Reply to Parliamentary Question on Micro-investment Products

QUESTION NO 1374

NOTICE PAPER 545 OF 2021

FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

Date: For Parliament Sitting on 26 July 2021

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Mr Desmond Choo, MP, Tampines GRC

Question:

To ask the Prime Minister in view of a broader trend of financial institutions and companies selling micro-investment products (a) what is the situation in Singapore; and (b) how will MAS seek to regulate such products and educate Singaporeans about such investments.

Answer by Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Senior Minister and Minister in charge of MAS:

1     Micro-investment products, as their name suggests, require small minimum investment amounts – some as low as $1. The product range largely mirrors those of investment products available for larger minimum investment amounts. Examples of micro-investment products include regular investment savings plans, investments in exchange-traded funds, as well as private equity or debt investments. Given the small minimum investments required, these products are aimed at  retail investors.

2     The offer of micro-investment products to retail investors, so long as these are capital markets products [1] , is subject to regulation and business conduct requirements by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). These include rules on assessing investor suitability, fair dealing, minimum product disclosures, as well as safe custody and segregation of customers’ monies and assets.

3     The current take-up of micro-investments among Singapore investors remains fairly low. As at end-2020, approximately $3.4 billion was invested in such products with MAS-licensed banks, robo advisers and securities crowdfunding platforms, and this constitutes less than 3% of the financial industry’s total assets under management for retail funds. Neverthless, there is growing interest amongst investors for such micro-investment products.

4     MAS through MoneySense undertakes on-going initiatives to educate consumers on the factors to consider prior to committing to an investment. Beside understanding the product’s features, benefits and risks, investors should also deal only with entities regulated by MAS. Investors can access MoneySense content through the MoneySense website and social media as well as public seminars and workshops.