What you gain from reading with us.
Permata occupies a particular position in Singapore's financial education space. There is no product to sell, no commission to earn, and no reason to rush you through a curriculum.
Back to HomeSix things that set Permata apart.
No financial products, ever
Permata has no relationship with any fund manager, insurance company or bank. We cannot earn a commission. Our only income is your programme fee.
Reading as the method
We believe the most durable financial knowledge comes from careful reading, not from slides and speakers. Every programme is built around selected texts.
Singapore-specific content
CPF, SRS, Singapore Savings Bonds and the Retirement Sum framework are not covered adequately in general investing books. We build that coverage into every programme.
Small cohorts, real conversations
Cohorts are capped at twelve participants. Questions are welcomed. Participants often find the group discussion as valuable as the readings themselves.
An unhurried pace
Sessions are scheduled to allow time for reflection between meetings. You are not expected to absorb six months of content in a weekend. The pace is deliberate.
Experienced facilitators
Our lead facilitator spent three decades in banking before turning to education. Every facilitator has direct experience of the topics they discuss.
Thirty years of banking knowledge, now in the classroom.
Raymond Heng, who leads the programmes, spent thirty years in regional banking — a career that encompassed retail, commercial and private banking across Singapore and Malaysia. He has watched clients make the same misunderstandings about CPF, about unit trusts and about the structure of their own balance sheets, repeatedly and expensively.
The programmes he has designed are built around the questions he was asked most often during that career, and the answers he wishes clients had understood earlier.
- Thirty years of direct banking experience
- CPD-accredited facilitators
- Singapore-qualified and locally experienced team
- Annual review of all programme materials
- Curriculum updated when MAS or CPF rules change
A programme that fits around your life, not the other way around.
All sessions are recorded and made available to participants who miss a meeting. Online participation is available for those who cannot attend in person. The reading materials are sent in advance, and there is no requirement to submit work or sit examinations.
Our office holds occasional optional in-person gatherings for those who prefer to meet the group. The programme continues to work without attending these.
- All sessions recorded for later reference
- Online participation available for every session
- Reading materials sent in advance
- No examinations or compulsory submissions
- Questions welcomed during and between sessions
Straightforward pricing. No upsell.
The programme fee covers all materials, access to sessions, recordings and the online discussion forum. There are no additional charges for late payment, for attending optional in-person gatherings, or for asking questions outside session hours.
We do not offer a more expensive premium tier, because we believe every participant deserves the same quality of attention.
- One fee, everything included
- No upsell to premium services
- SGD 240 to SGD 760 depending on programme length
- Refund available before first session
- Group discounts available for household pairs
How Permata compares with typical alternatives.
A plain account of the differences, without disparaging any particular provider.
| Feature | Typical seminars & online courses | Permata |
|---|---|---|
| No product commission or referral fees | ||
| Singapore-specific CPF and SRS content | ||
| Small group with live discussion | ||
| Session recordings for participants | Sometimes | |
| Paced over multiple weeks with reading time | ||
| Facilitator with 30+ years banking experience | Varies | |
| No upsell to financial products or premium tiers |
Distinctive features of the Permata approach.
Annotated reading lists
Each programme includes a curated list of books with brief notes explaining what each text offers and what prior knowledge, if any, it assumes. Participants can read ahead or at their own pace.
Online discussion forum
Each cohort has access to a private online forum where questions can be asked between sessions. Facilitators respond within two working days. The forum remains open for three months after the programme ends.
Complimentary debrief session
Four weeks after the programme concludes, all participants are invited to a short optional session to discuss how they have applied what they read. Many participants find this as useful as the programme itself.
Designed for households, not individuals
The Slow Portfolio Workshop in particular is written with the household unit in mind — couples, siblings or parents and adult children who want to think through their finances together. Household pairs receive a discount.
Numbers that reflect our approach.
Years running structured programmes
Participants across all cohorts
Maximum cohort size — always
Commission earned from financial products
SIBFi CPD Recognition
Singapore Institute of Banking and Finance continuing professional development accreditation for programme facilitators.
4.8 / 5 participant rating
Average rating across all exit surveys completed by programme participants since 2021.
68% repeat enrolment
Proportion of Reading Companion participants who go on to enrol in a second Permata programme within twelve months.
Ready to read more carefully about your own money?
Write to us with a brief description of where you are starting from, and we will suggest the programme that suits your situation best.
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