withstand the market's volatility. That’s why, at Providend, we are committed to coaching our clients even before they embark on their investment journey. In this week's Money Wisdom episode, Evelyn Goh, our Deputy CEO and Chief Advisory Officer, shares Providend’s experience through the various crises and our process of holding our clients’ hands through those difficult times. Meanwhile, stay tuned for the next episode where Chris discusses more about his latest article on The Business Times!The host, Isaac Ong, is Associate Adviser at Providend, Singapore’s First Fee-Only Wealth Advisory Firm. View the full list of podcast episodes published: https://providend.com/providends-money-wisdom-podcast-season-2/ Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

At Providend, we've always advocated an evidence-based approach when investing your money and do not attempt to time the market. One might assume that, as long as you invest your money this way, you would be in good shape. However, another crucial piece of the puzzle is using the right instrument with the right investment manager. This was why Providend decided work with Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA) to enhance the investment experience for our clients.In this week's Money Wisdom episode, our Head of Investment, Chye Hsern, is joined by Dr. Marlena, Global Head of Investment Solutions at DFA, to delve deeper into the DFA approach to managing their funds, ultimately benefiting our clients who will have peace of mind in their investment journey.You can also read more about Chye Hsern's thoughts on active investing that adds value to the client here - https://providend.com/active-investing-that-adds-value-to-the-clientMeanwhile, stay tuned for our next episode where we compare the pros and cons of investing in properties vs equities!The host of this episode, Cheng Chye Hsern, is the Head of Investment at Providend, the first fee-only wealth advisory firm in Southeast Asia and a leading wealth advisory firm in Asia. Learn more about Chye Hsern’s wealth insights here.View the full list of podcast episodes published: https://providend.com/providends-money-wisdom-podcast-season-2/ Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

More often than not, many investors assume that once they have completed their wealth plan when they are younger, they do not need to revisit it. However, this is not a reliable approach to managing your wealth plan. As accumulators, there are numerous unexpected events for which you may not have planned. Similarly, there are concerns as retirees that you did not encounter when you were younger.In this week's Money Wisdom episode, Alvin, our Client Adviser, discusses the differences you should take note of when planning for these two different life stages so that you can develop a comprehensive wealth plan for the long term.Meanwhile, stay tuned for our next episode, where we will be joined by a very special external guest!The host, Isaac Ong, is Associate Adviser at Providend, Singapore’s First Fee-Only Wealth Advisory Firm. View the full list of podcast episodes published: https://providend.com/providends-money-wisdom-podcast-season-2/ Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

In a previous article written for The Business Times, Chris, our CEO, explained the different ways an adviser could be compensated – commission-based, fee-based, or fee-only. However, it is important to note that the different compensation methods alone do not determine if an adviser is the right one for you.In this week’s Money Wisdom episode, Chris shares the three things you should take note of when choosing the right adviser for yourself and how Providend strives to uphold these in our day-to-day processes.You can also read Chris' Business Times article here: Choosing a Wealth Adviser That Will Always Do the Right Thing for You.Meanwhile, stay tuned for our next episode, where we discuss how an accumulator or a near-retiree should plan for their wealth respectively.The host, Isaac Ong, is Associate Adviser at Providend, Singapore’s First Fee-Only Wealth Advisory Firm. View the full list of podcast episodes published: https://providend.com/providends-money-wisdom-podcast-season-2/ Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

After finding the right instrument to invest in, the next question many investors might have is whether they should invest their entire amount all at once (Lump Sum) or spread it out over a few months (Dollar Cost Averaging). There are merits to both approaches, but which one is right for you?In this episode, Zhi Han, our Client Adviser, shares the historical evidence for both methods and highlights an important factor investors should consider when deciding between the two.Meanwhile, stay tune for the next episode where Chris discusses more about his latest article on The Business Times!The host, Isaac Ong, is Associate Adviser at Providend, Singapore’s First Fee-Only Wealth Advisory Firm. View the full list of podcast episodes published: https://providend.com/providends-money-wisdom-podcast-season-2/ Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

