Singapore Exchange (SGX) is collaborating with CFA Society Singapore and MoneySENSE to launch a year-long campaign to encourage retail investors to save and invest for the future.

The campaign will commence in January 2016 with a monthly “Save and Invest Portfolio Series” on The Sunday Times,  featuring simulated savings and investment portfolios of three Singaporean individuals and families at different life stages, including a working adult, a married couple with two young children and a retiree.

The objective is to provide retail investors with simulated examples of basic investment and portfolio building techniques, in accordance with specific investment goals and risk tolerance. The featured portfolios will also introduce different types of investment instruments and products available to retail investors, including relatively new ones such as the Singapore Savings Bonds. The three simulated portfolios will be tracked over one year and will be guided by a panel of four CFA Society Singapore volunteers who are CFA charterholders and collectively have 77 years’ experience as investment professionals. 

To further this educational campaign, SGX Academy and CFA Society Singapore will jointly host public seminars once every two months, with topics aligned with the themes featured in the series. Retail investors will have the opportunity to have their questions addressed by SGX Academy trainers and CFA society professionals. 

Lynn Gaspar, Head of Retail Investors at SGX, said, “We are excited about this initiative that showcases simulated investment portfolios of people at different life stages, providing retail investors with scenarios they can personally relate to. This series is an extension of SGX’s commitment to informing and engaging retail investors, and to equip them with skills and confidence. As we embark into 2016, we hope this will inspire more investors to start or progress in their investing journey.”

Jan Richards, CFA, President of CFA Society Singapore, a member society of CFA Institute, said: “The CFA community believes that one of the most fundamental and effective ways to protect investors is to equip them with the knowledge and tools to make informed investment decisions. This has become ever more imperative as global markets remain uncertain and the investment environment challenging. We hope that the Save and Invest Portfolio Series can introduce Sunday Times readers to a more disciplined way of investing, inspire them to learn more and eventually, help them grow their hard-earned savings into a comfortable nest egg. For CFA Society Singapore, sharing our knowledge and skills through this series is an important part of our continuous advocacy work in promoting the highest standards of ethics, education, and professional excellence for the ultimate benefit of society.”

The Straits Times Business editor Lee Su Shyan said: “Readers will get an in-depth look into how different investing decisions play out in real life. We at Sunday Times Invest feel very strongly about financial literacy and we believe this series will provide retail investors a better understanding of investing. Readers are welcome to write in with their views and suggestions to Invest editor Lorna Tan.”

Lee Boon Ngiap, Assistant Managing Director, Capital Markets, Monetary Authority of Singapore, said: “It is essential to save and invest for the long term to grow our retirement nest eggs. In investing, one should consider one’s goals, investment objectives, existing commitments and risk appetite. We encourage the public to visit the MoneySENSE website (www.moneysense.gov.sg ) and Facebook page which regularly feature informative guides and useful articles on investing. The Save and Invest Portfolio Series will help enhance financial knowledge and complement MoneySENSE in empowering investors to make better informed investment decisions.”

About CFA Society Singapore
Founded in 1987, CFA Society Singapore is the first CFA chapter to be formed outside of North America and one of the most active societies of the CFA Institute, the not-for-profit global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence and credentials. CFA Society Singapore is the 8th largest society globally with more than 3,500 members and organises more than 130 events a year.  The mission of CFA Society Singapore is to lead the investment profession by promoting the highest standards of ethics, education and professional excellence for the ultimate benefit of society. This is implemented by member volunteers through the following 8 committees: Advocacy, Asset Management, Candidate Programs, Career Development, Membership, Networking, Professional Development & University Outreach. It also provides both live and on-line preparation courses for the Chartered Financial Analyst exams and is also an accredited education provider for Institute of Banking and Finance, Singapore. For more information, please visit www.cfasingapore.org or email info@cfasingapore.org .

About MoneySENSE
MoneySENSE is the national financial education programme in Singapore. Launched in 2003, the programme aims to enable consumers to become more self-reliant in their financial affairs. It does this by helping consumers acquire the knowledge and skills to manage their day-to-day finances, make prudent investments, plan for their longer-term needs and exercise their rights as consumers of financial services. This, in turn, serves the twin
objectives of helping consumers to attain financial well-being and consumer protection. For more information on MoneySENSE, go to http://www.moneysense.gov.sg/ .

About Singapore Exchange (SGX)
Singapore Exchange is Asia’s leading and trusted market infrastructure, operating equity, fixed income and derivatives markets to the highest regulatory standards. As Asia’s most international, multi-asset exchange, SGX provides listing, trading, clearing, settlement, depository and data services, with about 40% of listed companies and 90% of listed bonds originating outside of Singapore.

SGX is the world’s most liquid offshore market for the benchmark equity indices of China, India, Japan and ASEAN and offers commodities and currency derivatives products. Headquartered in AAA-rated Singapore, SGX is globally recognised for its risk management and clearing capabilities. For more information, please visit www.sgx.com .