Building Financial Resilience and Opportunity for the Next Generation

Digital platforms, lower barriers to entry and greater access to financial information have changed how individuals participate in capital markets. Investors today can access markets and information more readily, placing greater importance on their ability to assess opportunities, understand risk and make decisions that take into account their goals and circumstances. 

The Central Bank of Malaysia’s latest Financial Capability and Inclusion Demand Side Survey¹, conducted in 2024, found that 92 percent of Malaysians used digital financial services, up from 74 percent in 2021. Financial knowledge improved, too: its score rose from 60.2 to 62.9 out of 100. Yet over the same period, the financial behaviour score eased from 61.9 to 59.9. 

These figures are a reminder that familiarity with financial products and concepts does not necessarily mean that knowledge will be applied in practice. 

To help individuals build investment literacy and financial resilience, Bursa Malaysia offers two programmes that cater to different stages of the investing journey. The National Investment Programme (NIP) helps Malaysians build the foundations for responsible investing, particularly young people from lower-income households. On the other hand, the Futures Trading Apprenticeship Programme (FTAP) opens a structured route into professional trading in derivatives, for those who want to pursue it as a career. 

Both programmes support the Capital Market Masterplan 2026-2030's aspiration of enabling broader and more inclusive participation in Malaysia's capital market. 

Investing begins before the first trade 

NIP was launched on 18 April 2026 by Malaysia’s Minister of Economy to equip Malaysians, particularly from lower-income households, with the knowledge, skills and confidence to invest responsibly. 

For individuals seeking to build their financial resilience, access to investment education provides a stronger foundation for making informed investment decisions. 

That is why NIP begins with a wider view of money. Personal financial planning sits alongside investment fundamentals, portfolio construction and risk management. Participants also learn about scam awareness, market analysis and investment psychology. 

Simulations and case studies are used to apply concepts in realistic scenarios. This helps bridge the gap between understanding and applying investment principles. 

The demand for NIP was overwhelming, with more than 5,000 applicants for the pilot programme’s 550 places. Nearly four in five participants were aged between 18 and 30. 

All 550 participants opened a Central Depository System account, which is used to hold securities in Malaysia’s market. Shortly after completing the programme, about a third of the cohort had made their first trade. Others continued practising through virtual trading. 

Participants’ reflections suggest that NIP has begun to build that habit of thinking before acting. They spoke about taking more time to assess opportunities, manage risk and consider how investing fits into their broader financial goals. 

Turning an interest in trading into a profession 

Building capability extends beyond retail investors. A pipeline of skilled professionals who understand markets and manage risk can contribute to the effective functioning of capital markets. 

For some aspiring investors, the interest in markets develops into an ambition to make trading their profession. 

FTAP was launched in 2023 to enable aspiring traders to learn directly from professionals. The programme combines classroom instruction with practical experience at the Bursa Trading Arcade. Experienced proprietary traders and market practitioners serve as trainers and mentors, helping apprentices understand professional decision-making as well as market concepts. 

Participants have opportunities to apply what they learn, receive feedback and develop a more systematic approach. They encounter the discipline required to manage exposure and make decisions when conditions change. 

This combination of access to experienced practitioners and practical learning is central to the programme. Professional judgement takes time to develop. Mentorship gives new entrants a way to learn from experience already accumulated by others. 

FTAP’s eight intakes over the years attracted more than 5,000 applications. Among the 206 graduates, 94 chose to move into professional trading roles upon completion, with 85 percent of them still actively trading. 

A younger generation is entering the profession, too as 63 percent of traders who graduated from FTAP were aged between 26 and 35. 

The significance extends beyond individual benefits. Professional traders contribute to liquidity, price discovery and risk transfer, thus improving market efficiency and supporting the overall health of the market ecosystem. Creating pathways for new talent also helps experienced practitioners pass on their knowledge, supporting the profession’s renewal. 

From Participation to Progress 

Exchanges occupy a distinctive position in the market ecosystem. As trusted market institutions, we can make credible guidance easier to find, connect people with experienced practitioners, and create pathways into opportunities that might otherwise seem distant or difficult to access. 

Ultimately, broader participation is about enabling more people to make use of the opportunities that capital markets can offer. When people have the knowledge, skills and confidence to make informed investment decisions, they are better equipped to pursue their financial goals and build greater financial resilience. 

For exchanges, helping to build that capability is part of making participation more inclusive. Over time, the benefits extend beyond individual investment outcomes, enabling each generation to build on the progress of the one before.

¹ Financial Capability and Inclusion Demand Side Survey 2024

The photograph shows some of the NIP Participants during the Launch Ceremony earlier this year. 

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About Bursa Malaysia  Bursa Malaysia is an Exchange Holding Company incorporated in 1976 and listed in 2005. It has grown to be one of the largest bourses in ASEAN. Today, Bursa Malaysia operates and regulates a multi-asset exchange, offering a comprehensive range of investment, capital raising, and exchange-related facilities. Bursa Malaysia is committed to its mission of Creating Opportunities, Growing Value for the Malaysian capital market, economy, and society. Learn more at bursamalaysia.com.