Every year, the first week of October is dedicated to raising awareness of investor education and protection through World Investor Week (WIW).
Organised by the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), the global body that brings together the world’s securities regulators and sets international standards for the sector, World Investor Week is a week-long global campaign highlighting initiatives that promote financial literacy and investor protection. For the third year now, BETTER FINANCE was pleased to participate in this global initiative and to promote investor education, transparency, and direct participation in corporate governance.
What is World Investor Week?
The two main objectives of World Investor Week are to spread key messages that strengthen financial literacy and investor protection, and to create learning opportunities for investors worldwide. The campaign also aims to enhance IOSCO’s visibility among international stakeholders and to foster cooperation among its members in developing effective investor education and protection programmes.
For its 2025 edition, World Investor Week focuses on three central themes:
- Technology and Digital Finance,
- Artificial Intelligence
- Fraud and Scam Prevention
These three key themes are complemented by two supporting themes, i.e., Crypto Assets and the Basics of Investing.
The 2025 topics address the most relevant issues facing investors today. In the hyper-digitalised environment of today, financial services are increasingly digital. This has allowed citizens to have easier access to financial markets, and, as such, to invest for their future. However, greater accessibility comes with new challenges and vulnerabilities. Citizens who make use of these digital platforms must therefore be equipped with the knowledge to navigate emerging tools safely and responsibly.
The message from IOSCO for World Investor Week 2025 is clear: while digital trading platforms, robo-advisory services, algorithmic trading, and AI-driven analytics offer convenience and efficiency, technology should not be elevated to a substitute for careful research, diversification, and sound financial planning. Investors should always be encouraged to consider their personal financial situation, long-term goals, and risk tolerance before making decisions.
Equally important is fraud awareness. Fraudsters increasingly exploit the popularity of investing, especially in new assets such as crypto, to deceive their victims. Transnational criminal networks continue to deploy schemes like “pig butchering”, a type of long-term online investment scam that combines romance fraud and financial deception, and as well as relationship investment scams to steal money from unsuspecting targets. Education, vigilance, and critical thinking remain the best defences against fraud.
BETTER FINANCE’s Involvement in the World Investor Week
BETTER FINANCE is proud to support this global initiative once again this year. Throughout World Investor Week 2025., BETTER FINANCE supported the campaign by sharing useful informational material on the value of independent advice, . As fraudulent behaviours are becoming increasingly prevalent in Europe, BETTER FINANCE is also hosting a conference to tackle the issue. Titled “From Fraud to Accountability: Tackling Financial Crime Across Europe” the conference will be held on 9 December 2025.
By amplifying financial education initiatives from across Europe, BETTER FINANCE continues to support the International Organization of Securities Commission’s mission of promoting informed decisions, transparent markets and better outcomes for all European investors.