View My Profile

Dave’s Life story revealed – How Does One Go From A 6-Figure Debt To Financial Independence

Recently, I had an opportunity to share my life story on a podcast by The Financial Coconut. They had located me through this blog and thought that the topic on minimalism and financial independence might appeal to their listeners.

As I was preparing for the podcast, I reflected on my life journey and it became rather emotional for me – especially when I started recalling some of those key pivoting points, failures and hard experiences. As I chronicled my journey, there were many important life lessons learnt, and money management lessons as well. I wanted to share my experience hoping that those lessons that I’ve learnt will also serve as food for thought for you, and may you also draw some inspiration from them.

Everything that I had experienced in life – I believed they happened for a reason. Each episode was instrumental in the culmination of the experience in further episodes.

I hope you will enjoy the podcast and do reach out to find out more about my work.

“The biggest form of financial independence for me personally is that you could make most of your daily decisions based on the value it might provide to people around you rather than the financial reward that you might receive from it”

Important: The information and opinions in this article are for general information purposes only. They should not be relied on as professional financial advice. Readers should seek unbiased financial advice that is customised to their specific financial objectives, situations & needs. This advertisement or publication has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

Published By:

David Wu

I am a Financial Coach, Certified Financial Planner, and Life Enthusiast.

With over 15 years of experience in international banking and financial services, I am dedicated to empowering individuals to take control of their financial lives. My mission is to demystify complex financial concepts, helping clients right-size their resources and explore a broader spectrum of life choices.

As a passionate advocate for financial literacy, especially within underrepresented communities, I combine holistic, unbiased advice with practical strategies. I believe that living a simple, purposeful life is the key to achieving true financial independence. I am also the founder of minimalistinthecity.com, where I promote minimalism as a pathway toward clarity, purpose, and financial freedom.

Beyond my advisory work, I actively contribute to the digital finance space through platforms like CPF, The Financial Coconut, and iFast, sharing insights that foster financial wellness and literacy. My approach centers on building lasting relationships, walking side by side with my clients on their journey toward financial clarity and personal fulfillment.

I am a firm believer in “living a simple and meaningful life,” and I help my clients discover their ikigai and craft tailored financial plans aligned with their passions. My dedication to education goes beyond one-on-one coaching—I frequently speak at conferences, seminars, and community events, inspiring audiences to embrace deliberate financial and life choices.

When I’m not guiding clients or sharing insights, I enjoy adventures in nature, with goals to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro and trek across Patagonia—reminding us all to seek fulfillment through exploration and purpose.

Let’s collaborate to unlock your financial potential or inspire others to take charge of their financial future.

You can see some of my publicly available work here: https://engage.fa.com.sg/davidwu/

Please feel free to contact me for a no-obligation exploratory chat.

 

View My Profile
Contact Me

CONTACT US

  • 150 Beach Road #12-01/08, Gateway West Singapore 189720
  • +65 62221889
  • +65 62221019
  • feedback@fa.com.sg
Disclosure & Disclaimer

Privacy & Cookies Policy

Data Protection Policy

Terms of Use

Terms of Use - Mobile

Fair Dealing

Contact Me

What type of services are you looking for? 请问您需要咨询哪些方面的服务？(Please select all that applies)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

