Welcome to
The Next Step:Financial Strategy Challenge 2026
Learn. Be Mentored. Challenge Yourself. Unlock Your Future.
A mentorship programme empowering you with practical financial literacy, wealth planning and insurance protection knowledge, organised by The Simple Sum in partnership with Manulife Singapore.
About the Challenge
Growing your wealth starts with a plan. Developing a financial and wealth plan is one of the most valuable skills you can pick up, whether you're looking for a job or building a side hustle. This year, The Simple Sum, in partnership with Manulife Singapore, is bringing you a hands-on challenge to build your practical knowledge in financial literacy, wealth planning and protection, and give you the confidence to make smarter money moves.
You will be paired with a dedicated Manulife mentor from day one, who will guide you throughout the challenge and be there to share insights on your finances, career, and future opportunities. You will get to learn from industry professionals, put your knowledge to practice, and test your financial literacy, wealth planning, and insurance protection strategy at the Final Challenge, with a shot at winning prizes worth up to SGD 3,000.
Whether you're just starting out or looking to sharpen what you already know, this is your next step.
Eligibility
Who can join
- Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident
- Aged 21–40
- Local Diploma holders equivalent, and above
- Working adults and fresh graduates looking to grow their wealth — whether through a mid-career switch or simply picking up practical financial skills
- Must not currently hold, or have previously held, a Financial Institution (FI) license
How the Challenge Works
1. LearnPre-challenge learning workshop · Select 1 session only: 10 or 17 October 2026 (first-come-first-served)
About the workshop:
Kick things off with a hands-on workshop, split into two parts: Grow, where you'll build the fundamentals of financial literacy and wealth planning, and Guard, where you will learn how to protect what you've built. Both sessions are led by experienced industry professionals.
All participants are expected to attend a workshop — simply select your preferred date (10 or 17 October) at registration. We'll do our best to accommodate your choice, subject to availability and on a first-come-first-served basis. This is also where you'll meet your assigned Manulife mentor, who will guide and support you throughout your journey.
2. Be MentoredPost-workshop learning assignment · Due 13 November 2026
After the workshop:
Put what you've just learnt into practice with a short assignment, guided by your mentor. This is your chance to apply your learning and get real feedback before the Final Challenge. While it isn't scored or counted towards your final results, submitting the assignment is mandatory to qualify for the Final Challenge.
3. Challenge Yourself & Unlock OpportunitiesFinal Challenge · 14 November 2026
This is where it all comes together, in two parts: A quiz testing what you've learnt from the workshops, followed by a live simulation where you will put your financial literacy and wealth planning strategy into action. The top 10 finalists from these rounds will then compete to win prizes worth up to SGD 3,000. It's also your chance to expand your network, connect with Manulife professionals and fellow participants, and explore the career pathways open to you.
Key Dates
| Date | Milestones |
|---|---|
| 31 August 2026 | Registration opens |
| 15 October 2026 | Registration closes |
| 10 or 17 October 2026 | Pre-challenge workshop (mandatory; preferred date assigned first-come-first-served) |
| 13 November 2026 | Post-workshop learning assignment |
| 14 November 2026 | Final Challenge |
Register Now
Grab your spot. It only takes a minute.