Pegadaian Invites Youth: Buy Your Future at Today's Price

PADANG — More than a thousand students opened Gold Savings accounts during a single lecture session. This was no accident. It was the result of the Pegadaian CEO Talks held at Universitas Andalas, Padang, on Monday (6/29), revealing just how hungry young people are for concrete financial guidance.

PT Pegadaian (Persero) hosted a face-to-face session with hundreds of soon-to-be graduates, focusing on Digital Financial Innovation and Financial Inclusion: The Strategic Role of Pegadaian in Community Empowerment. This wasn’t a one-way lecture; it was an industry-campus forum designed for students to walk away with actionable steps, not just classroom notes.

Three Foundations Often Ignored by New Graduates

Ismail Ilyas, Director of Risk Management, Legal, and Compliance at PT Pegadaian, opened with a simple premise rarely discussed in classrooms: academic achievement alone is not enough. He argued that there are three essentials to master before entering the workforce: financial literacy, continuous competency improvement, and the ability to adapt.

These three are interconnected. Without financial literacy, your first paycheck disappears before the 10th of the month. Without adaptability, the skills learned on campus could become obsolete in just three years.

“The world of work will continue to transform alongside rapid technological growth. Young people must become adaptive lifelong learners who are wise in managing their finances,” Ismail said to the packed room.

Ismail then introduced a principle that instantly grabbed attention: Buy your future at today’s price. The meaning is dense: investments started now, no matter how small, are far cheaper than starting late. Compound interest works for those who start early. That is math, not just motivation.

What to Do When Your First Paycheck Hits?

Ismail didn’t just stop at theory. He encouraged participants to take concrete steps the moment they receive their first income, following a clear sequence.

First, an emergency fund. At least three times your monthly expenses, ideally six. This is your first shield before even talking about investments. Second, prioritize spending; distinguish between needs and wants that can be deferred. Third, move into investment instruments suitable for your risk profile and long-term goals.

Financial literacy, Ismail noted, is the anchor. Without it, young people easily get swept away by consumerist tides—FOMO spending, lifestyles exceeding income, or getting trapped in high-interest online loans.

This context is vital. Data from the Financial Services Authority (OJK) shows Indonesia’s financial literacy index in 2024 reached 65.43 percent. It’s an increase, yet roughly a third of the population still lacks basic financial understanding. Among the youth, the gap between those who know and those who actually practice healthy financial management remains wide.

A Thousand Accounts Opened in One Session

What set this CEO Talks apart from a typical seminar? The participants didn’t leave empty-handed.

Throughout the event, more than 1,000 attendees downloaded the Tring app and opened their Pegadaian Gold Savings accounts. It wasn’t just a download; opening an account meant they hit their first investment milestone before even donning their graduation robes.

Pegadaian’s Gold Savings allows users to save in gold denominations starting from tiny amounts, making the barrier to entry extremely low for students or fresh graduates. Historically, gold also serves as a hedge against inflation, making it highly relevant for those starting to build a portfolio.

One thousand accounts in a single session is no small feat. It’s a signal that when education is bundled with direct access to real instruments, students are willing to move—not just nod.

Campuses as Doors to Financial Inclusion

Pegadaian’s collaboration with Universitas Andalas isn’t the first, but the format continues to evolve. Pegadaian chooses campuses as educational channels for a good reason: students are at the right time in their lives.

They are at a transition point; they don’t have massive burdens yet, but they will have income soon. Financial habits formed at this stage tend to stick. If the first thing planted is the habit of saving and investing, the probability of them maintaining it is much higher than someone starting at age 35.

Pegadaian calls this collaboration a tangible proof of how literacy can be directly integrated with digital action. It’s not a workshop ending in a certificate, but a session ending with an active account.

Such steps also align with the government’s major agenda to boost national financial inclusion, with the OJK targeting 90 percent inclusion by 2024, with the youth segment as the key driver.

A Message for Those Who Haven’t Started

Ismail closed his presentation with a tone that was non-judgmental, yet firm: there is no better time than now. Waiting for a bigger salary, waiting for a more stable situation, or waiting until you understand more—all are the most expensive ways to delay prosperity.

“The principle is to buy your future at today’s price. Young people must dare to invest and build measurable, sustainable future plans starting now,” he emphasized.

The sentence is simple. But for the thousands of future graduates who walked away that day with their first investment account, it has already become an action.

3-Point Summary

• Pegadaian held a CEO Talks session at Universitas Andalas, Padang, encouraging students to build financial habits before entering the workforce.
• Director Ismail Ilyas emphasized three pillars: financial literacy, continuous competency development, and adaptability.
• Over 1,000 participants opened Pegadaian Gold Savings accounts during the session, proving that education combined with real access leads to concrete action.

Brief FAQ

What is the “Buy your future at today’s price” principle?
It means that small investments started now are far more profitable than waiting for “perfect” conditions, as time is the greatest factor in asset growth.

What is the first step suggested by Pegadaian for fresh graduates?
Establish an emergency fund first (at least 3x monthly expenses), then organize spending priorities, and finally enter investment instruments like gold savings.

Is Pegadaian Gold Savings suitable for beginners?
Yes. Denominations start from very small amounts, making it ideal for students or new graduates just beginning their investment journey.