In this guide

  • Our verdict
  • Frequently asked questions
  • Your reviews
  • Ask a question
🥇 Best rated brand

InvestSMART robo advisor review

  • Alison Banney's headshot
InvestSMART Robo Advice

InvestSMART Robo Advice isn't available on Finder right now.

Investment product
ETFs
Minimum investment
$5,000
Number of portfolios
8
Fees
From $55 /year

Our verdict

Choose from 10 diversified ETF portfolios and take advantage of competitive fees.

Gold Finder Awards Badge
Finder Awards 2024 winner
Customer Satisfaction Award

The InvestSMART robo advice platform calculates your risk appetite and investment goals to pair you with one of 10 diversified ETF portfolios. As with other robo-advisors, you can then automate your investments which takes the emotion out of the decision-making process.

On the plus side, it's simple to get started and the risk assessment marks it as a genuine robo-advisor. However it has a relatively high minimum investment of $5,000 which may not suit every investor.

In this guide

  • Our verdict
  • Frequently asked questions
  • Your reviews
  • Ask a question

InvestSMART is a discount managed funds broker that was established in 1999, offering free and easy access to a range of leading managed funds. In July 2015, InvestSMART launched its own automated investment advice service.

The InvestSMART robo advice platform calculates your risk appetite and investment goals in a few simple steps before matching you with one of nine diversified ETF portfolios. This allows you to automate your investments and take emotion out of the decision-making process. The technology automatically prompts you with reminders when you have reached investment milestones and you need to make new decisions.

The platform also features built-in tax efficiency, an app to help you manage your investments, and brokerage fees from of AUD5.50 per trade or 0.11% of the trade value, depending on which is higher.

How many portfolios does InvestSMART offer?

InvestSMART offers nine portfolios to investors:

Diversified Income

Low-medium risk portfolio with a mix of asset classes aimed at achieving income and capital protection.

Core Growth

This portfolio is for people seeking a medium- to long-term investment. The Core Growth portfolio provides moderate to high levels of capital growth. The asset classes held in this portfolio are Australian equities, international equities, property and infrastructure, cash and fixed interest.

Equity Income

The Equity Income portfolio provides a steady income through dividends from companies with a low risk of bankruptcy. The asset classes held in this portfolio are Australian equities and cash.

Interest Income

Low-medium risk, ideal for investors looking for a regular income stream.

Hybrid Income

Medium risk, invests in a range of ASX listed hybrids, debt securities and cash.

Equity Growth

Medium to high-risk, this portfolio invests in undervalued Australian shares.

International Equities

This portfolio suits people who are willing to tolerate a high level of volatility and are looking to invest for at least seven years. The International Equities portfolio offers the potential for high capital growth as well as more than 90% exposure to global equity markets.

Property and Infrastructure

The InvestSMART Property portfolio provides returns equivalent to the Australian A-REIT index through investment in Australian-listed property securities.

Small Companies Managed Fund

Very high-risk, this is a fund consisting of ASX-listed small companies, for investors seeking capital growth.

What do Australians think of InvestSMART robo advisor?

  • 4.23/5 overall for Customer Satisfaction — higher than the average of 4.06, and this was the highest score in the category
  • 4.47/5 for Trust — higher than the average of 3.92, and this was the highest score in the category
  • 4.21/5 for Customer Service — higher than the average of 4.13, and this was the highest score in the category

Based on InvestSMART robo advisor scores in Finder's 2024 Customer Satisfaction Awards.

What fees does InvestSMART charge?

The investment fees charged by InvestSMART are tiered, meaning that they vary depending on the amount you invest.

  • $10,000 to $18,000. $55/yr
  • $18,000 to $82,000. 0.55%/yr
  • $82,000+. $451/yr

There are also a few transactional and operating costs that apply across all portfolios:

  • Brokerage fee. $5.50 per trade or 0.11%
  • ETF fees. 0.04% - 0.5% p.a. is charged by the fund provider of each each ETF in your portfolio
  • Withdrawal fee. $0
  • Account switching fee. $0

What asset classes can you invest in when using InvestSMART?