The third quarter of 2023 has been a challenging three months, as the MSCI All Country World IMI Index and the Bloomberg Global-Aggregate, our references for equities and bonds respectively, both fell this quarter.In this week’s Money Wisdom episode, Choon Siong, our Research Analyst, shares the key catalyst of market movements and discusses the outperformance of value stocks over growth stocks.You can also read our complete market review of September here.Meanwhile, stay tuned for our next episode where Zhi Han, our Client Adviser, shares his views on lump sum investing versus dollar cost averaging.The host, Isaac Ong, is Associate Adviser at Providend, Singapore’s First Fee-Only Wealth Advisory Firm. View the full list of podcast episodes published: https://providend.com/providends-money-wisdom-podcast-season-2/ Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

Investment-Linked Policies (ILPs) have always been a heavily debated and controversial topic among investors. To make matters worse, there are multiple types of ILPs being sold, and all with varying features. At Providend, we had previously stated our stance against the use of ILPs in our clients’ portfolio. However, with the changes around the new Wealth ILPs, will this change our stance?In this week's Money Wisdom episode, Mike Zhang, our Insurance Specialist, gives an overview of the different types of ILPs and all its features, its pros and cons, and his views on whether Wealth ILPs would fit into Providend’s investment philosophy, or not.You can also hear Chris' view on ILPs in his interview with the BagHolder Pod team here.Meanwhile, stay tuned for our next episode where Choon Siong, our Research Analyst, shares how the markets had performed for quarter three of 2023.The host, Isaac Ong, is Associate Adviser at Providend, Singapore’s First Fee-Only Wealth Advisory Firm. View the full list of podcast episodes published: https://providend.com/providends-money-wisdom-podcast-season-2/ Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

Previously from other big financial institutions, Joyce and Zhi Han both coincidentally applied for an advisory role at Providend after watching this video where Christopher, our CEO, shares the reason why he left the insurance agency - Joyce Chng, our Associate Adviser, and Toh Zhi Han, our Client Adviser, both coincidentally applied for a job at Providend after watching this same video where our CEO, Christopher, shares the reason he left the insurance agency - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGfDoOIACGsIn this episode, we are glad to have Joyce, our Associate Adviser, and Zhi Han, our Client Adviser, share their past working experiences in the big banks and well-known financial advisory firms – from client acquisition to the advisory and wealth planning process - versus what they are currently doing here at Providend.Meanwhile, stay tune for our next episode where we discuss one of the most complex and controversial form of insurance, Investment Linked Policies (ILPs).The host, Isaac Ong, is Associate Adviser at Providend, Singapore’s First Fee-Only Wealth Advisory Firm. View the full list of podcast episodes published: https://providend.com/providends-money-wisdom-podcast-season-2/ Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

At Providend, in order to help our clients achieve enough returns in the most reliable way to enable their life goals and life events, we started using the Ibbotsen-Chen Model early this year to be more robust in deriving the planning returns used for constructing our clients’ wealth plan. In this episode, Chris clarifies that these planning returns are actually not our portfolios’ target returns and that it is just a part of all the backend work we do (i.e. regular reviews of our clients’ circumstances, regular monitoring of the portfolios’ performances, a constant search for other suitable investment instruments) to give clients a better investment experience.Meanwhile, stay tune for our next episode where we invited two of our colleagues to share their past working experiences in the financial advisory industry and how it compares to working here at Providend now!You can find the original article of Why a Robust Estimate of Future Returns Is Important for Investment Planning here.The host, Nataly Ong, is Deputy Head of Brand Experience at Providend, the first fee-only wealth advisory firm in Southeast Asia and a leading wealth advisory firm in Asia.View the full list of podcast episodes published: https://providend.com/providends-money-wisdom-podcast-season-2/ Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

“When I was much younger, we used to stay at a much bigger place. We had two cars and two maids, then subsequently, we just had one car, no more maid, downsized a little bit and went to rent instead.In my younger childhood years, I didn’t really have to worry about money, but the change was quite apparent after that, and I began to feel like money is very hard to come by.”In this episode, Seth shares two major life events that happened when he turned 18 and how that shaped his money values for life.Meanwhile, stay tune for the next episode where Chris discusses more about his latest article on The Business Times!The host, Christopher Tan, is Chief Executive Officer of Providend, Singapore’s first fee-only wealth advisory firm and author of the book “Money Wisdom: Simple Truths for Financial Wellness”. View the full list of podcast episodes published: https://providend.com/providends-money-wisdom-podcast-season-2/ Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

