The Yellow Couch

Dr Steven Poh, Rajen Devadason, and Kevin Neoh
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Investing
  • Biweekly

The Yellow Couch is a podcast that aspires to help Malaysians make sense of the ever-evolving landscape of Retirement.

Episodes

  1. Oct 17

    EP11: Why Your Bucket List Starts Now, Not at Retirement

    Do you have a bucket list? Most of us picture it as a final checklist, the places to see and things to do before we kick the bucket, written once and saved for retirement. In this episode, Steven asks Rajen and Kevin what is on theirs. Rajen admits his teenage list of swimming the English Channel and climbing Everest is still being repopulated, and Kevin calls his a 'pseudo-bucket list', because he keeps changing (dynamic) it.We talk about why our lists should change as we get clearer about who we are and what matters to us. A bucket list is not a wish you save for the end, it is something you keep living, updating and ticking off along the way, starting with your health and the people you love. That is why your bucket list is a living list, not a last wish. So pull up a seat on the yellow couch, and let’s start writing yours. Meet your hosts Dr. Steven Poh — Co-host, academic and lecturer with a PhD in persuasive communication. Moderates this episode.Rajen Devadason — Co-host, Licensed Financial Planner and writer of the Money Thoughts column in the New Sunday Times.Kevin Neoh — Co-host, and Certified Financial Coach, who runs corporate financial wellness programs and support working Malaysian in preparing not just financially but for the purpose and lifestyle that come after work. Listen & subscribeCatch The Yellow Couch on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Got a question, a story or a topic you’d like us to cover? Share your bucket list in the comments or write to us at theyellowcouch.my@gmail.com.

  2. Oct 3

    EP 10: Why "How Much is Enough" Is a Lifestyle Question, Not a Number

    🙋‍♂️ How much is enough to retire comfortably in Malaysia? It is the million Ringgit question everyone has in their head, and the number most often quoted is RM240,000. In this episode, Dr Steven Poh puts that number on the table (it's too massive for the couch), and Rajen and Kevin give a point blank answer, i.e. "tak cukup".We zoom in on EPF's Retirement Income Adequacy framework and what RM390,000, RM650,000 and RM1.3 million really mean as monthly spending capacity, and why the real starting point is the price tag of your own lifestyle."The 3 Yellow Couchers" also brings the conversation back to Gen Z, and explore how Gen Z can be better supported.So how much is enough? There is no one number that fits everyone, because it starts with the price tag of the life you want to live, and whether what you have built can pay for it every month for as long as you live. That is why "how much is enough" is a lifestyle question, not a number. So pull up a seat on the yellow couch, and let's work out what enough looks like for you.Meet your hostsDr Steven Poh — Co-host, academic and lecturer with a PhD in persuasive communication. Moderates this episode.Rajen Devadason — Co-host, Licensed Financial Planner and writer of the Money Thoughts column in the New Sunday Times.Kevin Neoh — Co-host, and Certified Financial Coach, Licensed Financial Planner who runs corporate financial wellness programs and support working Malaysian in preparing not just financially but for the purpose and lifestyle that come after work.Listen & subscribeThe Yellow Couch is available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. If you find value in the conversation, like, subscribe and share it with someone who's learning to enjoy the money they've worked hard to save. Got a question, comment or story of your own? Send us an email (theyellowcouch.my@gmail.com) or drop it in the comments.

