Investing in Australia - statistics & facts
Australians invest in a wide range of financial products and instruments. From the popular Australian shares and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to the ever-controversial cryptocurrency, and less common investments like government bonds, the number of investment product types in the average Australian investment portfolio ranges anywhere from one type of investment to more than five. The value of investment portfolios in Australia varies greatly, as do the profiles of Australian investors. Financial investing has evolved over the years. While the primary goal of investing to acquire income or appreciation remains, the opportunities and methods available to investors nowadays have developed considerably. The evolution of technology has changed not only the way people invest through new apps and online trading but also the investment types available to investors, particularly with the global rise of cryptocurrency.
With the wide range of investment options available to suit a variety of investor needs and risk profiles, investing is considered an effective way to build wealth, combat inflation, and potentially create a passive income stream.
Investing in the future
Superannuation or super is Australia’s equivalent of a retirement pension fund. While many Australian adults may not consider themselves active investors, those living and working in the country are investing money for their retirement when their employers make compulsory contributions to their nominated super fund. In Australia, most super funds fall into one of five categories: retail, industry, public sector, corporate, and self-managed super funds. In 2022, most Australian superannuation customers were satisfied with their funds’ performance, however, satisfaction had decreased since 2021. A further sub-category of super funds is ethical super funds, which focus on investing in ethical industries and companies considered to be environmentally and socially responsible or actively excluding industries that do not demonstrate these priorities. Nearly one in two Australians with superannuation accounts said they were either interested in swapping to an ethical fund or were already members of an ethical fund in 2021.Controversial crypto
Cryptocurrency ownership in Australia has increased considerably in recent years. Crypto wallets and trading apps continue to penetrate the Australian market making cryptocurrency more accessible to consumers. Still, almost one-third of Australian investors claim they would not invest in crypto. While Australian crypto investors value cryptocurrency for portfolio diversification, a lack of understanding of the tax ramifications and the volatility cryptocurrency market in Australia are some of the leading reasons people are reluctant to invest in it.With the wide range of investment options available to suit a variety of investor needs and risk profiles, investing is considered an effective way to build wealth, combat inflation, and potentially create a passive income stream.