By submitting this form, I confirm that

提交此表格，即表示

  • I have read and understood FAPL’s Personal Data Policy, and hereby give my acknowledgement and consent to FAPL to use my personal data in accordance with FAPL’s Personal Data Policy.
  • 我已阅读并理解鑫盟理财私人有限公司的个人数据保护政策，并同意鑫盟理财私人有限公司根据个人数据保护政策所阐述的用途使用我的个人资料。
  • I have read and understood the disclaimers above and hereby affirm my acceptance of these terms.
  • 我已阅读并理解了上述免责声明，特此声明接受这些条款。
  • I have not been directly contacted or approached by any representative or employee of FAPL with an offer or solicitation to apply for any financial products not offered in my home country.
  • 鑫盟理财私人有限公司的代表或员工并未直接与我联系或提出要约或招揽购买我原居住国境内所不提供的任何金融产品.
  • Financial Alliance Pte Ltd ( “FAPL”) is licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (“MAS”) and allowed to conduct financial advisory activities in accordance with the Financial Advisers Act (Cap. 110) (“FAA”) and the Securities & Futures Act (Cap. 289) (“SFA”) within the jurisdiction of the Republic of Singapore and in accordance with the licenses granted by MAS
  • 鑫盟理财私人有限公司( “鑫盟理财”)持有由新加坡金融管理局(“MAS”)所颁发的牌照，并许可在新加坡共和国境内依据财务顾问法（第110章）和证券与期货交易法（第289章）进行财务咨询等相关业务
  • Any services provided by FAPL to persons not ordinarily resident in Singapore are provided solely on an offshore basis from Singapore, resulting from direct enquiry on the part of the foreign residents.
  • 鑫盟理财为非新加坡居民所提供的任何服务仅限于直接向鑫盟理财发出咨询请求的国外居民。
  • As an integral part of the provision of such services, FAPL may from time to time make available to such residents, documents and information making reference to capital markets products (for example, in connection with the provision of fund management or investment advisory services outside of the foreign jurisdiction).
  • 作为提供此类服务的一部分，鑫盟理财会不时向此类咨询者提供有关产品的参考文件和信息（例如，关于海外司法管辖区以外的资金管理或投资咨询服务等信息）。
  • Such documents and information are provided by Financial Alliance Pte Ltd (“FAPL”) is for general information only and is not intended for anyone other than the recipient.
  • 此类由鑫盟理财所提供的文件和信息仅供收件人做一般信息参考。
  • It does not take into account the specific investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person.
  • 此类文件和信息不会把-个人投资目标，财务状况或其特定需求等考虑在内。
  • It does not constitute the making available of, or an offer or solicitation by FAPL to buy or sell or subscribe for any such capital markets product or to enter into a transaction or to participate in any particular trading or investment strategy nor an advice or a recommendation with respect to such financial products.
  • 鑫盟理财向该人士提供此类文件和信息将不构成要约或招揽购买或出售或认购任何此类资本市场产品，或达成交易或参与任何特定的投资策略，也不构成有关此类金融产品的建议或推荐。
  • These documents may not be published, circulated, reproduced or distributed in whole or in part to any other person without FAPL’s prior written consent.
  • 未经鑫盟理财的事先书面同意，不得将这些文件全文或部分发布，传播，复制或分发给其他人。
  • This document is not intended for distribution to, publication or use by any person in any jurisdiction, where such distribution, publication or use would be contrary to applicable law or would subject FAPL and its related corporations, connected persons, associated persons and/or affiliates to any registration, licensing or other requirements within such jurisdiction.
  • 鑫盟理财无意在分发，出版或使用此类文件可能违反当地法律，或本公司及关联公司或关联人士需要注册，获得许可或符合规定的司法权区向当地人士分发、出版此类文件或供其使用。
  • You shall ensure that you have and will continue to be fully compliant with all applicable laws in your home country when entering into discussion or contracts with FAPL.
  • 在与鑫盟理财进行讨论或签订合约时，您应确保您已完全遵守并将继续遵守您所在原居住国的所有适用法律及条规。

In compliance with the Personal Data Protection Act, Financial Alliance Pte Ltd (“FAPL”) seek your consent to collect and use your personal data (e.g. name, NRIC, contact numbers, mailing addresses, email addresses and photograph) for the purposes of and in accordance with FAPL’s Data Protection Policy, which can be found on FAPL’s website at https://fa.com.sg/data-protection-policy/.

根据《个人数据保护法》，鑫盟理财私人有限公司征求您的同意向您收集并使用您的个人信息。鑫盟理财将根据公司的个人数据保护政策所阐述的用途使用您的个人资料（例如姓名，证件号码，联系电话，邮寄地址，电邮地址和照片）。 该政策可在本公司网站上查寻，网址为 https://fa.com.sg/data-protection-policy/.

By submitting this form, you are deemed to have read and understood FAPL’s Personal Data Policy.

提交此表格，即表示您已阅读并理解鑫盟理财私人有限公司的个人数据政策

Scan for Contact Details

Download Contact
Enquiry

Join our newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates on our latest content!

By providing the info below, I confirm that I am the user and/or subscriber of the telephone number(s) and email address provided by me and I consent to receive from Financial Alliance and/or its financial adviser representatives, any marketing, advertising and promotional information organise by Financial Alliance via voice calls, SMS/MMS (text messages) or faxes to my telephone number(s) provided below. I understand I may withdraw any consent I have given at any time by writing in to Financial Alliance Pte Ltd.

Scan for WeChat QR

Estate Planning

Who Gets What?
If You Don’t Have a Will.

Find Out Now

Retirement Planning

Will I be able to retire comfortably?

