Is beating the market really possible, or just a myth?

In managing over S$1 billion worth of our clients’ assets, there is continuous monitoring in place to ensure that the funds in our portfolios are behaving as we would expect them to.

To share deeper insights into how we manage investments beyond the basics, we’re pleased to launch a “Investment 201” video series featuring Dr Peng Chen, Senior Advisor & Director at Providend. In this series, Isaac Ong, our Client Adviser, engages Dr Peng in conversations on more advanced investment topics, while still breaking them down into simple, practical insights for everyday investors.

In this episode, Dr Peng shares with Isaac, his simple but profound investment formula: (alpha + beta – costs) + risk. He explains what alpha really means, why beta may matter more for most investors, and how hidden costs and real-world risks can quietly eat into returns. Most importantly, he explores what this formula means for you as an investor, and whether it can be applied to achieving your ikigai goals.

Watch all five "Investment 201" videos here.

At Providend, we believe it is more important to look at the reliability and sufficiency of your investment returns to meet your non-negotiable life goals and events, instead of wanting to maximise your returns and dealing with the uncertainties and risks that would entail. Find out why positive returns do not mean enough returns here.

Learn more by reading our investment eBook titled "A More Reliable Way to Get Enough Investment Returns: Even During Times of Market Uncertainty".

Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

The host of this episode, Isaac Ong, is a Client Adviser at Providend, the first fee-only wealth advisory firm in Southeast Asia and a leading wealth advisory firm in Asia.

Did you know that our Providend’s Money Wisdom podcast is now available in video format on YouTube? Follow us on our YouTube channel for new episode on Thursday at 8pm.

When it comes to retirement planning, the desire for certainty can make a more cautious plan seem like the obvious choice. But what if trying to eliminate every possibility of failure means you are saving too much, working too long, and leaving less room to enjoy the life you worked for?

In this episode, Bryan Reginald Chan, Head of Solutions Team and Jia Ling Loi, Client Adviser, explore why chasing the last 5% or 10% of certainty may cost more than you think, why the word “failure” may not tell the full story, and how flexibility can be a form of retirement security all in itself.

Bryan also reminds us that retirement planning is not about building a foolproof future. It is about understanding what matters most, knowing what is negotiable and what is not, and having the flexibility to adjust along the way.

To understand the conversation better, you can begin with reading the article that inspired this episode here: Why Chasing a 100% Retirement Success Rate May Cost You More Than You Think

Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

The host of this episode, Loi Jia Ling, is a Client Adviser at Providend, the first fee-only wealth advisory firm in Southeast Asia and a leading wealth advisory firm in Asia.

Did you know that our Providend’s Money Wisdom podcast is now available in video format on YouTube? Follow us on our YouTube channel for new episode on Thursday at 8pm.

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Download Investment eBook Today!

Download our Investment eBook titled “A More Reliable Way to Get Enough Investment Returns: Even During Times of Market Uncertainty” here: https://providend.com/publications/#investment

As trusted advisers to affluent clients for 25 years this year, our wealth management philosophy of making ikigai decisions before money decisions is grounded in real-world experience managing close to S$2 billion of our clients’ hard-earned assets.

In this week’s Money Wisdom episode, we continue our ‘The Brain Behind’ series, where our co-host and Associate Adviser, Sudhan, speaks with our CEO, Christopher, about his latest Business Times article, ‘Why the Best Annuity in Singapore Still Isn't Enough on Its Own’.

In this conversation, Christopher unpacks the trade-offs between fully relying on CPF LIFE and building a more diversified retirement income plan using a combination of CPF LIFE, cash and private annuities. He also explores how private annuities can give retirees the flexibility and liquidity to retire earlier than 65 and protect their spouse's lifestyle in the event of their demise.

To gain more perspective on today’s conversation, you may begin by reading Christopher’s Business Times article here.

Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

The host of this episode, Sudhan Purushothuman, is an Associate Adviser at Providend, the first fee-only wealth advisory firm in Southeast Asia and a leading wealth advisory firm in Asia.

Did you know that our Providend’s Money Wisdom podcast is now available in video format on YouTube? Follow us on our YouTube channel for new episode on Thursday at 8pm.

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