MyComplianceOffice Blog

A consistent theme across sessions at the 2023 SIFMA Compliance and Law Annual Seminar was change. Change is constant in the financial services industry. And when you're dealing with constant change, there’s no time for complacency

In late 2022, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announced a complete ban on payment for order flow (PFOF) in Singapore. The move is designed to protect investor interests by mitigating the risk of conflicts of interest arising in brokers’ best execution obligations to their customers. The PFOF ban will commence on 1 April 2023 and can affect financial firms and individuals operating under a capital markets services (CMS) licence in Singapore.

Small businesses and financial firms have undergone seismic shifts over the last few years. The pandemic forced employers to rethink their positions on remote and hybrid working models, and employees have come to expect greater flexibility. PwC’s survey of over 18,000 workers across Asia-Pacific (APAC) reveals that 66% expect to perform their roles in a hybrid capacity 12 months from now. In contrast, 24% expect fully-remote and only 10% fully in-person.

The modern workplace has undergone a significant evolution in recent years. The pandemic has changed employee priorities and organisations’ attitudes towards remote and hybrid work environments. These changes have also brought a greater acceptance of workplace flexibility - from both employer and employee perspectives. However, there are also new challenges.

Southeast Asia is a region of diverse cultures, religions, and political frameworks that holds a unique growth opportunity. Asia’s consumer markets are rapidly growing and diversifying. McKinsey Global Institute research found that consumers in Asia are now reaching higher tiers of the income pyramid. At the same time, diverse cohorts are developing within key cities. New behaviours, demographics, and growth angles and being created by emerging segments such as Gen Z gamers, digital natives, and older generations moving online, to name a few.