Singapore remisiers stay relevant by adding wealth management and other financial services

By Admin

19 May, 2025

Introduction
Singapore’s financial landscape is undergoing a quiet yet impactful transformation. In an era where technology, investor behavior, and financial services are evolving rapidly, traditional roles such as remisiers are being redefined. Once focused solely on stock trading, remisiers in Singapore are now expanding their capabilities by offering wealth management and other financial services, staying relevant in a fast-changing environment.

The Rise of Multi-Skilled Financial Professionals
Today, individuals can wear multiple hats in the financial sector. A remisier—traditionally a self-employed trading representative—can now also be a licensed financial adviser, provided they hold the appropriate qualifications and regulatory licenses. This shift is not just encouraged but becoming necessary.

PhillipCapital, a leading brokerage firm celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, exemplifies this trend. Founder and Executive Chairman Lim Hua Min emphasized at a recent event that stock brokerages must transform amid the blurring boundaries between banks, brokerages, and financial service firms. “Brokerages will always be around, but stockbrokers might not,” Lim noted. This quote encapsulates the urgency for remisiers to evolve.

Convergence in Financial Services
With financial services converging, remisiers now have the opportunity to act as personalised fund managers and financial consultants. Lim pointed out that the convergence of services is reshaping client expectations, offering a one-stop solution for investments, insurance, and retirement planning under one financial umbrella.

Luke Lim, Managing Director of Phillip Securities, noted that more remisiers are being cross-trained in wealth management, enabling them to serve a broader spectrum of financial needs. Currently, PhillipCapital boasts around 600 remisiers and 700 financial advisers—a clear indication of this evolving dual-role approach.

Adaptation Through Experience and Trust
CGS International Securities Singapore CEO Malcolm Koo highlighted that many remisiers have decades of experience navigating financial markets. Their enduring presence and long-term relationships with clients demonstrate their ability to adapt and offer reliable guidance, even in turbulent times.

Remisiers like Ernest Lim of CGS International go beyond basic trading advice. From providing real-time stock alerts and insights from senior management meetings to visiting overseas facilities of listed firms, Lim enriches his clients’ investment decisions with depth and trust. Similarly, Lek Yew Meng from Lim and Tan Securities offers educational sessions and timely updates to a clientele largely made up of professionals and retirees.

Bridging Technology and Personal Insight
In a market driven increasingly by digital-savvy retail investors, remisiers are also adapting to technological shifts. Luke Lim pointed to the changing demands of new-age investors who seek data-driven, real-time insights and the ability to self-execute trades.

PhillipCapital led the charge by launching Singapore’s first online trading platform, POEMS, in 1996. Today, remisiers combine digital convenience with human touch—acting as informed touchpoints, as described by Alexander Thorhauge from Maybank Securities Singapore. These professionals interpret market trends, guide investors through platforms, and tap into vast research databases to offer tailored advice.

Upskilling for the Future
To further empower remisiers, the Remisier Development Programme was launched in September 2024. A collaboration between the Securities Association of Singapore and the Society of Remisiers, and supported by SGX, the programme equips remisiers with advanced skills in areas like digital marketing and portfolio management. This initiative ensures that remisiers continue to provide high-value services aligned with the modern investor's needs.

Conclusion
As the financial services sector in Singapore continues to integrate and evolve, remisiers are proving their adaptability. By expanding into wealth management, embracing technology, and continuously upgrading their skills, remisiers remain vital players in the financial ecosystem. They are no longer just stockbrokers—they are strategic advisers, educators, and trusted partners in their clients' financial journeys.

The convergence of financial services is not a threat—it’s an opportunity. And Singapore’s remisiers are seizing it with confidence.