Two things have happened recently that made me realize we are at the "tipping point" of environmental awareness. One is that my company began implementing some green initiatives - a company whose rubbish bins were often filled with styrofoam cups and lunch boxes and where dozens of television and computer monitors used to hum ceaselessly overnight. The other is that Live Earth was a total flop audience-wise. Not because people were unaware of the need to protect the environment, but because everyone, including people like me, had already heard enough about it. Eighteen years after Time magazine put "Endangered Earth" on its cover, yeah, we do finally get it. »Read more

No matter how many new investment options we have at our disposal, property remains the classic choice. It's no wonder. Land is something you can see, feel and step on. You can easily understand the value of a good location. »Read more

More and more women in Asia are making financial security a personal goal.  I find Hong Kong women in particular, financially savvy. They know a good bargain when they see one and how to get it. They are avid savers and often the ones who handle the family finances. It is these kinds of successful women - women who have average-paying jobs but who have become financially secure by following a few simple rules - who have given me the best financial advice. Here are a few gems I've gathered over the years that may help you get the financial freedom you seek. »Read more

This week, we have been taking a look at the Asian Financial Crisis, a decade past.  At the time of the crisis, those affected couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I began this column many months ago by noting that I am an optimist. Optimism is a key trait to why some people survive layoffs, disease, bankruptcy while others never recover. It is, in other words, crucial to helping you survive a crisis. This week's column discusses exactly this -- how to manage a crisis. »Read more

Someone told me the other day that taxes and interest rates are the pornography of a good financial newspaper. If that’s the case, then brace yourself for a whole lot of sex in the next few paragraphs. »Read more

About ten years ago, my editors dubbed me the Bond girl... for all the wrong reasons. It was my coverage of debt capital markets that earned the nickname. Since then, I've had an affection for fixed income markets. Yes, bonds are rather dull and poorly understood but they are frankly one of the most important things you need to know about, in order to make sound financial decisions. »Read more

As summer approaches and families prepare for long vacations, be careful those weeks of respite don’t turn into a massive financial burden when the season’s over. Holidays can be financially dangerous with a capital “D”. That’s because many vacationers tend to spend lots of money they don’t have. »Read more

In my last column, I talked about a mid-life career switch. Today, we're going to chat about the tools needed to make this happen. Surveys show that finding a new job is one of the five leading forms of stress in our lives. So imagine how nerve-racking it is to actually find a new career. »Read more

A reader recently asked me for tips on how, and when, to switch careers. It's a question I've been asked a few times recently. I've done a lot of research on this topic and would like to share with you some of the things I've learned. »Read more

A question that eventually arises when financial planners talk about getting fiscally fit is: how much money do I need so I can retire comfortably. To be frank, I hate that question.Not because the intention is incorrect but because it approaches life in a technical way. Most people I know - and I'm betting plenty you know as well - do not want to think about ageing, much less think about what they want to do when they retire. »Read more