Samuel Rhee, co-founder and Chairman of Endowus, highlighted the recent shift in investor behaviour amid heightened market volatility, noting that more clients are reallocating their funds into safer, uncorrelated strategies such as money market funds, high-quality fixed income, and private credit. He emphasised that in uncertain environments, adopting resilient investment approaches can help preserve capital while maintaining long-term financial stability.

Gregory Van, Endowus’ CEO, shared insights on the firm’s expanding footprint in Asia following its US$35 million fundraising round. Beyond fueling growth, Endowus is focused on boosting brand awareness, advancing its AI capabilities, and exploring potential acquisition opportunities —particularly as it strengthens its presence in Hong Kong. As its client base continues to grow, Endowus has also introduced an AI-powered chatbot designed to assist with operational queries, complementing the support traditionally provided by its advisers.

CNA reports on how investors should remain cautious amid ongoing market volatility triggered by sweeping US tariffs. While markets remain under pressure, Hugh Chung, Chief Investment Officer at Endowus, highlights the importance of portfolio diversification. He notes that high-quality bonds are becoming increasingly valuable as a volatility dampener, especially with rising recession risks. Investors are encouraged to reassess their asset allocation and understand the trade-offs of different investment options—such as yield, lock-up periods, duration, minimum investment thresholds, and fees—before making decisions.

Hugh Chung, Endowus’ Chief Investment Officer, shared insights on the firm’s strategic approach to goal-based investing. Unlike traditional private banks that prioritize product sales and commissions, Endowus focuses on aligning investment solutions with clients’ financial goals. By curating diversified, cost-effective portfolios and expanding private market offerings—including hedge funds, private credit, and private equity—the firm empowers investors with holistic, risk-adjusted strategies.

Endowus partnered with Twilio to enhance platform security and protect its 250,000+ clients in Singapore and Hong Kong. Twilio Verify adds SMS and WhatsApp OTP authentication to prevent bot sign-ups and fraud, while Fraud Guard detects suspicious activity early. Since implementation, Endowus has achieved a 98% WhatsApp verification success rate and minimized false positives. Deepak Sarda, Endowus’ Chief Technology Officer, emphasised the firm's commitment to safeguarding client data and ensuring secure transactions.

(From 54:41) Hugh Chung, Endowus’ Chief Investment Officer, discusses market reactions amid ongoing volatility. Recent trade tensions and shifting economic policies have weakened U.S. growth expectations, leading to a softer dollar and increased market uncertainty. He highlighted the importance of diversification and exposure to global markets during these times.

Endowus is transforming wealth management in Asia by offering independent, low-cost, and technology-driven investment solutions. Co-founder and Chairman Samuel Rhee, former CEO and CIO of Morgan Stanley Investment Asia, drives the firm’s mission to democratise institutional-grade investments, advocating for transparency in how advisors are remunerated. Endowus pioneered the 100% rebate on trailer fees to customers and encourages the fee-only advice model. With a mission to address the retirement adequacy gap, Endowus initially focused on CPF investments in Singapore, and has expanded to serve a broad client base, including high-net-worth individuals and institutions, with offerings ranging from cash management to private markets. Looking ahead, Rhee envisions a future of hyper-personalised, AI-driven wealth management as Endowus accelerates growth in Hong Kong and expands its presence across Asia.

Endowus strengthened its Hong Kong leadership with key appointments Janet Hung as Head of Client Advisory in Hong Kong and Jasmine Chan as Investment Advisory Director. Endowus’ Chairman and Co-founder, Samuel Rhee, assumes the role of Group Chief Investment Officer, overseeing investments and strategy across the group. The firm’s strategic hires aim to bolster Endowus’ presence and growth in Asia.

Endowus launched Fixed-Rate Savings (FRS) in Hong Kong, offering USD time deposit rates of up to 4.03% per annum with tenors of 1, 3, and 6 months. The service requires a minimum deposit of $10,000, has no additional conditions, and will waive the 0.10% fee until April. Recognizing that some investors have different goals and risk appetites when selecting investment options, Endowus designed FRS as a hassle-free solution to earn fixed returns on idle funds.

Endowus supported the Great Singapore Give (GSG) campaign by the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVP) through its “Give a Gift of Hope” initiative, encouraging customers to donate to 20 selected charities. Through the Endowus Gives Back programme, the company raised over S$75,000 for various causes in Singapore. In addition to financial contributions, Endowus supports charities by providing institutional-grade financial advice at preferential rates and offering pro-bono financial management training, leveraging its industry network to drive meaningful philanthropic efforts.

Hugh Chung, Chief Investment Officer at Endowus discussed Trump’s tariff policies, explaining that the implementation has been measured and that the market has already priced in his public statements on tariffs. Hugh also discussed DeepSeek’s impact on the markets, emphasising the need for portfolio diversification. Lastly, Hugh shared his thoughts on India’s budget and economy.

Endowus grew client assets sevenfold to US$7 billion by September 2024, driven by increasing demand for private market investments. Alternatives exposure tripled in six months as the firm partnered with leading asset managers like Ares, Carlyle, and KKR to offer evergreen private credit and real asset products. Investors committed an additional US$17.5 million, bringing its Series C funding to US$52.5 million. By bypassing local feeder funds, Endowus lowers costs and provides direct access to US master funds. Endowus plans to focus on Hong Kong over the next 12 months and in the future, expand into high-wealth markets such as Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and Australia.