Uncategorized Archives - Page 46 of 53

From George Lucas (Managing Director/CEO):

I would like to thank everyone for the support around the name change to Raiz and the associated rebranding. It was an arduous process for us and we still have lots of work to do to ensure you that all the qualities of the old Acorns remain. We also want to ensure that Raiz gives us a platform and opportunity to improve the features of the App and the service we provide to you. I believe becoming an independent Australian company will allow us to achieve these goals.

Finding a unique name in financial services wasn’t easy. We started with a list of over 500 names. From the top 50 names, we did URL searches and found they were all taken. We then looked at the next 50 names, some were taken when we did the URL search, the rest failed when we did trademark searches. Therefore, in the end we needed one that could be uniquely spelt and one we could build our new brand around.

Despite these limitations, we picked Raiz based on the feedback from our community, wanting us to at the foremost continue championing the opportunity to raise your wealth, raise your financial confidence and raise your investment knowledge, all in the background of life. For more information on Raiz fees, click here.

For those who need a meaning to the word Raiz, it also symbolises the root of a plant, continuing the idea of growth and the importance of having the right foundations to raiz your wealth. For me, it is about ensuring that the team can create a personality around the name which will continue allowing us to enable your financial confidence and wellbeing.

Thanks again for your support and feedback – good and bad. Please update the App with the new name and brand by going to the “Updates” section of the app store. Look out for the new releases and more new features coming to your App Store soon!

George Lucas
Managing Director/CEO

Don’t have the Raiz App?

Download it for free in the App store or the Webapp below:

download-raiz-app — Click to download the Raiz app

Important Information

The information on this website is general advice only. This means it does not take into account any person’s particular investment objectives, financial situation or investment needs. If you are an investor, you should consult your licensed adviser before acting on any information contained in this article to fully understand the benefits and risk associated with the product.

A Product Disclosure Statement for Raiz Invest and/or Raiz Invest Super are available on the Raiz Invest website and App. A person must read and consider the Product Disclosure Statement in deciding whether, or not, to acquire and continue to hold interests in the product. The risks of investing in this product are fully set out in the Product Disclosure Statement and include the risks that would ordinarily apply to investing.

The information may be based on assumptions or market conditions which change without notice. This could impact the accuracy of the information.

Under no circumstances is the information to be used by, or presented to, a person for the purposes of deciding about investing in Raiz Invest or Raiz Invest Super.

Past return performance of the Raiz products should not be relied on for making a decision to invest in a Raiz product and is not a good predictor of future performance.

Read Post

Today, we are sad to farewell the original US Acorns brand, and excited to announce the launch of our new brand and name. It has felt like a long journey for us over the last 2 years, which has led us to becoming an independent Australian company. We couldn’t have done it without your support.

Acorns Australia business is changing its name to Raiz.

We are the same same, but different name. Whilst our name has changed, the App, our service and our commitment to raiz your financial confidence remains the same. The new App will be released overnight, and the old App should continue to work.

So what do you need to do now? Nothing. Not a single thing. We are taking care of everything to ensure this transition is as smooth as possible and does not interrupt the experience you know, and we hope love.

This hasn’t been easy, so we appreciate everyone who has given us feedback, support and suggestions in shaping the new brand.

Over the coming week, you will start to see our new brand rolling out across our social pages and emails.

If you have any questions or concerns, we are always here to listen. Please feel free to contact us through support@raizinvest.com.au or call us on 1300 754 748.

Thanks for your support,

Your Raiz Invest Team 😊!

Click to view our video here

Don’t have the Raiz App?

Download it for free in the App store or the Webapp below:

Important Information

The information may be based on assumptions or market conditions which change without notice. This could impact the accuracy of the information.

Under no circumstances is the information to be used by, or presented to, a person for the purposes of deciding about investing in Raiz Invest or Raiz Invest Super.

Past return performance of the Raiz products should not be relied on for making a decision to invest in a Raiz product and is not a good predictor of future performance.

