# FWD Singapore and Ascend Asia sign long-term strategic partnership to strengthen financial advisory distribution in Singapore

- Link: https://www.thailand-business-news.com/pr-news/fwd-singapore-and-ascend-asia-sign-long-term-strategic-partnership-to-strengthen-financial-advisory-distribution-in-singapore
- Published: 2026-07-23T16:22:00+07:00
- Author: PR Newswire

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SINGAPORE, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — FWD Singapore Pte. Ltd. ("FWD") and Ascend
Asia Financial Services Group ("Ascend Asia") have signed a long-term strategic 
partnership to strengthen financial advisory distribution and broaden access to 
quality financial advice in Singapore. The partnership will provide customers with
enhanced financial advice and broader access to insurance and investment solutions
through Ascend Asia’s open architecture financial advisory platform.

 [ ⌊(From left) Mr Pang Kong Bin, Chairman, SG Alliance; Mr Warren Lim, Chief Executive Officer, finexis advisory; Ms Irene Ho, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, finexis advisory; Mr Adrian Vincent, Chief Executive Officer, FWD Singapore; Mr Tomas Urbanec, Chief Executive Officer, Ascend Asia; Mr Binayak Dutta, Senior Managing Director, South-East Asia, FWD Group; Mr Caster Ong, Chief Executive Officer, SG Alliance; and Mr Poh Choon Kia, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Infinity Financial Advisory.⌉ ](https://mma.prnasia.com/media2/3007413/image1.html)
(
From left) Mr Pang Kong Bin, Chairman, SG Alliance; Mr Warren Lim, Chief Executive
Officer, finexis advisory; Ms Irene Ho, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, finexis 
advisory; Mr Adrian Vincent, Chief Executive Officer, FWD Singapore; Mr Tomas Urbanec,
Chief Executive Officer, Ascend Asia; Mr Binayak Dutta, Senior Managing Director,
South-East Asia, FWD Group; Mr Caster Ong, Chief Executive Officer, SG Alliance;
and Mr Poh Choon Kia, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Infinity Financial Advisory.

This partnership brings together FWD’s customer-led product capabilities and digital
servicing strengths with Ascend Asia’s governance framework, adviser network and
technology-enabled platform. It aims to support the continued evolution of Singapore’s
advisory landscape and deliver greater value to customers over the long-term.

Ascend Asia’s customers across the retail, mass affluent and high-net-worth ("HNW")
segments have access to FWD’s full suite of solutions available to financial advisory
firms, including life insurance, investment-linked products and HNW offerings. Customers
will also benefit from a wider selection of investment options, with Ascend Asia
Asset Management funds now included as sub-funds on FWD’s investment-linked product
portfolio. Both organisations will also collaborate on selected analytics and technology
initiatives to generate deeper insights into customer needs, facilitate product 
innovation and enhance advisory tools.

Operating fully within the open architecture financial advisory ecosystem, FWD aims
to support the industry’s shift towards greater transparency, disciplined governance
and technology-enabled advisory processes.

Adrian Vincent, Chief Executive Officer of FWD Singapore, said, "As the open architecture
financial advisory model gains momentum in Singapore, our partnership with Ascend
Asia, alongside our longstanding collaboration with IPP Financial Advisers, reflects
FWD’s commitment to raising the standard of financial planning. With consumers becoming
increasingly discerning about how they access financial advice and ongoing support,
we are confident in the future of the open architecture model and congratulate Ascend
Asia on its investment in strengthening the independent financial advisory ecosystem.

With Singapore becoming a super-aged society, facing a significant critical illness
protection gap and strengthening its position as a global wealth hub, these partnerships
will further enable us to meet evolving customer needs at scale."

Tomas Urbanec, Chief Executive Officer of Ascend Asia, said, "Our mission is to 
empower our member firms with the strategic investment, structure and tools they
need to thrive and support their clients along their wealth journeys. Close collaboration
with our partners in areas like product and customer proposition development extends
choice for customers and amplifies the impact of our open architecture model. This
partnership with FWD broadens access to a strong range of customer-focused solutions
and technology-enabled experiences for advisers on the Ascend Asia platform, and
we look forward to unlocking superior outcomes for our member firms’ advisers and
clients."

The partnership was formally commemorated with a celebratory event held at the newly
launched Ascend Asia Wealth Centre. The event brought together senior leaders from
FWD Singapore, FWD Group, Ascend Asia and representatives from Ascend Asia’s member
firms. Attendees included Mr Adrian Vincent, CEO of FWD Singapore; Mr Tomas Urbanec,
CEO of Ascend Asia; Mr Binayak Dutta, Senior MD, SouthEast Asia, FWD Group; together
with management team of FWD Singapore and Ascend Asia member firms.

This event marked the start of the long-term strategic partnership and reaffirming
the shared commitment of all parties to strengthening Singapore’s open architecture
financial advisory ecosystem through closer collaboration, innovation and customer-
centric advice.

**About FWD Singapore**

FWD Singapore is part of FWD Group, a pan-Asian life and health insurance business
that serves approximately 40 million customers across 10 markets and is listed on
the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code 1828. In Singapore,
FWD started operations in 2016, becoming one of the first insurers to offer a direct-
to-consumer (DTC) platform for purchasing preferred life and general insurance products
online. Further expanding its omnichannel presence, FWD partners with a network 
of preferred Financial Advisory (FA) firms, international brokers, and banks to 
widen customer reach. In 2024, FWD set up its second insurance license in Singapore
under the FWD Private brand for a dedicated high-net-worth (HNW) insurance offering.

For more information, please visit [www.fwd.com.sg](https://www.fwd.com.sg/).

**About Ascend Asia Financial Services Group**

Launched in 2025, Ascend Asia Financial Services Group ("Ascend Asia") is committed
to elevating the quality of financial advisory services in Singapore and beyond.
Today, Ascend Asia comprises a network of financial advisory member firms and a 
dedicated asset management firm. Ascend Asia supports its member firms in scaling
sustainably through strategic investment, industry expertise, and technology. Through
an open-architecture platform, member firms and their financial consultants are 
empowered with a comprehensive range of solutions and tools to deliver personalised
financial advice – enabling clients to make informed decisions that best meet their
needs.

Issued on behalf of **FWD Insurance Singapore** by Redhill Communications.

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