15th September 2026 - 3 min read
A survey of 1,333 Versa app users found that 64% of Gen X and Baby Boomer respondents regretted not investing sooner, the highest of any generation, compared with 60% of Gen Z and 58% of Millennials.
Every respondent was already an app user who had chosen to invest, so the finding reflects how people who invest feel about their own timing, not a general measure of regret among all Malaysians.
The Baby Boomer group was also small, just 23 people, so their responses were combined with Gen X’s for this comparison.
Cost of living was the biggest concern overall, but for the next generation rather than for the respondents themselves. 43% identified it as the main challenge the next generation will face. When asked what single financial advantage they would guarantee for future generations, 27% of respondents chose a lower cost of living over higher pay or better pensions.
This tracks with what our own 2025 Malaysian Financial Literacy Survey found. Among middle-income earners specifically (RM5,000 to RM10,000 a month), 47% reported living paycheck to paycheck, up from 45% the year before.
61% of Gen X and older respondents believe the next generation will have a harder life, compared with 51% of Millennials and 45% of Gen Z.
Housing affordability offers some broader context for that concern. Khazanah Research Institute puts Malaysia’s median house price-to-income ratio at 4.1 as of 2019, well above the 3.0 level generally considered affordable. The survey itself did not ask respondents whether housing costs were behind their more pessimistic view, but housing affordability remains one of the wider financial pressures that Malaysians face.
Despite the age gap in outlook, there was broad agreement on what matters most. 68% said investing early with small amounts was the most important financial habit to pass down, ahead of saving a fixed percentage of income or avoiding debt.
Assuming a 5% annual return, investing RM100 each month can lead to very different outcomes depending on how long you stay invested.
| Years Invested | Paid In | Value At 5% p.a. | Growth |
| 10 | RM12,000 | RM15,500 | RM3,500 |
| 20 | RM24,000 | RM41,100 | RM17,100 |
| 30 | RM36,000 | RM83,200 | RM47,200 |
This is an illustration, not a projection. Starting 10 years earlier means contributing an additional RM12,000, but potentially ending up with roughly RM42,000 more in total value.
If you’re 45, you still have more than 10 years before the typical retirement age. Topping up your EPF through voluntary contributions gives that money time to grow. A one-time RM10,000 top-up, for example, could grow to around RM17,900 after 10 years, based on EPF’s roughly 5.9% average dividend over the past decade.
If you’re thinking about topping up your EPF, keep in mind that the first RM4,000 of EPF contributions is eligible for tax relief. For many salaried workers earning around RM3,030 or more a month, their mandatory 11% EPF contributions may already reach this RM4,000 limit. Any additional voluntary EPF contribution may instead qualify under a separate RM3,000 relief limit, which is shared with life insurance and takaful premiums.
Budget 2027 will be tabled on 9 October. It’s where the government responds to the same pressures reflected in the survey, with 27% of respondents saying they would guarantee a lower cost of living for future generations over higher pay or better pensions. Its Pre-Budget Statement, released on 18 August, already names food, housing, transport, healthcare, education and childcare as priority areas.
Keep an eye out for any changes to STR and SARA payments, and whether EPF or tax relief rules change.
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Iman writes about personal finance with curiosity. She is interested in the stories behind money, the hesitation around big decisions, and the small habits that shape financial futures. Off the clock, she is either dissecting a film or climbing her way up the leaderboard in her favourite games.
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