Money Moves that Helped Michelle Lee Change Her Life
By Kelli Luu | 17 Jul, 2025

Singapore native Michelle Lee retired at 35 and is now teaching her clients how she built her wealth to become financially free and how they can do it too.

Kelli Luu (00:00)

Michelle Lee is a certified money coach with tens of thousands of followers who are waiting to hear how she retired at 35 and gained financial freedom making the best money moves. Whether you're fresh out of college or just looking for some knowledge that'll help you reach your goals, Michelle's advice is refreshing and practical.

to hear just how she's doing it. Welcome, Michelle.

Michelle Lee (00:20)

Hello, everybody. I'm Michelle.

Kelli Luu (00:23)

Thank you so much for being here with us today. So I know that you are in Singapore. We have our very first out of country guest with us. I'm really excited about that. I really want to get into it. So Michelle, for anybody who's just discovering your page, how would you introduce your content?

Michelle Lee (00:39)

so basically I share authentic, relatable content that blends everyday stories with money topics that pop up in our daily lives. So through my own personal page, AskMichelleLee and BetterMoneyEQ, I help people retain money and success. I cover the emotional patterns, know, the conscious spending and living well beyond just looking rich. My goal is simple. I write...

I connect and I spark conversations that make people feel safer and more empowered with their finances.

Kelli Luu (01:08)

Got it. Okay, cool. So I see you have built a very loyal following with your financial advice. at what point did you decide that you want to share your knowledge with the world? And I also want to know, was it always financial advice that you were sharing online or did you start with something else?

Michelle Lee (01:26)

So for me, I personally took up a digital marketing course as part of my budget. Every year I set a budget to self-improve. I set aside about 5,000 to 6,000 to learn something useful. So I got into digital marketing in the end of 2019. It was a three-month course. learned, I sat through it and everything. And COVID came, you know? So COVID came in March and I was, you know,

Kelli Luu (01:48)

Right, perfect timing.

Michelle Lee (01:52)

forced out of my comfort zone to put into practice what I've learned. So I learned how to create content, how to write, how to design. I spent over a decade as a top performing financial advisor. And I started sharing financial advice to generate leads and new clients online. it was so overwhelming that I, I guess I've been in the industry for over 10 years. I have already

Kelli Luu (02:04)

Mm.

Michelle Lee (02:17)

my referrals and everything but I saw how people outside my network like the younger generation or people in countries that I can't reach could benefit from what I do and my knowledge I saw that was how the internet could do right so when I did that I saw how people improve their money situation and all this I realized that people didn't just need advice

Kelli Luu (02:34)

Yeah.

Michelle Lee (02:43)

They needed healing. Therefore, in these recent years, I started sharing online to fill that gap. I wanted to show that money isn't just numbers. Right? So, see, Kelli every time you see online money is about, you know, when people do money content, they talk about how much they make, you know, how much you need to have and etc. I realised that it's not about numbers. A lot of times, it's tied to self-worth.

Kelli Luu (03:08)

Mmm.

Michelle Lee (03:08)

identity

and sometimes even trauma. Therefore my goal is to empower people to be good with money, emotionally and practically.

Kelli Luu (03:17)

Wow, that's amazing. So you really have a goal in mind when you're posting your content, you know?

Michelle Lee (03:23)

I've met clients who have a lot of money and they lose it all to scam or get rich schemes. And these are the emotions behind it. They get anxiety when they accumulated a lot and not happy at all.

Kelli Luu (03:27)

Mm.

Right. Yeah, definitely we've seen that before. Can I ask you what's a common struggle that people often come to you for?

Michelle Lee (03:45)

The biggest one that I've seen is people feeling stuck, right? They feel that they are earning, but they don't feel that they are in control. know, a lot of them, feel shame about the spending, have anxiety about their future, and guilt for wanting more, right? Because of how the social media shows, you know, flexing their big cars and how much they make by how old and all this. But you need to learn that everybody has their own pace in life.

Kelli Luu (03:49)

Mm.

Mm-hmm.

Michelle Lee (04:12)

Right? Everybody has their own season. So it's really about the math. It's more about the mindset.

Kelli Luu (04:12)

Right.

Right, okay. Do you think that people in Singapore are flashy as they are here in the US?

Michelle Lee (04:24)

it really depends. But in general, think my Singaporean group are very grounded people. They are very hard workers. But as you know, the top 20 % makes 80 % of the money.

Kelli Luu (04:25)

⁓ okay.

Interesting.

course, yeah, Okay. Have you ever had a nine to five? And if so, how did you decide to like leave that?