For the past 22 years, our CEO, Christopher Tan, has always been at the front line to share more about the humble beginning of Providend and how we persevered despite all the hardships faced to tirelessly journey along side our clients as their trusted wealth adviser.In this episode (which coincides with our 22nd birthday!), we specially invited two of Providend's founding members, Loh Mei Kuen and Vincent Tey, to share their reflections as they recount their initial experiences at the firm and their hopes for the future of Providend.As mentioned in the episode, we are hosting a webinar titled 'How Providend Ensures Reliable Investment Returns for Your Life Goals' tomorrow on 12 September. If you are interested in joining this webinar, kindly register for it here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0tf--vqjwvEtD2GgFVYZ7pD-eJ_qC3--YXMeanwhile, stay tune for our next episode with a special guest where we discuss further on the value of wealth advice!The host, Christopher Tan, is Chief Executive Officer of Providend, Singapore’s first fee-only wealth advisory firm and author of the book “Money Wisdom: Simple Truths for Financial Wellness”. View the full list of podcast episodes published: https://providend.com/providends-money-wisdom-podcast-season-2/ Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

With the recent COE prices reported to be at an all-time high, the idea of owning a car in Singapore has become even harder to justify.In this episode, our Client Adviser, Ray Zheng, shares the deep conversations he had with some of his clients to better help them determine where car ownership ranks in terms of their other important life priorities and key considerations before making a car purchase that can actually make 'financial sense'.Meanwhile, stay tune for a special episode next week in celebration of our 22nd birthday!The host, Isaac Ong, is Associate Adviser at Providend, Singapore’s First Fee-Only Wealth Advisory Firm. View the full list of podcast episodes published: https://providend.com/providends-money-wisdom-podcast-season-2/ Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

In this fast-paced financial landscape where businesses are in pursuit of faster revenue, interactions between wealth advisers and clients are highly transactional such that the value is often placed on the sale of products and not actual advice itself.In this episode, our CEO, Christopher Tan, shares what value you should be expecting from your adviser and emphasises the importance of consumers’ demands in improving the overall financial landscape. Meanwhile, stay tune for our next episode where we share our views on buying a car in Singapore, balancing lifestyle goals and financial considerations.The host, Christopher Tan, is Chief Executive Officer of Providend, Singapore’s first fee-only wealth advisory firm and author of the book “Money Wisdom: Simple Truths for Financial Wellness”. View the full list of podcast episodes published: https://providend.com/providends-money-wisdom-podcast-season-2/ Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

"When you say people get free advice here, I laughed because in the end when you think about how this world works, nobody works for free. So you are paying for what you are getting somehow.And in my mind, if you’re specifically paying for advice, to me, it’s a much more transparent set up than getting free advice or freebies packaged in some other ways that I don’t fully know. I’m less comfortable with that.”In this episode, Head of Investment Research at Dimensional Fund Advisors, Dr Wei Dai, shares her concerns towards “free advice” and key considerations when finding a suitable wealth adviser, especially as an expert in her field.Meanwhile, stay tune for the next episode where Chris discusses more about his latest article on The Business Times!The host, Christopher Tan, is Chief Executive Officer of Providend, Singapore’s first fee-only wealth advisory firm and author of the book “Money Wisdom: Simple Truths for Financial Wellness”. View the full list of podcast episodes published: https://providend.com/providends-money-wisdom-podcast-season-2/ Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

Recession, the pandemic and shifting demographics are intensifying the pressures on the ‘sandwich generation’ – those taking care of both their elderly parents and young children. This can put a strain on not just their finances but on their emotional and time capacity as well.In this episode, our Advisory Team Lead, Loh Yong Cheng, shares his personal challenges balancing the roles, responsibilities and obligations as a sandwich generation and provides useful tips on how to manage these challenges in the various aspects.Meanwhile, stay tune for our next episode with a special guest on the value of advice!The host, Isaac Ong, is Associate Adviser at Providend, Singapore’s First Fee-Only Wealth Advisory Firm. View the full list of podcast episodes published: https://providend.com/providends-money-wisdom-podcast-season-2/ Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