Read Post

Terms & Conditions for completing our ‘Improving our Community & Brand’ online survey.

1. An active Acorns Grow Australia Account must be held (account balance greater than $5). Acorns account holders hold valid accounts as set out in the product disclosure statement found on the website: www.acornsau.com.au.

2. Entries open Sunday, 1st April 2018 at 4pm and entries close Saturday 7th April 2018 at 11.59pm. To enter one must complete in full the ‘Improving our Community & Brand’ within the timeframe stated above and provide the email address on your Active Acorns Grow Australia Investment account at the end of the survey.

3. To thank you for completing the Survey, Acorns Grow Australia will be giving away five $50.00 credit investments in their active Acorns Grow Australia Investment Account. These five investments will be selected at random.

4. These five random Acorns Account holders will be notified by email when the credit investments will be deposited into their Acorns account by Saturday, 28th April 2018.

6. The permit number in the format “ NSW Permit No. LTPM/17/02522 .”

7. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with any other third party.

8. The survey competition is promoted by Acorns Grow Australia Limited, Level 11/2 Bulletin Place Sydney 2000 NSW, 1300 754 748. ABN 26 604 402 815, who is the Authorised Representative of AFSL 434776. The Acorns product will be issued in Australia by Instreet Investment Limited (ACN 128 813 016 AFSL 434776) and promoted by Acorns Grow Australia Limited (ACN 604 402 815). A Product Disclosure Statement dated 1st June 2017 for this product is available on the Acorns website and App. A person should read and consider the Product Disclosure Statement in deciding whether or not to acquire and continue to hold interests in the product. The risks of investing in this product are fully set out in the Product Disclosure Statement, and include the risks that would ordinarily apply to investing.

9. “Acorns” and “Invest the Change” are registered trademarks of Acorns Grow, Inc.

NSW Permit No. LTPM/17/02522

Read Post

Terms & Conditions for Tinybeans Giveaway July 2018

1. An active Raiz Account must be held (account balance greater than $5). Raiz account holders hold valid accounts as set out in the product disclosure statement found on the website: www.raizinvest.com.au

2. Entries open Wednesday, 18 July 2018 and entries close Sunday 29 July 2018 at 11.59pm. To enter one must create an active Raiz Account with at least one Raiz Kid using the download links in the Giveaway email within the timeframe stated above with an account balance greater than $5.

3. For being a Tinybeans user and new Raiz user, we will be giving away ten $100.00 credit investments in their active Raiz Investment Account. These ten investments will be selected at random.

4. These ten random Raiz Account holders will be notified by email when the credit investments will be deposited into their Raiz account by Sunday, 12 August 2018.

6. The permit number in the format “NSW Permit No. LTPM/17/02522.”

7. This promotion is sponsored by Tinybeans – https://tinybeans.com/

8. The survey competition is promoted by Raiz Invest Australia Limited, Level 11/2 Bulletin Place Sydney 2000 NSW, 1300 754 748. ABN 26 604 402 815, who is the Authorised Representative of AFSL 434776. The Raiz Invest Australia Fund is issued in Australia by Instreet Investment Limited (ACN 128 813 016 AFSL 434776) a subsidiary of Raiz Invest Limited and promoted by Raiz Invest Australia Limited (ACN 604 402 815). A Product Disclosure Statement dated 10 April 2018 for this product is available on the Raiz website and App. A person should read and consider the Product Disclosure Statement in deciding whether or not to acquire and continue to hold interests in the product. The risks of investing in this product are fully set out in the Product Disclosure Statement, and include the risks that would ordinarily apply to investing.

NSW Permit No. LTPM/17/02522

Read Post

The
Raiz philosophy is to invest small amounts regularly, no matter the market
condition, as this strategy can minimise the risk of investing in markets and
we believe is one of the keys to having a healthier balance over the long run.

