Building an emergency savings fund
Emergency Fund Guidelines: Start with $2,000 or half a month's expenses as an initial buffer for common unexpected costs Build toward 3-6 months of living expenses for job loss protection Consider your specific situation: dual-income households might need less, while...
Understanding Credit Scores
The Big Picture: Credit scores are like grades for your financial history - they give lenders a quick way to assess your creditworthiness You actually have multiple credit scores (not just one), and they can vary based on the scoring company, algorithm used, and which...
US Troop Withdrawal from South Korea
Strategic Realignment: The potential troop reduction seems connected to the Pentagon's broader Indo-Pacific strategy focused on countering China. The proposed redeployment to Guam positions forces at a strategic hub that's roughly equidistant from key allies like...
Avoiding banking traps that drain finances
The four traps he identifies are pretty standard: Bait-and-Switch Interest Rates - This is especially prevalent with online banks and credit unions advertising high promotional rates. The key is reading the fine print to understand when rates change and what they...
Proposed 100% Movie Tariff
Impact Analysis: U.S. Movie Tariffs on Singapore, ASEAN, and Asia Executive Summary The proposed 100% tariff on foreign-made movies represents a significant departure from traditional trade policy, targeting services rather than goods. For Singapore, ASEAN, and...
Global financial stability and dollar’s role in markets
The Core Warning The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) is warning about potential instability in the massive $113 trillion foreign exchange swap market. The concern centres on non-bank financial firms holding over $80 trillion in FX swaps, which are essentially...
Palantir vs Nu Holdings: Fintech Investment Analysis
Palantir Technologies (PLTR) and Nu Holdings (NU) represent two distinct fintech investment paradigms: infrastructure enablement versus direct financial services disruption. Their contrasting approaches offer different exposure to fintech growth while presenting...
Beyond banking for consumers report 2025
Beyond Banking for Consumers Analysis Report 2025: Key Insights Executive Overview The banking industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation as traditional financial institutions expand beyond core banking services to offer holistic value propositions. This...
Bank Scams in Singapore
Singapore's highly digitised banking environment and tech-savvy population make it both a target and a leader in combating financial fraud. With digital payment adoption rates exceeding 95% and one of the world's highest smartphone penetration rates, Singapore faces...
The benefits of boredom
https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/boredom-gets-a-bad-rap-but-science-says-it-can-actually-be-good-for-us This article presents a compelling reframing of boredom as a potentially beneficial state rather than something to avoid. The authors make a strong case for how...