A seasoned photographer who transitioned into the marketing industry, Casey Phaisalakani turns her lens back on herself. Here on Money Talks, she reveals what it takes to stand on her own feet and find a balance between passion and money. 

 

Tell us a bit about yourself.

 

Hi! I’m Casey. I’m a freelance photographer and a marketer. I first worked at Harbor City as a marketer and then I jumped out and started freelancing on my own with clients who either do marketing or photography depending. I mainly work in social media and mostly content creation for clients.

 

(Shared by Casey Phaisalakani (@ckani) on Instagram)

 

Did your upbringing and culture influence your view of money?

 

Even though both of my parents work in the financial services sector,  I never really learned to deal with money until I went to university in Vancouver. My father did attempt to teach us finance in a slow way; maybe a bit too gentle for us to understand that he actually was very serious about it. 

 

Compared to my friends at university, I felt like I was definitely on the higher spectrum of being so privileged that I didn’t have to think about getting loans or budgeting. I was given a lump sum of money that I didn’t know what to do with. I once handled money so badly that my dad had to call and ask about it. That’s when I actually started to think about money differently.

 

Let’s talk about your relationship with money - when was your money moment?

 

I didn’t realise the importance of making a decent living for yourself until the age of 21. It was really tough at first - the struggle of being a fresh grad alone in Vancouver and having to pay my own rents without my parents’ financial support. But I eventually found a job to support the modest lifestyle I wanted. 

 

After coming back to Hong Kong, I had to figure out how to make enough money to move out of home, considering the sky-high cost of living here. I want to move up in the world on my own and be successful, but most importantly, to be independent. 

 

(Shared by Casey Phaisalakani (@ckani) on Instagram)

 

How did your relationship with money change with time?

 

Once I jumped into a more serious relationship, I realised our future really matters. I started asking these questions to myself: How much do we need to build a life together? How much do we need to be comfortable together? 

 

My partner and I had different views on money: money is like a bubble to me because of my job nature but because my partner used to be in finance, she’s very detailed about her savings and expenses. We actually sat down and had a very honest conversation about money - thanks to her, I’m now in a better place financially.

 

From your experience, how financially prepared are Hong Kong’s affluent second generation? 

 

Not saying we’re spoiled, but if you grow up in a social construct where your friends have no money worries or your parents tell you “it’s okay, we’re comfortable”, money will most likely not matter to yourself. Compared to many other things, it’s just not your priority. It’s only when you come out to work that you realise how hard it is to make that amount of money they [parents] can provide. 

 

(Shared by Casey Phaisalakani (@ckani) on Instagram)

 

Share with us your view about Hong Kong’s culture in relation to money.

 

This city is all about finance and money. But at the same time, money is such a sensitive topic in Asian culture that we don’t want to talk about how much we make or our rent. We think it’s rude - why can’t we talk about money like other people do? My friends and I actually discuss what stocks to buy on WhatsApp. No one knows what they’re doing, but we’re trying and that’s a starting point. 

 

What’s your money goal ultimately? 

 

I think the goal at the end of the day is just to be comfortable. To me, it means being able to spend money on certain things without feeling like we’re compromising our savings. It could be going on a trip, paying my rent or even buying an apartment. We want to spend on these things not only because it’s necessary but also because we can afford it. 

 

I think currently a lot of us have to sacrifice our passion for money, and I don’t want to be one of them.  As someone so financially unsound, I find it really hard in Hong Kong to create a business. Taking a loan terrifies me, so I’d rather make more money to finance my own business where I’d be able to take photos without feeling like I have to compromise my pay for my passion.

 

 

 

 

 

About us

AQUMON is a Hong Kong based award-winning financial technology company. Our mission is to leverage smart technology to make next-generation investment services affordable, transparent and accessible to both institutional clients and the general public. Through its proprietary algorithms and scalable, technical infrastructure, AQUMON’s automated platform empowers anyone to invest and maximise their returns. AQUMON has partnered with more than 100 financial institutions in Hong Kong and beyond, including AIA, CMB Wing Lung Bank, ChinaAMC, and Guangzhou Rural Commercial Bank. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund, affiliate of BOC International Holdings Limited, Zheng He Capital Management and Cyberport are among AQUMON's investors. 

 

The brand is held under Magnum Research Limited and is licensed with Type 1, 4 and 9 under the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong. AQUMON is also licensed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Asset Management Association of China (AMAC).

 

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