One Steph A Day

Happy National Day, Singapore! 🇸🇬❤️

Having spent a few years living overseas, I’ve learnt not to take Singapore for granted. The safety, stability, clean governance, opportunities and global exposure we enjoy are not things every country can say they have.

And for that, I’m grateful — especially to the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, whose firm and sometimes “iron-fist” leadership laid much of the foundation for the Singapore we know today.

We may be small, but we’ve always dreamed big. Here’s to building an even better tomorrow, together. 🇸🇬

Seven years on dating apps taught me something important: long-term decisions require clarity, not convenience.

There was a point when I almost gave up. I wondered if I was asking for too much. As more friends got married, weddings became harder to attend without questioning my own path.

Then I met my husband, and six months later, we were married.

People often say I got lucky. Perhaps.

But I also believe that what looks like luck is often the result of clarity and conviction—of refusing to settle.

What stood out to me wasn’t his unemployment at the time. It was his character, our compatibility, and our shared 三观—our values and worldview.

I was choosing for the long term, not just the present moment.

That same mindset shaped how I approached money.

Hope is never enough on its own. Hope without action is not a strategy.

Even after taking a pay cut at the peak of my career, I was still able to afford an investment condo because I had built intentional financial habits.

Whether in relationships, finances, or health, I believe the same principle applies: prepare early, so you don’t live with regret later.

I’m Steph, and I write about life, love, regrets, and money—because today’s choices become tomorrow’s memories.

Have you heard of 𝗟𝗣𝗔 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴?

You've probably heard of an LPA (Lasting Power of Attorney). But have you ever wondered...

𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂?

Caregiver fatigue is real.

When someone loses mental capacity, it's often their spouse, child or sibling who steps up. Besides the emotional toll, they may have to:
• Take frequent leave from work.
• Turn down career opportunities.
• Move to a lower-paying or more flexible role.
• And if your own savings or payouts are insufficient... they may even have to pay for your care out of their own pocket.

If they become physically, emotionally and financially exhausted...

𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆?

Most won't.
Because they love you.
But should love come at the expense of their own financial future?

This is one of the biggest blind spots I see.

We spend time deciding 𝙬𝙝𝙤 should be our donee under an LPA, but rarely ask:

𝗜𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲, 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝘂𝘀?

That's where 𝗟𝗣𝗔 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 comes in.

It's not about replacing an LPA.
It's about making sure the person you've entrusted with looking after you also has the financial resources to do so.

Choosing your donee is only half the plan.
Funding the journey is the other half.

Speak to your financial consultant if you wish to have more clarity.

Singaporeans underestimate cost of home-based long-term care New data points to wider protection challenges - and reframes long-term care as a working-age risk

Another insurer changes hands.

First it was Company A1.

Then Company H.

Now Company A2.

Existing policyholders don't need to panic—your policy terms remain unchanged, and the transaction still requires regulatory approval.

But it reminds us of something we often overlook.

When we buy a Shield Plan at 30, we're really choosing a healthcare partner for the next 40 or 50 years.

Premiums matter.
Benefits matter.

But so does the insurer's long-term commitment to healthcare.

Healthcare financing is a marathon, not a sprint.

That's why I always tell clients: don't just compare today's brochure. Ask yourself who you want managing your medical coverage decades from now, when you'll likely need it most.

My team is very experienced in Shield Plan. If you ever need advice or referral to specialist, be sure to reach out to me.

Went for my routine gynae check (thankfully all good) and on the TV was the familiar game show "Deal or No Deal?"

I remember we had a local version hosted by Adrian Pang.

Every time a contestant opens a box, there's a mix of excitement and anxiety.

Will they eliminate the $1... or the $1 million?

Then comes the famous question:

"Deal or No Deal?"

Life isn't very different.

None of us knows which "box" tomorrow will open.
A hospital stay?
A critical illness?
An accident?
Or just another ordinary day?

The difference is this:

In the game, losing the million only costs you a prize you never had.

In real life, an unexpected event can cost you the money you've spent years building.

Without insurance, every medical bill or loss comes directly out of your own "briefcase."

Insurance doesn't stop bad things from happening.

It simply means that when life opens the wrong box, you don't have to empty yours.

