With a plethora of life insurance products available and its own jargon, many of us are still confused about its necessity, the pricing and even what's the best way to buy it. Mark O’Dell, CEO of the Life Insurance Association of Malaysia (LIAM) helps us break this down.

This will be the first of a special two-part series.

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Jasmina Mohd Mokhtar, Deputy Director of the Financial Inclusion Department at Bank Negara Malaysia talks about the current state of financial literacy in the country, and what initiatives are being undertaken by the central bank to improve financial knowledge especially among the youth and in rural areas.

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There are a whole slew of horror stories out there about Malaysians drowning in credit card debt, but is that the whole picture? Stephen Yong, Executive Director of Wealth Vantage Advisory and licensed financial planner talks to us about the pros and cons of using credit cards.

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Most millennials in Malaysia, according to the Bursa, don’t have active trading accounts, and a big reason for that might be the perceived high barrier to entry into the stock market. Ng Zhu Hann, CEO & Founder, Tradeview Capital and author of Once Upon a Time in Bursa gives us a lowdown on how to start valuing and trading stocks.

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Death and taxes are unavoidable but loans might also classify as few of us would be able to buy a house with cash. How then should we navigate this world of loans that has its own terminology? Karl Ng, Founder of Bluebricks, a local loan agency helps us make sense of this.

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The share price rally of the Magnificent Seven has been astounding but how does one actually value a technology company? How do you differentiate substance from hype?  Kelvin Goh, a portfolio manager at R3 Asset Management Pte Ltd will help us answer that question and more.

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As we reach certain milestones in our life, its timely to reflect on the financial mistakes we may have made along the way. Felix Neoh, Director of Financial Planning, Finwealth Management joins us for that discussion whilst reminding us how to recover from them.

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Considering a career change is a decision many of us ponder at least once in our lives. How can we be sure it's the right choice, and how do we overcome the financial fears associated with taking that first step? Idham Idris, Director of Corporate Treasury Investment Services and Licensed Financial Planner at Wealth Vantage Advisory Sdn. Bhd guides us through navigating this potentially life-changing move.

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We continue our series on how to manage the estate of a loved one who has passed on but in the final part, we ask what happens when there is no will? How does getting a letter of administration differ from a grant of probate. Gerald Samuel, a lawyer with 35 years experience tells us.

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The death of a loved one is already traumatic enough but dealing with the estate can be complex and overwhelming. But things can be made easier with a will if you plan ahead. We Speak to Gerald Samuel , a lawyer with 35 years experience as to how to obtain that grant of probate.

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For many Muslims, performing the pilgrimage to Makkah, whether for the Hajj or Umrah, is a once in a lifetime experience, but it comes with a hefty price tag. What are the financial factors that Muslims should consider as they plan for these important trips? We discuss planning for pilgrimage with Suraya Zainudin, Founder of the Financial Blog, Ringgit Oh Ringgit. 

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On Ringgit and Sense today we delve into the growing mountain of student debt. Dr. Amirul Rafiq Abu Rahim, a Research Associate at the Khazanah Research Institute, sheds light on whether tertiary education truly facilitates upward mobility, the disproportionate burden of educational debt on lower-income households,  and whether there is a case for universal student loan debt forgiveness.

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What do you do when you suddenly come into a lot of money? Annie Hor, Licensed Financial Advisor at Harveston Capital talks about how to handle financial windfalls, whether it be an inheritance from a family member, money from selling off a company, or even a huge lottery win.

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In the world of finance, there are often terms bandied about like preference shares, interest schemes and even cash trust. Lawyer Dr Seow Hock Peng, who is also Lecturer of Law at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology shares with us their differences, and how you should spot a red flag.

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Buy now pay later services have made it tempting to split a purchase into a few installments. But has it also given us a false sense of our purchasing power? 

Shereen Hazirah Hishamudin, Senior Research Associate, at Khazanah Research Institute joins us to discuss what are the consumer protection in place at the moment, who is more prone to the risks of falling into a cycle of high debt, whether it can serve as a safe borrowing channel. 

Khazanah research  recently published a report titled “The Financialisation of Our Lives” with the second chapter focusing on the rise of buy now pay later.

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We delve into the financial mindset of young Malaysians with Peter Yong, Co-Founder and CEO of Mr. Money TV. We'll discuss whether it's fair to say they spend excessively and struggle to save against the backdrop of stagnating wages and rising living costs. We also dive into some very practical financial advice and the importance of the right mindset.