All
your investments, whether it be your spare change from round-ups, lump sums or
recurring deposits, are invested into one of the 6 diversified portfolios that
were constructed with help from the Nobel Prize winning economist and father of
Modern Portfolio Theory, Dr. Harry Markowitz.

What
is a diversified portfolio?

To
find the right balance between risk and reward, your money is never invested
into one specific share or company. It is instead invested across a bundle of
shares or bonds that form one financial product, called an Exchange Traded Fund
(ETF).

The
Raiz portfolios are made up of a combination of different ETFs that range from
cash, bonds, Australian and international shares. Every investment you make
will be allocated towards these ETFs. For more information on Raiz fees, click here.

Watch our video on – How our Raiz Portfolios are built

Let’s
take a deeper look into these ETFs:

The
first six are called ‘Large Cap Stocks’

1. Australia
Large Cap Stocks (ASX:STW)

2. Asia
Large Cap Stocks (ASX:IAA)

3. Europe
Large Cap Stocks (ASX:IEU)

4. US
Large Cap Stocks (ASX:IVV)

5. Australia
Social Responsible Large Cap (ASX:RARI)

6. Global
Socially Responsible Large Cap (ASX:ETHI)

What
are large cap stocks?

Large
cap stocks are the biggest companies on their respective country’s stock
exchange in terms of market capitalisation – or total dollar value of a
company. Companies that fall in this category tend to be in established
industries and are major players in their field. Large cap stocks can be a
safer option as their earnings may be more consistent than less-established
companies, making them more likely to show returns over time.

Examples
of Large Cap stocks that your investments can go towards are international
shares such as Apple, Google & Microsoft and Australian shares such as
Telstra, Westpac & Woolworths.

You
can also see all the hundreds of companies that make up these ETFs by searching
for the ETF code or the provider from our product disclosure statement.

7. Australia
Government Bonds (ASX:IAF)

Australia
Government bonds are viewed as more secured and as less risky investment
products than large cap stocks. It differs to stocks as you are instead
essentially lending money to the government at an agreed interest rate. The
government will then pay the interest and return the money that was lent at
maturity. Rather than hold a bond to maturity though, they can also
be traded. The risk is therefore tied to the ability of the Australian
Government to pay you back both the interest and the money that was lent at the
end.

8. Australia
Corporate Bonds (ASX:RCB)

Similar
to government bonds, corporate bonds are a way for Australian companies to
raise money, by borrowing from you. The business will pay the interest and
return the money lent. It can also be traded on an exchange before maturity.
The risk is again therefore tied to the ability of the Corporate to pay you
back both the interest and the money that was lent at the end.

9. Australian
Money Market (ASX:AAA)

This
ETF is invested into the money market, which has the least volatility. The fund
focuses on investing in term deposits and high interest accounts
offered by banks in Australia. As these tend to be short dated, the risk
that a bank cannot repay both the interest and the money back is low.

What
are the allocations for the ETFs?

We
invest your money in a combination of the above ETFs on a sliding scale
depending on how aggressive or conservative you want to be with your
investments. Conservative portfolios will have a bigger allocation in bonds
& cash, while the more aggressive portfolios will have a bigger allocation
in Australian and international shares.

You
will be able to find the exact allocations that makes up your portfolio in
our product disclosure statement.

Example
of allocation for the Aggressive portfolio:

How
can I keep track?

The
Raiz app will give you the daily, monthly and yearly performance of your
portfolio. You are also able to keep track of the individual ETF’s performance
yourself through the web or via a stock app. Keep in mind though, markets go up
and markets go down. Therefore, it is important to look at the long-term big
picture and not the daily fluctuations. You can find more in our blog, The Advantages of Dollar Cost Averaging

Don’t have the Raiz App?

Download it for free in the App store or the Webapp below:

Important Information

The information may be based on assumptions or market conditions which change without notice. This could impact the accuracy of the information.

Under no circumstances is the information to be used by, or presented to, a person for the purposes of deciding about investing in Raiz Invest or Raiz Invest Super.

