is uh, it's more than enough for me and uh, I think it's a, it's a very good thing that the the government has done because, uh we are better off with it, compared to countries like, uh, uh


uh america where the cost of hospitalisation is very high, and they can't pay off their hospitalisation fees once they are admitted into the hospital once, and it breaks their finance apart


and all their savings they have been saving up, but it also depends on the the daily life situation and personality of the person, because someone who is uh, who is who works in a more dangerous


at uh work environment or lives in a more dangerous environment and has a, clumsy personality or, or usually hurts uh themselves, would be more, uh


would like to purchase more insurance, than just the CPF insurance coverage, ya


ya, eh so , would you approach an agent or DIY when it comes to insurance planning, if DIY how do you plan your own insurance, oh okay


, what are the the, oh, ya, what are the injustices of the world that make you angry


yes , I also think that bullying is uh, is a very big injustice of the world, , it, it there's a, even until today there's no, uh, sure fire way of uh


solving the, the problem of bullying, , from the perspective of the victim there's nothing he or she can, , do, except uh


to fight fire with fire, like to use violence against, the violence that has been pushed onto him, or to outsmart, the bully in, in another way which uh, very few people can do


, from the perspective of teachers and parents, uh there's nothing, there's very limited options because, if uh they have to consider the


the victim's uh, feelings and how the bully will react and, how people around the victims, the victim will react, and even, uh, certified professional psychologist


have difficulty in solving, these issues for the victim, because, if they do some if they, report, officially on the bully, the parents might be of a high position which can put them out of their job


so, it's a very, difficult situation that cannot be solved, uh easily, or cannot be solved at all


, uh, when I applied for uh, the job, and I went for an interview,


this was a long time ago, but I think that the, the interviewer pick, uh, pick me over, uh, uh the other interview interviewee


and, uh he told me that, it was because uh, it was because, of uh, education, and that uh degree holder holds much more


, reliability I think, over uh a non-degree holder, and uh, I felt that this was, a little bit unfair even though that I was


the one that, uh came out, uh, benefiting more, but uh, just because I hold a degree doesn't mean that, , that the non-degree holder is less of


uh less capable but capable than me, ya, how about you #ying kai#


ah ya, what dreams of yours die a little with each passing day, like which goals


uh the goals that you had last time, uh now


uh yes I agree with you, , my dream is also, to, be an entrepreneur, uh, specifically to set up a small, uh, a small F and B restaurant


possibly uh selling like uh, uh japanese food or, sell, uh, created food, but uh that dream dies each day, dies a little each day because


uh, of the the pressure of uh, uh safety, safety and security of our daily lives and finances, we find ourselves, uh, working, uh


for other people instead, cause, there's less risk, and, there is a very, safe and secure feeling that, you get, when uh our job is secured


ya, so


, I think it was uh, when I was applying for jobs, , then every day, , I applied like, uh a few a few jobs here and there


but the first week first uh, uh it felt okay because, I was transitioning from studying to applying for jobs, but by the second week uh


uh even after like a hundred applications there are no replies, so uh, the the rejection, even though there's no no replies but uh, uh you can still feel the rejection of the companies


when they don't even, send, reply to you, ya so that's where I felt like, giving up, how about you #ying kai#


yes, I, thankful for that as


uh, what makes you persevere


uh, also similar but uh I've, a few separate, uh, factors that I have, for persevering, , the first one is, like if I've gone through


something halfway, I would think about what I've, spent and uh, what has happened so far, halfway through uh until now, so , since I've done all the things that


I've been through until now I wouldn't waste the effort that have that I've spent or, the effort that other people have spent, uh, to bring me until here, but uh this goes against the, the sunk cost theory that we learn


ya which uh which says that, the past, uh anything that happened in the past uh shouldn't, uh, be a reason for, what you're deciding now but uh, uh I think is uh part of


human nature to, uh, to regret based on the past, and uh, another point is that, , there are many things to look forward to in the future, and


the the joy of living, is uh is there waiting for, me when I pushed through, the current, , what whatever situation I'm in now, and uh


for the family and friends that, are there for you when, you finish whatever you, you finish now, so, ya all this, uh makes me persevere through what whatever I'm facing now


, I'm more, thankful and appreciative towards my, friends and family that has been with me, uh in this, uh COVID situation, and uh


because I I came back from overseas, during this, situation uh, I'm thankful for the the more open mindset the, generally in a, the the whole world, and the


for technology that, has been, easing our lives, uh during this COVID situation like the, E learning and uh, our webex session now, ya it it has really helped us to


uh, continue with our lives, how about you #ying kai#


, describe a time when I'm helped by someone, like, kind of , when I was in uh, china, uh


it was my first time riding a bike, and after uh a few days uh, somewhere, uh, where I'm not sure I where I am, my bike broke down because the chain got detached and I was late for


an, appointment, but uh my friend happened to, come up behind me, and he he spent uh half an hour to, put back the chain because we were both uh quite new with bikes


ya so I was, uh, really touched that time, because I I spent uh, about an hour before he came up, ya how about you #ying kai#


uh, , this is uh, related to uh, can I talk about, gambling


okay , , it was my first time, uh, , gambling, like officially at uh, MBS, and uh, it was uh


it was just trying out, and uh, , I placed the bet and, I was, I I won the bet, but uh, I I let it quickly


go to my head and uh, I continued betting, and soon, the, the rewards that, came with that success was, gone in a, few minutes, so,


from then on I learn that, uh, gambling is not what it all, seems to be with the rewards and success, ya how about you #ying kai#


uh , uh there was a time when I went to, korea, and there was uh there was this uh, supermarket which is uh, it it was in a high class uh shopping centre


uh equivalent to the, orchard, uh, Tanglin or Isetan, ya so everything in there was super pricey, and there was a supermarket in the basement


where I went with my family, uh there was this, , uh, frozen or refrigerated meat section, where they advertise uh


uh two hundred dollar, per hundred gram of uh, super expensive beef, and, there was uh there was a cooking station where they, put up a sample of that


expensive cut of meat and I tried that sample, and it was so good that I I finish the, the whole sampling plate, and came back, uh after one round, to finish again, ya so I think that was the best meal


I, have ever had, even over like restaurants that, uh, home cooked stuff, how about you #ying kai#


okay, part one financial related topic


oh so so do we start with the first question, sorry, ya ya ya ya I'm talking to you do we start with the first question


okay so so, uh so I think we start with the first uh question so uh what do you look out for an insurance agent and what question would you ask your insurance agent while getting an insurance policy I will pass this question to brian to start first


okay, okay so so uh for me right so uh uh in my honest opinion so what I look out for for in an insurance agent I would see whether uh if my insurance agent is reliable in the sense that because


uh I think uh both of us are in uh accounting course so uh we will tend to look out more for the numbers the projections the number of years we have do uh we need, to get feasible uh financial returns in terms of the financial products we are investing in because in that sense I would say that


uh most likely most of us were were were more invested into getting like uh hospital plans and stuff because it's it's more likely like a, uh need than a want so in terms of investment products I will look at how my insurance agent can provide me with the feasible and uh reliable numbers for me to rely on in that sense so that I can make a more informed decision


and talking about being honest and being uh someone who can care for me I guess the numbers that they they can provide would eventually , would eventually show that how much they actually, uh care for us and uh and whether we can see how much time they actually invest behind the scenes to uh let uh us know that they are actually uh want us to make a more informed decision before we get an insurance policy and this is what I look out for in insurance agent


ya, so ya so so for the next question uh I would like to ask brian again so if you're an insurance agent what questions would you ask your client when planning their insurance coverage


so in that sense uh I'll I get an general idea that uh you wouldn't want to be appeared as like a pushy insurance agent so so as for me if I'm a insurance agent, so uh I will ask uh my client a few question before uh planning their insurance coverage first I would say that uh what are their needs in the future for the next ten to twenty years are they gonna have


uh uh like are they gonna have like uh uh a child soon so uh what kind of coverage uh do they really need to what what are their needs uh uh in fact, whether they want them uh to have uh a coverage for their education want them uh to have a savings plans or you want them to have like some savings uh for the rainy days in that sense so uh I would ask them this first so secondly I will ask them uh


uh what is the condition I mean uh before you get any any insurance coverage you technically need to go for a health check up and we would like to know like uh whether uh they are willing to have a higher uh hospital, or like a health coverage or like a lower health coverage because it really depends on how well your children are and how well are you and your family are in that sense


so last question I would ask uh uh as a insurance agent is whether are they comfortable reinvesting part of their money uh for a better future, so in that sense that I would uh ask them if they are interested in uh investment-linked products this time we will go on to that question later on so investment-linked products or they are just uh comfortable with what they have and go for a lower


investment uh policies for them to generate healthy returns for their insurance portfolio, and this is what the the kind of question that will I have ya


okay so so as a insurance agent I mean uh I wouldn't as what you mentioned I wouldn't want to appear to be pushy and all, I would want to have this caveat uh caveat of of saying that I'm a reliable person pushing that I'm a uh like like uh I'm a certain personality that uh


I would appear to be reliable reliable comes with what we can offer for our our client in the sense that uh, how much we actually care for our clients so for instance I would say that uh in the past that uh I I met a insurance agent so she mentioned


mostly about the benefits of the insurance plan but when I bomb her about some burning issues that I have like uh what if uh this thing happens to me what does this health insurance uh health plan uh gonna cover and stuff she's not


in in my opinion she's not uh that well informed, in that sense that she would actually provide me with alternative plans to uh to look out for but she, at that at that point of time she's actually advocating that this is the best plan for me I mean if you don't give me an alternative plan for me to look up or alternative companies for me to seek help from


