Tell Me Why trading should be accessible to everyone

The latest Tell Me Why podcast episode explores how trading and investing are evolving, and why financial markets no longer feel exclusive or intimidating for everyday investors in the UAE.

Host Lachlan Kitchen is joined by Michael Ayres, CEO and partner at Rostro Group, whose career spans London’s financial markets through the global financial crisis to launching a multi-licensed trading and brokerage business now expanding into the Middle East. Just weeks after securing its SCA licence, Rostro has officially entered the UAE market, positioning itself as a bridge between traditional finance and digital assets.

Ayres reflects on starting his career at 18 in London’s high-pressure trading environment, navigating market volatility, cultural shifts and the realities of the financial crisis. Those formative experiences, he explains, shaped his belief that access, transparency and education matter just as much as technology. He argues that too often, financial services are designed for professionals rather than for individuals trying to understand and manage their finances for the first time.

The episode unpacks Rostro’s vision of a more inclusive trading ecosystem — one that removes friction, simplifies platforms and brings traditional assets like equities, gold and derivatives alongside cryptocurrencies in a single, user-friendly experience. Ayres highlights how many investors globally lack the basic access long taken for granted in markets such as the UK, and why the UAE’s entrepreneurial, regulation-led environment makes it a natural home for Rostro’s next phase of growth.

Education emerges as a central theme. From first-time investors wary of risk to seasoned traders exploring new asset classes, Ayres stresses the importance of informed decision-making, regulated platforms and honest conversations about risk.

For listeners curious about how trading is changing and how technology is reshaping who gets to participate, this episode offers an inside look at a future where markets are open, transparent and designed for everyone.