Past return performance of the Raiz products should not be relied on for making a decision to invest in a Raiz product and is not a good predictor of future performance.

Read Post

After a strong rise in the US market over the last 6 months (nearly 7% in
January alone), investors have been caught by surprise due to the strength of
recent inflation reports (yep the US economy is doing well), and therefore
increased speculation that the US Fed could raise interest rates more
aggressively than had been expected. This is the catalyst for the recent
fall.

So
why does the rise in interest rates affect equity markets?

Company
earnings & consumer spending

Equity
investors see increasing inflation as an indication that interest rates may
push higher, which could lead to a slow down in company earnings and
consumer-spending power. As both companies and consumers may need to pay back
more on any debts they hold as interest rates increases, rising interests rates
may eventually in a year or two slow down the economy and help to balance
growing inflation. Equity markets take this into consideration when valuing
equities, looking this far into the future.

At
the moment though, the fear of rising interest rates in the market is on the
back of expected improvements in the global economy. News on the global economy
looks set to remain positive in the coming months.

Profit
taking

Prior
to this sell-off, the US market had not fallen 3 percent from any high in more
than a year. Therefore, investors are also seeing this as a catalyst to start
some profit taking. This is usual market action and usually referred to as a
correction or pull back.

Market
Cycles

Despite
the recent fall, the U.S. stock market has proven remarkably resilient; it
routinely has recovered from these short-term events to move higher over longer
time periods. This is not to say it will always recover but history shows by
staying invested no matter the market conditions, investors can keep their
portfolios on track in pursuit of their long-term goals. These market cycles
are completely normal, and has still been up over the long-term picture.

US Markets have pulled
back to November pricing, but is still up over the long-term picture.

Why
does this affect Australian Markets?

They
say “When the US market sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold.”

As
the US is the world’s biggest economy (for now), good market news from the US
is usually good market news for markets globally, including Australia. Bad news
from the US also signals vis versa across global markets. A change in the US
economy usually has a global effect in most other economies affecting
businesses, import/export trades and currencies.

The
Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) is typically correlated to the US stock market.
You will notice that the opening level of the ASX is often influenced by what
the US markets did the previous night. Another consideration is that a large
majority of Australian shares are also owned outside of Australia.

However,
while we expect Australian markets to follow US market movements, we don’t
expect them to fall as much the US markets as they have not risen over the last
few months as quickly. While US markets will continue to influence our market,
it will still eventually move independently based on both global and local
economical factors closer to home.

Please
remember markets go up and markets go down. This is completely normal. The Raiz
philosophy is to invest small amounts regularly, no matter the market
conditions. Stick to your savings plan and these moments could be an
opportunity. You can learn more about this from our blog on the advantages of Dollar Cost Averaging here. For more information on Raiz fees, click here.

Don’t have the Raiz App?

Download it for free in the App store or the Webapp below:

Important Information

The information may be based on assumptions or market conditions which change without notice. This could impact the accuracy of the information.

Under no circumstances is the information to be used by, or presented to, a person for the purposes of deciding about investing in Raiz Invest or Raiz Invest Super.

Past return performance of the Raiz products should not be relied on for making a decision to invest in a Raiz product and is not a good predictor of future performance.

Read Post

With
the new year upon us, it’s easy to say “I will save more this year” but
what you might not have brainstormed is “How can I save more this year?
What are the practical ways to go about it?” The good news is even
small efforts can add up to big savings over time. No matter what you’re saving
money for —whether it’s to reach a savings goal, pay off debt faster or plan
ahead for a holiday or first home—these simple suggestions will help you get
there faster.

With
25 simple suggestions, there is one to suit everyone and to help you stick to
your goal or resolutions this year!

1. Create
sub-accounts for different savings goals or use your Raiz Account. It’s
an easy way to measure your progress and make quick adjustments.