We can't control which box life chooses.

But we can decide how prepared we'll be before it's opened.

Sometimes the best financial decision isn't about chasing bigger returns.

It's about making sure one unlucky moment doesn't undo years of hard work.

⚽️ 𝗔 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀.
𝗡𝗲𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻.

With the World Cup fever in the air, it got me thinking...

A good financial plan is like building a football team. Every position has a different role, but they all work together towards one goal: 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺.

🥅 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗿 – 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
Your Hospital Plan, Accident Plan, Life Insurance and Critical Illness Plan.

The goalkeeper is the only player allowed to use his hands. When everyone else is beaten, he is the last line of defence.

Without a goalkeeper, you're basically leaving an open goal for life to score against you.

🛡️ 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 – 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
CPF, Fixed Deposits, T-Bills and other low-risk assets.

Their job isn't to score goals. Their job is to protect what you've built.

Personally, I still have my CPF, but I've gradually shifted my cash from Fixed Deposits and T-Bills into higher-growth investments because they suit my current goals and risk appetite.

If you have money sitting in your SRS account earning just 𝟬.𝟬𝟱% interest, it may also be worth exploring investments that are suitable for your time horizon and risk profile.

⚙️ 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 – 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀
For me, these are my two endowment plans.

Midfielders connect defence and attack. They keep the game flowing steadily.

These plans aren't designed to shoot the lights out. Instead, they aim to grow steadily over the long term, roughly keeping pace with inflation.

Of course, the risk is that if inflation runs much faster than expected, your purchasing power may still fall behind.

⚽ 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 – 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀
This is where I take more risk.

My ILP is invested with a horizon of at least 𝟭𝟱 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀. The goal isn't just capital growth today, but to build a future stream of monthly dividends when I retire.

Together with CPF LIFE, that passive income should help fund my retirement lifestyle.

💡 The lesson?

It's 𝗻𝗼𝘁 about choosing insurance 𝘰𝘳 investments.
It's 𝗻𝗼𝘁 about CPF 𝘰𝘳 savings plans.

It's about having the 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝘅 for your stage of life, goals and risk appetite.

Just like football, a team made up of 11 strikers won't win many matches.

Neither will a financial portfolio made up of only one type of asset.

If you're not sure what "players" are currently on your financial team, it might be time for a review.

Speak to your financial consultant.

Or if you don't have one, feel free to reach out to me.

I promise... the only thing you'll need to buy is 𝗮 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸 ☕😉

"𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗼𝗼."

Have you ever had a song that didn't just become your favourite...
..but actually changed the way you lived your life?

For me, it's 五月天's《有些事现在不做一辈子都不会做了》.

It isn't just a song to me. It's a reminder that life is happening now.

Because of this song, I finally did things I had been putting off for years.

🎒 I organised my primary school gathering after 17 years.

🚗 I drove into JB for the very first time.

✈️ I stepped out of Asia for the first time.

🌿 After contemplating for years, I finally enrolled in a TCM wellness course.

🎤 And yes... I attended my very first concert. It simply had to be 五月天.

One line from the song has stayed with me all these years:

如果人类的脸 长得全都得相同
那么你和人们的不同
就看你怎么活?

"If everyone's face looked exactly the same, then the only thing that makes you different... is how you choose to live."

That question made me think.

Is life simply about earning more money?

Or is there a greater meaning to how we choose to live?

In 2013, at the age of 29, I made what many people thought was a crazy decision.

I took a huge pay cut at the peak of my career to switch into an entirely different industry—simply because I wanted to pursue something I was passionate about.

Not many people would have done it.

Looking back today...

I have zero regrets.

Ironically, despite the pay cut, I still managed to become a 包租婆.

(That's a story for another day. 😄)

That experience taught me something important.

Money is important. Let's be real—we all need to eat.

But money should be a tool that enables us to live the life we want, not the reason we postpone living.

So let me ask you:

Is there something you've always wanted to do, but keep telling yourself "one day"?

What's stopping you?

Sometimes all we need is a little nudge.

That's also why I enjoy what I do today.

I help people gain clarity over their finances and work towards their goals, so money supports the life they want to live—not the other way around.

