What To Do With Your Money in 2026 (From a CEO Who Manages $1.7 Billion) | Christopher Tan

Stop. Before you save another dollar. Before you open another investment app. Before you listen to another financial adviser, watch this. Christopher Tan manages $1.7 billion. He's about to say something the financial industry will hate. And if you're doing what everyone tells you to do with money, you need to hear this. Here's what nobody's telling you: The financial advice you've been following keeps you anxious. Not wealthy. Anxious. Because anxious people buy more products. Open more accounts. Pay more fees. And stay stuck in a cycle of never feeling like they have enough. Christopher runs Singapore's first fee-only financial advisory firm. That means he doesn't get paid to sell you products. He only gets paid to tell you the truth. And the truth is uncomfortable. In this conversation, he reveals: • The lie keeping you poor (and why banks need you to believe it) • Why most people shouldn't invest yet - and what to do instead • Why high earners still feel broke despite doing everything "right" • The things you must fix before investing (that nobody talks about) • Why "I'll retire somewhere cheaper" is a fantasy you'll never execute • How to tell if you want to BE rich or just LOOK rich • What to do when your salary arrives (most people get this completely wrong) • The money fears parents pass to their kids without realizing • Why the comparison game is designed so you can't win • What earning more money will NOT fix for you (Christopher learned this the hard way) This isn't about budgeting tips or investment hacks. This is about why you feel like you're losing while everyone else seems to be winning. Why you earn more but feel less secure. Why every money decision feels like you're one mistake away from disaster. If you've ever thought: "I'm doing everything right - why do I still feel anxious about money?" "Everyone around me seems to be doing better - what am I missing?" "I earn well - why don't I feel wealthy?" This conversation will change how you see money forever. Christopher is telling it like it is. He's seen too many families suffer from bad financial advice. He's watched people make decisions that hurt the people they love. And he's done staying quiet about it. What he says in this episode will make you question everything the financial industry has told you. Watch this before you make another money decision. DISCLAIMER This conversation is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice tailored to your individual circumstances. Before making any financial decisions, please consult with a qualified financial adviser who understands your personal situation. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Christopher Tan's views are his own and do not represent personalized recommendations for your specific financial situation. ABOUT CHRISTOPHER TAN Christopher Tan is the CEO of Providend, Singapore's first fee-only wealth advisory firm. He manages $1.8 billion in assets under management (AUM) and built his business around one simple idea: what if financial advisers only got paid to give advice, not to sell products? That model lets him say what other advisers can't. And in this conversation, he does. More about Christopher Tan: https://providend.com/christopher-tan/ FOLLOW SHULIN: LinkedIn:   / shulinlee   Instagram:   / the.real.reason.pod   == (00:00) Trailer & Opening (01:31) Why Even Successful People Feel Financially Insecure (02:33) Comparing Your HDB vs Private Condo (06:11) Downgrading from Condo to HDB (11:13) Do You Actually Want to Be Rich - Or Just Look Rich? (15:33) Why That Maserati Triggers You (18:19) Spending Money to Impress People (23:17) Finding Sufficiency (29:53) Are You Spending on What Truly Matters? (34:51) “But Chris, You Have Money... I Don’t.” (38:01) The Lifestyle You Can’t Afford (40:14) You Don’t Need a Financial Adviser (41:14) Cash Flow, Coverage, & CPF (45:27) What Should You Do With Your Salary? (47:51) Kids, Enrichment Classes & Financial Pressure (50:29) How Not to Raise Spoiled Children (53:07) I Make My Kids Give Me Money Every Month” (57:31) Advice for People in Their 20s & 30s (01:01:55) Advice for People in Their 40s & 50s (01:03:29) Don’t Judge Others by What They Have