When you meet Ong Feng Yi, her energy is infectious. By day, she thrives in her professional role, and outside of office hours she steps onto the stage as a freelance emcee, hosting events, creating content and travelling whenever she can.
For Feng Yi, emceeing isn’t just a side hustle to make more money, but rather, a personal pursuit that complements her career and interests. Whether at work, on stage with a mic, or learning as an investor, Feng Yi enjoys exploring different arenas that challenge and excite her. Even as she juggles these pursuits, she stays focused on taking steady steps toward her financial future.
Growing up in a modest household, Feng Yi started working during school holidays from a young age. Those early experiences shaped the way she viewed money. “I learned the value of money very early on, and also the importance of independence and resilience,” she recalls. At the same time, she is conscious that thrift should not mean denying yourself joy. “While thrift is a virtue, it is equally important to allow yourself small moments of enjoyment”.
What Investing Really Means
For Feng Yi, investing is not only about financial products. “To me, investing is about putting resources to work so they can generate value over time” she explains. On a practical level, that means creating streams of passive income and building stability and freedom beyond just active work.
That perspective did not come naturally. Growing up, investing felt like a risky word. “In Chinese, there’s even a phrase about ‘burning your fingers’ when dabbling in stocks” It was only later that she realised investing is more about informed decisions and discipline than speculation.
One of her earliest lessons did not even involve money. Choosing to get braces as a student was, for her, a kind of investment. It was costly and required sacrifice, but it paid off in confidence and long-term benefits. “It reinforced to me that investing isn’t only about money, it’s about choices that improve your future well-being.”
Investing In Stocks
Today, Feng Yi describes herself as relatively risk averse, preferring stability in her financial portfolio. She focuses mainly on Singapore’s blue-chip stocks and ETFs. She admits that she has not always timed things perfectly, such as selling her DBS shares too early and hesitating to buy more during the Covid pandemic. In hindsight, she says “time in the market is more important than timing the market” echoing a popular quote from Warren Buffet.
Beyond finances, her biggest non-monetary investment has been honing her public speaking and emceeing skills. What started as a side interest has become a rewarding part of her life, boosting her confidence, presence and ability to connect with people. “It has opened doors and given me so much more than I expected when I first started”
The YOLO And FIRE Balance
Like many in her generation, Feng Yi admits she sometimes wrestles with the classic tension between YOLO (You Only Live Once) and FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early). “Some days I lean more towards YOLO, and other days towards FIRE.”
But she has found a middle path. When she overspends, she naturally pulls back into save-and-invest mode. “It is less about choosing one extreme over the other, and more about being mindful, enjoying the present without losing sight of the future.”
Building The Investment Habit
Consistency, Feng Yi admits, is not always easy. But one tool has helped: regular savings plans (RSPs). By automating contributions, she turns investing into a routine. “It takes the pressure off having to time the market and it feels more like a habit rather than a one-off decision.”
And if she had to give one piece of advice to anyone starting out? “Just start. Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Of course, do some homework, talk to people you trust, and start small if you are unsure. But the act of starting itself is the most valuable investment in your journey.”
Feng Yi’s story is a reminder that investing is not reserved for finance professionals. Whether it is in skills, habits or blue-chip stocks, the principle remains the same: commit resources today for a better tomorrow. And perhaps the biggest lesson from her journey is this — the best investment is not always about finding the perfect opportunity. Sometimes, it is simply about having the courage to begin.
Follow Feng Yi’s journey as an emcee in Singapore on Instagram @emceefeng.
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