Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you to Better Finance for inviting me to speak. I am delighted to be here to express my support for the important work you are doing to defend the interests of retail investors.

Retail investors are crucial for our capital markets. Without them, there would be no markets. Yet, we often consider them merely as ‘consumers of financial services’.

We must recognize that they are a strength to diversified and resilient markets. We must allow them to make their own decisions and choose their own paths.

Our focus on protecting against risks has led to a lack of tailored products and services to their specific needs.

We all share the goal of empowering people to invest better and ensure their long-term financial well-being. Competitiveness is essential, especially in light of geopolitical shifts.

Investment opportunities must become more attractive. The lack of trust in investment services needs to be addressed.

The Retail Investment Strategy proposal aims to boost trust and confidence, ensuring retail investors are treated fairly and have access to products that suit their investment objectives.

We must increase the engagement of retail investors by providing them with products that offer value for money and reducing unnecessary administrative burdens.

The Savings and Investments Union focuses on an investor-centric approach. This year, we will propose measures to support this.

• Make investing through savings and investment accounts simpler.
• Open up new investment opportunities.
• Improve outcomes for retail investors.
• Empower EU citizens through better education.

We will work with member states and stakeholders to identify and implement best practices.