Whether it's retiring earlier, spending more time with family, learning a new skill, travelling, or finally chasing that dream you've been putting off...

Financial planning isn't just about money.

It's about creating the freedom to say "Yes, let's do it."

If that resonates with you, drop me a message.

Let's have a fun, educational conversation and see how we can help make those "one day" dreams happen a little sooner. 😊

#五月天 #有些事现在不做一辈子都不会做了

Most people have a favourite superhero.

Mine is... an emperor.

I first got to know Emperor Yongzheng through a Hong Kong drama back in 1996. It sparked my interest in the Qing Dynasty, and over the years I started reading more about its history. The more I learnt about Yongzheng, the more he became my favourite emperor.

Not because he was the most charismatic.

Not because he had the longest reign.

And certainly not because he was without controversy.

What I admire most is the way he viewed leadership.

While many remember the Kangxi Emperor for building a great empire and the Qianlong Emperor for enjoying its golden age, Yongzheng was the one who quietly strengthened what lay in between. He reformed the government, tackled corruption, restored the nation's finances and worked tirelessly behind the scenes. His reign lasted only 13 years, yet it laid the foundation for decades of prosperity.

One thing that struck me was that he never seemed to view the throne as a privilege.

He viewed it as a responsibility.

Historical records describe him as someone who worked long hours every day, personally reading memorials and making decisions because he knew every decision affected millions of lives.

That idea of stewardship resonates deeply with me.

It also reminds me why I chose financial planning.

Many people think our job is to sell products.

I see it differently.

Every recommendation affects someone's retirement.
Someone's child's education.
Someone's ability to weather a critical illness.
Someone's family when life doesn't go according to plan.

That's a responsibility I don't take lightly.

Sometimes stewardship even means telling someone not to buy a product.

Sometimes it means reviewing an existing plan and saying, "You're already well covered."

Sometimes it means spending hours preparing for a meeting that ends with no sale at all.

Because the goal isn't to make a sale.

The goal is to leave someone's financial life stronger than when I first met them.

Just as Yongzheng inherited an empire and asked, "How can I leave it stronger than I received it?", I hope every financial review helps my clients leave with greater clarity, stronger protection and more confidence about the future.

Perhaps that's why, after all these years, Yongzheng remains my favourite emperor.

Not because he sought the spotlight.

But because he understood that true leadership isn't about power.

It's about stewardship.

#雍正

There is one question people ask me all the time.

"Why do you call yourself SuperstarSteph?"

No... it's not because I think I'm a celebrity. 😆

The story actually started almost 20 years ago.

Back in Year 2 of university, exam season was around the corner. One afternoon, I had a random idea.

I was standing at the drinks stall when I noticed a whole bunch of colourful drinking straws. I took some, sat down, and started folding them into little stars.

Then I wrote a handwritten note for every one of my friends.

Inside each note was a tiny straw star, together with a message:

"This is a Superstar. It has special powers to help you ace your exams." ⭐

Completely nonsense, of course.

But I hoped it would make them smile before the stress of exams.

Somehow, the "Superstar" name stuck.

Eventually, SuperstarSteph became my online nickname... and by some miracle, I even managed to grab the Gmail address. 😄

---

Looking back, I realised that making little handmade gifts has always been one of my love languages.

Photo frames.
Postcards.
Hand-decorated plates.
Little surprise notes.

Nothing expensive.

Just little pieces of my heart.

The funny thing is... years later, friends would send me photos while spring cleaning.

"Steph, look what I found."

And there it was.

The handmade gift I had completely forgotten about.

Some of them had kept it for more than a decade.

Strangely enough... it was often the guys who kept them. 😂

Every time that happened, I was deeply touched.

Because it reminded me that the most memorable gifts aren't always the most expensive ones.

They're the ones that tell someone,

"I was thinking of you."

Life got busier, and somewhere along the way I stopped making these little things.

But ever since becoming a financial consultant, I've slowly started again.

These days, many of my clients receive handwritten notes from me.

Not because it's part of the job.

But because I still believe what I believed all those years ago.

The best gifts are the ones money can't buy.

Sometimes, all it takes is a little note...
..to become something someone treasures for years. ❤️