Find Out Now

Contact Me

What type of services are you looking for? 请问您需要咨询哪些方面的服务？(Please select all that applies)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

By submitting this form, I confirm that

提交此表格，即表示

  • I have read and understood FAPL’s Personal Data Policy, and hereby give my acknowledgement and consent to FAPL to use my personal data in accordance with FAPL’s Personal Data Policy.
  • 我已阅读并理解鑫盟理财私人有限公司的个人数据保护政策，并同意鑫盟理财私人有限公司根据个人数据保护政策所阐述的用途使用我的个人资料。
  • I have read and understood the disclaimers above and hereby affirm my acceptance of these terms.
  • 我已阅读并理解了上述免责声明，特此声明接受这些条款。
  • I have not been directly contacted or approached by any representative or employee of FAPL with an offer or solicitation to apply for any financial products not offered in my home country.
  • 鑫盟理财私人有限公司的代表或员工并未直接与我联系或提出要约或招揽购买我原居住国境内所不提供的任何金融产品.
  • Financial Alliance Pte Ltd ( “FAPL”) is licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (“MAS”) and allowed to conduct financial advisory activities in accordance with the Financial Advisers Act (Cap. 110) (“FAA”) and the Securities & Futures Act (Cap. 289) (“SFA”) within the jurisdiction of the Republic of Singapore and in accordance with the licenses granted by MAS
  • 鑫盟理财私人有限公司( “鑫盟理财”)持有由新加坡金融管理局(“MAS”)所颁发的牌照，并许可在新加坡共和国境内依据财务顾问法（第110章）和证券与期货交易法（第289章）进行财务咨询等相关业务
  • Any services provided by FAPL to persons not ordinarily resident in Singapore are provided solely on an offshore basis from Singapore, resulting from direct enquiry on the part of the foreign residents.
  • 鑫盟理财为非新加坡居民所提供的任何服务仅限于直接向鑫盟理财发出咨询请求的国外居民。
  • As an integral part of the provision of such services, FAPL may from time to time make available to such residents, documents and information making reference to capital markets products (for example, in connection with the provision of fund management or investment advisory services outside of the foreign jurisdiction).
  • 作为提供此类服务的一部分，鑫盟理财会不时向此类咨询者提供有关产品的参考文件和信息（例如，关于海外司法管辖区以外的资金管理或投资咨询服务等信息）。
  • Such documents and information are provided by Financial Alliance Pte Ltd (“FAPL”) is for general information only and is not intended for anyone other than the recipient.
  • 此类由鑫盟理财所提供的文件和信息仅供收件人做一般信息参考。
  • It does not take into account the specific investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person.
  • 此类文件和信息不会把-个人投资目标，财务状况或其特定需求等考虑在内。
  • It does not constitute the making available of, or an offer or solicitation by FAPL to buy or sell or subscribe for any such capital markets product or to enter into a transaction or to participate in any particular trading or investment strategy nor an advice or a recommendation with respect to such financial products.
  • 鑫盟理财向该人士提供此类文件和信息将不构成要约或招揽购买或出售或认购任何此类资本市场产品，或达成交易或参与任何特定的投资策略，也不构成有关此类金融产品的建议或推荐。
  • These documents may not be published, circulated, reproduced or distributed in whole or in part to any other person without FAPL’s prior written consent.
  • 未经鑫盟理财的事先书面同意，不得将这些文件全文或部分发布，传播，复制或分发给其他人。
  • This document is not intended for distribution to, publication or use by any person in any jurisdiction, where such distribution, publication or use would be contrary to applicable law or would subject FAPL and its related corporations, connected persons, associated persons and/or affiliates to any registration, licensing or other requirements within such jurisdiction.
  • 鑫盟理财无意在分发，出版或使用此类文件可能违反当地法律，或本公司及关联公司或关联人士需要注册，获得许可或符合规定的司法权区向当地人士分发、出版此类文件或供其使用。
  • You shall ensure that you have and will continue to be fully compliant with all applicable laws in your home country when entering into discussion or contracts with FAPL.
  • 在与鑫盟理财进行讨论或签订合约时，您应确保您已完全遵守并将继续遵守您所在原居住国的所有适用法律及条规。

In compliance with the Personal Data Protection Act, Financial Alliance Pte Ltd (“FAPL”) seek your consent to collect and use your personal data (e.g. name, NRIC, contact numbers, mailing addresses, email addresses and photograph) for the purposes of and in accordance with FAPL’s Data Protection Policy, which can be found on FAPL’s website at https://fa.com.sg/data-protection-policy/.

根据《个人数据保护法》，鑫盟理财私人有限公司征求您的同意向您收集并使用您的个人信息。鑫盟理财将根据公司的个人数据保护政策所阐述的用途使用您的个人资料（例如姓名，证件号码，联系电话，邮寄地址，电邮地址和照片）。 该政策可在本公司网站上查寻，网址为 https://fa.com.sg/data-protection-policy/.

By submitting this form, you are deemed to have read and understood FAPL’s Personal Data Policy.

提交此表格，即表示您已阅读并理解鑫盟理财私人有限公司的个人数据政策