The China growth story has been lifting demand for the yuan and yuan-denominated products ever since they went on offer in Singapore last year.

For six years until recently, Mr Stephen Mangham, 50, was the group chairman of Ogilvy & Mather Singapore, and busy managing 600 people.

We have all seen or heard the stories: Wealthy man - or sometimes woman - forced to give up a chunk of his fortune to his former wife after a divorce.

Such cautionary tales have become part of our social fabric so it is no surprise that most celebrity engagement stories are swiftly followed by details about the pre-nuptial agreements.

But pre-nups are not just for the rich and famous; they are also a good idea for people who are just rich.

Every month, a survey of wealthy investors in the United States asks them this question: 'What do you think is the probability of a catastrophic stock market crash in the US, like that of Oct28, 1929, or Oct19, 1987, in the next six months?'

It's bonus season, that time of the year when everyone feels a little bit richer, a little bit more generous, a little bit keener to go shopping.

But financial advisers are quick to remind us not to splurge the lot on a holiday or a no-holds-barred spree along Orchard Road.

Some people say they fear sickness and disability more than death, as the former will drain their wealth.

Growing up poor made Darren Tan Zi Hong, 36, determined to strike it rich on his own.

For most of last year, as the stock market was hit by waves of volatility, I was quite content to stay on the sidelines, preferring to hold cash rather than jump in.

A near-death health scare in 2009 changed Ms Peh Li Lin's perspective on life and her mindset towards money.

Recently I've had a lot of conversations with people about why we avoid facing painful financial decisions. These conversations have got me thinking about the time between the first sign of trouble and the moment when we finally decide to face reality.

It is customary to shower one another with well-wishes as we toss the ritual yusheng, or raw fish dish, for good luck during Chinese New Year gatherings.

As if there was not already enough doom and gloom in the world, we now have to contend with the appearance of a Black Water Dragon.

Retail investors, especially those in Singapore, tend to think of stocks as a short- to medium-term investment.

When seeking a long-term investment, most Singaporean investors think of property first.

But a recent comparison done by the Singapore Exchange (SGX) has shown that, in fact, local stocks have outperformed private residential property over the long run.

The stock market's rise of over 5 per cent so far this year has once again led investors to talk about the so-called Capricorn effect.

'It looks like telcos are on top of everyone's minds these days,' an analyst friend from a foreign research house said.

If you worry about whether your children will fall into the future ranks of 'haves' or 'have-nots', consider your own financial behaviour in a more imperative duality: Are you a 'doer' or a 'dreamer'?

Business owner Lee Song Teck, 33, is a goal-oriented person who cannot sit still. Just four months ago, he started a gold trading business, and is now preparing to start three more businesses.

As confidence grows in the US economy, some analysts believe it is time to look West again. Some equities are looking attractive, at low valuations and with potential for higher corporate earnings.

Are investors too pessimistic about this year?

That's the question being asked last week after the shroud of doom and gloom hanging over the global economy seemed to be at least partially lifted recently, after a surprise spate of good news.

The two major centres of concern in Europe and the United States have both lately ignited small beacons of hope.

There is a rocky year ahead so a well-diversified portfolio is essential, which means it's as good a time as any to look at adding corporate bonds to the mix.

Bonds can be daunting to many investors, even though they are proving popular.

Ms Audrey D'cotta started her own pilates studio The Moving Body in 2009 after her husband encouraged her to do so. It was a small operation with four staff until a major investor came in a year later. Today, the studio employs 15.

In the recent hit movie New Year's Eve, actress Michelle Pfeiffer plays an unhappy secretary who enlists the help of a young delivery man to fulfil her list of New Year's resolutions before a fresh year kicks in at midnight.

If volatility was the main theme for both commodities and equities last year, expect more of the same this year.

A financial adviser once asked psychologist Amos Tversky for a complete list of the stocks in his portfolio, including the price at which each had been bought. The adviser was astonished when the professor inquired mildly: 'Isn't it not supposed to matter?'

Investors are approaching the new year with a newfound sense of cautious hope that was missing from the equation just a few weeks ago.