I wouldn't think that you are very reliable in that sense or you are just trying to push this policy up front and tell me that this is the the only policy and this the best policy for you, to to check the reliability of person I would look at the credentials or how long this insurance agent are is in this industry because to me by being


I mean being uh working in this industry for a long period of time you yourself would have known that there are alternative policies for me to to see or another person who is more well versed in these policies, so for me to in order be a reliable uh insurance agent I would want to offer a spectrum of alternatives and options for my client to seek help


ya, ya


so uh so let me answer this question first so uh for this slogan uh buy term and invest the rest I mean uh, this kind of leads to uh why uh people are actually more invested in investments than insurance because to me uh for the be uh


among the people that I know uh uh in my environment they would rather invest in the investments that they know because they would know that, by investing in insurance, there's certain hidden clause certain certain fees that they have to pay for the fund managers and also in that aspect uh for for uh for the fund manager fan fund manager that do not know or have not known about they would be more worry that uh wary that


I mean these fund manager have uh whether they have a good track record or they do not have like a a good past uh record for them to rely on and just looking at their their past records right I we wouldn't have enough data to be uh to rely on and also uh when we purchase uh


uh investment plan with an insurance agent they themselves, may be advocating these uh funds to us and we have we have no idea whether these uh insurance agent have the relevant background they just advocate all these funds to us so to me uh


if I were to mix insurance uh uh insurance and investment together I I wouldn't advise anyone to do that because uh insurance, I meant from, covering uh mean like to, do your risk management for you and also investment is the one that diversify your risk I mean investment is for you to generate uh uh relatively healthy returns and I wouldn't want to mix these two uh policies together and personally I would keep them apart


how about you brian


ya, ya, ya so I would I would like to add on to what brian have been explaining so far so in that sense I would say that uh for people who are more well versed in


the uh uh in their investment knowledge I wouldn't we wouldn't recommend anyone to purchase like like like insurance plan because you will know that there will be agent fees there will be a third party fees there will be fund, uh uh many uh fees that will be going to the fund managers and as when you invest for the next ten to twenty years in the long term you will see uh


declining returns I mean it depends on the market returns as uh market rate and market returns as well right so in turn says uh uh in the past I've been uh I've been involved in generating analysis on, the returns that the uh some of the funds have been generating and we will see that as promised by


uh what uh most insurance agents would have in the first place where the clients are actually are looking at a policy they will say that they will generate a healthy annualised return of four percent, I mean uh at the end of day when when I generated the the spreadsheet I will see that probably there will be a decrease of a range of one to two percent you defer a range of one to two percent and four percent is almost impossible


, if we think about the the relevant numbers that we're gonna use to generate those returns so in that sense uh if we were to advise the younger crowd uh to look into insurance plans and investment plans, we will want you to have uh to make a more informed decision by making uh by doing your own due diligence and also uh to think uh to think more about why you want to purchase uh the plans and why you want to invest


uh certain policies in their investment portfolios, okay so right now uh we move on to next question uh do you uh for brian for you uh do you have any uh ILPs and what are your thoughts on ILPs in your insurance portfolio if you have any


so personally for me I do not involve in any of uh such investments and uh I have some friends who have ILPs I mean they personally told me about the the good things and the bad things about ILPs so, (ppc) for that did I mean uh as uh some of them are risk takers they told me that there are higher potential returns and also the flexibility to adjust the coverage uh uh as the time goes by


and also these may also have to have them to uh reduce their insurance coverage and also there's this free fund switching uh switching thing going on there so actually is is it is, flexible for them to switch from funds to funds in order to make uh uh more informed invest uh investment decisions but however the returns are not guaranteed and


they may also need to reduce their insurance coverage if the funds are not uh doing well in that sense so I mean there are some perks and there are some cons to these uh investment-linked uh policies which I I guess if you are someone who are willing to


go for a higher potential return uh so be it you can actually buy uh insured the investment linked uh policies but if, you have the investment and the financial knowledge to purchase other policies such as the ones that are out in the market like let's say you buy some uh uh some uh shares uh in the equity markets uh means


you will you will definitely have a higher uh higher potential returns in that sense where the uh eh the uh you will earn a relatively higher uh annualised return as compared to ILPs due to the, due to the uh fees that you are going to cover later on so uh for me I wouldn't say that uh having uh ILP is uh totally


uh totally disadvantageous to anyone out there but I will feel that by having a ILP is really for the convenience and what you have mentioned earlier on and also for the people who are not well uh who are not well informed, uh with uh their financial knowledge and this would be one of the things that for the first time buyers they will have to take note that uh there is no uh guaranteed returns and the higher potential returns are not guaranteed as well


so so so let me uh briefly talk about what I know about having like a CPF account so uh in that sense uh uh for our monthly uh monthly pay we will have to pay a twenty percent, uh uh twenty percent portion of our pay to the CPF account and also uh it splits within uh three accounts which is uh mainly the ordinary account the special account and medisave account so after you turn twenty uh fifty five years old so you would


uh your your ordinary account and special account will merge to form your retirement account with all the money to be used as a retirement income so uh if you ask me if my CPF, uh, if my CPF uh coverage uh insurance coverage is enough for my insurance coverage I mean


for for me if I'm someone who buys uh other insurance coverage I wouldn't have this thought that if uh my CPS uh CPF insurance coverage is enough for me because if I have the thought of buying uh other insurance coverage


, my is suggestive that uh my CPF uh insurance coverage it may not be sufficient, right so for for me since there are so many schemes out available and I myself uh would have, uh uh would invest some of my money to buy other uh insurance insurance plans for myself and for my family I would say that all these uh come uh comes with a tradeoff


right so so I personally think that the CPF insurance coverage may not be enough for my insurance coverage that's why most of the singaporeans would opt, to buy uh uh more policies to cover the different aspects of their insurance how about you brian


so so I do understand uh where where if you you are someone who works in a more dangerous environment such as uh in the construction industry you want to have like an additional plan, to have a higher coverage as compared to the ones the government is actually supplementing so for me I have the same uh uh uh I agree with you and also I I have the same thoughts as well so uh I would say that


as long as the C_P_F insurance coverage is there I would still prefer to have more (um) policies to cover and also have a higher coverage in that sense as as a ordinary singaporean (uh) working (uh) in a office job, ya


okay, uh part part three uh negative experiences


I would I would say this will be quite subjective because uh there are many kinds of injustice right so uh, during my growing up years I'm always the one getting bullied by my classmates because of


I mean I was fat I mean I I can admit it I was fat so at that point of time I I I I I didn't really have like a very disciplined eating habit I would, I I'm always the one who, who will rush to the tuckshop I mean in primary is called the tuckshop right so uh tuck shop to queue up uh for meals and also I'll ask the auntie to give me uh more rice more meat and also uh more gravy


I mean there's nothing wrong with that right so but, there was this instance where, uh I was I was from the band so there was this instance that that my friend, actually I wouldn't say who but actually he he was actually chasing after me because uh he was constantly making fun of my size making fun of me being fat I mean why are you here and


and I would I wouldn't say that being, fat is something that should be I mean I'm I I'm not proud of, myself being fat but I it shouldn't be something that someone should be talking about because of my, ill disciplined eating habits right so at that point of time we were chasing


he was chasing me I wasn't really chasing after him uh and he was saying that I was running very slow so no one stood up for me uh, in that uh classroom because I mean I guess uh it was well I mean it was uh well known that this guy actually bullies many different other individuals


so if these uh individual were to stand up for me, they will get the same treatment as well so I I I I I I I guess , the injustice right here would be that why people shouldn't stand up for what is right and what they believe in are they going to be anchored by fear that they will get the same treatment by the bully


or I should I mean should I be the one standing up for myself and not have a collective effort, to stand up for what is right and what is not, seem to be wrong right, so if there's more people


there's more people standing up for, things that they think, that is not morally wrong, I guess this should actually helps the one who is, in a more disadvantaged position and this really makes me angry because


that, in many many societies, most of the people are actually discriminated, because they look different or or they they are just not doing whatever the society does


then I guess when, we are talking about such topics it really depends on who uh who we are talking about uh what we are actually focusing on and I guess being angry is just , just one of the way to express my disappointment but I wouldn't say that people


can't agree that I'm a very ill disciplined person who have a very bad eating habits but I I I guess, I will hope, I would hope that more people will understand why, these people are going through tough times or why these people are actually having such bad habits uh is it because they didn't have the help they need


or because of some other areas they are actually in a very disadvantaged position and this should be address across uh different societies and of course of course, we wouldn't want to force this upon uh this idea upon people but I guess uh with this kind of imbalance in the society


this is what makes me angry and how about you brian


ya I will I will agree with your point where it really depends on uh where you stand in this situation or whether uh what circumstances you are born in and who are all these people that is actually involved in that situation so I will uh ask you the next question so


describe a moment when you felt that you were treated unfairly


(ppc) I would say some time back when I was in my polytechnic days so, so at that point of time it was quite, I would say in my environment there are people there are more people who are less inclined to work hard for their grades I mean there are there's there's a pool of people


they are very motivated because I mean they're they're scholars right so there are people who are more driven because of their scholarship they're more driven because they have a goal in mind they have they are more driven because they knew that after the end of three years they're able to make it


