External asset managers (“EAMs”) generally provide asset management services to high net worth individuals (“HNWI”) for their segregated accounts on a discretionary basis through a power of attorney, or on an advisory basis. Aside from these core activities, certain EAMs engage in additional activities such as the management of proprietary funds, distribution of funds and […]

When trying to raise funds for a company, a project, or an investment fund, you may have valuable connections to potential investors, but you will want to look for investors beyond your existing network. Today, you can target specified prospects. Even their situation, interests and goals can be mapped out simply by studying their digital […]

We all have heard that internal audit is supposed to add value to the organization when it provides objective and relevant assurance, and contributes to the effectiveness and efficiency of governance, risk management, and control processes. We also have heard that compliance costs typically increase as a result of local, national, and international regulations around […]

Cost is always the biggest concern for independent or external asset managers (“EAM”). It’s no longer a job but a business. As with all businesses there are start-up and on-going expenses involved. The overheads of running an independent setup are never cheap. One solution to keep cost low is to join a platform or joint […]

Overview of Financial Businesses Requiring a License in Singapore The provision of financial services in Singapore or targeting of customers in Singapore requires a licence from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (“MAS”). The licence required depends on the specific activity the financial institution is carrying out. The below list of activities focuses on the most […]

On 10 September 2020, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (“MAS”) published new Guidelines on Individual Accountability and Conduct (“IAC Guidelines”). With these IAC Guidelines, MAS is bolstering culture and conduct in financial institutions similar to initiatives in other jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Australia. The objective of the IAC Guidelines is […]

On 30 December 2020, the Singapore terrorism financing (TF) national risk assessment (NRA) was published. This report is a joint effort by the Risks and Typologies Inter-Agency Group (RTIG), led by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) further enhanced by the involvement of the private sector and academia […]

The first step for payment service providers is to understand the regulatory classification of the payment service(s) they are providing, including to consider whether they may require a license beyond payment services such as a license for dealing in securities. There are 6 different kinds of payment service activities [1] under the Payment Services Act […]

Laws such as the Securities and Futures Act as well as the Financial Advisers Act have been crafted, modified, and updated to help regulate the financial sector in Singapore. These laws are combined to form a single modular licensing model and an integrated regulatory framework that provides industry participants with a sound and transparent set […]