Welcome to this first episode of our miniseries Ikigai Insider, where we invite our Client Advisers to share what it means to live a good life, combining Ikigai with Providend’s Philosophy of Sufficiency.

Each episode explores one of the eight Ikigai petals identified by Mieko Kamiya, the mother of Ikigai Psychology, whose work has been revitalised by Nicolas Kemp, Founder of Ikigai Tribe. Our Client Advisers share personal reflections and the steps they take to fulfil each petal.

In this episode, our Client Adviser Annette Lee reflects on the Ikigai petal of Freedom, sharing her recent experiences in Wakayama, Japan.

From the delicate art of dyeing Furoshiki to exploring the guilt of “not having enough,” Annette reveals how even just 5–10 minutes a day spent on a small hobby can uncover moments of true freedom. Discover her personal reflections and learn how simple, intentional actions can help you find freedom in your own Ikigai.

Annette has also written an article on this, which you can read here: What Freedom Means in Ikigai: Reflections from Wakayama and Lessons for Clients

Through deep conversations with our advisers, you will gain clarity on what matters most in life and what needs to be done to live a good life, both financially and non-financially—with your Ikigai goals at the forefront of your wealth plan.

Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

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

The full list of Providend’s Money Wisdom podcast episodes from Season 4 can be found here.

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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If you’re interested in getting more of our thought leadership contents, click this link to subscribe to our newsletter today: https://providend.com/#newsletter-subscribe

As AI tools like ChatGPT are increasingly capable of analysing financial data, generating reports, and answering complex questions in seconds, many have asked: Could AI truly replace a human wealth adviser?

Being trusted advisers to our affluent clients for over two decades, this Providend series began with an article by our Client Advisers on clients navigating major life transitions. The podcast goes further, exploring the thoughts behind these transitions.

In this podcast episode, Jit Hwee and our host, Isaac, explore three major retirement challenges through the case of Bob and his wife Elsie, both 45, who hope to retire at 60. They discuss how clients often find it difficult to navigate the mental gymnastics of evaluating trade-offs, particularly when faced with information overload about the steps needed for a successful retirement.

Jit Hwee also highlights three key limitations of using AI in retirement and career transition planning, and poses an important question: would you trust AI with your non-negotiable ikigai goals and life events, or for achieving clarity and peace of mind? Listen to the podcast to find out more.

To better understand the discussion, you may start by reading Jit Hwee's article here: Case Study: Can AI Replace a Human Adviser for Retirement and Career Transitions?

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.

Mentioned in this episode:

Download our RetireWell™ eBook Today!

Our popular RetireWell™ eBook has been updated! RetireWell™ is a methodology that Providend has developed to design a retirement income plan that will provide you with a safe and reliable stream of income for the rest of your life. Check out the link here to download a complimentary copy of the full eBook today: https://providend.com/publications/#retirewell

Having gone through multiple market crises together with our clients since 2001, we know what works and what will not work when it comes to the reliability and sufficiency of investment returns.

To share our insights, we are pleased to introduce our "Investment 101" video series featuring Dr Peng Chen, Senior Advisor & Director at Providend. In this series, Isaac Ong, our Client Adviser, discusses essential investing concepts with Dr Peng, to provide you with a better understanding of the financial markets as you embark on or continue your investment journey.

In this episode, Dr Peng and Isaac tackle the pressing topic of inflation, which has been a major concern since the sharp spike in rates in 2022.

Watch all five "Investment 101" videos here.

At Providend, we are passive in areas where evidence shows us that it is better to be passive and active in areas where we cannot afford to be passive. This philosophy is born out of our experiences managing money through many crises. Read this article to find out more.

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

With a minefield of financial misinformation out there, we promise to be a safe pair of hands and a second pair of eyes to help you avoid costly financial mistakes. You can reach out to us for sound advice tailored to your unique situation: https://providend.com/our-clients/service-enquiry-form/

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.

Weekly on Mondays at 8am, Providend’s Money Wisdom will share how you can gain clarity in your own “ikigai decisions” and make wise financial choices to support them. That, to us, is the essence of money wisdom and what we want you to take away from listening to our podcast.

Also available in video format on our YouTube channel fortnightly on Thursdays at 8pm.

An original podcast produced by Providend Ltd.

