Amartha Shares Five Tips for Wise Investing to Support Women-Owned MSMEs

Certified Financial Planner (CFP) Lolita Setyawati stated that investment trends are shifting, with more investors now considering alignment with financial goals, risk profiles, and fund management transparency rather than merely chasing quick profits. ‘When you want to start investing, the most important thing is to know yourself, understand your investment goals, risk tolerance, and how the chosen product works,’ she said. Responding to this need, Amartha has introduced Amartha Prosper, including the Grassroots Growth Series (GGS), which enables the public to invest while supporting productive financing for women-owned MSMEs in over 50,000 villages across Indonesia. Amartha’s Chief Funding Officer, Julie Fauzie, noted that investment can not only offer potential returns but also create a broader economic impact. ‘Through Amartha Prosper, the public can invest while supporting productive financing for women-owned MSMEs in rural areas, so the investment also benefits the community’s economy,’ she explained. Together with Lolita Setyawati, Amartha shared five steps for wise investing: ensuring basic financial conditions are secure, understanding investment goals and risk profiles, choosing legal products with clear mechanisms, starting with small amounts consistently, and considering the social impact of the investment allocation. Lolita also reminded investors to use ‘cold money’—funds that are not emergency savings or obtained through loans. ‘The principle of choosing an investment is simple: it must be legal and logical. Investors must understand where the funds are placed, how they are managed, and where the potential returns come from,’ she said. Amartha Prosper offers several investment profile options, including Balanced-Flex, Balanced, Progressive, and Dynamic, which can be tailored to each investor’s character and risk tolerance. Over more than 16 years, Amartha has disbursed over IDR 47 trillion in financing to more than 4 million women-owned MSMEs in Indonesia. In 2025, this financing is expected to contribute to the creation of approximately 90,000 new jobs, with 86 per cent of these positions filled by women. Julie added that investments channelled into the real sector, such as MSMEs, not only help investors diversify their portfolios but also expand capital access for business actors and drive more inclusive economic growth.