THE Securities Commission Malaysia (SC), through its SCxSC initiative, hosted a panel session titled “Building Retirement Mindsets” as part of MyFintech Week 2025, spotlighting the potential of fintech, behavioural science, and AgeTech to reshape retirement planning in Malaysia.
The event opened with a presentation by ICMR, drawing from its report Building Financial Security, which outlines Malaysia’s transition towards becoming an aged society. It underscored the urgent need to bolster financial preparedness for later life and the crucial role of capital markets in unlocking opportunities within the Silver Economy.
“The capital market can be a powerful enabler — from financing AgeTech innovation and enhancing retirement products to supporting a multigenerational workforce,” said the presenters.
“Many young adults are digitally savvy but financially disengaged,” noted the panellists. “Retirement planning is often seen as complicated, distant, and even intimidating.”
The panel discussed how reframing retirement as an evolving lifestyle journey, rather than a distant financial endpoint, could help shift public perceptions, particularly among younger Malaysians.
The session, held on Wednesday, brought together Dato’ Dr Tengku Aizan Tengku Abdul Hamid, Chairperson of the Private Pension Administrator; Datin Sri Azleen Osman Rani, Director of the Institute for Capital Market Research Malaysia (ICMR); and Dato’ Teng Chee Wai, Managing Director of AHAM Capital. The discussion was moderated by Puan Salmah Bee Mohd Mydin, Executive Director of Market Development at the SC.
Attention was also drawn to the vulnerabilities facing investors in an increasingly digital environment. The panel warned that financial risk is not confined to any particular age group — behavioural biases, low financial literacy, and exposure to unregulated financial products increase susceptibility to scams and poor decisions across demographics.
The SC’s broader efforts to enhance investor protection — through better disclosures, financial education, and regulatory oversight — were highlighted as complementary to its focus on safer and more accessible retirement solutions.
Panellists agreed that fintech platforms that incorporate behavioural nudges, gamification, and social elements could play a transformative role in making long-term savings more relatable and engaging.
The session concluded with a strong call for greater collaboration between regulators, industry, and innovators to co-create inclusive, future-ready retirement and AgeTech solutions.
For further insights, the full ICMR report Building Financial Security can be accessed at: [https://www.icmr.my/building-financial-security-capital-market-strategies-to-address-retirement-needs-and-spur-the-silver-economy](https://www.icmr.my/building-financial-security-capital-market-strategies-to-address-retirement-needs-and-spur-the-silver-economy) - August 7, 2025
