MAKING INVESTING MORE DELICIOUS

FINANCE INDUSTRY VETERAN WALTER DE OUDE IS COMBINING HIS ERUDITION AND EXPERIENCE WITH THE STAR POWER OF HENRY GOLDING TO BRING US AN INVESTMENT PLATFORM THAT'S MUCH SWEETER THAN MOST.

- SUFFIAN HAKIM

WE’RE WITNESSING A CHANGE in the financial landscape as more and more investors seek alternatives to traditional institutions. It’s a shift driven by technological advancements, such as innovations in mobile technology, artificial intelligence, and blockchain, creating new opportunities for fintech startups. It’s also a trend that gained momentum following two setbacks to the global economy: the financial crisis of 2008 and the Covid-19 pandemic.

If anything, the proliferation of alternative financial services is indicative of the human spirit’s ability to endure, persevere, and innovate in the face of adversity. Additionally, it presents a fantastic opportunity for innovators to create audacious new ways of maximising their capital.

Walter de Oude recognises this. The financial industry titan is indeed a force to be reckoned with. He served as CEO at HSBC Singapore before founding Singlife in 2014. Under his leadership, the nation’s largest insurance deal saw Singlife acquire a 75 percent stake in Aviva Singapore.

He stepped down from his position at Singlife in 2022 but was already planning for the future. He introduced his newest venture, Chocolate Finance, in August. It works like this: users can use it to store spare cash, earning 4.2 percent per annum on their first $20,000.

“What makes us stand out is that we’ve reengineered how short-term money is managed to achieve our 4.2 percent return in a market where customers need to jump through hoops to unlock higher returns or lock their money in for long periods to receive an average 3.5 percent annual return,” says de Oude.