15/12/2025

MONDAY | DEC 15, 2025

12

BANKING & INSURANCE

Reshaping access to financial markets by bridging investment gap

MALAYSIA has made remarkable progress in its economic journey, yet when it comes to financial inde pendence, notable barriers remain. The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) reports that while many Malaysians are interested in investing, 65% are unsure about their investment skills and feel intimidated by complex tools. Compounding this is the misconception that investing requires substantial capital and advanced expertise, a perception that continues to hold participation back. These challenges do more than limit individual wealth-building – they widen the gap between Malaysians who are empowered to invest and those who remain on the sidelines of opportunity. At Webull, we believe this gap is not just a personal challenge, but a national one. Financial inclusion and literacy are critical to ensuring Malaysians have equal access to wealth-building opportunities. As the first fully online retail brokerage in Malaysia to offer a seamless multi-asset platform com bining securities and futures, Webull is working to lower barriers, simplify access and empower Malaysians with the tools and confidence to invest. This is why our guiding principle is clear – trade simple with Webull. Democratising Access: Breaking the “Big Money Needed” Myth One of the most persistent myths in Malaysia is that investing requires significant capital. This belief has long discouraged first-time investors and limited broader market parti cipation. Recent developments show how technology and new market models are helping to dismantle these barriers. For example, Webull’s fractional share trading now allows Malaysians to begin with as little as US$1 (RM4.10) for US stocks, with commission rates as low as 0.025%, reducing the cost of entry. Participation among first-time investors can also become more attainable with no minimum invest ment requirement, zero platform fees and low brokerage costs. That is why

Manulife Asia president and CEO Steve Finch said, “With the demo graphic shifts in Asia, where one in four people will be over the age of 60 by 2050, it’s crucial to rethink traditional approaches to financial planning, health care, and workforce participation. At Manulife, we are committed to driving innovation that promotes long-term financial resil ience, equitable healthy aging, and lifelong fulfilment. By supporting early-stage innovations and providing comprehensive solutions, we aim to help people live better for longer and secure their financial futures.” participate responsibly in financial markets. By embedding education into everyday investing, through simple tools, data, and localised features, we can ensure that literacy and access develop hand in hand, turning awareness into action and inclusion into empowerment. Security and Trust: Building Confidence in the Market In Malaysia’s financial landscape, basic security measures are no longer enough. Scams and cybercrime have grown increasingly sophisticated, with criminals now able to bypass traditional logins through phishing, malware and stolen credentials. In this environment, relying on pass words alone is insufficient to safe guard investors. Raising the standard of protection requires a layered approach, which is why Webull employs two-factor authentication and biometric veri fication, not as optional features, but as essential safeguards. These measures ensure that every login, trade and transaction is better protected from unauthorised access, reinforcing the principle that security must underpin participation in financial markets. Equally important is regulatory oversight. As a platform regulated by the Securities Commission Malaysia and a Trading Participant of Bursa Malaysia Bhd, Webull operates under the highest compliance standards. Combined with transparent fee disclosure and no hidden charges, these safeguards build trust at a time when investor confidence is often undermined by scams and unregulated schemes. Security, therefore, is not just about technology, it is about creating the right foundation for investor protection and giving Malaysians the confidence that participation in the market can be safe, transparent and reliable. Strategic Milestones: Redefining Malaysia’s Investment Landscape For Webull Malaysia, 2025 has been a defining year, as we were honoured to win the Best Retail Investment Apps at the PC.com Readers’ Choice

The Longevity Institute will build upon Manulife’s existing efforts to help more than 36 million customers improve their health and wealth. This work aims to drive to help people make everyday choices that support their physical, mental and emotional well-being – through better nutrition, early detection, movement and mental health support that fits into real life, and empower people to feel confident about their financial future, with tools, education and support that help them weather life’s ups and downs and build lasting financial security. Awards 2025, recognition that affirms our mission to deliver simplicity, transparency and security. This year also marked the launch of Global Futures, positioning Webull as the first digital broker in Malaysia to combine securities and futures on a single platform. With access to commodities such as crypto, metals, agriculture, equity indices and energy, Malaysians can now diversify beyond traditional equities within one seamless ecosystem. In parallel, our #SamaSamaWebull campaign has brought investing closer to Malaysians through activations at MRT station, including TRX, Bukit Bintang, and Pasar Seni. These initiatives demonstrate our commit ment not only to building awareness but also to creating accessible, everyday opportunities for Malaysians to experience investing firsthand, both online and offline. Looking Ahead: Building an Inclusive Investment Ecosystem Our vision is clear: to reshape Malaysia’s investment landscape by closing the gap between interest and action. #SamaSamaWebull , our ongoing campaign, is just one example of how we are bringing investing closer to Malaysians, from activations in MRT stations to hands on experiences with the platform. But this is only the beginning. Under our leadership, Webull is committed to expanding financial literacy, streng thening security, and ensuring that investing becomes a natural part of Malaysians’ financial lifestyle. Just as Malaysia celebrates its independence and progress, the next frontier is financial independence, where every Malaysian, regardless of background, has equal access to investment opportunities. By lowering barriers and equipping people with the right tools and knowledge, platforms like Webull are helping to build a more inclusive and confident investment ecosystem for the nation’s future, making it simple to trade with Webull. This article is contributed byWebull Malaysia CEO Kenneth Chan (pic).

