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SINGAPORE \u2013 Singaporeans are more likely to ramp up investing after they get their first full-time job than their peers in Hong Kong and Australia, but major life expenses, such as buying a first home, can slow their investing momentum as they shift their focus towards financial security.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n A new survey found that 65% of Singaporeans who cited their first job as their biggest financial milestone invested more later, compared with 49% in Hong Kong and 42% in Australia.<\/p>\n The survey was commissioned by digital wealth management platform Syfe and conducted by YouGov among 1,212 adults in Singapore, as part of a wider study of 3,315 respondents across Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia in late September and early October 2026.<\/p>\n The survey showed a desire to invest: About 50% of respondents in Singapore and Hong Kong want to invest more than they do now, while the number is higher in Australia at 61%.<\/p>\n As Singaporeans enter their 30s, 40s and 50s, their financial priorities become more complicated as buying a home or raising children can add considerable pressure on household finances.<\/p>\n Across the three markets surveyed, 54% reduced their investments after purchasing their first home, while 50% did so after having their first child.<\/p>\n In Singapore and Hong Kong, supporting ageing parents<\/span><\/a> adds another financial responsibility.<\/p>\n All respondents cited the fear of losing money as their biggest hurdle to investing, followed by insufficient funds and a lack of investment knowledge.<\/p>\n For Singaporeans, stability is their top investment priority, and they place less weight on growth than investors in Hong Kong or Australia.<\/p>\n That preference has shaped how Singaporeans plan to invest. Among those who put stability first, 54% are likely to put their money in fixed deposits, while 40% prefer equities.<\/p>\n For those who prioritise growth, 61% are likely to invest in equities.<\/p>\n Singaporeans in the 25 to 34 age group are more likely to prioritise growth over stability, but only 13% of those aged 55 and over put growth first.<\/p>\n Singaporean women are less likely than men to rank growth as their first investment priority.<\/p>\n One of the more striking findings is the decline in investment confidence among older Singaporeans.<\/p>\n Unlike Hong Kong, where confidence is highest among those aged above 55, Singapore and Australia show the opposite pattern.<\/p>\n In Singapore, 40% of those aged 18 to 24 said they were extremely or very confident about making investment decisions. The proportion fell to just 12% among those aged above 55.<\/p>\n The gender divide is also pronounced.<\/p>\n