The FinTalks - A chat with FinanceMalta

In this episode of The FinTalks, FinanceMalta speaks with Rory Renshaw, Partner, Simmons & Simmons LLP, during the 18th FinanceMalta Conference.

Episode 125: Capital Markets: Retail Investors, SMEs, and European Competitiveness

Original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4j6UiHUwNbU

The Malta Stock Exchange has been active in financial literacy for a decade. Stephanie Galea, the head of the Malta Stock Exchange institute, explains that the original scope of the institute was aimed at retail investors – in particular ones who had no prior experience in this field.

Given the increased activity in financial literacy provided by various other entities, the institute is now able to focus its efforts on the professionals in this field who need to keep abreast of regulation and legislation, apart from its regular courses for every level of investor.

The MSE is also involved in an Erasmus+ co-funded initiative designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises and vocational training providers in adopting digital financial technologies.

Why self-managed NPIFs have so much to offer

There has been considerable interest in a new product now available in Malta: the self-managed Notified Professional Investor Fund launched in February 2025.

Anabel Mifsud, the managing director of Fexserv, explained how the product has evolved since the NPIF was first launched by the regular, the Malta Financial Services Authority, in 2023. The competitiveness of the self-managed NPIF is based on the fact that it only requires a notification procedure, which should allow fund managers to benefit from a quick time to market and comparatively lower setup and ongoing compliance costs.

 

Daniele Bernardi, the CEO of Diaman Partners CEO, wrote a book about the optimal way to invest in cryptocurrencies. In this episode of #FinTalks, he shared insights with FinanceMalta on ways to improve financial literacy to avoid making the most common mistakes, as well as about the important aspects of diversification and risk appetite.

He also advises about the ways in which companies can assist with properly-regulated products that use mathematical algorithms to take the guesswork out of the equation.

Malta’s reputation as a FinTech hub is attracting many companies: one of these, Mellifera Kartiera, believes that there is considerable growth potential. Chairperson Joseph Camilleri explains.

Technology is by no means the only disruptor changing the corporate landscape. However, while we often look at its impact on operations, it also poses challenges for leaders. Alter Domus Malta CEO Przemyslaw Koger explains how good leadership skills need to evolve to ensure automation does not have a negative impact on employees’ motivation and empowerment, while also understanding the changing expectations of clients.

A KPMG survey carried out in summer 2024 across global CEOs identified some important trends with regard to the future, from challenges to opportunities, with 72% saying that they were optimistic about the economy.

KPMG head of advisory David Pace explains how the ranking of challenges has changed since the previous editions, while analysing threats from logistical disruptions, climate change, a tight labour market and geopolitical volatility to understand how these can turn into opportunities for a brighter, more stable future.

Digitisation has become a buzz word for companies but before moving onto the Cloud and usingArtificial Intelligence, get your strategy and cybersecurity up to speed, the StrategicMarketing Manager of ICT Solutions, Finian Massa, advised. During this podcast,he analyses the trend towards risk-based approaches and their impact oncompliance and regulation.

‍

Regulation has grown exponentially since the financial crisis over 15 years ago. In this episode of #FinTalks, Vanessa Macdonald discusses the importance of compliance with Dr Robert Suban, Head of Banking and Finance, FEMA/ University of Malta, resulting in more and more jobs being created to cope with the relevant demands.

This was the topic of a course organised by the University of Malta and the Malta Financial Services Authority, aimed at improving the skills available in the jurisdiction.

In this episode of #FinTalks, we delve into asset management and the various measures taken over the past years to increase Malta’s attractiveness as a jurisdiction. Join Vanessa Macdonald and Charlene Micallef, Head of Legal and Compliance/Altarius in this engaging discussion on what makes Malta so competitive, supported by the regulatory framework.

Thisead ofThis episode offers insight into the challenges facing the industry and ways in which the industry is networking to build activity in this sphere.