  3. Sep 19

    EP9: Why Wealth is Two Ends of a Barbell, Not One

    Welcome back to The Yellow Couch! In our ninth episode, Rajen opens the metaphoric portfolio barbell, and uses it to answer a question most of us never think to ask, i.e.why do we invest at all, and should both ends of our money be doing the same job? Join Rajen Devadason, Dr Steven Poh and Kevin Neoh as they discuss the two ends of the barbell, capital gains on one side to grow your money faster than inflation and taxes erode it, and passive income on the other to keep money flowing in even when you've stopped working, and explain why, unlike the barbell in the gym that has to be perfectly balanced, the one that funds your life is meant to be deliberately uneven. From the five pure asset classes the world's wealthy actually use, to the difference between a pure investment portfolio and a savings-and-investment portfolio, to the slow shift from capital gains toward passive income as retirement approaches, this episode makes the case that wealth is two ends of a barbell, not one, and that the real skill is knowing which end to load, and when. Whether retirement is decades away or already here, pull up a seat and join the conversation. Meet your hostsRajen Devadason — Licensed Financial Planner with Manulife Investment Management Berhad and the writer behind the weekly Money Thoughts column. Moderates this episode. Kevin Neoh — Co-host, and Certified Financial Coach, who runs corporate financial wellness programs and support working Malaysian in preparing not just financially but for the purpose and lifestyle that come after work. Dr Steven Poh — holds a PhD in persuasive communication and is the one who first championed the idea for this show; currently navigating his own early years of retirement and lecturing at Sunway University. Listen & subscribeThe Yellow Couch is available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. If you find value in the conversation, like, subscribe and share it with someone who's thinking about how to make their money last. Got a question, comment or story of your own? Send us an email (theyellowcouch.my@gmail.com) or drop it in the comments — we'd love to hear from you.

  4. Sep 5

    EP 8: Why Retirement Security is the Pipeline, Not the Watertank

    Welcome back to The Yellow Couch! In our eighth episode, we sit down to face the stress that so many people feel once they've actually retired, i.e. the worry that the money they've saved is a pool that can only shrink from here.Join Dr Steven Poh, Rajen Devadason and Kevin Neoh as they unpack why the morning the alarm clock finally goes silent can feel unsettling rather than freeing, why savings alone rarely keep pace with inflation, and why the surest kind of retirement rests less on a fixed pot of capital and more on income that keeps flowing in.From the water tank on the roof to the pipeline that feeds it, from delayed gratification as the first rule of money to the career marathon that beats the career sprint, this episode makes the case that retirement security is the pipeline, not the water tank, and that the real goal is to build both and lean on the flow. Whether retirement is decades away or already here, pull up a seat and join the conversation.Meet your hostsRajen Devadason — Moderates this episode. Licensed Financial Planner with Manulife Investment Management Berhad and the writer behind the weekly Money Thoughts column. Dr Steven Poh — Co-host, holds a PhD in persuasive communication and is the one who first championed the idea for this show; currently navigating his own early years of retirement and lecturing at Sunway University.Kevin Neoh — Co-host, and Certified Financial Coach, who runs corporate financial wellness programs and support working Malaysian in preparing not just financially but for the purpose and lifestyle that come after work.Listen & subscribeThe Yellow Couch is available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. If you find value in the conversation, like, subscribe and share it with someone who's thinking about how to make their money last. Got a question, comment or story of your own? Send us an email (theyellowcouch.my@gmail.com) or drop it in the comments, we'd love to hear from you.

  5. Aug 22

    EP 7: Why Spending Well Is Living Now, Not Saving It All for Later

    In our seventh episode, we sit down with the feeling almost every retiree wrestles with, i.e. anxiety and guilt that come with spending money once the salary stops and the savings start to drop.Join Dr Steven Poh, Rajen Devadason and Kevin Neoh as they unpack why watching your savings fall feels so different from watching them grow, why the money you've worked hard to save is meant to be used, and how to spend it on the things that genuinely lift your quality of life instead of the things you buy out of habit.From the law of the excluded alternative to the return on joy, from a cup of tea that quietly went up thirty cents to the 83-year-old friend who told Steven to invest in his health, this episode makes the case that spending well is about living now, not saving it all for later, because the active years are when you still have the health to enjoy what you spend on. Whether retirement is still years away or you're already living it, pull up a seat and join the conversation.Meet your hostsKevin Neoh — Co-host, and Certified Financial Coach, who runs corporate financial wellness programs and support working Malaysian in preparing not just financially but for the purpose and lifestyle that come after work. Kevin also take the role as moderator for this episode.Dr Steven Poh — holds a PhD in persuasive communication and is the one who first championed the idea for this show; currently navigating his own early years of retirement and lecturing at Sunway University.Rajen Devadason — Licensed Financial Planner with Manulife Investment Management Berhad and the writer behind the weekly Money Thoughts column.Listen & subscribeThe Yellow Couch is available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. If you find value in the conversation, like, subscribe and share it with someone who's learning to enjoy the money they've worked hard to save. Got a question, comment or story of your own? Send us an email (theyellowcouch.my@gmail.com) or drop it in the comments.

