“Work hard, save as much as you can.” That’s the mentality that’s been passed down from generation to generation, and for a long time, it was enough to secure a stable future and comfortable retirement.
So why is it a “was” now? There are a couple of reasons why the adage doesn’t work for Malaysians anymore:
1. Savings accounts and FDs can’t keep up with inflation
Standard savings accounts and low-yield deposits like FDs (fixed deposits) remain essential for protecting your finances, but their low-yield growth may be too slow for the rising cost of living (remember when you could get a RM5 chicken rice?).
Instead, it’s worth considering unit trusts as an alternative. Depending on the fund type, they may come with higher risks, but they also have higher potential returns that could grow your extra savings.
2. Cash is best for immediate expenses only
Storing your savings in cash or a bank account is a highly accessible way to manage your funds, especially emergency funds, but it’s not a way to grow your savings.
If you want a flexible option that offers a competitive rate of return, then money market funds could be the alternative. They’re ideal for short-term liquidity and storing emergency funds, and they don’t require you to commit large sums of money; not to mention, they can be redeemed at any time without penalty.
3. Apparently, we now have longer lifespans…?
According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, Malaysians’ life expectancy has been steadily increasing by 4.1% from 1991 to 2025. Longer life expectancies mean we risk outliving our cash-only savings, especially if their growth hasn’t kept pace or has been eroded by inflation since the initial deposit.
4. Salary increments = commitment increments
Salary increments do result in higher household income, but as we age, our salary growth ends up being absorbed by new lifestyle habits like increasing home commitments, family expenses, and rising education costs. By setting aside money consistently for your financial goals before lifestyle expenses take over, you may be better positioned to build towards your future needs.
5. Take advantage of compounding returns as much as possible
You know how people say you should buy insurance while you’re young and healthy? The same can be said for investments, because you have the literal once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make full use of time, letting you enjoy more compounding interest while you’re still young or at your current age (sorry). If you kept all your extra funds locked in low-growth accounts in your early years, you would lose out on years of compounding returns that other investment portfolios can provide in the long run.
From a bird’s-eye-view perspective, saving is still important. But investing also plays a role in building your wealth in the long run. Whether it’s bonds, gold investments, or unit trusts, look beyond the highest return when considering your investment options. Instead, consider essential factors like investment type, risk management, longer-term performance, and most importantly, choose reputable institutions with good track records for even more peace of mind.
Time to create your own award-winning story
Malaysians have many options for how we want to create our success story; we simply have to be prudent and mindful of where we build our nest egg, just like how the No. 1* Private Unit Trust Company and Private Retirement Scheme (PRS) provider in Malaysia recently swept the LSEG Lipper Fund Awards 2026. Read on to find out how you could stand a chance to win exciting lucky draw rewards and enjoy guaranteed rewards through the Award Celebration Campaign 2026.
Boost your future with Public Mutual’s Awards Celebration Campaign 2026 from now until 30 November 2026 and win up to 12 months of RM3,000**!
Terms and conditions apply. Please refer to Public Mutual’s website for the full campaign details and latest investment disclaimer.
Remember: behind every award is a story like yours. If you do your research and invest based on your risk tolerance and time horizon, your investment could be key to your retirement, children’s education, family plans, and other financial goals.
Plus, as an added reward for those who decide to explore unit trusts with Public Mutual, you’ll be in the running to join the Lucky Draws and Guaranteed Gift*** giveaway of the Awards Celebration Campaign.
As part of the campaign, every RM1,000 invested in Unit Trust and/or PRS funds earns one lucky draw entry for the Grand Lucky Draw**. The same investment may also earn an entry for the Monthly Lucky Draw.
For those planning a larger investment, the campaign also includes a Guaranteed Gift Category, where rewards may be given upon meeting the qualifying investment amount.
That means your investment could give you access to more than one reward opportunity, from the Grand Lucky Draw and Monthly Lucky Draw to the Guaranteed Gift Category.
Make your investment journey more rewarding
Going from a “just save money lah” mindset to actually putting your money where it can grow is a big step, so might as well make it even more rewarding with the Public Mutual Awards Celebration Campaign 2026. Submit as many entries as you can from now until 30 November 2026 to increase your chances of winning.
For more info on Public Mutual, visit their website or follow them on:
*In terms of total retail fund size managed amongst private unit trust companies and PRS providers in Malaysia. Source: The Edge Lipper, 17 August 2026.
**Lucky Draw prizes are disbursed in fund units — Public e-EMAS Gold Fund (PeEMAS) units, or Public e-SUKUK Fund (PeSUKUK) units for Muslim winners.
***Guaranteed gifts are disbursed as Public e-Cash Deposit Fund (PeCDF) or Public e-Islamic Cash Deposit Fund (PelCDF) units.
