The more an individual knows about what he is doing the better he will be able to balance the risks and rewards when investing, Minister for Finance Edward Scicluna said on Wednesday.

The Finance Minister was addressing the 5th Annual Investor Education Conference which is held with the aim of increasing the level of financial literacy amongst investors and to help them make better choices that suit their investment needs.

The conference was also held to increase the level of overall education amongst the small retail investor in respect of the capital market, investments, and related matters.

More than 2,000 participants have attended the 150 courses provide, he explained, and there are approximately 75,000 retail investors who have invested.

Scicluna noted that the subject is complex and evolving, and that there needs to be more education because it is essential for one to have such knowledge on the risks and benefits when it is one's own money that is being invested.

The efficiency and cost of the process was also questioned by the Minister, where he insisted on a more efficient and lower cost approach, paired with less overall bureaucracy to boot.

Minister Scicluna called for investors to make hay while the sun is shining as the economy is growing, which means that there will be more opportunities for investment.

He also pointed out that smaller companies and business people are sometimes as motivated as CEOs but that the only thing they would lack is the initial investment.