Author archive - Ryan Ong

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Gold’s Recent Flash Crash: When Will It Recover?

Gold’s Recent Flash Crash: When Will It Recover?

They should invent a new financial term for gold’s recent bust. “Flash crash” doesn’t cut it. Something like “Two bricks slamming your nuts in” would be more appropriate. See, gold’s been rising for 12 years straight. And up till April 15th, 2013, we thought the only way to secure your money further would be to weld it into a battle tank. So what went wrong? And more importantly, when will gold prices recover?

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Happy Mothers’ Day!

Happy Mothers’ Day!

From the staff at MoneySmart, we’d like to wish all mothers a HAPPY MOTHERS’ DAY! Many thanks for raising us, caring for us, and coping with out various insanities. May you always feel loved and appreciated.

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4 Things Rich People Should Stop Saying

4 Things Rich People Should Stop Saying

I have nothing against rich people. Hell, I’m hoping to become rich too. And if you ask around, some people would place me in…would place me in the “not poor” category, let’s leave it at that. But that being said, I want to point out that there are some seriously annoying rich people in this country. Not because they have money, but because they like to say the following crap. If you’re one of them, please stop it:

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Why So Many Singaporeans Are Ditching Their Fund Managers

Why So Many Singaporeans Are Ditching Their Fund Managers

There was a time when the term “fund manager” made bankers tremble, and request a quick change of pants. From the 70′s to the 90′s these were the GODS of the financial world. They could make fortunes by sneezing too hard. Then the impossible happened: The Gods fell. In this article, we find out why fund managers have gone from Alpha dog to starving mongrel:

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Singapore’s Best Bank Accounts for Expats

Singapore’s Best Bank Accounts for Expats

I’m a big believer in field testing my articles. But I can’t do it for this one, because I’m not an expat. It’d be silly to even try thinking like one, ha ha. “You renounced your citizenship and migrated back didn’t you?” Yeah. And also, I’m wearing a beret and carrying a plastic baguette while I write this. If there’s one thing mainstream media’s taught me, it’s that journalism’s not far from method acting (Thanks Noose!) So if I were an expat, here’s the banks I’d use:

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The Only Budgeting Plan That Will Ever Work for Singaporeans

The Only Budgeting Plan That Will Ever Work for Singaporeans

You know the problem with budgeting? It requires a lot of discipline. And most people who need to budget lack that exact quality. So when I tell them to control their spending, it’s about as helpful as yelling at a drowning man to try swimming. I’m sick of it. In this article, I’ll cover the only budgeting plan that will ever work for Singaporeans (according to a fact I just invented):

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No Discount: The Average Cost of Raising a Child (in Singapore)

No Discount: The Average Cost of Raising a Child (in Singapore)

In my day, children were raised on sunshine, sports, and pure grit. The only “play station” was a clearing where the musangs were less likely to gnaw your face off. And if a kid had a five cent eraser with three colours, well, that was the Ferrari of the toy industry. But today, our approach to child rearing’s more lavish. In this infographic, parents tell me how expensive it’s become:

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Income Inequality in Singapore: Our Annual Peek (2013)

Income Inequality in Singapore: Our Annual Peek (2013)

Income inequality measures how much richer the rich are, compared to the poor. It’s a polite term economists created, to replace: “Here’s how far the poor are from ramming sharp objects in your face”. And in Singapore, that distance seems to be…let’s see…oh okay. You all enjoy this infographic, while I book an emergency flight to Mali.

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HDB Loses $1 Billion a Year, and Why You Shouldn’t Care

HDB Loses $1 Billion a Year, and Why You Shouldn’t Care

Some Singaporeans asked that land costs be excluded from HDB pricing. The answer to this was a stern no. Too much social welfare, as we all know, leads to laziness, communism, and Satan worship. Or even worse, voting for the Opposition. Besides, HDB loses a billion dollars a year as is. That’s pretty bad, right? Trouble is, that “loss” is irrelevant…as an argument or otherwise:

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Is Childcare Affordable in Singapore?

Is Childcare Affordable in Singapore?

Historically, the most affordable childcare system comes from Sparta. They just left the toddler out for the night, and if he didn’t get eaten by wolves, he was probably prepared for anything. But that won’t cut it here. Surviving wolf attacks is way easier than preparing for the PSLE. Hence, our expensive childcare schools. But can everyone afford them?

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