  6. Aug 8

    EP 6: Why Passive Income Starts With Active Income, Not Shortcuts

    Welcome back to The Yellow Couch! In our sixth episode, we sit down with a simple formula that shapes your whole financial life, Total Income = Active Income + Passive Income, and what it really takes to grow both. Join Rajen Devadason, Dr Steven Poh and Kevin Neoh as they work through why so many people fixate on passive income and dream of retiring early, why none of it happens until you sort out the money you earn from work, why a season of focused hard work early in your career can change your whole trajectory, and the four everyday ways your money can eventually start earning for you. Passive income doesn't come from a shortcut, it starts with active income, the money you earn from work, and the surplus you build from it one paycheck and one good decision at a time. So pull up a seat on the yellow couch, and let's talk about how to grow what you earn before you grow what you own. Meet your hostsRajen Devadason - Licensed Financial Planner with Manulife Investment Management Berhad and the writer behind the weekly Money Thoughts column. Moderates this episode.Dr Steven Poh - holds a PhD in persuasive communication and is the one who first championed the idea for this show; currently navigating his own early years of retirement and lecturing at Sunway University. Kevin Neoh - Co-host, and Certified Financial Coach, who runs corporate financial wellness programs and support working Malaysian in preparing not just financially but for the purpose and lifestyle that come after work. Listen & subscribeThe Yellow Couch is available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. If you find value in the conversation, like, subscribe and share it with someone who's thinking about how they'll build their income for the years ahead. Got a question, comment or story of your own? Send us an email (theyellowcouch.my@gmail.com) or drop it in the comments, we'd love to hear from you.

  7. Jul 25

    EP 5: Why Elder Care Is a Cost You Plan For, Not a Burden You Pass On

    Welcome back to The Yellow Couch! In our fifth episode, we turn to the part of retirement most of us would rather not think about, elder care, and the years at the very end when what we need most is to age with dignity.Join Dr Steven Poh, Rajen Devadason and Kevin Neoh as they unpack why elder care has to be funded while you're still living, not settled in a will, and why, for most families, planning ahead matters far more than any single arrangement.From the difference between lifespan and healthspan, to the sandwich generation squeezed on both sides, to a frank disagreement about what it really means when an elderly parent ends up in a care home, this episode makes the case that aging with dignity is a cost you plan and fund for yourself, not a burden you pass on to your children or leave to the government.Whether retirement feels decades away or you're already living it, pull up a seat and join the conversation. In this episode: Why elder care is the final phase of retirementThe difference between lifespan and healthspanWhy retirement spending is not a flat lineThe pool-versus-pipeline pictureThe sandwich generation, being squeezed between aging parents and your own children The tension between wanting independence and the old expectation that children will care for parents, and whether Malaysia should legislate care (as Singapore did in 1995)The hard reality of abandonment in care facilities An honest disagreement on the couch about what "my children put me here" really meansWhy personal proactivity and self-ownership matter mostMeet your hostsDr Steven Poh — holds a PhD in persuasive communication and is the one who first championed the idea for this show; currently navigating his own early years of retirement and lecturing at Sunway University. Moderates this episode.Rajen Devadason — Co-host, Licensed Financial Planner with Manulife Investment Management Berhad and the writer behind the weekly Money Thoughts column.Kevin Neoh — Co-host, and Certified Financial Coach, who runs corporate financial wellness programs and support working Malaysian in preparing not just financially but for the purpose and lifestyle that come after work.Listen & subscribeThe Yellow Couch is available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. If you find value in the conversation, like, subscribe and share it with someone who's thinking about how they'll age well. Got a question, comment or story of your own? Send us an email or drop it in the comments — we'd love to hear from you.

