When we think about retirement, we often picture the finish line.
But at the MASA R-Volve Hackathon, the conversation shifted toward the beginning:
How do we start preparing today for a future we can’t fully predict?

This student-led hackathon, organised by the Malaysian Actuarial Students Association (MASA), brought together over 100 participants from 11 universities, who were mentored by industry experts, judged by professionals, and supported by sponsors like us at Beyond Insights.

Our role as a Platinum Sponsor went beyond funding. We were there because this is the work we care deeply about: financial literacy, long-term wealth building, and the empowerment that comes from knowing how to make money decisions on your own terms.

The Retirement Crisis That’s Quietly Building

If you’ve skimmed the headlines or read Bank Negara’s latest reports, you already know:
Malaysia is approaching a demographic cliff.

• Our population is ageing rapidly
• Fewer young workers are entering the workforce
• Many retirees don’t have enough saved, and what they do have often doesn’t last
• Inflation and rising life expectancy make things even harder

This is not just a future problem, it’s already here.
And for many young Malaysians, the idea of retiring comfortably feels more like a hope than a plan.

From Simulations to Proposed Solutions: What The Participants Discovered

We were particularly surprised by the findings submitted by the finalist and champion teams.

Their projects weren’t just academic exercises. They used real data to simulate retirement system sustainability, test various policies, and create new models that could reshape how we think about retirement.

1. Malaysia’s EPF Is at Risk Without Reform

All three finalist teams came to a common and sobering conclusion: Malaysia’s EPF is not sustainable under current conditions.

• Team No Eye Deer projected that the EPF fund could deplete by 2048 if no changes are made, primarily due to lump sum withdrawals and an aging contributor base.
• Team Five Guys found that even with steady returns, most members’ savings fall short of the RM390,000 benchmark, with only 35% meeting minimum adequacy.
• Team P(X=Win)=0! confirmed that 50% of members aged 54 have less than RM50,000 in their EPF — a critical gap for retirement security.

Their work combined time-series forecasting (ARIMA/ETS), regression analysis, and advanced modelling but it always returned to one thing: we need to act earlier and think smarter.

 2. The Aging Time Bomb Is Real

Demographic projections were clear: the number of Malaysians aged 60 and above is expected to surpass 8.2 million by 2044. Declining fertility and rising longevity will strain the contributor-retiree balance — placing the system under significant stress.

3. Gender Wage Gaps Widen Retirement Risk

Every team flagged the gender wage gap as a contributing factor to retirement inequality. Women tend to earn less and have shorter contribution periods, resulting in significantly lower EPF balances at retirement.

4. Innovative Reforms Are Within Reach

Participants proposed compelling ideas to strengthen the EPF system:

• Raising the retirement age to 65 to reduce early withdrawals and extend contributions.
• Implementing annuities instead of lump-sum withdrawals to stretch savings over longer retirements.
• Introducing a minimum pension guarantee (Team Five Guys).
• Establishing an Intergenerational Fund, where a portion of unutilized savings from deceased members is reinvested to support future retirees (Team P(X=Win)=0!).

Why Beyond Insights Got Involved

At Beyond Insights, we’ve always believed that education is the great unlocker.

For the past 17 years, Beyond Insights has educated more than 7,500 people to invest and trade not through speculation, but through systematic, versatile and safe approach. From long-term investing to short-term trading, our goal has always been to give people not just tools, but the conviction to take ownership of their financial future.

So when MASA invited us to sponsor a hackathon focused on retirement sustainability, it was an easy yes.

Because this isn’t just about EPF policy.
It’s about something much deeper:

• Will we understand our money enough to make it last?
• Will we take ownership of our financial future or wait and hope someone else does it for us?
• And will we equip the next generation not just with jobs, but with the tools to live freely?

A Reflection Worth Having

Whether you’re in your 20s, 40s or 60s, the hackathon revealed something important:
The system isn’t perfect. And it may not be enough.

But there’s something you can do. You can build your own understanding.
You can start asking better questions.
You can explore beyond traditional savings products by building transferable skills in investing, approaches that require effort and education, but offer more potential control.

Looking Ahead

The MASA R-Volve Hackathon planted seeds for innovation, collaboration, and policy reform.

But for us at Beyond Insights, it also reignited a mission we carry every day:
To bring out the best in you and your financial future, not just the terms, but the decisions that shape their futures.

If anything about these findings moved you, if it sparked a moment of reflection or a sense of curiosity, don’t ignore it.

You don’t have to figure everything out today.
But the earlier you start, the more options you’ll have.

Let this be your invitation.

Start your journey with a question:
What does retirement mean to you—and are you preparing for it with intention?