Michelle Lee (04:43)

So for me, I've never worked in a 9-5 in my life. Even when I was in those, when I finished college, I did retail sales. It was 11-9 kind of job. I've never been in a corporate world. I joined the financial advisory scene when I was in my 20s, 21. And honestly, it felt like the 24-7 role. I built a successful career, but...

Kelli Luu (05:07)

Mmm.

Michelle Lee (05:09)

Also at the same time, I experienced burnout and toxic fellowship. It reached to a point where I just wanted to live by my own values, not just to be targets or numbers. So I planned my exit intentionally and now that I'm retired from the hustle, I'm fully focused on money coaching and just content creation.

Kelli Luu (05:15)

Mm.

Nice, okay. Can you briefly share with us the main source of income that's helped you retire at 35?

Michelle Lee (05:37)

Right. My early retirement wasn't from just wanting. It was a combination of strategic moves. I had a sabre income from my job, which I did really well. I make more than six figure annually. And most importantly, I think what I did right is I invested early in Bitcoin and stocks at Go. Go as well. I started Go investing when I was 18. Basically, whatever people told me that ⁓ is not good, I just had my hands on that. ⁓

Kelli Luu (05:43)

Right.

Mmm, yeah.

Okay.

Michelle Lee (06:05)

I know when Bitcoin

is a different kind of investment, it takes a lot of tenacity and good heart, know, like strong heart. So I stay very disciplined, yeah. I really hold and so disciplined and I started saving and investing. So at 34, I bought a property in Singapore, right, a freehold property, and that really settled everything for me, right. It gave me both peace of mind and this strong financial foundation to walk away from.

Kelli Luu (06:11)

⁓ wow. Definitely.

Michelle Lee (06:34)

whatever I build confidently. ⁓

Kelli Luu (06:37)

So multiple streams of income is kind of a key, huh?

Michelle Lee (06:41)

Yeah,

see I get paid from my content creation as well and also for my coaching. So I mean, I always tell people as long as you are hardworking and you have skill sets, there's no worry that you will not find a job or income.

Kelli Luu (06:45)

Yeah.

growing up in Singapore, is there any pressure in that culture to follow a traditional path or, what is it like there? What kind of pressure is there?

Michelle Lee (07:06)

Okay, I think from young, we have this pressure of having to do very well in school. Right, you have to get short days, even a pass or a 17 month wouldn't make the cut. You get kining and it's so stressful, you know. And when you grow up, you know, my grandma always say, hey, just study hard so that you can work in an air-conditioned place. Get, find a good husband, you know, go to university, find a good husband, work in an air-conditioned place and have kids and have a stable life. Right?

Kelli Luu (07:11)

Great.

Right.

Michelle Lee (07:34)

So I always question that, Question this, is this something for me, right? And how does this strong pressure of having the safe job? So when I first got into financial advisory at the age of 21, that was the legal age to be an advisor. I have to take the exam. I started taking an exam when I was 20 years old before I could legally join, you know, so that when the time I turned 21, sharp, I'll be an advisor, right? So people question me, you know.

Kelli Luu (07:54)

Okay.

Michelle Lee (08:00)

Like, hey, why do you do this? You don't even need a degree to be a financial advisor. You just get your college results and go B1. Why do you take this path? I'm a rebel. I take the unconventional path. I wanted to see if I could do something while I was still studying and figure things out. So in Singapore, definitely there's this unspoken rule. Success equals to stability and equals to high paying job. And that is status.

Kelli Luu (08:18)

Mmm.

Michelle Lee (08:27)

and nobody's going to look up to an insurance agent, you know?

Kelli Luu (08:31)

Right, yeah, okay, I see. So there's pressure about status and your success in Singapore still.

Michelle Lee (08:37)

Yeah, so even if you

are miserable, you don't quit because your parents will say, hey, this is a job. know, every job is going to be the same. It's going to be unhappy in another job. So I had to unlearn, right? Unlearn that and redefine success for myself, I learned, but by how I live and what I value in life.

Kelli Luu (08:46)

Yeah.

Oh yeah, Do you have a lot of American clients that come to you for advice?

Michelle Lee (09:04)

yeah, I do have a few Americans coming to me for advice.

Kelli Luu (09:06)

Yeah.

Okay. And do you feel like there's a difference between the financial, the financial advice that you give to people in Singapore versus Westerners over here in America?

Michelle Lee (09:18)

I think in America, ⁓ versus Singapore, it's very, very different. In Singapore, we are very well planned by our government, right? We have very good retirement scheme, in my opinion. And in America, there's so much waste. You know, in stocks, for example, in Singapore, we are not being taxed for our profits.