to the big three which I we which we I mean bluntly we will say that the top uh five to ten per cent of the cohort will be able to enter into the big three the big three universities , so at that point of time I was actually bidding for a competition to participate listen to me this is a competition I would uh they they judged based on the average of our three uh uh at at the average GP of uh the team of three


it was quite ridiculous because I mean I've a uh my teammate has a have a higher score I have a average score and another friend have a lowest score so as compared to, another team of scholars I mean when you add three of them together they have a relatively high score so they are able to participate


on behalf of the faculty just because of their grades I mean, we have relatively relatively same uh same grades right but we are not chosen because of a of a lower average, then why would that be the case, even though we have display uh well I mean display well in in terms of the our presentation the way we present uh the way we presented our ideas I mean it was impresses uh impressive at the point of time as compared to another team


so on another occasion where uh we actually participated , uh in uh interfaculty competition where there's no such requirement I actually my team actually emerged, first in that competition because of that I mean it was I was trying to prove to my lecturer that regardless of the great uh criteria we are still able to be as competent as the as the team


uh who has a relatively higher grade average, because I guess, even though we live in a society where meritocracy, it's something that we preach, when you work uh when we work hard we get to the place that we we yearn to uh to to go right but in that sense when you are in


in our uh, in school we actually judge based on our grade average which I think it shouldn't be the only criteria to uh filter I would say filter people out of their opportunities because, I guess everyone have their own own area that they are good in and also the area they are not good in probably in terms of academics they're not


they're not as as well I mean and not uh not doing well as much as the ones who are academic uh academically well off right so when we want when when I felt that uh when I felt that this was the, the only criteria to enter the competition I didn't receive the help that I I received the help that I need from my lecturers because I mean it was the fact that it is it was already the fact that I have a lower uh grade point average comparing to my peers


but I I felt that at that moment it was the time that I should wake up, and make sure that things are going right for me and I wouldn't want to blame anyone for, the the area that I'm not competent in, and this is why even though I feel I felt that uh was treated unfairly I just want to make it


the point to my lecturer that I have, uh I'm as competent as someone who have a uh higher score and also uh I can be able to perform better even better than the ones who have a uh have a higher score as compared to mine then how about you uh brian


uh let's uh move on to next uh next question right uh so , uh uh what do you mean by uh what dreams of yours die a little with you uh do you mean that the dream that


oh okay, ah okay okay okay I would say uh uh I'll I'll honestly say that I will really wanted to be entrepreneur and, in in our society uh there there wasn't any , there wasn't that there wasn't any


I wouldn't say it wasn't I wasn't born in a in an environment where entrepreneurship is a is a is a is a discussion topic that everyone, is very interested about , and most of our peers I mean I would say like around ninety percent of them are interested to work with the corporates


right I will namely say like uh in accounting industry people who want to work with the big four, or in a uh in the investment banking industry people would want to work with goldman sachs uh JP morgan right these are some of the big names out there so


even though I really wanted to be a uh entrepreneur I mean I guess I wouldn't be able to achieve that with, without a healthy environment to to strive towards because uh even though uh we were given grants you are given that extra support that we have I mean I I I didn't really feel that that I I have the


incentive to do so because of the social safety net right so uh we were down uh we we we are already having a substantial amount of uh school fees, to pay at the end of the day I wouldn't want this to be something


that pulls me back, uh to start off uh I mean to start my entrepreneur entrepreneurship journey but without that healthy environment for us to strive towards being an entrepreneur I guess this dream is really


a dream that really dies a little with each passing day how about you brian


okay so so let's move on to one of the more prominent questions so , me see uh okay so uh so uh so uh describe a time when you felt like giving up


so I'll guess , everything I'm circulating around is within the education system and also about uh finances so so, I'll I will start off with something that I I I I was quite annoyed about uh which is about a time that I was actually studying so at that point of time I I I I I didn't really have


much resources to start with so I was actually struggling to study uh financial accounting so uh I I I didn't have that edge as compared to uh some of my peers who have graduated from the relative uh for the respective accounting


accounting courses so so of course uh when it comes to school right so there's a bell curve and of course I was always lagging behind in classes because , I I I wouldn't be able to understand what is the uh basics and the fundamentals and at that point of time there were so many so many things I have to read up and also


I guess my my professor was trying to was trying to be helpful in that sense and she asked me to read everything, from the start to the end I mean I I wouldn't be able to get like any , any much out of that advice because I mean that's what everyone is doing right to study everything from the start to the end


uh there's nothing really uh there there's nothing for you to worry about because if you were to study from topic one to topic fifteen you'll be able to understand eventually, so the point where I felt like giving up was that when I was at topic three


I forgot what I have studied in topic one , which is ridiculous right because I didn't really know what is the uh how to balance, the balance sheet uh what is asset what is liability right and equity so so important it was it was was a very tough time for me uh adapting uh


adapting to school and also uh having like a gap year before before I apply for school I was I was I was it was a accumulation of uh stress that I really have because, uh firstly I I I changed my course right secondly I couldn't be able to compete on a level level uh level ground as compared to my peers because they have


already know what are the fundamentals of accounting business or probably other topics they are more passionate about and, the point when I felt like giving up, was also the point when we wanted to uh wanted to have like uh different quizzes because when I embark embark on a journey to study for the quiz I was already quite lost and you know uh


in in university when when you have, quizzes you are actually graded for it and if you are you uh emerge to be one of the uh lowest scoring one you will know that you will be able to get back, get back to where you want want to go so I I I really felt like that was the end because


if I were to make the wrong choice of making a change in course or, uh I'm not suitable to be studying accounting or should I study another course so I mean there are some some moments that I remembered that giving up wasn't a choice


because I have, a long three to four years ahead of me and I felt that if I were to adapt according to the circumstances I fall into, I will be able to make the best out of it, and because of that moment of me wanting to give up


I change my mindset, and I didn't give up at the end of the day which I'm very thankful about, ya


uh part two, ya uh positive experience okay uh so so you asking me right so what makes uh what makes me persevere


are we starting now okay so so what makes me persevere I I guess , I I I I guess when I'm going through some hard times so so for for me right I would say the hardships that I've gone through makes me stronger


so I I would think of like uh think of uh people who motivates me and also at sometimes, I mean uh some uh some defining moments that I have were, when during my army times I mean that that that will be one of the highlights of a normal uh singaporean uh guy right who is going through their national service they're doing uh they're


they're almost their prime age I would say so uh at that point of time I was actually I'm travelling frequently overseas for, uh exercises so uh it it spends around twenty to thirty days for each for uh each of my uh exercises so I have some days where I've no


uh phone connectivity uh in that sense where, we are in out in the field you are not allowed to, have any external call uh communications with uh with anyone outside because , the or uh the mission that you are embarking


uh is is kept confidential so there won't be any , there won't be any uh communications uh uh with your loved ones and also even with the ones that are standing around you


so at that point of time I I I was basically isolated and what makes me persevere was when I thought about the day that I'm going to return back to our country, so so when when I was going through that experience I was thinking about the things I want to do and the things that I really want to achieve if I come out uh I uh I come out alive


after uh that period of time so uh uh it will is is something that I really look forward to and also uh those hardships are really the days that I would think that uh, I would think that it defines me and also it I don't want it to define me uh in a negative way because I've I met failures I've met with I mean I've gone through times where


people are actually uh not accepting for who I am but what makes me persevere is when I know that I can do my best, to prove them wrong, that that I'm actually someone who is very wary and also someone who have the self awareness to know that uh


things are when things are not going well or things are not doing well, I can emerge stronger and this is why uh this is why all these moments actually builds on to my character and also how how I use it to


to establish myself as uh one of, as someone who actually uh gone through , the national service and also someone who actually have, uh gone through uh some of the toughest time of their life uh when they are


going uh we are when they're growing up, in those days, ya how about you brian


okay so for the next question right so it's much related to uh the COVID situation right now so for this question in the post-COVID nineteen world who or what are you newly thankful, of, or appreciative towards


so so for this uh uh this question right I mean , I'm actually thankful that uh this uh uh post-COVID nineteen situation had kind of stabilised


so for the past few weeks I've been actively uh meeting my friends uh doing some of the work that I really wanted to because uh previously I was actually , studying as well so I just have my summer break right now and also I'm glad that my friend came back from exchange so so we get to uh meet up more often and also uh share about our experiences when we are going through


uh the circuit breaker and also I also have uh like frequent uh video calls with some of my friends who are actually , going through tough times as well I'm able to rekindle with some some of my uh old friends and also we have news sparks and and new stories to share and uh I wouldn't feel that uh the entire COVID situation has gone I mean had uh has a negative impact


on us because you know uh when technology advances there are many things that we can do that we're not aware of and also , in this post-COVID uh situation there are so many uh things that we have never thought of would happen and also it broadens our perspective on some situations that we always think that there's only uh one or two ways to actually achieve it and also in terms of job prospects and we knew that


we are going through a tough time the market is crashing eh markets are crashing uh jobs uh uh the future for the job market seems to be bleak but thankfully, we knew that technology is always on a rising trend and also uh my friend brian is always uh is is always on a uh constant pursuit for his data analytics uh


uh path I'm I'm I'm happy for him and also I'm thankful that the friends around me are very supportive during this period of time and also I I I really don't think that the COVID uh in the uh post-COVID world there's nothing we are, more uh we are we we uh there's there's nothing that we can actually uh blame and also uh I would


rather adopt uh adapt to the new norm instead of being blaming everything that's happened within these uh these few months and also be more appreciative of the moments that we share with my our friends even before and after uh the COVID situation


ya let's move on to the next question so uh let's uh let uh let's describe a time where when you were helped by someone, in your time of need


uh it was, some crazy time back uh about ten years ago so, my family and I was actually travelling, travel uh we're travelling uh around malaysia so at that point of time we're actually at this place called what's that called #batu pahat# so is probably like


three to four hours away from the causeway so at that point of time we're actually rushing back to singapore so eh uh uh there was a very heavy rain and we were actually, driving uh along this uh long uh uh long stretch of road where it was


uh a relatively bumpy and there were a lot of potholes so at that point of time when it was raining heavily we didn't know we didn't know that uh there was a big pothole in front of us so uh we, we ran in


