30 December 2022 — Kuala Lumpur – AKRU Now Sdn. Bhd. (Akru) and VKA Wealth Planners Sdn. Bhd. (VKA) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) cementing cooperation to provide an automated investment management platform to empower Malaysians to plan for retirement and other financial goals. At the same time, VKA’s professional financial advisors and planners can further aid their clients by using Akru’s online features.

Taking place at the VKA Academy in Puchong Jaya, the signing was graced by Akru Co-founders Tan Chong Liong who is also the Executive Director, and CEO Julian Ng. VKA was represented by Group Managing Director, Dato’ Javern Lim and Edward Ooi, Chief Investment Advisory Officer

According to Edward Ooi, “One single greatest argument in favour of robo-advisors is the low management fees as compared to traditional collective investment schemes. Robo-advisors are automated investment services aimed at ordinary investors and they are becoming an increasingly popular way to access the markets.

“However, planning your investments can seem like a daunting task. Most of us need validation or a personal discussion before making an investment”, said the veteran of Malaysia’s asset management industry. Ooi further added that VKA’s collaboration with Akru bridges this gap.

By working together, strong synergies are created with Akru focusing on building and rebalancing clients’ diversified portfolios, whereas VKA’s licensed financial planners will provide 1-on-1 guidance and support to investors. Furthermore, VKA’s licensed financial planners provide quality advice to help clients prioritise their financial goals as well asaddressing their short-term worries and challenges, aided by online tools offered by Akru. A human financial planner’s ability to reassure investors during a time of high market uncertainty by addressing emotional needs and providing answers should not be understated.

“While Akru uses the very technical Nobel prize-winning Modern Portfolio Theory, we wish to make investing more accessible through a low-cost proposition and a hassle-free investing experience. Opening access to Licensed Financial Planners will allow our investors to get peace of mind from personalised financial guidance and coaching”, added Julian Ng, Akru’s CEO.

According to Dato’ Javern Lim, Managing Director of VKA, “Life is not only about investing, but investing is one of life’s basic necessities. When people allocate their money to intelligent portfolios, and receive impartial insights on how they can further enhance their financial wellbeing, they can focus on other things that truly matter to them in life”.

The Akru-VKA team offers immense value to Malaysians, the majority of whom having no investing experience can now invest like a pro while at the same time getting professional human advice on making informed, high-quality financial decisions. With both companies being home-grown, this partnership will propel Malaysians to achieve their financial aspirations with high cost-efficiency and confidence.