Cheryl Lim, 26, Crowned Winner of Moomoo Money Master

At just 26, Cheryl has already carved out a unique path for herself—balancing her career as a financial consultant while also pursuing her passion for filmmaking and acting, which has been a creative outlet and source of personal growth for her. What sets her apart, though, is her remarkable ability to integrate both worlds— finance and creativity— to work around limitations of every challenge and rise to the top in our inaugural Moomoo Money Master competition.

Describing herself as "curious, empathetic, and passionate," much like her favorite dog breed, the golden retriever, Cheryl has always been driven by a deep desire to learn and grow. "I’m more of an artsy person than a finance geek, though I enjoy both intellectually," she says. Her financial career at Prudential, which began just a few months before the competition, and her freelance work in the arts, form the core of her life’s ambitions. Looking ahead, she hopes to continue expanding her knowledge, inspiring others and make a lasting impact in both fields.

A Journey of Discovery

Cheryl's journey into the world of investing began early. At 22, she interned at Endowus during its startup days, where she was first exposed to investment concepts and processes. She credits this early exposure, the fortuitous timing of entering the market during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, for setting her on a path toward financial independence. "I’ve always believed in learning by doing," she says. "I didn’t wait for the ‘perfect’ moment to start. I jumped in as soon as I could."

Her approach to financial management has always been rooted in long-term value investing. Recently, she has also started segmenting a portion of her portfolio into swing and options trading. She is quick to make a disclaimer: "I’m not a professional trader. I’m also still learning!" But like many investors, she’s made her share of mistakes. "For me, the biggest mistake with money is letting greed take over." The hunger for quick gains can often lead to impulsive decisions. "It’s easy to get caught up in market hype." she highlights. Akin to many Singaporeans, she found herself entagled in an intense desire to save as much as possible, "I tend to over-save," she admits. "I would save over 80% of my income, but I’ve learned that it’s just as important to enjoy life’s experiences along the way."

Her biggest financial breakthrough did not come from a single decision but consistency over time. It came a point in time when she started tracking her income and expenses—something she’s been doing for the past seven years. This habit of closely monitoring her cash flow has given her greater clarity over her financial decisions and helped her stay focused on her long-term goals. "It’s about being mindful of where your money goes," she says. "The more aware you are of your finances, the better prepared you are to make smart decisions." Another decision that might resonate with readers is taking the first step into investing. Cheryl came from a rather conservative family, where her parents see investing as a form of gambling. Thus, there was that lingering fear before she took the plunge due to the high perceived risk. "But I’m glad I did so 4 years ago, and from then on managed to advise my family to take baby steps in their investment journey as well."

Moomoo Money Master: A Game of Strategy and Growth

When Cheryl first heard about the Moomoo Money Master competition, she was immediately intrigued. A friend had sent her the job posting, and after a quick scan, she signed up—embracing the competition as an opportunity to challenge herself and test her skills. "My life’s motto has always been to grab every opportunity in life, and this came at such a timely moment plus it’s a blend of everything I love, so of course I signed up! " she explains.

But even with her passion for games and strategy, Cheryl was filled with self-doubt at the beginning of the competition. She found herself up against players with more investment experience and technical expertise. Despite this, she leaned on her natural curiosity and her ability to adapt, learning from each round. "It wasn’t about the prize for me," she says. "It was about growing my confidence and testing myself in a competitive environment."

Throughout the competition, Cheryl learned key lessons about risk management, decision-making, and strategy. A pivotal moment came in Game 3.1, Double or Half, where the contestants had to decide whether to take a high-risk bet that could either double or half their capital. Whether teams can effectively leverage a larger capital during the Portfolio Pursuit game remains to be seen. However, one thing is certain: a larger starting capital offers greater potential for portfolio diversification, which plays a key role in effective risk management. Though Cheryl was tempted by the potential rewards, ultimately she trusted in her team’s conservative approach. "It was a tough decision, but it paid off," she recalls. "Sometimes, it’s about knowing when to take a step back and assess the bigger picture."

Embracing Contrarian Moves

One of the most memorable moments of the competition came when Cheryl made the bold decision not to buy insurance during the "Game of Life" segment. At the time, it seemed like the safe, logical choice to buy insurance to protect against life events. But Cheryl took a contrarian approach. She felt the risk of not having full protection was outweighed by the opportunity to use the money elsewhere in the game.

"Looking back, if I had bought insurance, no one would have asked about it. But I wanted to make a move that would get people thinking," she says. "It wasn’t about the outcome—it was about getting others to question their decisions and think more critically about the choices they make."

In real life, she acknowledges that insurance is an important part of financial planning. "Life events can happen at any time, and it’s crucial to have coverage," she explains. "But in the game, it was more about the strategy and how you position yourself in uncertain circumstances."

Moomoo: Empowering Smarter Investing

Throughout her time in the Moomoo Money Master competition, Cheryl had the opportunity to use the moomoo trading platform. She’s been using the app since 2022 and finds it rather intuitive for managing her investments. She found it easy and quick to move money in and out of the app. "The moomoo app has really empowered me to invest smarter," she says. "I love how easy it is to navigate, and the Smart Save feature is a game-changer. It automatically invests my idle cash, which gives me the flexibility to act quickly when opportunities arise."

For Cheryl, the moomoo app has simplified the process of managing her portfolio, whether for long-term growth or short-term trades. "It helps me stay organized and make more confident decisions," she says. "It’s great to have a platform that supports my financial goals, whether that’s growing my wealth or exploring new opportunities."

Looking Ahead: Pursuing Dreams and Giving Back

Being on Moomoo Money Master already felt surreal, and winning was truly an honor for Cheryl but it wasn’t about the prize money—it was about the personal growth she experienced along the way. "I never expected to win," she says, laughing. "But now, I feel more confident in my abilities. This experience has shown me that I can take on challenges and succeed, even when I’m up against people with more experience."

As for her S$30k prize, Cheryl plans to share it with her fellow finalists, whom she has come to see as friends and fellow competitors. "We agreed to split the prize, and I’ll be using my portion to invest in some ETFs and Mag7 stocks, as well as fund my options trading," she explains. "Take my dearest Group B out for a nice meal because I miss them." Lastly, she plans on taking her family out on a short vacation, "We haven’t traveled together in years, and I want to make that happen."

Cheryl is a living example of someone who doesn’t let the traditional boundaries of career and passion define her. Whether she’s consulting on financial strategies or working on her next film project, she’s driven by a single goal: to create a life that blends purpose, growth, and happiness.

"I also can pursue my dreams," she says, sharing how she has been empowered through the moomoo app and community in one simple but powerful statement. And with her new-found confidence and her multi-faceted approach to life, there’s no doubt that Cheryl is only just getting started.

As a final statement, she expresses her gratitude towards Moomoo Singapore and her fellow contenders "I wish all my competitors and all whom I’ve met at the competition well, and hope to cross paths with you guys again one day."