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Buying a house and turning it into a home is on the wish list of most but due to high building material and labour cost, how should you budget for your renovation? Kenneth Tan, a first time home buyer shares his experience so that we can avoid the expensive mistakes but also know where the cost savings are.

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Cryptocurrencies are increasingly mainstream with the launch of ETF's but what are the pitfalls of this asset class and will it replace fiat currencies one day? Andy Baehr, Managing Director at CoinDesk Indices tells us and also what are the lessons from the recent FTX trial and the fall of its founder, Sam Bankman Fried.

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Last week, EPF has reorganized its existing two accounts into three to include the new flexible account for all members under the age of 55.

Licensed financial planner, Angie Ng joins us to discuss the details of these changes, who and when you should dip into the new account.

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Death and taxes are said to be two unavoidable things in life which is why estate planning is an essential part of financial planning. Nor Fazlina, Chief Executive Officer, Maybank Trustees Berhad shares with us the difference between a will and a trust and the unique challenges women as well as Muslim women face in estate planning.

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The most famous value investor is Warren Buffett but what does this style of investing mean? Faridq Ridzuan, Vice President of CFA Society Malaysia  discussed the basics of it,  how to identify a value stock and the importance of portfolio construction.

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As part of the series on insurance this month, we delve into the 101 of Takaful. Idi Irwan, Executive Director of Bill Morrisons explains to us how Takaful is different from conventional Insurance products and the unique feature of surplus and deficit sharing.

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Insurance planning  for the family is often neglected but we speak to Antony Lee, President, Persatuan Insurans Am Malaysia as to why this is critical. He shares with us what considerations must be made from marriage to having children and even for the home.

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It's not unusual for one to be in debt - after all, the most common debt carried by Malaysians is a mortgage. However, it can be crushing if you have a very high debt-to-income ratio, so we speak to Nur Sofina Binti Mohamad Johari, Wealth Advisor at UOB Kay Hian Wealth Advisors Sdn. Bhd about how to manage debt, and the dos and don’ts when you’re trying to start afresh financially.

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Insurance is an often overlooked part of financial planning but why is it a critical part that should not be ignored? Dr Selina Dang, Licensed Financial Planner, Coreplus Advisory tells us whilst giving us some tips on what insurance to buy and how much one should set aside for it.

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The year has started well with Bursa Malaysia in positive territory on a year to date basis but at the same time, there was a flurry of stocks which hit limit down over successive sessions. A reminder that markets can be rewarding yet volatile. Stephanie Tan, Head of Investor Strategy and Development at Bursa Malaysia tell us what tools they have in house which will help the retail investor overcome the challenges of equity investing and how education is a key part of that.

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As we draw close to the end of the lunar new year and start tallying our angpau haul, we discuss how guardians and parents can use this windfall money to impart financial literacy, especially with Raya happening in less than 2 months. Nalissa Suria, Project lead at Arus Academy shares the different ways to guide children in utilizing the money to maximize their learning potential, besides the “I’ll put it in the bank for you” method.

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The recent volatility of selected counters was a timely reminder that equity investing is not to be pursued without the right mindset and skills. Ng Zhu Hann, CEO & Founder at Tradeview Capital gives us some advice on what to adopt and how it can be rewarding when the right tools are in place.

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Indonesian voters have spoken - unofficial results indicate that defence minister Prabowo Subianto has won the presidential election by a comfortable margin. What does this mean for the policy direction of the country? We get colour and analysis from journalist Erin Cook who’s on the ground in Jakarta.

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It is Chinese New Year time again. In this special episode, Master Kenny Hoo of Good Feng Shui Geomantics shares his insights from a feng shui perspective on what the Year of the Dragon may have in store for the different zodiac signs.

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Investing is challenging even for professionals - but what are some of the tools and tips to make that process easier? Lim Mei Ching, a former fund manager and Author of 'Be Your Own Fund Manager' tells us whilst explaining what "FATA" is.

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In this age of rising life expectancy, saving for retirement has become a fundament of personal finance. Why do some people have solid retirement plans while others don’t? We speak to Joyce Chuah of Success Concepts about the nexus between behavioural dynamics and retirement planning.

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In the first Ringgit and Sense of 2024, we discuss what should be your financial resolutions. Stephen Yong, Licensed Financial Planner, Wealth Vantage Advisory shares with us how to prepare for the year ahead, what calls for a readjustment in budget, and what you should do with your bonus.

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2023 ends soon but before year ends, we explore all the tax breaks that are available with Christine Koh, Managing Partner of Owen KLCA. We also find out if its better to file your own taxes or with your spouse and what to do, if you do get that letter from Inland Revenue.