I mean we drove into the pothole and actually got two of our tyres on the same side punctured so at that point of time we were we we only have uh we only, I mean luckily we have two uh tyres left so at that point of time we were facing some issues replacing the tyre because I I guess my dad wasn't very sure how to change and also I was relatively young at that point of time so uh


there there was this uh mysterious uh guy on the bike I mean he rode over and also he we didn't knew how he looked like because it was quite dark at that point there there was no uh lights there were no illuminations uh all around that that that area so he he left the bike


at at a distance and also he came over and help us to change the remaining tyre so I I mean I was quite thankful because uh at that point of time we really need to get out of that place because it was a relatively , dark and it was a highway it was in the middle of the highway so I was quite thankful and we didn't get to thank him personally because he just ride


away after that so I mean when we have, when we need help uh at such times I mean we were very thankful and also uh if I were to find I mean will have to meet that person again I'll definitely uh treat him over a very good meal and also uh if not for him we will won't be able to get out of that ordeal


ya, so I will ask you another question brian so , so so describe a time when you took a risk and was rewarded with success


so I I I would say that I have a slightly different perspective on this because uh at that point of time I was very wary and I was very self conscious if I should take the risk to change the course


that I was actually uh was very passionate about because uh uh before I uh studied uh accountancy I was actually in, in the civil engineering field so I was under this uh scholarship uh bonded with uh BCA so


I I was quite , I wouldn't say I was very disappointed uh of the company that was working with but I was having that impression that they will allocate me to , relatively better work uh better workplace uh where is very uh where it's located very near to my area rather they actually shifted me


from the headquarters to one of the factories they were they were actually intending to build uh build for the next two years which is located at uh #joo koon#, so as a as someone who live in the east area I I had some difficulties travelling to #joo koon# every single day even on saturdays because eh it was uh I was on a five five and a half work week right so


so actually quit my job within two weeks after I embark on that uh full time job after my national service days so I I I actually told my mum that uh if I were to take the risk now and, and reapply


to studies uh a different course I mean what would be the success rate right because uh kind of uh when you are, trying to apply or uh a course that is very different from what you have been pursuing all all this while the success rate is quite low so I mean for me I wouldn't I I didn't have any much uh choice any uh any much choice to


to take and I I guess that uh the risk comes with reward right so I wouldn't say the success rate was very high at that point of time because that was the only option, that I I'm left with and if I don't take that risk uh I wouldn't I wouldn't be embarking on on uh studying accounting with my friend and wouldn't meet my friend here to have this conversation with you


so I guess uh when you take calculated risk right uh, definitely uh you will be rewarded whether, uh whether some uh with something good or with something that will will makes you stronger, there will be something that will you will definitely learn from that experience and I guess if it's not uh uh if my application is not successful


it will be a learning lesson for me, at the end of the day so so this risk is is quite uh is is worthwhile and uh I it actually broaden my horizon and broaden my perspective on many things that if we can actually uh


step out of our comfort zone and look into a different aspects of areas for improvements uh area for growth I mean it will definitely benefit us uh in the long run, so I guess this uh question is uh very well relatable one and also it really uh resonate with me as well so let's go on to a last question so uh


uh what was the best meat you have ever had brian


I mean I I beg to differ because I mean I'm I'm I'm a buddhist myself so uh uh I I I can't have any beef you know so I'm also allergic to seafood so I can't have much of seafood so uh, I mean, out of all the meat that I've tried so far uh at home uh regardless at home or outside uh or even the one that I paid top price for so I would say that my grandma actually uh


has the best recipe for the best meat because uh I grew up eating uh her uh I grew up eating her uh uh her roasted meat so I mean, I mean it's it's quite difficult I mean for me is a is a tedious process actually have a very delicate appeared uh to to roast a delicate uh roast pork right so


so at that point of time I mean uh uh I look at how she uh roast the pork and stuff but I I actually appreciate her efforts uh to actually cook that meal for me so I wouldn't complain that that her meat was uh, was not as good as what we have uh pay the top price for I will guess that I will definitely think that the best meat that I ever had was the one that my grandma made


financial related topic, yes


I would say to, start investing yes,


uh I agree I agree I believe that no matter amount the amount of income you receive a month as long as you dedicate a certain percentage like twenty percent to investments consistently , the rewards will be substantial and I also believe in keeping up with the news especially when it comes to investment if I were to invest in maybe tesla five years ago I wouldn't have to


have to work so hard (ppc) for money in these days (ppc) (ppc)


(ppc) (ppc) same same same, #bak kut teh# come on you don't want to bring that up now (ppc) okay okay okay


I see I see have you ever, done much investment lately


I started investing as of recently only but as I've mentioned earlier if I started five years ago it'll be much better uh I'm we have invested (ppc), in some some mediocre stocks only (ppc) one of the


worst ones would be a SIA stocks (ppc), (ppc) yes uh I bought it at like a very high price and now it's a very low price so I I regret, I regret not doing enough uh research before jumping in you know as the common fear of missing out kicks in ya so that's one of the downsides of uh investing if you didn't do enough first research ya (ppc)


the (ppc), uh do you do you believe in a financial financial plans or savings plans (ppc)


I see I see


I think what you said is true (mmhmm) (ppc) but ah ya I think our parents would know more about this because they are the one paying the bills but of course we should uh think about this early, exactly and uh we can start to imagine


like you can start to gauge our current income maybe minus an extra two or three hundred dollars to factor in the utility bills and we see how much we left, (ppc) so that we know (ppc)


(ppc) (ppc) what are your thoughts what are your thoughts on (ppc) early retirement, the endgame


(mmhmm), (mmhmm) (mmhmm) agree agree


!wow! uh that should , that should explain the uh sixty seven years old retirement age that we have right now right, that's a very interesting point you bring up there regine , (ppc) uh so do you think what kind of jobs


uh in singapore that will allow you to uh maybe retire early


(mmhmm)


I see I see, while sleeping


!whoa! , (ppc) that's right that's right


, uh I I agree about that I agree I agree to that yes uh especially when it comes to investing, yes (ppc) so so we must do our research uh thoroughly before uh dumping our money elsewhere so we don't have to really hassle for (ppc) bits and scraps here and there (ppc) uh sixty dollars (ppc)


uh no but in all seriousness ya like one example is my SIA stocks uh I've lost a substantial amount and then I should have uh researched a bit more, and, when it comes to saving plan yes uh there are a lot of banks that uh offer offer you a attractive interest rates uh if you deposit this amount of money uh to them or with them so I believe that that is also a form of investment that if you are not really financially uh


knowledgeable when it comes to stocks or ETF, or other uh investment products you can approach such uh institutions that to help you manage your funds ya fund managers actually, I think I should have I should have approached that (ppc) approach that uh strategic direction instead of uh YOLOing my entire saving to SIA


, I'm sorry man SIA is just terrible (ppc) okay what about some of your (ppc), (ppc) investment experience ya what are some of your investment experiences ya


, my opinion in investment is very basic actually where you put money into something that actually increases increases add value ya yes money and increase if then


(mmhmm), (mmhmm) (mmhmm) that is one of the


(ppc) oh (ppc), can you please elaborate


(mmhmm) (ppc), gambler


oh


, , the gambler , what a gambler


, (ppc)


I see (ppc),


okay I've been talking about my SIA uh experiences because that's one of the most prominent (ppc), uh turning point in my investment or career yes actually I did invest in other other at ETF as well but their gains their gains or losses are not as uh dramatic as the SIA one which


has caused me various nights of uh sleepless nights (ppc) so I I agree with what you said earlier investment actually when you put aside the monetary terms could be uh more of a knowledgeable gains or experience in the market ya but be sure not to put too much into it uh


(ppc) just to gain knowledge so yes I've lost, lost that amount with SIA but the knowledge also comes with it like I said uh do more research on the company maybe read the uh income statements the yearly income statements


the the profit earn ratios yes and I believe that this knowledge will be, better gained ah if you are a business student such as yourself regine (ppc) so ya so that's one of the upsides of studying business yes and


, (ppc), (ppc)


, uh currently with my relationship right now , uh everything is quite separate actually we do not really merge our


we do (ppc) we don't have really merge our finances as especially of course if things get a little more serious ya , especially when tying the knot you know uh after we get married of course uh I would in my personal opinion I wouldn't mind uh letting my significant other manage my finances yes but as of now you know things are a bit (ppc) unstable


and uh uncertain just like the uh job market in singapore right now (ppc), so we keep we keep things separate (mmhmm), (ppc) yes yes (mmhmm)


well that's personal there is a (ppc), (ppc), it's personal man (ppc)


low income (ppc), no no that aside uh, regine how would you spend your money uh (ppc) on a daily basis do you think you are spending too much money


oh you try to spend more these days (ppc), (ppc), thrifty oh


you're loaded, ah


uh no uh actually I'm quite similar to your case actually I'm quite the scrooge as well what a coincidence (ppc), ya yes I'm just uh quite scrooge I do not splurge on uh most of my wants actually yes yes yes


