Advice on slower and more intentional living After being away from Hong Kong for 3 years and not seeing my parents because of COVID restrictions, I finally spent some time with them from last November to mid-January. As Mum said, people’s personalities change somewhat every 5 to 10 years; in fact, psychologists pinpoint we at least change…

Cherish the small moments in life — Part 1: I went grocery shopping in Chinatown in San Francisco yesterday. I turned into an alley to cut across to another main street. Coming towards me were 4 teenagers. …

See nature as your brothers and sisters as Hemingway suggested — I remember when I was young, my siblings, my older cousin, and I went swimming in the sea. Suddenly, I heard my Aunt, usually calm, shouted at the top of her lungs: Tom, Tom (my cousin’s name is changed), where are you?? My cousin was missing and the adults were…

Coffee (tea), the most important meal of the day — After three years of absence from Hong Kong, my home city, I found that coffee places and bakeries are popping up everywhere here. Big chain stores no longer monopolize cafes. The artisan coffee shops are unique, elegant, cozy, and relaxing. Why do they mushroom during the Pandemic? It is more…

A year of learning, unlearning, and relearning as an entrepreneur — When I started my entrepreneurial journey three years ago switching my focus from purely managing money to building FinTech software in investments, little did I know how much I would love this experience (uncertainty and upside included.) I enjoy doing research and investing. We are students of the market; each…

Doses of warmth and joy fill our hearts — When we were young, my cousin used to hum Christmas songs all year. I asked him why. His answer was: they are my favourites. Two things always warm my heart around Christmas time — the songs and lights. …

A smart choice for our economic well-being — As a non-white senior female in investment and finance working most of my life in the United States, I have often come across dismal statistics comparing women CEOs vs. men, VC-funded women entrepreneurs vs. men, female investment managers vs. males, etc. In almost all cases, the female ratio in senior…

People care more about your thoughts than monetary value — A recent Axios article on holiday spending by Americans blew my mind. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), total U.S. holiday retail sales are expected to grow 6 to 8% from last year to $950 billion. Average U.S. consumers will spend $998 per person! This is despite COVID-19, high…

The market consensus likes income as a strategy In this short form “One Chart One Idea” series, I will share a business, financial, or economic idea in one chart and explain why the chart is interesting within 3 minutes. Then I will discuss any follow-up action. …