2. Nickname
those goals. Research proves this creates an emotional connection that
motivates you to save more.

3. Set
up automatic recurring investments after payday. You won’t have time
to miss the money. For more information on Raiz fees, click here.

4. Treat
yourself to a birthday freebie. Most restaurants, if you tell them
it’s your birthday, will give you a little something just for dining with them.
The key is signing up early.

5.
Raid your drawers for unused gift cards. If you probably won’t
put them to good use, re-gift or sell them.

6. Cancel
unused subscriptions for magazines, gym memberships, for example.

7. Turn
off the tap when you brush your teeth. This can save 5,000L per year,
cutting down your water bill.

8.
Take shorter showers.

9. Unplug
your laptop and other appliances when you aren’t using them. Leaving
your computer on all day could add up to hundreds in a year.

10. Convert
to low-flush toilets and high efficiently appliances when your current
ones need replacing.

11. DIY
when it makes sense. (Doing major repairs on your own won’t save you
money if you end up having to a pay a pro to fix your shoddy work.)

12. Make
a list before hitting the store, and stick to it—and avoid grocery shopping
when you’re hungry and more likely to make impulse buys.

13. Buy
the floor model for a discount when you’re shopping for big-ticket items
like furniture or appliances.

14. Buy
last year’s model—especially when you’re shopping for electronics

15.
Buy holiday candy, decorations and wrapping paper the day after a major
holiday.

16. Borrow.
A friend may own a black-tie outfit you can wear to an upcoming wedding.

17. Get
books at the library instead of purchasing your own copies.

18. Use
generic or store-brand products for everything from cereal to face lotion.

19. Buy
everyday items like batteries and bottled water in bulk.

20.
Try the lunch menu at your favorite dinner spot.

21. Make
your own coffee, saving you anywhere from $1 to $5 per drink.

22. Commit
to bringing your lunch just one more day a week.

23. Stock
up on wine and liquor the day after a major holiday to score
discounts. Those are among the quietest days for liquor stores.

24. Look
for other freebies in your city, like yoga classes or one-day workouts in
public parks.

25. Volunteer. It’s
free and will make you feel good too.

Bonus
tip: Use all the features available on Raiz to save and invest
(Round-ups & Recurring Investments), manage your finance better (My
Finance), save for your kids (Little Raiz), and shop with an investment bonus
(Found Money). Happy investing!

Don’t have the Raiz App?

Download it for free in the App store or the Webapp below:

Important Information

The information may be based on assumptions or market conditions which change without notice. This could impact the accuracy of the information.

Under no circumstances is the information to be used by, or presented to, a person for the purposes of deciding about investing in Raiz Invest or Raiz Invest Super.

Past return performance of the Raiz products should not be relied on for making a decision to invest in a Raiz product and is not a good predictor of future performance.

Read Post

Bessie Hassan | Money expert at finder.com.au

Whether
you have a great credit score, a bad one or you’re confused as to what the
numbers actually mean, improving your credit score will shape your financial
future for the better. A good credit score can help you get a discount on your
home loan or help you secure new finance.

Here
are six ways that you can improve your credit score with minimal effort.

1) Check
your credit report

Your
credit score is based on the historical borrowing and repayment behaviour
listed in your credit report. Checking your credit report on your own
won’t have any impact on your credit score. However, if a lender requests your
credit report, it may leave a negative mark. This is why you should be careful
of how many lenders you approach for a loan, as it will often prompt them to
check your report.

Checking
your history yourself allows you to see what activities have affected your
credit score, giving you a better understanding of what you should and
shouldn’t be doing. You might also be able to find any mistakes that have been
made by credit reporting bodies and take action to correct them.

2) Make
sure you have a borrowing and repayment history

Having
debt doesn’t sound like it would improve your credit score but a completely
blank credit report doesn’t assure lenders that you’re a responsible borrower.
If you don’t have any loans, it might be a good idea to start using a credit
card, even if you only use it to pay for petrol.

