Ringgit and Sense

Epizodes

• Closing Malaysia's EPF Savings Gap 15.07.2026 20min

  About 38% of EPF members have reached what EPF calls "Basic Savings," up from 35% last year, but that still leaves 62% short. And "Basic Savings" only covers bare necessities. Felix Neoh joins us to unpack what's realistic for salaried employees, gig workers, and stretched households trying to close the savings gap, and offers ways to boost our retirement funds.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• AI, Mega IPOs and Portfolio Construction for H2 2026 08.07.2026 21min

  AI infrastructure buildouts, a wave of mega IPOs, energy supply shocks, and shifting safe-haven dynamics have prompted investors to rethink their positioning for the second half of 2026. Desmond Kuang from HSBC joins us to discuss the private bank’s Q3 investment themes and portfolio construction strategies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Beyond Banks: The SGX Uncovered 01.07.2026 19min

  Singapore is Southeast Asia's largest stock market, but most Malaysian investors only go as far as DBS, UOB, and OCBC for dividends. Is there more to the SGX than yield plays?We discuss:• Beyond the banks and REITs, which sectors and themes on the Singapore stock market deserve a closer look.• Can Singapore small caps deliver the multi-bagger returns and what to look for when picking them.• How Singaporean REITs stack up against Malaysian REITs• What the new SGX-Nasdaq dual-listing arrangement, share buybacks, and MAS-backed market reforms actually mean for retail investors.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• You Use BNPL. Now the Law Has Your Back 24.06.2026 20min

  Buy Now Pay Later has become the default payment method for millions of Malaysian consumers, promising instant approval and zero friction at checkout. But that is changing, and the new Consumer Credit Act is rewriting the rules. Johnson Hong and Lo Khai Yi, partners at Halim Hong & Quek, discuss new legal requirements placed on BNPL providers, shoppers, and its impact on the broader consumer finance landscape.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Shariah Property Investing From Just RM500 17.06.2026 21min

  Wahed's new fractional real estate product lets investors tap into Shariah-compliant property exposure with as little as RM500. We speak to Mohsin Siddiqui, CEO of Wahed, about how the product works, how it stacks up against i-REITs, and whether being Shariah-compliant comes at the cost of returns.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Malaysia's Small Cap Stars: Inside RHB's Top Picks for 2026 10.06.2026 20min

  RHB's top small caps for 2026 are financially stable, with bright growth prospects and resilient. Elaine Boey speaks with Alexander Chia, Head of RHB Regional Research, about how these companies are selected, what makes them stand out, and how they are navigating the headwinds in the second half of 2026.Go to RHB's website for the RHB's 20 Jewels 2026 Report'.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Islamic Financial Planning 101 03.06.2026 20min

  This week on Ringgit & Sense, producer Jake Lim speaks with Nur Mahfuudhzah binti Normin, licensed financial planner at Resolute Planning about Islamic financial planning - how it differs from conventional financial planning, some of the principles involved, how insurance and interest work under this framework and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Are T20s As Rich As We Think? 27.05.2026 20min

  This week on Ringgit & Sense, producer Jake Lim speaks to Stephen Yong, licensed financial planner and Executive Director at Wealth Vantage Advisory about a certain income bracket among Malaysian - specifically the T20 group - why the classification might be broken from the outset, why individuals and households in the lower end of T20 might not be as ‘rich’ as many of us think.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Unit Trust: Why You Might Prefer It Over ETFs 20.05.2026 20min

  This week on Ringgit & Sense, producer Jake Lim speaks with Linnet Lee, licensed financial planner at Resolute Planning about unit trusts - what they are, what kind of investors might be interested in the profile of this investment instrument, how they differ from other instruments like ETFs, and more.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Economic Crisis: How Can We Budget For It? 13.05.2026 21min

  This week on Ringgit & Sense, producer Jake Lim speaks to Kevin Neoh, licensed financial planner and Head of Financial Planning at VKA Wealth Planners about budgeting in times of economic stress - even though we aren’t technically in a recession yet, the government has advised the people to spend cautiously. They’ll be discussing how to best do this!Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Is Social Media Hurting the Finances of Young Malaysians? 06.05.2026 20min

  This week on Ringgit & Sense, producer Jake Lim speaks to Yuvarajan Periyan, licensed financial planner and co-founder of Uno Advisers about young money in the wake of news of more younger people declaring bankruptcy in Malaysia. Jake will be asking Yuva about the allure of the ‘social media lifestyle’, why young investors might take excessive risk and more.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Sukuk: Should You Have It In Your Portfolio? 29.04.2026 20min

  This week on Ringgit & Sense, producer Jake Lim will be speaking to Datin Nor Hanifah Hashim, CEO & Head of Malaysia, Franklin Templeton about an investment asset that might be unfamiliar to some of our listeners: sukuk. They’ll be talking about what sukuk is, how they differ from regular bonds, whether it’s a good idea to have them in your portfolio, and more.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Licensed Financial Planners: What Do They Do, Really? 22.04.2026 21min

  This week on Ringgit & Sense, producer Jake Lim speaks to Yap Ming Hui, founder of Whitman Holdings - he’s also a licensed financial planner - about the profession. What makes a licensed financial planner different from the ‘wealth coaches’ and ‘investment consultants’ out there, how to tell whether they’re a good job, how much you can expect to pay, and more. Whitman was also recently listed on the LEAP MarketImage Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• How Much Do Pets Really Cost? 15.04.2026 22min

  This week on Ringgit & Sense, producer Jake Lim speaks to Michelle Chin, co-founder of Oyen, Malaysia’s first pet insurance company about the costs of owning a pet - especially some of the hidden costs most people might miss, like pet boarding whenever you go out of town, differences in prices vet for different breeds and even gender of pets, and of course, how much pet insurance will cost you every month.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• What Makes Or Breaks Family Businesses? 08.04.2026 17min

  On Ringgit & Sense this week, producer Jake Lim speaks to Chua How Kiat, Leader for Deloitte Private Southeast Asia about family businesses- a little bit on trends in the region but more importantly they’ll be discussing what the differences are between family enterprises that thrive, and those which merely survive.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Bouncing Back From Raya Spending 01.04.2026 21min

  On Ringgit & Sense this week, producer Jake Lim will be speaking to Idham Idris, Director of Corporate Treasury Investment Services at Wealth Vantage Advisory about the “post-Raya financial whiplash” - when all the unplanned spending during the festivities catches up with your wallet and bank account.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Career Mistakes That Will Cost You 25.03.2026 21min

  This week on Ringgit & Sense, producer Jake Lim is joined by Ku Sim Ling - she’s better known as AuntyHR on various social media platforms - to talk about career road bumps, biggest mistakes you can make, and take a look at some case studies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Should You Buy Crypto In These Volatile Times? 18.03.2026 20min

  This week on Ringgit & Sense, producer Jake Lim speaks to Hann Liew, a licensed fund manager and co-founder of Halogen Capital about whether cryptocurrencies still have a place in our portfolio amidst global volatility.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Tax Tips And Individual Reliefs YA2025 11.03.2026 21min

  This week, Producer Jake Lim sits down with Harvindar Singh, Managing Partner of Harvey & Associates to talk about individual tax reliefs, common mistakes that people make when filing their taxes, as well as tips for the tax season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Why Is Wage Growth So Slow In Malaysia? 04.03.2026 21min

  On Ringgit & Sense this week, producer Jake Lim speaks to Farhana Roslan, Head of the Research Team at PNB Research Institute about wages in Malaysia - why growth has been so slow, whether it’s still worth pursuing tertiary education, and what the government and society can do to remedy this issue.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.