!huh! cannot ah ah, (ppc), cannot ah got problem is it ah


, (ppc), (ppc) (ppc), uh apologies for those times (ppc),


(ppc), strategies I've heard of people starting their own a a spreadsheet uh in the


indicating what percentage uh goes to uh utilities percentage goes to investment percentage goes to marriage or kids uh future universities and I haven't really started that spreadsheet yet (ppc), but right now is all (ppc), , oh !ow! can you teach me


so right now it's just uh, being being thrifty until I have a a more more fixed source of income to maybe start that spreadsheets ya and I try to have any any excess amount of money I have into investments of course


yes that's my that's my current plan right now only


(mm)


negative experiences


(mmhmm), george floyd ah , you well personally I've I've seen the videos myself and uh I got really angry about uh such a police brutalities and I'm glad that singapore our own country do not have such incidences


and that the use of uh guns in singapore, uh in the general population is of prohibited yes, , because of that a lot of uh US uh the entire country even uh international countries uh join the movement to protest against uh uh police brutality and you know black lives matter as such


ya I think it's a very it's very meaningful and it shows how united uh how how the internet has brought brought the world together to stand against uh stand for a cause, uh however uh in the economic sense, when when amid COVID nineteen pandemic uh we shouldn't even hold uh protest such as this


to even spread the disease and businesses already suffering and yet people are still skipping skipping work to go to protest I think is is more devastating to their economy even more, yes


uh, no no I heard trump did a very terrible job very bad job about doing such yes and uh I I know his uh election is coming up soon but I don't think he'll win what what are your thoughts


(ppc) , president trump uh that's a no that's a no on my end that's a no,


(mmhmm), okay


is delivery (mmhmm) I see I see


(mmhmm), oh ya multi multiracial multi uh ethnic society ah same same I agree uh what are your


thoughts about uh the, racial and ethnic situation in uh singapore, yes


I see okay, agreed agreed


(mmhmm) (ppc)


I think (ppc) I think I agree what you said the eye to eye uh there's always uh there is, there will always be a difference our physical appearance the way we talk uh (ppc) the traditions and practices that we do are all different and when it comes to religion or race and (ppc)


there's there will be uh there'll there'll always be a difference and people always talk about it and, I think is most important to educate everyone uh about each other's backgrounds and to accept each other that's the most uh important part and not to you know ignore or keep silent don't talk about this or that and you know that just breeds tensions and


ya it's to really teach everyone to accept uh the culture or the race and you know a few jokes and here and there is okay don't take it offensively I think that's the most important part ya not to make not to breed too much tension or be too sensitive about one another


I think that is that what should be taught in schools these days yes which which is what we had been taught since uh primary schools or secondary schools that made me you know grew up to be such a fine young man


(ppc),


oh maturity you mean


well I'm you think that way (ppc),


apart from the stink of the #tau gays# there's not much that can come to mine actually


oh I I see I see that is news to me


of that pink underwear ah , did your grandmother embroid it or something


!wow!, !huh! come to think of it there was there was one day where the girls were weren't by my side and they were hunting around you ya no wonder no wonder (ppc) yes that explains it


actually for me as well as the first time I've been seen walking around the school without anybody by my side yes ah guess it's uh both embarrassing for us


(hmm) like on uh facebook at that time it was pretty uh the hot topic back then I see !wow! !wow! I must have missed it


well thank you for bringing that up (ppc) thank you for bringing that up actually , that was a there's another embarrassing moment apart from the #tau gay# incident (ppc) that I hope to, you never actually remembered but you do now that one was actually given to me by my grandfather (mmhmm) before my late grandfather actually


actually uh he served in the uh vietnam war yes and uh during the time he in the army he actually he actually


encountered a lot of uh nature, he actually encountered a lot of wildlife and it was some of these animals that he managed to skin and brought as a souvenir back home to his father which is my grandfather


(ppc) , well he was killing humans as a as a living for a living, , no it was the leopard that he keeps got it wrong


, negative experience ya well that's why I didn't want to bring it out or wear wear it out much but I have do have to say it was pretty comfortable


(mmhmm) ya, is uh a bit therapeutic actually yes


!huh!,


, oh alright alright this one of the uh bad experience I've had and uh actually to cope with that incident I went to visit the doctor actually to have some medication and


actually I visited the uh neighbourhood doctor actually ya and they and I actually talked talked the issue out with him and it was as therapeutic as it is now


and he after applying some medication and seeing the effects it was it's pretty rewarding actually ah ya our relationship with my girlfriend grew stronger after that actually yes yes to have you know


, it was a very unorthodox uh uh doctor recommended to me by a close friend actually one of your friends actually yes and I have to visit him late in the night so it was, it took a massive amount of courage an enormous amount of effort and courage to you know to approach such a huge topic yes


actually I can't really say such as lucrative or secretive uh doctor you know it's


it's a secret yes a secret ya definitely definitely, actually if I recall I did make a appointment before I head down so is appointment based yes


, of course of course we have to tackle this issue together as a couple as a couple, (ppc) yup does this uh surprise you


oh uh because this is a unorthodox doc as I mentioned so whatever helps it tackle this huge issue you know whoever works but after that ya


we're a happy couple we're a happy couple for a period of time before I bought the SIA stocks ah


, no actually is all positive ya there's not much yes I oh I overcome my fear of uh expressing myself and I gained confidence and I've tackled one of the smallest and biggest issues in my life both at the same time


, I was put in a spot I was put in a spot


in that circumstance okay, emotionally speaking as I said earlier, I should you know


muster my courage and uh you know express myself to the doctor as much as possible and he did question uh quite a few uh sensitive, related areas which uh put me in the spot and put me in an uncomfortable position but you know after letting open the letting open the floodgates and letting my emotions pour and it's sort of a therapeutic moment I wouldn't say it was just purely medicinal it was a so of a


therapist so as therapist uh, concoction as well and so yes I got out of that uh rough spot actually ya and now overcome my fears (ppc) is all positive you know


okay I'll let you know this one yes yes,


so he can empathise with me better you know stand you know same same male to male , uh what about (mmhmm) sorry sorry time is running out is your question first


yes yes definitely uh I've been still using the medication these days


positive experience, (mmhmm)


times are bad ah , , keeps me going ah actually I have a job ah don't know about you ah, (ppc), (ppc) I see uh apart from this


have a job like that earns quite a substantial amount these days so I think I'm good on that and currently is the holidays I don't really have much uh things on my schedule so yes I try to earn a little bit of, income yes (ppc) and uh being very thrifty (uh huh) so (ppc) okay being very thrifty being very thrifty


uh I'm uh ya uh I'm actually uh quite , good to go already sorry as you were saying


uh that that's a that's a dark dark past in that that's a dark uh dark moment in my in my uh past yes and ah , recouped those losses actually with my current job yes yes yes but of course uh it's been traumatising then


oh I see


push it (ppc), (ppc), am am I one of those friends, am I one of those friends (ppc)


, I see I see uh (ppc)


uh I agree on that I agree on that, so basically this COVID nineteen pandemic forces nearly most businesses to go shift their services


online yes and uh cut down on uh their brick and mortar or their, offices are being shut down and they force, a lot of their employees to work from home uh and some of these companies actually realise that uh is a lot more cost efficient they save a lot


more on uh uh, facilities and office equipment and actually they still able to get the work done and they still able to, produced projects for most of these companies but of course when it comes to like uh retail shops or maybe bread shops or restaurants


there's a they also they also are facing their own challenges ah yes so uh on uh my own personal experience uh, uh as I'm a student right now it doesn't really affect me as much as learning can be easily migrated to uh online yes ya but if


uh uh tech companies actually tech companies uh should should be able to cope with this crisis uh in these days,


, this circuit breaker lockdown (ppc) actually


it I took a big hit man ya, it's is to add on with the SIA experiences man uh to be honest , if I were to say I I'm I'm I've I've not been crying at night it will be a lie ah,


, will you ask you ask


I try to reach out reach out and socially yes and uh I try to find ways to connect back actually ya to think that uh in this current age and time we're such a connected a globally with our internet and such but


yet I still quite I still feel quite disconnected so


ya could could we just change topic there's no positive sides to this


, uh yes of course of course I get to wake up late wake up late at times (ppc) at times uh beyond nine thirty yes and I get to access my work uh immediately online


uh yes, what about you what what are some of your positive experience in this COVID nineteen era


entrepreneur, oh really oh !wow! I see (ppc)


!wow! !wow! well could you elaborate on what kind of uh products or services you manage to sell on these sites (ppc)


oh you have no skill, , (mmhmm)


booming booming because of the COVID nineteen crisis everybody is turning towards electronics ya, !wow!, you are so so you are taking taking advantage of the uh situation to your


oh, my apologies seizing the opportunity


what a philanthropist what a philanthropist, !wow!


oh my oh my


oh my (ppc) I've never heard of this before or could you uh elaborate more about this


it really you did mention this it must have slipped my mind was the, (ppc)


, that part is true that part is true yes but I should really learn more about uh your your advancement towards pets as well to me it's just all the community and the people very touching of you to do such a thing (mmhmm)


oh those #tau gays# yes !wow! ,


well, we we can safely say that I'm the one I'm the more thrifty one here already yes if only I had the those earnings uh from your shopee or carousell I would invest in


in SPCA ya some of the organisations in singapore ya well, to explain that that that one time in secondary school uh I was having a rough time I was, going through puberty I don't know about you but


you know those time uh after PE sessions where you will go to the locker room and steal other people's underwear for some reason , , can you please


no no no you will I caught you sniffing them and then running running off like were you being thrifty


!huh!, ah, !ow!,


!wow! (ppc) (ppc) ah


oh I'm sorry man I'm sorry it's been, so long ago I it must have uh blurred in my memory or some you could be wiping your sweat as well with those uh embroidered handkerchiefs


, !huh!