3) Pay
your bills on time

Once
you have debt, it’s important to pay it off on time. Missed or late payments on
credit contracts such as credit cards, personal loans and home loans can
negatively affect your credit score. Making the minimum payment on time will
show healthy borrowing behaviour.

To
make this easier on yourself, set calendar reminders on your phone or computer
so that you don’t miss a due date. If you’re sure that you’ll always have
enough in your account to pay your bills, try setting up a direct debit to
automatically pay the bills when they’re due. Also make sure to let any banks
or lenders know your new address if you’re moving. That way, you’ll prevent
yourself from missing your bills and having them listed as defaults.

4) Lower
your credit limit

A
recent survey from finder.com.au found that two-thirds of Aussies believe that
only your credit utilisation ratio (that is, how much of your credit that
you’ve actually used) affects your credit score. However, in Australia, only
your credit limit is recognised rather than how much you’ve borrowed out of it.

For
instance, if your credit card has a $6,000 credit limit and you’ve only
borrowed $1,400, the only figure affecting your credit score will be the
$6,000. Therefore, it’s a good idea to lower your credit limit to $2,000, or to
whatever credit limit is just enough for you.

5) Consolidate
your debt

If
you have several loans, consolidating them all into one account can make it
easier to manage your repayments. It will also reduce the risk of any negative
activity on your credit report and it can help you save on fees and get you a
lower interest rate.

6) Check
your credit score regularly

The
final way you can actively improve your credit score is to check it regularly.
Getting your credit score doesn’t require much effort or time. All you need
to access your credit score for free is your email,
name, sex, date of birth, driver’s licence and your address.

Once
you’ve made an account, checking your credit score is easy. Generally, your
credit score will change every month if there is any new activity on your
credit report.

—

Ultimately,
improving your credit score comes down to proving that you’re a responsible
borrower that can make punctual and regular payments. Ensuring that you borrow
within your means and never miss a due date can almost definitely lead to an
improved credit score.

Don’t have the Raiz App?

Download it for free in the App store or the Webapp below:

Important Information

The information may be based on assumptions or market conditions which change without notice. This could impact the accuracy of the information.

Under no circumstances is the information to be used by, or presented to, a person for the purposes of deciding about investing in Raiz Invest or Raiz Invest Super.

Past return performance of the Raiz products should not be relied on for making a decision to invest in a Raiz product and is not a good predictor of future performance.

Read Post

Bessie Hassan | Money expert at finder.com.au

With the lack of education about personal finance these days, it’s up to parents to teach their kids the value of a dollar. In a world where more and more transactions are taking place digitally, it becomes harder to explain money management without it being confusing or just plain boring for your kids.

However,
by keeping it simple and speaking their language, you can set your little ones
up for greater financial security. Here are four ways you can teach your kids
about good money habits.

1.
Make smart money decisions

There
are many finance-related decisions and experiences that you can share with your
kids to help them understand the value of money. For instance, explaining how
you compare different prices at the supermarket and letting your kids find some
of the items on your grocery list is an easy way to get them started (and it
can cut down the time you spend shopping!).

While
you’re at the grocery store, let your kids hand the money to the cashier. You
can also get them to count the change to make sure everything adds up.
Hopefully, they’ll feel confident enough to do this alone at the school canteen
as well.

2. Let
them earn pocket money

Giving your kids pocket money is one of the best ways to teach them
financial independence. Though you may not want them to slave away doing
household chores, you also don’t want them thinking that money grows on trees.

Each
family will have different strategies in regards to how much each chore is
worth. To keep your kids motivated to earn more pocket money, help them set a savings goal, whether it be a dollar
value or a specific item like a new toy or gadget.

3.
Teach them about physical vs digital money

Starting
off by giving your kids physical money will help them understand the physical
worth of money. However, you do have to explain the concept of digital money
too. For instance, you could show them an Internet bill and explain how long
you have to work to earn enough money to pay the bill. This helps them become
more aware of their everyday actions by understanding the value of work and
money.