Do you have any feedback or questions? Reach out to us at communications@providend.com

Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

Being a trusted adviser to our affluent clients for over two decades, our wealth management philosophy, making ikigai decisions before money decisions, is rooted in our experience of managing over S$1 billion worth of our clients’ hard-earned assets.

In this week’s Money Wisdom episode, and our final episode of 2025, our co-host Isaac chats with Chris about his latest Business Times' article titled 'What Did My Money Really Buy This Year?' They reflect on how society often measures wealth through investment returns, while the return on life, such as contentment, values and meaning, is harder to quantify.

Chris shares personal reflections on spending with intention, from a $10,000 anniversary dinner that brought immeasurable joy, to viewing health, relationships and mind space as assets on a personal life balance sheet. With a few days left in the year, we hope this conversation encourages you to pause, reflect, and remember that it is not too late to realign your choices and change your trajectory for 2026.

You can also read Chris’ Business Times article that was discussed in this episode here.

The book that was discussed in the podcast was Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Dr Peter Attia.

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.

The full list of Providend’s Money Wisdom podcast episodes from Season 4 can be found here.

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.

Mentioned in this episode:

Download our RetireWell™ eBook Today!

Our popular RetireWell™ eBook has been updated! RetireWell™ is a methodology that Providend has developed to design a retirement income plan that will provide you with a safe and reliable stream of income for the rest of your life. Check out the link here to download a complimentary copy of the full eBook today: https://providend.com/publications/#retirewell

Being a trusted adviser to our affluent clients for over two decades, we know what works and what won’t work, when it comes to helping our clients meet their non-negotiable life goals.

In this episode, we are glad to be joined by one of Providend’s clients, Matthew Elton, Founder and Managing Director of Hotlotz, a leading auctioneer in Singapore. Matthew prides Hotlotz on their honesty, integrity and high level of service quality towards their clients.

You will be intrigued by the interesting stories he has to share and his passion for upholding trust in both his work and personal life, especially when it comes to precious items bestowed upon his clients from their loved ones. Matthew’s belief in doing the right thing and maintaining a healthy culture within Hotlotz aligns closely with Providend’s mission to be the light in the financial world.

Learn more about Matthew and his company here.

Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

The host of this episode, Christopher Tan, is Chief Executive Officer of Providend, Singapore’s first fee-only wealth advisory firm and author of the book “Money Wisdom: Simple Truths for Financial Wellness”.

The full list of Providend’s Money Wisdom podcast episodes from Season 4 can be found here.

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.

Being a trusted adviser to our affluent clients for over two decades, our wealth management philosophy—making ikigai decisions before money decisions—is rooted in our experience of managing over S$1 billion worth of our clients’ hard-earned assets.

In this week’s Money Wisdom episode, our co-host Isaac chats with Chris about why trusts are more than just tools for asset distribution. Chris shares the emotional challenges of assigning trustee rights that our clients face, the limits of corporate trustees, and the benefits of a team approach.

Chris also highlights the vital role of wealth advisers in providing a holistic view, coordinating details, and guiding families through legacy planning, which does not only have to start only at the end of life. Listen to the full episode to find out when it makes sense for a person to consider a corporate trust.

You can also read Chris’ Business Times article that was discussed in this episode here.

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.

The full list of Providend’s Money Wisdom podcast episodes from Season 4 can be found here.

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.

Mentioned in this episode:

Download Investment eBook Today!

TBC

“A good life must have God in it, for me. Without Jesus in my life, I wouldn’t be living a good life.”

In this special edition of The Providend Conversation: Living the Good Life, we are delighted to be joined by Mr Philip Ng, who reflects on his personal journey, his values, and how he leads his firm with a servant-leader mindset, guided by his faith.

Mr Philip Ng is the CEO of the private real estate firm Far East Organization. He is the son of the late Mr Ng Teng Fong, who founded Far East Organization in 1960. Through his personal stories and professional journey, Philip illustrates how faith, values, and purposeful leadership can guide both life and business decisions.

It has been a privilege to speak with Philip, and we hope you find his reflections as inspiring and thought-provoking as we did.

Music courtesy of ItsWatR.

The host of this episode, Christopher Tan, is Chief Executive Officer of Providend, Singapore’s first fee-only wealth advisory firm and author of the book “Money Wisdom: Simple Truths for Financial Wellness”.

The full list of Providend’s Money Wisdom podcast episodes from Season 4 can be found here.

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.