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It's not unusual for one to be in debt - after all, the most common debt carried by Malaysians is a mortgage. However, it can be crushing if you have a very high debt-to-income ratio, so we speak to Nur Sofina Binti Mohamad Johari, Wealth Advisor at UOB Kay Hian Wealth Advisors Sdn. Bhd about how to manage debt, and the dos and don’ts when you’re trying to start afresh financially.

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As we draw a conclusion for the year, Rajen Devadason, CEO, RD WealthCreation joins Philip See to discuss the key lessons from 2023 that had a notable impact on personal finance and what financial goals to set for the coming year.

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Data shows that more Malaysians are engaging professionally certified financial planners to help them understand the complex world of investments to match their financial goals. Anwar Mahbob speaks with Alvin Tan, President of the Financial Planning Association of Malaysia to find out how this profession has evolved and why financial planning is for everyone, not only the wealthy.

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We've all employed rationalizations for our purchases, whether it's crunching the numbers on the cost per wear or persuading ourselves that snagging a discounted item equates to savvy savings. This isn't exactly a new way of thinking while social media has recently labeled it as "Girl Math".

Dr. Grace Lee, professor of economics at Monash University Malaysia speaks to us on the psychology behind girl math and when it becomes too dangerous.

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In this era of high interest rates, how should you invest? We explore that conundrum since the historical correlations between asset classes appear to have broken down with Lim Chia Wei, Senior Portfolio Manager at AHAM Capital.

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On Monday was World’s Children’s Day. Idham Idris, Director & Licensed Financial Planner from Wealth Vantage Advisory discuss the cost of having these bundles of joy, how to budget and when is a good time to talk about money with them.

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Sustainable Assets under Management has increased to US 2.8trillion as of June 2023. A significant sum as more investors seek to align their own ESG values with investments. But is there sufficient depth and breadth to the market? Jigar Shah, Global Head of Sustainability Research, Maybank Investment Banking Group gives us that answer whilst telling us if ESG returns can be superior.

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For ringgit and sense today, we discuss the impact of inflation on household budget. Felix Neoh, Director of Financial Planning of Finwealth Management tells us what are the adjustments that could be made, who should look into reviewing their loans and whether long term goals like investment and retirement planning are not compromisable.

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According to Art Basel’s 2023 market report with Swiss Investment Bank, UBS, Global art sales increased by 3% year-on-year to an estimated $67.8 billion thanks to event driven art fairs, gallery opening and auction returning to pre-pandemic levels. With art increasingly seen as an alternative investment, how does one even start and is it only for the rich. Bingley Sim, an investment banker and avid art collector tells us.

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Gig or freelance work is increasingly common and there are many pluses but it's not without its financial consequences. We check in with Gor Sheau Shuenn, a licensed financial planner at Alpine Advisory on how to budget, save and even invest when income can be uncertain.

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Budget 2024 is the most expansionary to date but with the government focused on fiscal consolidation, what goodies were there for the rakyat? Thanneermalai Somasundaram from Thannees Tax Consulting Services advises us whilst explaining to us the new taxes and the importance of paying it.

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It's not unusual for one to be in debt - after all, the most common debt carried by Malaysians is a mortgage. However, it can be crushing if you have a very high debt-to-income ratio, so we speak to Nur Sofina Binti Mohamad Johari, Wealth Advisor at UOB Kay Hian Wealth Advisors Sdn. Bhd about how to manage debt, and the dos and don’ts when you’re trying to start afresh financially.

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October 10 marks World Mental Health Day and The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 1 in 4 people are affected by mental disorders at some point in their lives. We explore the connection between mental health and money from various aspects with Anita Abu Bakar, President of the Mental Illness Awareness & Support Association.

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October 1 was designated as International Day of Older Persons by The United Nations General Assembly. And Malaysia is expected to become a 'super-aged nation' by 2056. For Ringgit and Sense today, Martin Yap, Founder & CEO, CARE Concierge helps us understand how to balance filial piety with our own financial obligation, the cost of elderly care and how can we prepare ourselves financially for it if we decide to take on that responsibility.

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Financial literacy is unfortunately not taught in schools as part of core curriculum but according to a recent survey by The Financial Industry Collective Outreach (FINCO), it should be. We find out why and how it should be taught with their CEO, Clare Walker.

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BFM just turned 15, so what are the 15 things every retail investor should know. We turn to Founder & Chief Research Officer of Trident Analytics Sdn Bhd and author of the book- “What I learnt as an Analyst”, Peter Lim to have this important discussion.

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