  8. Jul 11

    EP 4: Why Financial Freedom Is a Blueprint You Follow, Not a Salary You Chase

    Welcome back to The Yellow Couch! In our fourth episode, Rajen puts his own framework on the table, The Rajen Devadason Blueprint for Financial Freedom, and the three hosts pull it apart element by element. Join Rajen Devadason, Dr Steven Poh and Kevin Neoh as they walk through the five parts of the blueprint, Active Income (AI), Operational Expenses (OE), your portfolio of debt (PoD), an Emergency Buffer fund (EBF), and Passive Income (PI), building a wealth portfolio, and use their own careers and clients to show how each one either opens or blocks the flow to the next. From why almost everyone is already a salesperson, to the one principle that keeps lifestyle expenses in check, to Rajen's own history with serious credit card debt, this episode makes the case that financial freedom isn't a windfall or a salary you chase, it's a blueprint you follow, one honest step at a time. Whether you're just starting to earn or already building your wealth portfolio, pull up a seat and join the conversation. In this episode The Rajen Devadason Blueprint for Financial FreedomThree ways to actually grow your Active IncomeImportance of learning to Sell.Why we are wired to SpendWhat separates people who manage their portfolio of debt well from those who don't.The formula for financial freedomWhy learning to say no might be the most underrated financial skill of all Meet your hosts Rajen Devadason — Licensed Financial Planner with Manulife Investment Management Berhad and the writer behind the weekly Money Thoughts column. Moderates this episode. Dr Steven Poh — holds a PhD in persuasive communication and is the one who first championed the idea for this show; currently navigating his own early years of retirement and lecturing at Sunway University. Kevin Neoh — Co-host, and Certified Financial Coach, who runs corporate financial wellness programs and support working Malaysian in preparing not just financially but for the purpose and lifestyle that come after work. Listen & subscribeThe Yellow Couch is available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. If you find value in the conversation, like, subscribe and share it with someone who's trying to build a plan for their own financial freedom. Got a question, comment or story of your own? Send us an email or drop it in the comments — we'd love to hear from you.

  9. Jun 27

    EP3: Why Where You Grow Old Is a Choice You Make, Not a Fate You Accept

    Welcome back to The Yellow Couch! In our third episode, we open with a simple, slightly uncomfortable question, would you check yourself into an elder care facility one day, and the three of us give three very different answers.Join Dr Steven Poh, Rajen Devadason and Kevin Neoh as they talk through the silver economy now taking shape around Malaysia's aging population, why we officially became an aging nation in 2025, five years ahead of projection, and why so many of us, and the country itself, are nowhere near ready. From a RM114 billion care economy and the case for a dedicated Ministry of Elder Care, to the hard truth about facilities that become dumping grounds and the well-run places that prove it doesn't have to be that way, this episode makes the case that where you grow old is a choice you make, not a fate you accept, if you prepare for it.Whether retirement feels decades away or you're already living it, pull up a seat and join the conversation.In this episode What the silver economy actually is, and why the care economy alone is a RM114 billion (US$25.5 billion) opportunityWhy the country isn't readyThe hard truth about elder care facilitiesThe proposal for a dedicated Ministry of Elder CareWhy national readiness means little without personal readinessWhy retirement is about retiring to something, not from something, and why identity, purpose and community matter as much as moneyMeet your hostsDr Steven Poh —the moderator for this episode. Steven holds a PhD in persuasive communication and is the one who first championed the idea for this show; currently navigating his own early years of retirement and lecturing at Sunway University. Rajen Devadason — Co-host, and a Licensed Financial Planner with Manulife Investment Management Berhad and CEO of RD WealthCreation Sdn Bhd, and the writer behind the weekly Money Thoughts column with New Straits Times.Kevin Neoh — Co-host, and Certified Financial Coach, who runs corporate financial wellness programs and support working Malaysian in preparing not just financially but for the purpose and lifestyle that come after work.Listen & subscribeThe Yellow Couch is available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. If you find value in the conversation, like, subscribe and share it with someone who's thinking about how they'll age well. Got a question, comment or story of your own? Send us an email (theyellowcouch.my@gmail.com) or drop it in the comments.

