Singapore Wants More Finance Talent, and It's Making Some Big Moves

Singapore just announced some major changes for the asset management industry, and if you work in finance, this is worth paying attention to.

On 19 August 2026, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) shared a new set of measures aimed at making Singapore a stronger hub for asset management. Competition from other financial centers in the region has been growing, and this is Singapore's way of staying ahead.

Here's what was announced

1. A possible tax exemption on profit related returns Fund managers and investment professionals who earn a share of profits from managing qualifying funds may get a tax exemption on that portion of their income. This does not apply to regular salary or bonuses, only to profit linked earnings. More details are expected at Budget 2027.

2. A new Investment Management Track under the ONE Pass This is a new work pass route meant for senior and global investment professionals. What's interesting is that MAS may change how salaries are assessed for this pass, so that performance based pay could count alongside fixed salary. This could make it easier for experienced professionals to qualify.

3. A new Hedge Fund Investment Programme This is meant to encourage more fund managers to set up and grow their operations in Singapore.

Why this matters

Asset management is already a big part of Singapore's economy. It makes up about 15% of the financial sector's output and 13% of its jobs, employing close to 25,000 people. The industry has grown by around 7.5% every year for the past five years and now manages close to S$7 trillion in assets.

So this isn't a small industry. It's a growing one, and these new measures show Singapore wants to keep it that way.