(ppc), okay that day, it was a few weeks after your handkerchief incidents actually I was I was just retrieving my items in a nearby lockers outside the , changing room actually I don't know what you saw could have been uh another one of our classmates you know yes could you have forgotten maybe mistaken it for


another person (ppc)


could it could it been that we went to different secondary schools because I don't believe our principal allowed uh mohawk hair style so that in our school, , (ppc)


well, okay that might be true I'm obviously a rebel that's why maybe I took a bit of uh #tau gays# back home you know bending the rules and such


oh, oh I see well nice guys finishes last


oh man now you're making me blush , ya those days those days


napping session oh


if uh I recall eight eight to two was our classes right what's ours was, lesson time right onward ,


ah I see I see I see I see so that's how he, uh maybe it was for you but actually that's how you got yourself into uh NTU business could I see maybe I should adopt such practices in the future


(ppc) !wah! that's a unique strategy ah !wow!, ah could have done so much more well in my life if I did that, the


(ppc), (ppc) ya maybe maybe maybe, , I I wouldn't I, (ppc), I understand why you find school so boring you know because all the girls will just you know flock around me and just ignore you ya it could have been uh that negative experience on your side you should save this for the later discussion ya


(ppc)


okay okay,


alright alright alright okay in my personal opinion I'm actually quite envious of your uh empathy towards others as well


and your lovingness uh of your friends and family around you like your embroidered handkerchief uh relating to your grandmother that's a actually very sweet and I should get one embroidered handkerchief myself


(mm) (ppo) (mm)


financial related topics, okay so elroy what is one advice you would give yourself five years ago


(mmhmm), oh same same same uh to be honest I think uh investing you can never start too early although you might not have enough money, uh as uh at at a younger age but you know


money can roll over in interest so it will be a lot better if, if likewise we started earlier investing in, uh using our money to invest in like stocks or any other investment vehicles


(mmhmm), (mmhmm), have to


true I agree I agree it's like like like netflix you know if we if we had the foresight to see at how netflix can actually become such a huge thing I would have invested all my money in it, what about what about what about uh you know remember five years ago you always like to spend on


uh alcohol, so,


okay uh so, I I think I I think that wasn't really a wise choice because I mean apart from, , the amount of money you spend, I think the amount of time that, is wasted


it's quite precious as well so, uh eh that is maybe an advice that I could actually give you


uh ya I've actually look into different uh stocks like ETFs, uh blue chip stocks, in maybe even index funds in something similar to ETF so, and and and and


it is is more a lot more complicated than what I thought it would be so it takes a lot more time to understand the, market what about you


oh oh oh but to be yes,


but, of course of course of course I think I think financial planning is


definitely uh necessary but like like, like I mentioned just now I think when it comes to finances especially personal finances uh it's a lot more complicated than we think it is because as


right now our commitments and responsibilities are quite minimal you know we we probably most of us probably only need to care about things like our phone bill we don't need to care about utilities don't need to care about managing our income don't need to care about managing uh


loans and debts and bills so, uh, right now we just we don't have a lot on our plate to plan for but it would definitely be a good habit for us to start getting into it so that we know how to be financially savvy


what what what what are your what are your thoughts on this


, ya exactly exactly


, and I think you know the the ya the earlier they start the the the, the more potential you have in in you know earning more money, and saving more money ya


early retirement oh there's a there's a I think that's a that's a dream that a lot of people the the a lot of people like to have but, especially in singapore it is a little bit tough it's a it's tougher compared to other countries like let's say uh probably US because at same time I think singapore is recently ranked


one of if not the highest cost of living, countries in asia so I think that plays a huge part in uh the citizens' ability to retire early, because because the cost of living makes it uh so much harder for you to live sustainably without a constant


source of income so ya so ya so is, it


(hmm) actually to be very honest I've been on it for I've been on this topic for for for a while now because I I realise


if you were to stuck if you were stuck to a day job you probably won't be able to achieve, uh, early retirement because of the nature of it where you trade your time for money so


in order to answer your question what kind of jobs I I feel like it's not the kind of jobs but rather the number of jobs that you are able to take, in the twenty four hours that you have so you need to understand like so so that's where finances investment come in when when you're able to draw streams of revenue from different avenues that is when correct while sleeping likes


stocks the stock market most even though you sleep the forex market move even though you sleep so this, so you have to be wise, and creative in the way you earn your income


so I think only then if you have a stable source of some might even call it passive income then you will have the chance to retire early, do you agree or do you have any ideas about this topic


that's good


(ppc) (ppc) (ppc)


okay okay , so ah ya ya ya please go ahead go ahead my investment experience, okay so so first of all what what what did you constitute as investment do you


venturing into business it it this considered investment or is it only about stocks and, or anything under the under the umbrella of you know at investing in something


okay okay so so uh maybe a basic not a basic but a straightforward form will be stocks and, forex correct so so I mean uh generally my experience in the two markets have been unprofitable


okay so uh, I actually took the time to learn about technical and fundamental analysis which I believe you are quite quite clear on why is it needed in both investing and trading in the stock or forex market


by having having tried uh because I was quite into markets that are volatile meaning you have the opportunity to earn uh, capital growth in a short amount of time and that was what the forex market was good for but of course


with high returns come with high risk which was why when venturing into forex, I lost quite some I lost quite some money but at the same time, not the very too much because most of it is paper money so it's not actual money


so when I say unprofitable actually meant that my experience my practice with the market was unprofitable but I I but the actual money that I've lost uh isn't isn't isn't too much although I've tried and, it wasn't successful but I'm still trying because I believe you know if you put in


if you if you put in a little bit more , , you know if you put in okay if you if you


actually spend if you actually gain more experience in understanding a certain market or certain currency pair then, your chances err in earning profits from there would increase but of course I have to uh put a disclaimer that there's no guarantee to it so you have to be you know uh you have to consider a lot of factors whether in terms of the time


sense of money in terms of your priorities what what ya what do you what are you able what what about you, I mean you have been going on and on about about your SIA experience so is it is that is that your only time that you invested or maybe you got you have had other experiences as well


oh okay okay


that's true that's true


exactly exactly


you know you know regarding planning for wealth right planning for like your finances, uh when it comes to family how how how would you, and the girl that you're seeing right now actually manage your finances


like do do you all see eye to eye or, or you all just, you keep it quite separate, (mmhmm)


, so it's like uh your money is your money my money is my money kind of thing, oh, I see I see it could could could that actually be uh why your relationship is a bit unstable


I mean I mean just just just to share just to share a bit more I I'm just trying to find out more about the the, it it effects you know of like, certain relationship dynamics


ya ya please please carry on, oh uh to be very honest with you I I've had uh


I've had a habit of saving ever since young uh I think not because I not because I had uh, not because I had a strong understanding of the importance of saving since young but rather it was told to me by my parents


so I I wouldn't consider myself to be someone who's who spends a lot but rather, on the contrary I am quite I mean , I think I'm quite a scrooge which isn't very good , which isn't which isn't very good uh


so I'm striking a balance between you know, uh being, , not trying to spending more or rather uh being more, willing being more more more willing to spend on what is necessary


but of course of course uh that is not a huge issue uh in my personal life because, I think my my my my needs and wants right now aren't very expensive so it's not a very huge uh challenge to to overcome


so what about you and okay I mean just personally you uh is this an issue that you face, oh okay okay okay okay


oh ya ya ya ya I remember how you always like you know when we come out for meals, you you


you I think you will save uh save save money on beverages right, okay okay okay, okay ya ya it's okay no no I mean I I get where you're coming from I get where you're coming from


okay, okay ya , I mean okay I mean ya, uh I mean so , but besides all that right I mean there there needs to be some form of strategy in managing our finances so do you currently have any


thing like that, (ppc) , oh oh okay okay


uh, I I mean I have I have okay okay ya sure sure sure but ya correct please carry on please carry on


(ppc)


ah okay okay oh, okay I mean on my end I think it's something very similar like like what you mention that excel spreadsheet it really helps you to visualise you know, the distribution of your money so ya it's like a cashflow statement so I mean I I don't have much to add on from here


okay, negative experiences, elroy, lately you know the issue about about the racism in US


you know oh what what what are your thoughts on it, yes yes, (ppc)


(mmhmm)


