In this article I’ll be talking about micro investing and answering the age old question… ‘does size really matter?’ in terms of investment size, obviously.
So what exactly is “micro investing?”
It’s a fairly new phenomenon. It allows everyday people to invest via an app on their phone, many with no minimum investment necessary. Many apps will allow you to invest with just $1!
The beauty of micro investing allows investors to purchase fractions of shares, ETFs and some even give you access to property. This is great for people who are just beginning their investment journey or just dont have much spare cash to splash with traditional investments.
If you’re an established investor in the stock market, micro investing may not be right for you – especially if you have the funds to invest in larger stocks.
The good news for those who may not be as financially savvy as others is the power of compounding interest. That means that anyone has the potential to earn a good chunk of money if they invest frequently, and hold onto it long term.
The popular Aussie owned apps (not owned by a bank) are Raiz and Spaceship. I’ve personally started using Spaceship for their ethical ‘earth’ portfolio.
There are plenty of apps to choose from and I encourage you to research the ones that are available for your country.
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So how do you know if micro investing is right for you?
It all boils down to your individual needs and wants. Picking what type of investments you want (shares, ETFs, property) will help you narrow down the type of app you are looking for.
I’ve broken down some of the biggest pros and cons to assist with your decision.
Pros:
- It’s perfect for socially awkward people (like me) who don’t like the idea of calling investment firms and talking to people. These apps only take a few minutes to set up from the palm of your hands.
- The portfolios are set and forget, so it means you don’t have to worry about choosing what index funds to invest in, and you don’t need to constantly watch the funds fluctuate.
- ‘Green’ portfolios are available for the ethical investor, focusing on companies that use renewable energies or don’t trade harmful items like weapons, for instance.
- Some apps automatically invest ‘round up’ amounts for you. For example, if you spend 2.85 on a coffee, the app will auto invest the 15c.
Cons:
- Micro investing will likely yield micro results. You’ll be unlikely to see huge results, so keep that in mind if you want to use the returns for a big payment
- If there’s an account fee involved, it may not be worth it if you’re only investing small amounts (especially if you’re relying on the round up features only)
- The more money you invest, the more expensive the fees can be, and therefore traditional stocks/crypto may be a better financial decision
- The set portfolios can feel limiting. Because you can’t pick and choose individual stocks, it can be a problem if you are trying to avoid investing in certain companies
All that being said, time spent in the markets beats ‘timing’ the market. So in this case, size doesn’t matter, it’s all about time spent (in the market)!
If you do choose to micro invest, ensure your pull-out game is weak in this situation, so your investments have a chance to grow long term.
And remember the golden rule… ‘Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance’.
Happy investing,
Ann
This is not a sponsored post, all opinions are my own and are written as general advice. Weigh up the options for yourself and seek advice from a finance professional for more information.
None of the information on this website is investment or financial advice and does not necessarily reflect the views of CryptoMode or the author. CryptoMode is not responsible for any financial losses sustained by acting on information provided on this website by its authors or clients. Always conduct your research before making financial commitments, especially with third-party reviews, presales, and other opportunities.
