Saturday 22 April 2023

[Post 237] Singapore a magnet for China billionaires | THE BIG STORY


Summary

With a boom in the world of wealth management over the past decade, the data appears to show Singapore as an attractive destination for family offices to manage the wealth of the super-rich, especially for those in China. 

We speak with Dr Yu Hong, senior research fellow at the East Asian Institute at the National University of Singapore, on this issue and discuss its potential impact on Singapore.

Friday 14 April 2023

[Post 236] Is it worth having kids?


Summary

Fertility rates are falling across the rich world, as more and more people are weighing up whether to have children. Raising them can be stressful and cost a fortune, but they might bring you a lot of joy. So all things considered, on International Women's Day, is it worth having kids?

Thursday 13 April 2023

[Post 235] Money matters: How to grow your CPF savings


Summary

Meet Stan. Stan’s worried about inflation remaining stubbornly high and eating into his retirement savings. One way for Stan to stay ahead of soaring prices is to grow his CPF savings through a range of investments. Let’s find out how...

Monday 10 April 2023

[Post 234] Millennials & Gen Z: Young And In Debt. Why? | Talking Point | Full Episode


Summary

With higher life expectancies, rising costs of living, and greater market volatility, the stakes are higher when it comes to the types of financial decisions young working adults have to make in Singapore today. In an Institute of Policy Studies and Talking Point survey, we polled young Singaporeans aged 21 to 29, to find out how they’re grappling with the rising costs of living. Are young adults getting more creative with how they spend their money? What matters to them? And might they be setting themselves up for more debt, compared to previous generations, in the years to come?

Saturday 8 April 2023

[Post 233] Why Tipping Is So Out Of Control In The U.S.


Summary

Tipping in the United States is on the rise and experts are calling it tipflation. In the fourth quarter of 2022, the number of tips provided at full-service restaurants grew by 17% from the fourth quarter of 2021. Meanwhile the tip frequency at quick-service restaurants rose 16% during the same time period. 

Experts say that's because of the newer and sleeker-looking Point-of-Sale, or POS, systems by tech companies like Square, Toast and Clover, who also have increased their sales as a result. The pressure to tip well in front of the tip receiver, before a service is completed, or in front of other customers makes a difference for many. After customers swipe their credit card, they're typically prompted with three large tipping options on a screen. While businesses can opt out of the tipping feature, most aren't. In fact, even Starbucks started prompting customers for tips in stores in September 2022. With Americans being pressured to tip higher percentages and for more services, the question is, where is the tipping point?

Friday 7 April 2023

[Post 233] Apple vs. Banks: The Digital-Wallet War, Explained | WSJ


Summary

Digital wallets like Apple Pay are continuing to grow in popularity. Banks are worried they’re losing ground to tech companies eager to gain market share in consumer payments.

One of traditional finance’s biggest threats is Apple. Here’s how big banks are fighting back.

Tuesday 4 April 2023

[Post 232] How a Traded-In Apple iPhone Gets Refurbished | WSJ


Summary

So you just traded in your used Apple iPhone 11 at your wireless carrier to get a deal on a brand new iPhone 14. Where does that old phone go? How do companies make money on it?

WSJ’s Joanna Stern heads to a U.S. Mobile Phones facility in New Jersey following an iPhone 11 through the refurbished process to explain how the second-hand phone market is a booming business

Sunday 2 April 2023

[Post 231] Young people living a lavish lifestyle on credit card debt | 60 Minutes Australia


Summary

Back in 2008, the global economy was in meltdown and the financial markets were in chaos. Basically, greed, dodgy loans and bad debt were to blame. So you'd think people were a bit cautious with their credit cards. Some may be, but not the kids they call Generation Y. 

They're young, reckless, and they've racked up an astonishing $60 billion of debt. New cars, new clothes, new toys, no problem. Just whack it on the card. These kids had never known tough economic times, so they think they were invincible but they're in for the shock of their lives.