, oh ya ya


, exactly exactly do you actually agree with the way you know the president has been handling the situation


so will you be will you will be voting for him, ah I see I see, I mean, ya ya ya you ask me you ask me you you ask me


on my thoughts about this issue and I think that uh, it has it has always been present, in the country by country I meant US not singapore, uh uh


and it has been thoroughly overlooked you know but but of course the situation is nothing compared to, years and years ago, that the black ancestry actually experience but it has evolved to a certain extent where uh


you know police actually, police in particular feel the feel the right or feel the need to be extra aggressive towards their towards towards them, based solely on you know the history and culture behind behind the colour of their behind the colour of the skin so so that that so that that something that that that has been has been bothering bothering me for quite a while


you know like, hard like I I just imagine putting myself in in uh in a african american person's shoe, and I realise you know the quality of life would be so different from what I have in singapore


so really teaches me to to to to appreciate uh that environment and situation that we are in, correct correct


so (mmhmm)


in singapore in singapore to be very honest I think uh, I think it's a good balance, of course it's undeniable there are stereotypes at stigmas and even joke jokes thrown around at each other


but I think something like that is inevitable, because uh because at in a very fundamental sense there will always be differences in the way we behave in our culture in our perspectives so to a certain extent to a certain extent we will never see eye to eye


so I think it it is impressive it is already impressive that we are able to cohabitate cohabit, with each other uh in such in such a prosperous manner


so , and I understand that some people have complaints about you know uh, discrimination against uh against each other so uh I do believe that it's not as prominent as an or as severe that it requires some form of


uh serious attention or even things like even things like movements to actually solve, so I mean mine from your point of view how do you feel about this


that that's that's very true that's very true I mean I I think I think your understanding on on on this social issues are makes you a very, uh insightful person that you know not not many people around your age have have this level of understanding on an of maturity and awareness on what's going on around us so ya ya if there're someone that I've always you know


look to look look up to to find out more about such issues, but like but ah ya I'm just quite curious you know someone as perfect as you you know are there any times that you will you feel embarrassed about something


(ppc) perhaps oh


I mean I mean I mean that that is expected of someone so as perfect as yourself whereby if you are if you were to ask me you know you know how I had this favourite pair of pink underwear, I mean


ya so so what was what was driving at is that uh, I think I've never told you before, but I've always been embarrassed


of of that pink underwear you know because in secondary school you know PE sometimes you know that you don't need to know sometimes the underwear might show and you know the the hot pink colour will always catch people's eye


ya and I believe I believe there was there was once when you know I became I became a subject, in school because of the pink underwear


ya ya ya ya rehearsal that were actually that that that that was actually a a quite a embarrassing moment for me,


oh okay ya , and and and and the underwear and the underwear was was just such a bad memory you know you know I I had I had a tough time uh managing the comments that I hear go around go around me


I mean, ya ya exactly exactly it's like people even have pictures of it, but but but


just funny enough nobody commented on the leopard print underwear that you used to have, and I always wonder why why did my hot pink underwear outshine something as embarrassing as your leopard print underwear


I mean it's coming from it , (mmhmm) (mmhmm)


oh oh was it because because was it that leopard that he hunted, in in thailand and he brought it back for you


it's it's okay take take your time take your time take your time I know you're getting choked up talking about the experience


that is ridiculous how could he have skinned an animal and let you wear as a underwear, oh does that explain why you had the underwear that looks like human skin


oh okay okay wait, I understand I understand but but that was that was that was that's quite uh sad


that's quite a , you know traumatising, ya, I I mean, right it feels a lot better right I mean that's the that's the that's the whole point of you know having this sort of conversations because when you open up about this negative experiences


you know , like like like you know I remember there was once you shared with me about how you were, not meeting expectations in the in uh in the comfort of


your home with the girl that you are seeing, so, but but but I don't know I don't know how you shared that you, felt a lot better after sharing and and and


ya I mean there's a lot of things to learn from you know, sometimes talking eh we have to be realistic and you know face our confront our our embarrassing and negative experiences so I think this this conversation really helps us


(mmhmm), oh what kind of what kind of doctor do they have a clinic in Geylang


oh


, ya but but I I've never seen, oh that's great but I I've actually never seen such a


such a long consultant consultation with a doctor that stretches overnight, so I'm actually quite curious like you know which neighbourhood doctor uh, were actually providing such may I even call it service to to actually


, ya, I mean I mean exactly it that there are not many twenty four hours clinic around so I just curious especially especially in in in the vicinity of you know that community


, okay okay okay it is only by referral I believe


so so, I see I see so did your girlfriend like actually visit the doctor with you


oh !wow! !wow! !wow!, oh okay , ya ya because uh from my understanding you know these consultations usually involve of one to one kind of session


ah right right right, makes sense, (mmhmm) (mmhmm)


so so so regarding this consultation you know uh how was the entire experience like you know was there any bad things did they had any negative takeaway from it


I guess I guess there's not much oh, ,


so you know like like like so there was an issue you know with like, your ability to position yourself, like you're not sure both physically and emotionally where you should be at


so when there's where the dynamic is, the three of you in the doctor your girlfriend yourself, in the consultation room I I'm just wondering ya exactly


I'm just wondering I'm wondering you know I'm getting choked up you know not, talking about this issue because it really it really it really hits home but, but, how did you position yourself


correct


oh, , oh okay okay


so wait but but just to clarify that uh so you you seek a male doctor correct, okay okay I mean I get I guess I guess you you need ya you need a third party's point of view to actually realise maybe ya


correct correct ya, I mean that was, ya sorry, ya ya so uh so I'm just saying uh that was really a tough time for you but I'm so glad that you actually got over it


(mm)


, positive experiences, , uh so elroy you know this times like job market is tough investment is tough what what what what keeps you going to be very honest


oh, I mean you don't have to flex right


okay okay, but all most of the uh sorry please please no no please carry on yes yes yes


, wait wait so so so are you good to go or are most of your finances tied in SIA


oh okay okay, oh oh that oh that's wonderful that's wonderful, , ya I mean personally for me I wasn't able to find an internship nor a part time job


but uh, I I I spent a good amount of time working on school projects so that helps me with achieving my aspirations in being a a business consultant so ya ya ya so so that that that that that's actually kept me busy


but you know what what what what keeps me going is you know my my loved ones and my friends and also they really they really they really provides a very a conducive environment for me to work hard so I'm very grateful for them but like


ah sorry, of course man I mean your experiences with SIA has been has been really eye opening so I mean it it it it doesn't teach me what to do but it really teaches me what not to do


so I mean but ya I mean, I mean but but exactly so like I was I was just thinking like, uh I I don't think uh I don't think the the practices


around the world cause it's gonna to remain same after this huge pandemic that it has suffered so you know I'm I'm just thinking like oh I'm quite appreciative towards like how how people can adapt to working from home so that you know unemployment rates are kept


minimal I mean what what what, what what's your experience with this this this pandemic like


(ppc),


(mmhmm) (mmhmm) (ppc)


I see I see I mean I mean like like ya but at the same time you know the COVID situation has imposed a lot of challenges especially due to the circuit breaker so I think that that (ppc) actually place


a strain on many relationships so I'm just wondering, how did it affect your relationship, which you know the girl that you are seeing (mmhmm)


okay okay, I mean, okay okay I mean I mean I mean that's not so much of a positive experience but I want to


all this , I I don't know I I'm just quite curious but because I because I know things are better now with her, so ya I mean, so have you been looking forward to


what have you been doing since the uh that that that the lift of the circuit breaker with her,


(uh huh), you mean the the positive so the positive side with this would be I mean ya I understand understand understand I mean I mean after what you have do did to her I don't think I don't think


I don't think will be you know for her to easily open up to you again, I mean but the I mean


but the you know the amount the amount of time that, they usually spend working working from home, is actually do you do you like the flexibility that comes with it


(mmhmm), ya okay okay


I mean I mean from from this COVID nineteen I've faced a lot of challenges looking for a job but at the same time I think there are many takeaways from it, because I spent a lot of time uh looking into different ventures so uh we probably talked about forex we've previously talked about investment but I'm also looking into


attempting online businesses mainly E commerce like like for example shopee or even things like carousell so you know selling on these platforms have been profitable for a little bit


yes so so that so that so that that actually feels good but but of course I'm not sure if it's sustainable when school starts so I'm still managing my time and effort around that, (ppc) do you remember


uh I'm I'm not really into services but rather uh products because I believe uh I I I I, I don't have any really valuable service to actually to actually offer but uh ya so I'm looking into electronics which I think that it has been uh


pretty decently uh profitable, yes yes yes exactly exactly exactly you know trying to trying to offer like work from home equipment remember how


no no no it it's not it's not about taking advantage but rather meeting the needs of people so I so so it's not really is is completely the opposite it's not about, taking advantage but rather but rather no no no but rather reaching out


to people, who needs help, exactly so so (ppc) so like you know besides trying to run this uh this online business I actually do a lot of voluntary work as well so this includes this includes you know reaching out to shelters not just for people but pets as well but for animals as well


ya so so I actually uh I actually make use of this earnings, to buy food and pet supplies for, people who are more needy and pets in the shelters rather not pets but uh abandoned pets ya so I think it has been quite a fruitful fruitful uh time uh during this circuit breaker


no but because so this was this was the thing that I was trying to approach you and get you on board but you said you won't you won't like you said you were busy from your part time job which which I understand but ya which is why I never really mention this to you before


ya I mean I mean (ppc) to be very honest I'm just trying to follow your footsteps you know I've been really inspired in your efforts in you know reaching out to people who


who are less fortunate than us so you've you've really paved the way for me this time, so , ya, ya ya ya ya


ya ya ya ya, I mean not not not, exactly not not just society you know but sustainable environment as well remember how in secondary school we used to we used to plant you know seeds in our in our uh garden in the in the in the school


yes yes yes and you , I remember how, you always stole a few seeds back home , , you know I I always wonder I always wonder I I knew I knew