Estate planning is an essential component of both life and wealth planning that is often overlooked. Neglecting this critical aspect can lead to dire consequences, leaving loved ones with unnecessary burdens and financial challenges.In this episode, our Head of Solutions, Eddy Cheong shares the three key areas of estate planning – Distribution, Creation and Preservation, as well as considerations when crafting your estate plan so that the transfer of your estate, upon your unfortunate demise, can be transferred to your intended recipients without any unnecessary delay or unexpected situations that may complicate the entire distribution process.Meanwhile, stay tune for our next episode where we share wealth planning tips for the sandwich generation! The host, Isaac Ong, is Associate Adviser at Providend, Singapore’s First Fee-Only Wealth Advisory Firm. View the full list of podcast episodes published: https://providend.com/providends-money-wisdom-podcast-season-2/ Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

As we appear to take a 'passive' approach to investing by not doing the typical tactical asset allocation (TAA) or market timing approach, many seem to think that nothing much is done once a client invests with us. So, why should clients pay us an ongoing advisory fee if we take a 'passive' instead of an 'active' approach to investing? In this episode, our CEO, Christopher Tan, explains why Providend uses the Ibbotson-Chen Earnings Model, when crafting our client's wealth plan, to properly estimate the future expected returns of the stock markets and how our investment approach has shined during the market downturn in 2022.Meanwhile, stay tune for our next episode on the 3 main aspects of Estate Planning – Distribution, Creation & Preservation!The host, Christopher Tan, is Chief Executive Officer of Providend, Singapore’s first fee-only wealth advisory firm and author of the book “Money Wisdom: Simple Truths for Financial Wellness”. View the full list of podcast episodes published: https://providend.com/providends-money-wisdom-podcast-season-2/ Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

In the past quarter, we have seen multiple trends emerging in the investment market, most notably the buzz around artificial intelligence (AI). Many investors watching the AI trend are curious about how to get exposure, hunting for undervalued opportunities in an overvalued space.In this episode, our Research Analyst, Lim Choon Siong, summarises key market events that happened in the past quarter and explains what long-term investors like us should do to get the returns we truly need.Meanwhile, stay tune for the next episode where Chris discusses more about his latest article on The Business Times!The host, Isaac Ong, is Associate Adviser at Providend, Singapore’s First Fee-Only Wealth Advisory Firm. View the full list of podcast episodes published: https://providend.com/providends-money-wisdom-podcast-season-2/ Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

The total cost of university education can range from $100,000 to $1 million in SGD today, depending on many factors such as country, university, academic field, degree level, inflation, and foreign currency exposure. It is not a small amount to set aside and requires a well-considered financial plan to achieve successfully.In this episode, our Solutions Specialist, Tan Choong Hwee, and our Insurance Executive, Ma Jiamin, share their overseas education experience as well as a step-by-step guide to planning for your children’s education.Stay tune for the next episode where we look back at the events that have shaped the markets over the past quarter and share the market outlook for the rest of the year!You can read the 2-parts article titled Wealth Planning for Your Child's Tertiary Education here:Part 1: Setting a Financial GoalPart 2: Achieving the GoalThe host, Isaac Ong, is Associate Adviser at Providend, Singapore’s First Fee-Only Wealth Advisory Firm. View the full list of podcast episodes published: https://providend.com/providends-money-wisdom-podcast-season-2/ Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

*Due to unforeseen circumstances, we will be postponing the episode on Investment-linked policies to a later date. Do keep a look out for it in the coming months and meanwhile, we hope you will find this new episode useful!*At Providend, we divide the whole process of planning for our demise into 3 stages – End-of-life planning, Legacy & Estate planning and Administration.In today's episode, Chris delves deeper into the End-of-life planning process where he explains what Advance Medical Directive (AMD), Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) and Advance Care Plan (ACP) are for and why we need to get these important documents done early, when we are in good health.Stay tune for our next episode where we share tips on how you can plan well ahead for your children’s tertiary education, especially if you intend to send them overseas!The host, Isaac Ong, is Associate Adviser at Providend, Singapore’s First Fee-Only Wealth Advisory Firm. View the full list of podcast episodes published: https://providend.com/providends-money-wisdom-podcast-season-2/ Music courtesy of ItsWatR.