Why a wealth manager started a portfolio for his 6-month-old
If you’ve ever stared at a childcare invoice and wondered if investing is now a form of self-defence, you’re not alone. The sandwich generation is juggling ageing parents, overstimulated children and the ever-rising cost of simply existing. It’s relentless, it’s expensive, and it’s exactly why conversations like this matter.
In this week’s Money Hacks by The Business Times, Howie Lim sits down with Timothy Liew, head of investments (Wealth Management) at OCBC, and a parent who has weathered both market volatility and toddler meltdowns. His first brush with “investing” was a spectacularly misguided leveraged FX punt at university. $5,000 gone, and several painful lessons acquired early. Today he’s far more level-headed, thoughtful about risk, and refreshingly open about what regular working adults actually need to hear.
Why listen
- He explains the long-term approach real people can actually follow. Sensible, sustainable investing that doesn’t require five screens and a caffeine drip.
- He breaks down the danger signs in too-good-to-be-true schemes. Including that bizarre “Malaysian lumber with 30% returns” seminar you’ll want to hear to believe.
- He opens up his own core satellite mix. ETFs, unit trusts, private markets and the tiny sliver of crypto he’s comfortable watching disappear.
- He points to the next long-term investment trend, and it isn’t AI. A sector driven by global ageing, not hype or headlines.
The heart of this episode is Liew’s candour. Measured, human, and entirely unsentimental. It’s smart yet grounded, and it’s clarity, the rest of us need to stay sane while juggling family, finances and the fantasy of early retirement. Listen now.
Find more great content at bt.sg/podcasts. For feedback or episode ideas, email the team at btpodcasts@sph.com.sg.
---
Written and hosted by: Howie Lim (howielim@sph.com.sg)
With Timothy Liew, head of investments, wealth management, OCBC
Edited by: Howie Lim & Claressa Monteiro
Produced by: Howie Lim & Chai Pei Chieh
A podcast by BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media
---
Follow BT Money Hacks podcasts every Monday:
Channel: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks
Amazon: bt.sg/mham
Apple Podcasts: bt.sg/oeXe
Spotify: bt.sg/oeGN
YouTube Music: bt.sg/mhyt
Website: bt.sg/moneyhacks
Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice.
---
Discover more BT podcast series:
BT Correspondents: bt.sg/btcobt
BT Market Focus at: bt.sg/btmktfocus
BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/pcOM
BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson
Decoding Asia newsletter: your guide to navigating Asia in a new global order. Sign up here to get Decoding Asia newsletter. Delivered to your inbox. Free.
Copyright SPH Media. All rights reserved.