I knew you were thrifty I knew you were thrifty but not to that extent , , ya so I mean it would they were just #tau gays# so I I I mean I mean it's not a huge issue so uh I didn't bother to bring it up


but you know it was an it was a thing that we had in in in secondary school


, no no no no it wasn't it wasn't really wild time but ya I mean it was a fun time


, oh hold up hold up hold up, okay wait you must be misunderstood you must be misunderstood


what what are you what are you saying, okay okay I think okay this is something that I'm I I think I should


clarify so it wasn't (ppc) it wasn't underwear, it was actually a a handkerchief that that uh that was that had embroidery on it


and and and it was actually, and it was actually given to me, by my grandmother so, so I I mean, I mean I mean she's she's still well she's still well in life so of course I mean but their sentimental value comes sentimental value comes from you know how how how she she took care of me since young so I always feel a sense of comfort you know in a in a seemingly stressful place like in our secondary school


uh whenever I I hold the handkerchief close, close to me so so that that might that was what you actually saw, ya that day and in the in the locker room I mean I mean


ya no no no no no no no, no no I mean I mean ya I mean to to you know after a hard day at PE but but I mean talking about locker rooms and toilets you know I I I caught you I caught you sneaking around


a bit the area uh, I mean fortunately outside of the male toilet so I just wondering, and like uh were you uh I was quite curious that day but I didn't I didn't ask you about it were you were you waiting for someone or something


oh


oh okay okay, no no no cause I was quite sure I mean I remember how you used to have those very huge uh frame of glasses thick uh you know braces


and your and your hair was like it was it was it was often compared to a chicken you know on how you had a mohawk, and then had had that shaved sides I mean I mean I I couldn't have because there was, no one who looks like you in secondary school


I mean you were you were quite the you were quite the rebel so so it wasn't uh it wasn't a concern to you I mean I I I used to remember !whoa! I used to remember how so many girls love you for that


ya ya it's like it's like it's like it's like there's a chinese saying there is that that goes like uh if guys are not bad girls will not like, right


exactly so you exactly so you you were the you were the epitome of of that, those days those days those days


you know ah, you know when when we always had when we uh I mean one of the fondest memory in in our in our high school years, you know is was when you know mr Tan actually have that periodic uh napping session


from, correct from eight eight from eight AM to two PM right, literally just sleep throughout the day then start work at two PM I mean that was that was one of the best experiences I had because you know you and I had a lot of fond memories during that session


(mmhmm) , oh oh oh wait I'm oh wait I'm well I might have I might have got it reversed so


oh okay okay okay also the napping oh wait so the napping session wasn't from eight to two, , oh , oh


oh oh my, oh my I I was, I was so mistaken, oh ya so, okay so so maybe that was just my a fault on my part


, okay okay I mean when when


uh I mean to be very honest with you I was I was very affected by it, because uh but but but I mean, just to just to just to take just to have some positive takeaways you know, from you especially I learn about confidence the importance of confidence you know uh it's not really about it ya it's not really about to certain extent it's not really about what you can do or how much money you have it's really about the confidence that you can pull off


in order to have the charisma to attract, and make meaningful relationships so this is something that you know I've I've always observed you, to have and that's why I always I'm I'm so that's why I'm always so envious of you


oh,


yes yes yes yes, , sure sure sure, okay okay that's that's very good to know


okay, part oh sorry oh part one financial related topic


oh repricing ah uh no is it consider repricing that one is considered


I think considered repricing it's just that I don't need to submit my documents the bank actually have something that allows, me to , pay down a certain percentage I think it was like two percent then, they will allow me to ya of the outstanding loan then they will allow me to get a new


interest rate without having to me submit all my uh income documents I think they call it restructuring rather than repricing


the income documents, ya, is is the interest rate that trigger me to do restructuring, ya uh uh


show what figure


oh so not just income documents it's actually your asset documents ah show prove to them you have money


oh so is it's like they don't want you to use that money to pay them ah but they still want to see that you have that money ,


oh but in the end they still let you take the loan ah, maybe next time I can consider that because I didn't want to submit my income documents and for them to tell me that I don't qualify


okay, okay that's at least at least they allow, refinancing already change bank


oh for mine if I stay with the same bank I can choose to uh show them all my income documents they will re-assess and then uh I don't need to pay down


but because I didn't want to submit all my income documents and my asset documents they say that the only way they can do it for me is by paying a certain percent then they will say this is called restructuring


I think if if the interest is, too high ah then you don't want to risk not getting the refinancing maybe pay down a little bit also make some sense ah, because once you submit all your documents ah they will have to reassess then they might start telling you that oh you cannot you cannot uh pay so much per month but your age is above the limit then in the end they will still tell you you have to pay down


because based on maximum thirty years of loan you can only pay your installment per month will be a certain amount, ah yes, because during the maximum number of years means that you're per month uh installment will be lower


the the interest will be higher ah because your loan is always very high mah but any point in time when you feel that you got that extra money ah you just do a lump sum pay down, some some package right they don't have penalty for partial repayment like one like every year after bonus or whatever you suddenly say I got extra fifty thousand then you just pay down fifty thousand ah rather than every year have your installment increased by a thousand


ah I I remember when I do with UOB first time lah what they told me partial repayment has no penalty, then I think the I think this, time round they mentioned something like within first two years if I partial pay down there is a penalty or something


ya


some package they have uh like one time free uh change or something have to see your terms and condition when you first signed


I don't know I didn't check because mine also also fixed rate, , just hope they will reduce the fixed rate also but I think mine is no mine not is not a variable fix last time there's some type of package is the fixed rate is uh x-percent above their certain uh interests uh fixed deposit rate but now mine is actually uh flat fixed rate


so whether they change the the interest rate doesn't affect me anymore I have to wait until another one two years ah before I can re-price again


ya, the other way is the other way is to pay this use your cash to pay off your CPF that is drawdown for the


loan for the uh for the uh property, then in future right when let's say the loan when you need cash ah then you don't pay the bank loan you use your CPF to pay the bank loan


that means your CPF is will not be so-called wasted lah you just put it put your cash into CPF then in future instead of using, ah


you pay pay your CPF you earn the CPF interest then in future if you don't have enough cash then you use your CPF to pay your monthly bank loan, because you either save on the interest that you paid to the bank or you earn more interest on your CPF [loh]


but liquidity is different lah, because if you pay your bank loan right in future ah you cannot increase it back, I think if you now you every time you go to another bank they will based on what you they only give you the money based on what your other bank has right let's say you you owe uh UOB hundred K then you go to uh OCBC to refinance right they'll say oh they can only lend you hundred K


they cannot say because your property is three hundred K they lend you three hundred K, so so now if you imagine now if you've owed UOB three hundred K right, then you say I oh I got two hundred K of cash you pay UOB so your bank will become hundred K right then in future you say !aiya! but I need the two hundred K of cash for some some reason then you go to OCBC they said they cannot give you three hundred they say they only give you hundred to pay off UOB


ah you cannot take out your cash, but if you use the two hundred K to pay CPF right, then in future when you don't have cash on hand


ah, you just every month take from CPF and pay the the three hundred K of bank loan lah, but liquidity is different lah you have two hundred K of cash on hand anytime you can use it ah if you put the two hundred K to CPF then you might not be able to use it


you just know that you don't need to worry about the money loan lah, ah ya


ya two point five percent lor or, now only insurance company can can give this kind of rate


, the the recent one NTUC income was I think one point eight ah, then the there's Singlife there's some


, uh it's like a savings account like that you just put ten thousand in lor maximum only ten thousand can earn two point five percent, ah


maximum maximum ten K the other one I think it's by Singtel Dash that one they tie-up with ah or don't know how you pronounce that Etiqa ah then that one also I think, is it maximum two thousand


no it's also like a single premium oh, no that one you you also need to pay cash then next time when you want to withdraw out right, you still need to pay your admin fee of seventy cents then it's only two two thousand then I say but I think I'll just stick Singlife first anyway that one only two is it two percent non-guaranteed ah


but that one I think is a one is it one year guaranteed two two percent guarantee or non-guarantee I can't remember also


no fixed number of don't know eh this this one the this current one the earn the earned one I think it's also one year one year they guarantee two percent or they they say that one year is non guarantee two percent then after that uh


you can continue or you can withdraw anytime I think even within that one year is also you can withdraw anytime


lah I think that one also end time, don't know oh not too sure that one but every every withdrawal have a seventy cent admin charge ah, oh


that one I didn't try lah I I know Singlife you can actually see everyday they will show what is your everyday one but they don't give to you cannot withdraw until end of the month, Singlife ah don't know leh


I think they are like another an insurance company they want to come and get the market first ah


app ah ya the use the app what they even want you to use their debit card they they also have debit card, they ask you to use their debit card, I think they are like Grab ah they want to get those more customers ah who only have a little bit of money cannot get a credit card so use them lor


I didn't I didn't request lah there's no benefit from using their card so why bother, ya but Grab until now I still cannot get their physical card I didn't get their physical card I can only use the for online payment grab grab grab they got physical card they also got e-card


e-card is the the details are on the app, no not me my mum, I cannot I cannot they they just don't show the button for me to click uh request physical card


no leh my my account all along is I think I missed the first batch I think the first batch when they asked people to apply right I didn't click


then maybe later they they remove that button and then give to someone else already