2020 to say the least has been a challenging year marked by unforeseen events. While last year has turned the world upside down, it has also brought some positive changes as we enter 2021. It is this positivity that continues to inspire us at AQUMON to do better for our clients each and every single day.

Here are the key changes we noticed: 

 

1.     The pandemic has reordered our society in dramatic ways

 

While most traditional industries like aviation, tourism, and retail have been greatly affected by the pandemic, the virtual and digital world has been on the rise. The internet has been keeping people connected during the coronavirus crisis and COVID-19 has certainly shown us all how to ‘live online’. Welcome to the new normal. 

 

We can see some fast-rising technology trends in 2020. For instance, the official launch of 5G, the growing use of electric cars, and the skyrocketing demand for cryptocurrencies. With how much society and our ways of living have changed in 2020, it’s hard to imagine our lives reverting to the pre-coronavirus state. 

 

2.    The global stock market capitalization exceeds US$100 trillion, and technology companies are leading the way.

 

The Internet model allows for rapid expansion at low marginal cost.  As a result, the market capitalization (market value of a listed company) of technology giants is also ballooning. Even though Bitcoin has almost 3 times its original value in 2020, the total market capitalization is only US$500 billion – less than one single listing of Alibaba’s stock (US$600+ billion) and less than a quarter of Apple’s market capitalization.

 

As the coronavirus paralyzes global economies, central banks have rolled out much easier monetary policy to stimulate financial markets. The surge in the number of retail investors has also been one of the biggest shifts in the financial sector in a post-coronavirus world and dominated stock trading when the market rebounded 30%+ from March to August. This reflects that retail investors have acquired significant power now to move markets in 2020. 

If the stock market is an ocean, then big data and quantitative investment strategies are the newest battleships that help investors to achieve their investment goals. 

 

3.      The pandemic has reshaped our relationship with money

 

If the vaccination rate reaches more than 50% in most countries, we will be able to safely go back to our office desks in the spring or summer of 2021. However, during the course of 2020, we have adapted to work remotely and function virtually. Financial services that once had to be communicated through phone calls or by physical appointments can now be accessed online easily.  Any financial institution that had a digital strategy in 2020 greatly benefitted during the pandemic. 

 

Hence, we are positive in our view that robo advisory services will become more popular -- the users from online trading platforms will also become users of automated wealth management platforms such as AQUMON.

 

Improvement in technology will continue to reshape our relationship with money. The traditional role of financial advisors will soon be taken over by algorithms and technology. As exchange traded fund (ETF) markets continue to grow, passive investing will become the norm to all investors, big or small.  

 

4.      The future has already arrived

 

The future is already here. Boston Dynamics' robots can now dance better than you can and with the recent daring mission to Mars, 2021 is going to be an even bigger year. Challenges motivate us as humans to do better every day.

 

This year, AQUMON celebrates our 5th anniversary. Over these past five years, our young and energetic team has worked hard to develop and enhance our algorithms to bring ever-improving returns to our clients. We have even helped global financial institutions to transform their wealth management solutions. AQUMON has come a long way and as the co-founder of AQUMON, I am extremely proud of all our achievements.

 

As far as the company is concerned, a good product does not define a company. In addition to acquiring more AQUMON users, our mission is to continue educating and communicating good investment behaviors so that investors can benefit in the long run. 

 

Professor Don and I are very grateful for being able to concentrate on our dream -- to bring solid returns and make wealth management solutions accessible for the general public with the help and support of our dream team. As we enter 2021, we are motivated to be even better and deliver more for our clients.

 

The future is 2021. 

 

The future is now. 

 
 

 

 

 

About us

As a leading startup in the FinTech space, AQUMON aims to make sophisticated investment advice cost-effective, transparent and accessible to both institutional and retail markets, via the adoptions of scalable technology platforms and automated investment algorithms.

AQUMON’s parent company Magnum Research Limited is licensed with Type 1, 4 and 9 under the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong. In 2017, AQUMON became the first independent Robo Advisor to be accredited by the SFC.

AQUMON’s major investors include the HKUST, Cyberport, Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund and the Bank of China International's affiliate.

 

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