Financial literacy has become a crucial foundation for young generations in navigating the complexities of global financial markets. It was the main topic of an event organized by the Career and Student Development Unit (CSDU) of FEB UGM, in collaboration with Phillip Futures, on Thursday, April 23, 2026, held on the 6th floor of Pertamina Tower, FEB UGM.
Asset Allocation & Portfolio Income Strategist at Phillip Futures, Andhika Widjojo, explained the advantages of the United States stock market compared to other global markets. He noted that the U.S. stock market has recorded an average annual growth (CAGR) of 12.2% over the past 10 years. This performance surpasses the overall developed markets, which grew by 9.9%, and emerging markets, which grew by only 5.26% during the same period.
Andhika added that eight out of the world’s ten largest companies by market capitalization are based in the United States, many of which are already familiar in everyday life, such as Apple, Google, and Coca-Cola.
One key point Andhika emphasized was the importance of changing how students evaluate investment instruments. According to him, the common tendency among Indonesians to focus solely on returns without considering risks is one of the main reasons many fall victim to fraudulent investments.
“There is no such thing as an investment that offers both high return and low risk. What we can do is manage risk,” Andhika stressed.
He introduced asset diversification as a primary risk-management strategy. He explained that diversification is the only effective way to reduce unsystematic risk, which is specific to individual companies. He also discussed the concept of the four economic seasons as a basis for selecting the right asset mix, ranging from stocks and bonds to commodities such as gold.
“Buying just two to three different types of assets is already sufficient to support long-term investment,” Andhika added.
The dollar-cost averaging strategy, investing a fixed amount each month, was also recommended as a practical, disciplined approach for beginner investors.
A reliable platform must support a well-planned strategy. Fanti Apriliana, COO of Phillip Futures, explained how the company ensures that global market investments remain compliant with Indonesian regulations.
She stated that Phillip Futures Indonesia operates under the supervision of three regulators: Bappebti, OJK, and Bank Indonesia, each overseeing products based on their underlying assets, including commodities, securities, and currencies.
“All client orders must be traceable back to the originating exchange. That is our commitment to transparency,” Fanti explained.
She also introduced the Nova platform, a trading and investment tool integrated with TradingView, making Phillip Futures the first broker in Indonesia to enable direct transactions through the platform. What’s more, Nova comes with Nova AI, an AI-powered chatbot designed to help users understand real-time market conditions.
During the discussion session, students showed great enthusiasm by asking questions about hedging mechanisms, cross-border regulatory structures, and Phillip Futures’ strategies to promote financial literacy amid Indonesia’s generally low level of investment awareness.
Report: Dwi Zhafirah Meiliani
Editor: Kurnia Ekaptiningrum
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