Kelli Luu (09:29)

Mmm, okay.

Michelle Lee (09:40)

Yeah, and then America is different, right? And you have your IRAs, you can use stocks and etc. But in Singapore, no, we can't do that. So there's more perks in investing in Singapore more than in America, actually.

Kelli Luu (09:48)

No.

Okay, cool. So are you giving like investment advice too? So it's not just coaching people with their money, you're teaching them how to make it.

Michelle Lee (09:59)

So at this moment,

have no advice. I don't advise people on the investment. I advise people the investment part, Because you are not going to do well with investment if you didn't get your mindset right.

Kelli Luu (10:06)

Got it.

Right, got it. So I know you said, the government is just completely different in Singapore it's like they really, really take care of their citizens, I would say. Like they make sure, they kind of like set everyone up for success in a way, But is there something unique about the Singaporean financial culture that a lot of us don't see?

Michelle Lee (10:23)

Yeah, I do.

in Singapore, we encourage the locals to top up their retirement scheme, their CPF scheme, for more incentive, tax reliefs and everything. And also they give up a lot of subsidies to people who might be struggling or have a bigger family or may face some problem in their house.

Kelli Luu (10:43)

Mmm.

Michelle Lee (10:57)

And I think most Singaporeans are very well taken care of. Yeah, you know, we have retirement village. I really think that even as a... because I volunteer, as a volunteer, I get to see a lot of things on the ground. I get to see how our government actually take very good care of elderly, especially those who live alone.

Kelli Luu (11:02)

Yeah.

Michelle Lee (11:18)

and those

lower income people. And Kelli, for me, I'm a beneficiary of my government policies. I didn't come from a good background. And whatever financial assistance that I received was very useful in my upbringing in the years that I grew up and I feel that I want to pay it forward.

Kelli Luu (11:38)

I see. Oh, wow. Yeah, that's very different than here. I didn't know how much they're actually helping your citizens. That's amazing.

Michelle Lee (11:46)

Yeah, think...

Kelli Luu (11:47)

What would you say is the best source of income for somebody that's getting out of college? What kind of advice would you give them just straight out of college?

Michelle Lee (11:57)

I feel that a lot of people they tend to wait for their dream job. then they wait for people to teach them about money skills. And they don't learn on themselves. They should start taking freelancing during school holidays, pick up digital skills, pick up skill sets. If I say today, I always ask if today you have nothing to prove yourself.

No certification, nothing. So what can you do? What value can you add to the company? on the side. And it's also very important to track every dollar. Not to restrict, but to understand and be intentional about where your money goes. Because you can't grow anything that you don't track.

Kelli Luu (12:33)

Right.

Okay, of course, definitely. Do you think it's harder to build wealth now in 2025 or then 10 years ago?

Michelle Lee (12:46)

It's easier in some ways because we have more tools, digital platforms, right, access to global markets, right, FinTech, right, ⁓ know, robo-advisory. However, it also get harder because of rising costs like inflation and there's this pressure to live a curated life online. So that's why people need clarity and not just hustle for the sake of hustling, right? We need purpose and not just passive income.

Kelli Luu (13:15)

Right, Okay, do you think somebody in their 20s or 30s should prioritize saving, investing, or making more money?

Michelle Lee (13:16)

Yeah.

I feel that they will need, I feel that they have to prioritize to earn, right? And with intention, right? Have a goal in mind. Invest with confidence, okay? And also have clarity, right? Most importantly, build skill sets that give you freedom. Don't just focus on budgeting. Focus on expanding your value.

Kelli Luu (13:41)

Okay, got it.

expanding your value, got it. As a person or as like a brand?

Michelle Lee (13:47)

Yeah.

has a business and you are your own

Kelli Luu (13:53)

Yeah, got it. So how do you approach budgeting?

Michelle Lee (13:59)

I tell you I don't micro manage my spending. I manage myself. I manage how I am spending consciously. I spend freely on what matters to me and cut whatever that doesn't serve me. And budget to me is not a punishment. It's just a reflection of my priorities. Right. So when I buy something I have... Okay this is the amount that I'm going for.

Kelli Luu (14:17)

Right.

Michelle Lee (14:22)

If I say anything more, I'll just tell the salesperson, hey no, I came here to buy a $100 fan. There's no way I'm going to buy a $200, however good it is.

Kelli Luu (14:32)

Right. So you're not too strict when it comes to the budgeting. that's good way to live. What do you think is something that everyone should invest in and what advice can you give someone that wants to start that?