  10. Jun 17

    EP 2: Why Retirement Is An Idea We Inherited, Not A Rule We Must Follow

    Welcome back to The Yellow Couch! In our second episode, we sit down to talk about something most of us never stop to question - where the idea of retirement even came from. Join Kevin Neoh, Rajen Devadason and Dr Steven Poh as they trace retirement back to 1889 and Otto von Bismarck, unpack the old "study hard, work hard, then retire" model many of us grew up with, and ask a simple question: who actually decided we should retire at 60? From defined benefit pensions giving way to EPF-style contributions, to longer lifespans, falling birth rates and a working world that keeps changing, this episode makes the case that the old retirement script can leave many Malaysians in for a surprise, and that retirement is really an idea we inherited, not a rule we must follow. Whether retirement feels decades away or you're already in it, pull up a seat and join the conversation. In this episode Where the idea of retirement comes from?Who actually decided on 60 yoWhy the old "study, work, retire" model no longer fits the lives we actually liveWhy living longer is only a good problemThe four things you can do with a cashflow surplusWhy lifelong learning, language and reinvention have become survival skills, told through the hosts' own career stories Mentioned in this episode Otto von Bismarck and Germany's 1889 national pension, the origin of the modern retirement ageWho Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson — on noticing when things change before you get caught outThe Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason (carried over from Episode 1)Financial Freedom: Your Guide to Lifetime Financial Planning (1998) and its sequel Financial Freedom 2: Through Malaysian Equities and Unit Trusts (2000), co-authored by Rajen DevadasonMoney Thoughts, Rajen Devadason's long-running personal finance column in the New Sunday Times Meet your hostsKevin Neoh — Certified Financial Coach, and co-host, who moderates this episode Dr Steven Poh — holds a PhD in persuasive communication and is the one who first championed the idea for this show; currently navigating his own early years of retirement and lecturing at Sunway University. Rajen Devadason — Licensed Financial Planner with Manulife Investment Management Berhad and the writer behind the weekly Money Thoughts column. Listen & subscribeThe Yellow Couch is available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. If you find value in the conversation, like, subscribe and share it with someone who's rethinking how they want to retire. Got a question, comment or story of your own? Send us an email (theyellowcouch.my@gmail.com) or drop it in the comments — we'd love to hear from you.

  11. Jun 12

    EP 1: Why Retirement Is a Conversation for Today, Not Tomorrow

    Welcome to The Yellow Couch! In our very first episode, we introduce The Yellow Couch and share why we believe retirement deserves more attention in Malaysia. Join Dr Steven Poh, Rajen Devadason and Kevin Neoh as they discuss the inspiration behind the podcast, the story behind its name, and some of the biggest challenges Malaysians face when preparing for retirement. From EPF and financial literacy to rising living costs and changing attitudes towards money, this episode sets the stage for future conversations about what it really takes to retire well in Malaysia, and why it's a conversation we need to have today, not tomorrow. Whether retirement feels decades away or just around the corner, pull up a seat and join the conversation. In this episode Why EPF is the cornerstone of retirement, but not enough on its ownThe story behind the podcast and the meaning behind its nameWhat Steven's research revealed about Malaysia's retirement readinessWhy your 20s are the best time to start planningThe biggest hurdles Malaysians face: inflation, under-saving, and low EPF balancesHow YOLO mindset and FOMO may work against long-term savings and preparation.The financial literacy gap, and why personal responsibility matters most Mentioned in this episode Benjamin FranklinThe Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason (first published 1926) — a recommended read for the breadwinner of every householdMoney Thoughts, Rajen Devadason's long-running personal finance column in the New Sunday TimesCapital Market Masterplan (2026-2030) Meet your hosts Kevin Neoh — Certified Financial Coach, and co-host, who moderates this opening episodeDr. Steven Poh — holds a PhD in persuasive communication and is the one who first championed the idea for this show; currently navigating his own early years of retirement and lecturing at Sunway University.Rajen Devadason — Licensed Financial Planner with Manulife Investment Management Berhad and the writer behind the weekly Money Thoughts column. Listen & subscribeThe Yellow Couch is available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. If you find value in the conversation, like, subscribe and share it with someone who's thinking about their future. Got a question, comment or story of your own? Send us an email, or drop it in the comments — we'd love to hear from you.

  • 11 Episodes

About

The Yellow Couch is a podcast that aspires to help Malaysians make sense of the ever-evolving landscape of Retirement.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr Steven Poh, Rajen Devadason, and Kevin Neoh
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Dr Steven Poh, Rajen Devadason, and Kevin Neoh
  • Show Website
    The Yellow Couch