Along
the same lines, equipping your kids with online resources will definitely help
them as they grow up in the digital world. This could involve using an online
calculator to help them budget for their goals or using a finance app such
as Raiz to teach them about the power of long-term
investing and compound interest. For more information on Raiz fees, click here.

4. Show
them the consequences of being financially irresponsible

Despite
all these different lessons, sometimes it’s impossible to prevent your kids
from getting into trouble as a teen. It’s important to help them out but not
to pay off any of their debt for them.

They
might have to work extra hard to pay of their debt by doing extra shifts at the
local cafe or saying “no” to a new video game. Showing your child that there
are consequences to being financially irresponsible will set them up for a
better future. It’s better for your kids to learn this when they’re younger
rather than ending up thousands of dollars in debt as a young adult.

— — —

Talking
to your kids about money doesn’t always have to be a burden. With simple
lessons and by allowing them to get involved with the family finances, your
kids will be feel more enthusiastic and prepared when managing their own money
both now and well into the future.

Don’t have the Raiz App?

Download it for free in the App store or the Webapp below:

Important Information

The information may be based on assumptions or market conditions which change without notice. This could impact the accuracy of the information.

Under no circumstances is the information to be used by, or presented to, a person for the purposes of deciding about investing in Raiz Invest or Raiz Invest Super.

Past return performance of the Raiz products should not be relied on for making a decision to invest in a Raiz product and is not a good predictor of future performance.

Read Post

By Alison Banney (Finder.com.au)

Superannuation
isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Let’s be honest, it’s boring and complicated and
it’s something that young Australians won’t need for another 20, 30 or even 40
years. However, your superannuation is likely your largest asset, and while
there’s no need to know every word of your fund’s PDS, there are definitely a
few things you should know.

1.
Where your money is invested

Australians
are becoming more and more aware of the footprint they’re leaving on our earth.
We’re seeing more people use reusable coffee cups, hearing more of our friends
and colleagues commit to eating less meat and seeing more people bring their
own shopping bags to the grocery store. But what about your super?

Your
superannuation is likely to be the largest investment portfolio you’ll ever
have and you could be supporting tobacco companies, ammunition manufacturing
or coal-seam gas extraction without even knowing it. You should be able to find
the details of where your money is going on your super fund’s website, although
you may need to do some digging. If you don’t like what you find, don’t
hesitate to switch to a fund that aligns with your values.

2.
Your insurance cover

If
you’re young, healthy and fit you might not consider life insurance as
something you need. But believe it or not, you’re almost certainly paying for
it through your superannuation. Most super funds will provide you with
automatic Death and Total and Permanent Disablement (TPD) cover when you open a
policy, and some will also include automatic Income Protection insurance.

These
insurance policies are almost always opt-out rather than opt-in, meaning that
unless you specifically opt-out of your policy you’ll be paying fees for this
cover, whether you want it or not. Have a look at your latest super statement
or read your fund’s PDS online to see what insurance you’re paying for, and
decide whether it’s right for you.

3.
What fees you’re paying

While
you’re poking around your latest statement, you should also take a look at how
much you’re forking out in fees. You might already know what admin fees you’re
paying, but what about the rest? There are also investment fees and a fee for
indirect costs (known as the Indirect Cost Ratio) charged to most accounts, and
these can vary greatly between funds.

The
difference in fees between funds might not seem like a big deal when you’re
young, but it can have a huge impact on your superannuation balance by the time
you’re ready to retire.

4.
How your fund has been performing

Because
of the compulsory nature of superannuation, many people think that all super
funds perform equally, but this is simply not the case. It’s important to think
of your superannuation as one large investment portfolio. It doesn’t guarantee positive
returns, it relies on the skills and knowledge of the fund manager to invest in
assets that will provide positive returns. And some are better at this than
others.

When
applied to a balance of $100,000, the performance becomes quite serious. You
should be able to find your fund’s portfolio performance figures on its
website.

