Nest egg obsolete: fishing skills now equal financial security

Young investors prioritise volatile crypto over traditional retirement savings. Is financial security shifting from saving to mastering money-making?

Listen.16:52
Published Mon, Apr 13, 2026 · 05:00 AM

The idea that you save hard, hit a number and retire comfortably is starting to look like a plan built for a different era. Inflation, volatility and a generation that has grown up watching people get rich overnight on social media have made the old playbook feel increasingly out of reach. But the answer is not to chase faster gains. It is to rethink what financial security actually means.

In this episode of Money Hacks, a podcast by The Business Times, Howie Lim speaks with Zachary Young, founder of Atlantis Labs and CEO of CryptoKnight Academy, about the psychological and structural adjustments young investors need to make right now. He brings a candid perspective built from years of working with students and young professionals navigating some genuinely confusing markets.

Why listen

  • Why avoiding losses is the wrong goal and what to do instead It is one of the most human instincts in investing and one of the most costly. Young explains why learning to manage losses rather than avoid them is the real skill to build.
  • Why a balanced portfolio may not be as safe as it sounds Drawing on Nassim Taleb, Young walks through an approach to portfolio positioning that most people have never considered.
  • Why winning can make you a worse investor The most dangerous moment for any young investor is early success. Young explains the psychological trap it sets and how to avoid it.
  • What one hour a week of investing focus should actually look like Not everyone has time to watch the markets. Young cuts through the noise with a practical framework for people who want consistent returns without it becoming a second job.

This episode drives home that financial security is less about the number in your account and more about what you can do with it. Listen now.

Money Hacks is the flagship personal finance podcast from The Business Times. Catch past episodes at bt.sg/podcasts. Have a burning question or episode idea? Email the team at btpodcasts@sph.com.sg.

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Written and hosted by: Howie Lim (howielim@sph.com.sg)

With Zachary Young, founder of Atlantis Labs and CEO of CryptoKnight Academy

Edited by: Howie Lim & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: Howie Lim & Chai Pei Chieh

A podcast by BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

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ABOUT THE PODCAST

Money Hacks is a crisp, weekly podcast hosted by Howie Lim. Every Monday, it unpacks personal finance strategies and investing insights through conversations with expert guests. Whether it’s navigating employee perks, finding resilient sectors, or exploring value-based investing, listeners get actionable financial wisdom without the waffle.