o How Webull is empowering Malaysians to overcome barriers and build confidence

Banking & Finance has supported customers at every stage of life, and we see a powerful opportunity to scale our expertise and help even more people live longer, healthier, better lives. Through the “Empowering health, wealth, and longevity is central to Manulife’s bold new ambition. It aligns with our values and our commitment to the communities we operate in, and we are uniquely placed to help individuals and families navigate the growing gap between lifespan and healthspan,” said Manulife president and CEO Phil Witherington. “For generations now, Manulife theoretical knowledge and practical experience. Many first-time investors may understand basic concepts yet hesitate when faced with real-world decisions. That is why it is essential to pair education with practice, in which Webull partners with trusted sources such as Reuters, S&P Global and Bloomberg to provide real-time market information for analysis, while simultaneously offering paper trading accounts that create a risk free environment to test strategies, make mistakes and learn before Webull is extending this initiative for stocks listed in Bursa Malaysia until this month, providing more Malaysians with the opportunity to invest with confidence, free from the cost barriers that have traditionally favoured only those with large capital, and directly challenging the myth by removing unnecessary fees and lowering the cost of market access. Equally important is accessibility. Today, investors can complete the account opening process digitally, with approvals typically granted within one to three working days on Webull, a sharp contrast to the week long process that once required physical branch visits. These changes, combining affordability, simplicity and speed, are helping Malaysians from all walks of life take their first steps in the market. Empowering Investors Through Simplicity, Literacy and Localisation Lowering costs is only one part of the solution. Many Malaysians remain hesitant to invest because they find the process complex and inti midating. Closing this gap requires equal attention to simplicity and accessibility, and thus, Webull is designed to be intuitive, easy to navigate, and able to support both first-time investors and experienced traders. Financial literacy also depends on equipping people with both

committing real capital. This balance between theory and practice is what transforms aware ness into confidence, and confidence into active participation. Without it, financial literacy risks remaining abstract, an academic exercise rather than a tool for empowerment. For investing to be truly inclusive, cultural and language barriers must be addressed while respecting diverse values. Looking into Malaysia, this means more than translation; it means recognising that financial parti cipation is shaped by identity, lan guage, and faith. Webull adopts a fully localised approach, with a Bahasa Malaysia interface, syariah-compliant stock filters and dual banking options (Islamic and conventional), ensuring that investors can participate on terms that reflect both their financial goals and personal principles. This creates a sense of trust and be longing, which is often as important as the tools themselves in en couraging wider participation. We firmly hold that aligning with Malaysia’s National Financial Literacy Strategy is essential to equipping Malaysians not only with knowledge but also with the confidence to

Manulife launches Longevity Institute, commits US$350 million PETALING JAYA: Manulife has launched the Longevity Institute, a global platform that will seek to drive action to help people live longer, healthier and more financially secure lives. Longevity Institute, we will partner with organisations that share our purpose, unlock new insights, drive innovation and create a future where everyone can thrive, at any age.”

The Longevity Institute will focus on igniting global research and thought leadership to better understand how people can flourish as they live longer; accelerating innovation and advocacy through initiatives that promote health, wellness, and financial readiness; and investing in community partnerships that advance knowledge, promote equity, and drive action around longevity.

Backed by a US$350 million (RM1.43 billion) commitment, the Longevity Institute will work to champion research, innovation and partnerships that will help people thrive at every age. As a global leader in life insurance, asset management, and retirement planning, Manulife is deeply invested in the health and well-being of its customers.

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