Two days of insights, debates and inspiration are behind us. The 16th EFPA Poland Congress, “Financial Health in Practice: 7 Good Habits that Build Clients’ Security and Future,” brought together over 1,800 participants on-site and online. 52 speakers took the stage and the virtual studio, while as many as 597 people took part in the accompanying EFPA Investment Knowledge Tournament.
The heart of the EFPA Congress beats to the rhythm of financial health
For the first time, EFPA Poland officially announced the development plan for the Financial Health Program for Polish consumers, aligned with the goals of the National Financial Education Strategy. The program was presented by Barbara Stęchły, Vice President of EFPA Poland, and Piotr Czarnecki, Chair of the EFPA Poland Council. mBank became the Knowledge and Strategic Partner of the pilot. Krzysztof Bratos, Vice President of mBank, declared full commitment and financial support for this flagship initiative aimed at improving the financial wellbeing of people in Poland.
A deeper discussion followed during the “Financial Doctors” Panel, which posed the question: can a bank support clients’ financial health? “It can—and it should,” replied representatives of banks and institutions, pointing to concrete ways to strengthen financial health—from advisory standards and diagnostic tools to education, habit-building, and cross-sector cooperation.
Completing this segment was the Manifesto of Healthy Personal Finance—a practical compass for advisers and clients that helps structure everyday decisions and habits that build financial safety. The Manifesto, ceremonially signed by members of the EFPA Council, was then opened to Congress participants, who added their signatures as a shared declaration of the seven good financial habits.
Between “I know” and “I can”: the reality of financial health in Europe
This year’s Congress also premiered new research. The report “Financial Health of Europeans,” an initiative of EFPA Europe and Better Finance, revealed a clear gap between needs and declarations on the one hand and perceived agency on the other: although 86% of respondents consider financial health important, only 15% feel financially free and 20% feel able to pursue personal dreams. A response to this gap is the prototype Financial Health Beat by EFPA—an index designed to measure where we stand and compare progress in financial wellbeing at both the individual and institutional levels, in Poland and across Europe.
Young people vs. retirement: expectations that collide with facts
Equally powerful were the findings of the report “Saving and Investing for Retirement through the Eyes of the Young Generation,” authored by Prof. Katarzyna Sekścińska (University of Warsaw). The report is a joint initiative of EFPA Poland, the WIB Analytical & Research Program, PFR, and the PFR Portal PPK. The results show that young adults in Poland significantly overestimate the future replacement rate: 83% assess it higher than Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) forecasts; half expect a benefit of at least 53% of their last salary, and 31% expect a pension equal to their pre-retirement pay. Faced with reality, this leads to one conclusion: we need earlier and systematic saving and investing for private retirement.
A debate that shifts the narrative: fear is not enough
The substantive threads were reinforced by an Oxford-Style Debate on whether the vision of “starvation pensions” can spur Poles to invest. The opposition team won, and the audience—persuaded by the arguments—concluded that fear alone is not enough; what’s needed is a mindset shift, healthy financial habits, and systemic financial education.
The power of small steps: inspiration straight from Kilimanjaro
Providing an emotional counterpoint was a power speech by Monika Witkowska—mountaineer, sailor, and Seven Summits finisher—who joined the Congress straight from Kilimanjaro. Her story about the power of small steps—in the mountains and in finance—became an inspiring metaphor for client work and steadily building financial wellbeing.
Knowledge, emotion and market distinctions
As many as 597 people competed in the EFPA Investment Knowledge Tournament. The contest, as every year both exciting and substantive, recognized 10 top participants. A new feature of this year’s edition was the “EFPA Market Stars” Awards—for the first time at the Congress, statuettes were presented in seven categories: Best Investment Fund (across five subcategories), Best Market Analyst, and Best Educational Volunteering Project. Financial advisers cast the votes in this peer poll. Among the laureates were: BNP Paribas TFI (in 3 categories), Investors TFI (in 2 categories), Goldman Sachs TFI, and the EFPA Poland “Przegląd Zdrowia Finansowego”.
From idea to practice: seven habits as a plan for action
This year’s program—from the manifesto and measurement tools to research findings, debate and inspiring talks—forms a coherent roadmap. The seven good habits become a concrete plan for strengthening financial security, while the market, institutions and advisers receive practical guidance on how to translate this vision into everyday client work.
As Mariola Szymańska, President of EFPA Poland, emphasizes: “The mission of financial health will only succeed if financial institutions act together. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. The goal is long-term, and we are steadily moving forward. Financial health is our common good.”
For participants: registered attendees can watch the session replays on the congress platform: kongresowej platformie.