Michelle Lee (14:50)

The best investment that you can do is in yourself. in crypto, bitcoin or any stocks, invest in skills, right? In tools and most important, healing, right? When I was in my twenties, it's all about working, you know, build that career and everything. There's no way, no time for healing. But I think when you hit your thirties and forties, you start to slow down and reflect on what happened in your twenties and you know, and just pass by.

Kelli Luu (14:53)

Right.

Okay.

Michelle Lee (15:18)

and you think that hey, why do I get triggered by some things and I go on retail therapy, I overspend, I become guilty, know, etc. It's important to get a mentor in life, who you think that you want to be, who you think you can emulate. Read books, right, learn from the best people, attend workshops, not just to learn but to network, because if you don't upgrade your mindset and your network, you...

will sabotage your money no matter how much you earn.

Kelli Luu (15:45)

yeah, definitely. so invest in yourself, invest in your skills. okay. What's a small change that people can start making today that will improve their finances in a month?

Michelle Lee (15:57)

download a money tracking app, track your expenditure, find out what are your fixed expenses every month. and see if you can reduce it Not just how much you earn but also understand how do you feel when you spend. Awareness beats transformation and that is when you know your money habits will unfold in front of you and you see you know

Kelli Luu (16:01)

Yeah, okay.

Mm-hmm.

Okay.

Michelle Lee (16:22)

what can be improved and what is wrong.

Kelli Luu (16:22)

Mm-hmm.

Right. Okay. You said that you're retired at 35. What does that really look like? Like, you kind of even almost walk me a day in your life?

Michelle Lee (16:33)

So retirement is not just sipping coconut by the beach. It's being able to choose how I spend my time. So for me, mornings are like meaningful hikes with friends who are also a retiree. Meaningful work, On like volunteering. I do caregiving sometimes. Deliver meals to the elderly. And most importantly, I like creating and there's no pressure to create, you know.

Kelli Luu (16:42)

Got

Mm. Yeah.

Michelle Lee (16:59)

content or whatever, it's my time. Retirement to me is not about doing nothing. It's about doing what I love and what is aligned with my values. In fact, I was reflecting, know, what was I thinking last time when I wanted to retire? What would be my dream retirement job? It's something that I always wanted to try and one idea I'm considering, it's not confirmed, it's...

Kelli Luu (17:02)

Okay.

Michelle Lee (17:23)

perhaps to become a Grab driver, you know, just for two to three hours a day, right? Just because I enjoy driving and I enjoy having real conversations with people, right? In Singapore, right, if your car is fully paid off, you can convert it into a private hired vehicle. So my car is fully paid, you know, that's the result of financial freedom. And it means no rental stress and just the freedom to enjoy the ride and connect with others. So...

Kelli Luu (17:27)

Yeah.

Michelle Lee (17:49)

The rest of the

time, I focus on upskilling, especially in content creation. I learn from other creators, know, take up courses, learn to get better at telling stories, editing, just writing. I like writing on threads. Yeah. So retirement is about having the time and space to really just grow and learn and live meaningfully.

Kelli Luu (18:08)

Yeah, That's amazing. All right, Michelle, do you feel like you've hit your ultimate money goal or are you still trying to reach another one?

Michelle Lee (18:18)

I've hit many goals. Money is never going to fulfill you, only God will. But I'm always evolving, right? These days my goals aren't just about numbers or about, you know, reaching the next million dollar. It's more about impact and the freedom and peace. You know, I really truly hope that I can bring more people to be able to live the life that I have cropped up for myself to teach them, right? I'm definitely no longer chasing but building.

just building and impacting and creating impact and influencing people, you know.

Kelli Luu (18:48)

Okay, one more question. Where can we see you in like five years? What's the plan for you? Are you going to still be making content

Michelle Lee (18:54)

In the finest time, you'll probably see me as a motivational speaker.

Kelli Luu (18:59)

Nice, love that.

Okay, well, thank you so for sharing your story with Goldsea today. I'm sure everyone appreciates it today. Thank you so much.

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Money Moves that Helped Michelle Lee Change Her Life
By Kelli Luu | 17 Jul, 2025

Singapore native Michelle Lee retired at 35 and is now teaching her clients how she built her wealth to become financially free and how they can do it too.

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Money Moves that Helped Michelle Lee Change Her LifeBy Kelli Luu | 17 Jul, 2025

Singapore native Michelle Lee retired at 35 and is now teaching her clients how she built her wealth to become financially free and how they can do it too.

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Asian American Success Stories

Money Moves that Helped Michelle Lee Change Her Life
By Kelli Luu | 17 Jul, 2025