As the cost of living crisis continues, Australians are looking for new ways to make their money work harder for them with an increasing number choosing to invest in Exchange Traded Funds. More than 1.5 million Aussies now invest in ETFs with experts saying they can provide a low-cost alternative to trading individual stocks, with the potential for high returns.

Council of the City of Sydney

As Australians grapple with the ongoing cost of living crisis, a significant shift in personal investment strategies is underway. Many are searching for efficient ways to maximize their financial returns, with an uptick in the number choosing to invest in Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). ETFs are being hailed by financial experts as a cost-effective option for those looking to diversify their investment portfolio without the higher expenses associated with trading individual stocks.

Over 1.5 million Australians have now turned to ETFs as their preferred investment choice. This surge in popularity underscores the appeal of ETFs, particularly in times of economic uncertainty. These funds offer investors the advantage of potentially high returns, attracting those seeking to make their money work harder for them amid the financial strain many face.



The low-cost investment Aussies are flocking to in record numbers

eye-watering grocery bills, rising rental prices and overwhelming mortgage and insurance repayments. The cost of living crisis is taking a big bite out of Australians' wallets. Australians are feeling it, our clients are feeling it. This is the year where the cost of living crisis has become a reality and it's sunk in for so many people. Australians need their money to work harder for them than ever before, which is where exchange-traded funds or ETFs come in. The Australian ETF industry hit a new all-time high in February, with the industry growing 17.9 times in size over the past decade. We currently have $180 billion in exchange-traded products on the ASX across 330 products. So why are investors flocking to ETFs? ETFs have democratised investing for many investors and there's really three reasons. One, traditional index-based ETFs offer broad diversification for investors. They're also offered at a very low cost. And lastly, the trading flexibility afforded by ETF gives investors the additional flexibility to implement their investment strategies. You can instantly access Australian shares, global shares, bonds and gold to help your money grow much more than leaving it in a savings account where we know it's just not growing ahead of inflation. Experts say product issuers need to innovate to stand out from the rest of the pack. There's been a tremendous amount of innovation that has taken place. One of them that I would call out is the diversified fund. The ability to get access to over 16,000 securities with the click of a button is a true innovation. And there's no sign this growth or innovation will be slowing anytime soon. Australians traditionally keep their money in a savings account thinking it's safe, but particularly in this period of high inflation and high costs that we're living in, accessing ETFs is really the best way to get your money working for you so that you can afford the things you want to buy in future. Ali Selby, LiveWire Markets.

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Ensenada

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Kyiv

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Ankara

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