Early Cross Completes Registration as Financial Instruments Intermediary (IFA)

Early Cross (Headquartered in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture; Representative Director: Masaya Hanashiro), a company supporting everything from corporate DC implementation to financial education, announced that it completed its registration as a Financial Instruments Intermediary (IFA) (Registration Number: Fukuoka Local Finance Branch Bureau (Kin-Naka) No. 139) on May 18, 2026. With Aizawa Securities Co., Ltd. as the affiliated Financial Instruments Business Operator, the company will now expand options for corporate asset management to strengthen financial foundations, as well as asset formation for business owners and employees, establishing a support system in accordance with the intent of each system.

Two 'Standard' Practices Unreached by SMEs

Of the approximately 2.79 million businesses covered by Employees' Pension Insurance, only about 58,000 have implemented corporate DC plans (an adoption rate of about 2.1%). While system complexity is one factor, the larger barrier is that information is simply not reaching business owners.

Corporate asset management faces a similar structure. Many large enterprises generate part of their profits through balance sheet (BS) asset management. Conversely, many SME owners focus only on profit and loss (PL) and have not yet considered building returns through the BS. Deep-seated misunderstandings remain, such as beliefs that 'investing is gambling' or 'company money shouldn't be used for this.'

Both employee retirement asset formation (corporate DC) and corporate asset management to strengthen financial bases are essential standard options for SMEs. With this IFA registration, Early Cross has established a system to provide both services as an integrated solution.

Registration Summary

Registration Date: May 18, 2026 Registration Number: Fukuoka Local Finance Branch Bureau (Kin-Naka) No. 139 Affiliated Financial Instruments Business Operator: Aizawa Securities Co., Ltd.

Message from the Representative

Early Cross Representative Director: Masaya Hanashiro

Our motto, 'Designing Future Money,' is not just about drawing future plans, but about creating mechanisms that fundamentally solve financial challenges. In the 100-year life era, corporate DC plans—allowing workers to independently prepare for retirement—and corporate asset management—supporting the sustainable growth of companies—are indispensable mechanisms for solving these problems. However, due to information gaps and misunderstandings, these systems have not yet reached many SMEs.

As an operational management institution, our company has been supporting corporate DC implementation and financial education so that workers can build their future assets with their own intentions. This IFA registration is a reinforcement of our system to further solidify mechanisms that solve the financial issues faced by both companies and individuals.

We provide 'correct information' according to the purpose of each system, build 'optimal mechanisms' tailored to individual goals, and support the realization of individual 'financial wellbeing' by encouraging workers to fully utilize these systems.

About Early Cross

With the theme of 'solving future money problems,' Early Cross supports the future asset formation of SME owners and employees through the implementation of corporate defined contribution pension (corporate DC) systems.

Corporate Profile

Corporate Name: Early Cross Representative: Masaya Hanashiro Headquarters: GEST25 Bldg., 3-21-18 Haruyoshi, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka, 810-0003 Website: https://www.early-cross.com/

Reinforcing Recruitment

Early Cross is actively recruiting talent to anticipate business expansion and the further spread of corporate defined contribution (DC) pensions. We will expand our support system with new colleagues at our Fukuoka headquarters and other locations, further enhancing services to SMEs and partner professionals with a sense of speed.