InvestSMART's diversified portfolios allow you to invest in ETFs across the following asset classes:

  • Australian equities
  • Cash
  • International equities
  • Fixed interest
  • Property and infrastructure

The allocation of each asset class varies depending on the portfolio you select. For example, while the InvestSMART Fixed Income portfolio invests in cash (21.6%), fixed interest (29.97%) and Australian equities (48.15%), the Intelligent Investor Growth portfolio spreads your investment across Australian equities (93.2%) and cash (6.5%).

What are the benefits of using InvestSMART?

  • Easy to get started. It's quick and easy to get started with the InvestSMART robo advice service. All you have to do is answer a few simple questions to determine your investment goals and your risk tolerance levels then you set up a portfolio.
  • Wide range of portfolios. With 9 diversified portfolios to choose from, InvestSMART offers asset allocations to suit the needs of a wide variety of investors.
  • Built-in tax efficiency. Each portfolio is automatically set up to maximise its tax effectiveness, while InvestSMART also provides daily tax loss harvesting and tax-effective rebalancing of your portfolio.
  • Automated portfolio management. This robo advice platform allows you to automate your investment decisions, including everything from timing the market to rebalancing your portfolio. It also provides important reminders once you have reached specific investment milestones and may need to adjust your strategy.
  • Competitive costs. With competitive investment and brokerage fees, InvestSMART can help you save money on investment costs.

How can I get started with InvestSMART?

You can sign up for InvestSMART's automated investment advice service by following a handful of simple steps. The first step is to click through to the InvestSMART website and provide your name and email address.

You will then need to specify your investment timeframe and your appetite for risk before providing information about your current assets and investments. Once you have completed these steps, InvestSMART's algorithms and automation technology will create your tailored risk portfolio and then match you with one of the seven diversified ETF portfolios.

You will also need to verify your ID. This can be done electronically if you provide the details of at least two forms of ID, for example your driver's licence and passport.

Finally, remember that you will need to transfer funds in order to open an investment position. You have the option to set up a one-off direct debit or a regular contribution plan.

Compare with other brokers

Product AUFST-RBO Fees Minimum investment Investment product Number of portfolios
$3 a month (on accounts over $100)
$0
Stocks, Cash, ETFs
5
Invest in Australian shares, global shares and cash markets.
InvestSMART Robo Advice
Best Rated Brand
InvestSMART logo
From $55 /year
$5,000
ETFs
8
From $7 per month
$20,000
Stocks, bonds, cash, ETFs
12
$4.50/Month
$500
Shares, ETFs
1
Raiz Invest
Raiz Invest logo
From $4.50 /month
$5
ETFs
9
Invest in Australian and international stocks, fixed income/bonds and cash.
Stockspot
Stockspot - AU logo
From $5.50 /month
$2,000
ETFs
10
QuietGrowth
QuietGrowth logo
From 0.6% /year
$3000
ETFs
5
From $2/Month
$10
Shares, ETFs, Managed Funds
1
loading

Frequently asked questions

This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of futures, stocks, ETFs, options or any specific provider, service or offering. It should not be relied upon as investment advice or construed as providing recommendations of any kind. Futures, stocks, ETFs and options trading involve substantial risk of loss and therefore are not appropriate for all investors. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Consider your own circumstances and obtain your own advice before making any trades.

Your reviews

No reviews yet. Write a review

Ask a question

Ask a question
Avatar

Alison Finder

Editor

Hi there, looking for more information? Ask us a question.

Error label

You are about to post a question on finder.com.au:

  • Do not enter personal information (eg. surname, phone number, bank details) as your question will be made public
  • finder.com.au is a financial comparison and information service, not a bank or product provider
  • We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations
  • Your answer might already be waiting – check previous questions below to see if yours has already been asked
Accept and continue

Finder only provides general advice and factual information, so consider your own circumstances, or seek advice before you decide to act on our content. By submitting a question, you're accepting our Terms Of Service and Finder Group Privacy & Cookies Policy.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Go to site