Superannuation
is incredibly complex, and it can be overwhelming to try and understand every
tiny detail of your fund. Instead, use these four areas as a starting point
from where you can learn more about your super.

Please
also check out our blog on new rules for super contribution as voluntary
contributions may now be tax deductible.

Don’t have the Raiz App?

Download it for free in the App store or the Webapp below:

Important Information

The information may be based on assumptions or market conditions which change without notice. This could impact the accuracy of the information.

Under no circumstances is the information to be used by, or presented to, a person for the purposes of deciding about investing in Raiz Invest or Raiz Invest Super.

Past return performance of the Raiz products should not be relied on for making a decision to invest in a Raiz product and is not a good predictor of future performance.

Read Post

Newer Posts

Older Posts

Uncategorized Archives - Page 46 of 53 - Raiz Invest

Thank you for supporting Raiz

Don’t have the Raiz App?

[Important] Acorns is changing its name to Raiz

Don’t have the Raiz App?

Investing into an ETF and how do ETFs differ?

What
is a diversified portfolio?

Let’s
take a deeper look into these ETFs:

What
are large cap stocks?

What
are the allocations for the ETFs?

How
can I keep track?

Don’t have the Raiz App?

How Interest Rates can Affect Volatility

Company
earnings & consumer spending

Profit
taking

Market
Cycles

Why
does this affect Australian Markets?

Don’t have the Raiz App?

25 Simple Saving Tips for the New Year

Don’t have the Raiz App?

6 ways to improve your credit score with minimal effort

1) Check
your credit report

2) Make
sure you have a borrowing and repayment history

3) Pay
your bills on time

4) Lower
your credit limit

5) Consolidate
your debt

6) Check
your credit score regularly

Don’t have the Raiz App?

Four money lessons to teach your kids

1.
Make smart money decisions

2. Let
them earn pocket money

3.
Teach them about physical vs digital money

4. Show
them the consequences of being financially irresponsible

Don’t have the Raiz App?

Four things you may not know about your superannuation (but should)

1.
Where your money is invested

2.
Your insurance cover

3.
What fees you’re paying

4.
How your fund has been performing

Don’t have the Raiz App?

Don’t have the Raiz App?

Don’t have the Raiz App?

What is a diversified portfolio?

Let’s take a deeper look into these ETFs:

What are large cap stocks?

What are the allocations for the ETFs?

How can I keep track?

Don’t have the Raiz App?

Company earnings & consumer spending

Profit taking

Market Cycles

Why does this affect Australian Markets?

Don’t have the Raiz App?

Don’t have the Raiz App?

1) Check your credit report

2) Make sure you have a borrowing and repayment history

3) Pay your bills on time

4) Lower your credit limit

5) Consolidate your debt

6) Check your credit score regularly

Don’t have the Raiz App?

1. Make smart money decisions

2. Let them earn pocket money

3. Teach them about physical vs digital money

4. Show them the consequences of being financially irresponsible

Don’t have the Raiz App?

1. Where your money is invested

2. Your insurance cover

3. What fees you’re paying

4. How your fund has been performing

Don’t have the Raiz App?

What
is a diversified portfolio?

Let’s
take a deeper look into these ETFs:

What
are large cap stocks?

What
are the allocations for the ETFs?

How
can I keep track?

Company
earnings & consumer spending

Profit
taking

Market
Cycles

Why
does this affect Australian Markets?

1) Check
your credit report

2) Make
sure you have a borrowing and repayment history

3) Pay
your bills on time

4) Lower
your credit limit

5) Consolidate
your debt

6) Check
your credit score regularly

1.
Make smart money decisions

2. Let
them earn pocket money

3.
Teach them about physical vs digital money

4. Show
them the consequences of being financially irresponsible

1.
Where your money is invested

2.
Your insurance cover

3.
What fees you’re paying

4.
How your fund has been performing