QuietGrowth is a robo-advisory service offering automated investment management. This comprehensive article explores its ownership details, services, and fee structure, weighing it against other robo-advisors and helping readers understand its operations, and learn about the benefits and potential drawbacks of the service. Here’s my full Quiet Growth review.
The Good
- Low-cost investment management
- Most advanced online investment adviser
- Automated, disciplined investment strategy
- Offers a diversified portfolio across various industries and geographies
- Transparent fee structure
- Accessible to a broader range of investors
The Bad
- Limited investment options compared to traditional financial advisors (ETFs only)
- Minimum investment amount
- Might not cater to complex financial situations or specialised investment needs
Verdict: If roboadvice appeals to you, Quiet Growth is a great option as it’s cost effective, diversified and simple.
Are you thinking about investing? If so, you’re more than likely a little apprehensive due to the many barriers to entry. There are thousands of potential investment options, and a good advisor or broker costs money. Even if you manage to find a broker within your price range, how can you be sure they aren’t selling you a dodgy investment (think Wolf of Wall Street)? Thankfully, the Wolf of Wall Street was set in the 90s, before significant advancements in automation technology allowed for the creation of services like QuietGrowth, a robo-advisor that helps you select, manage and update your investments.
If you’re looking for a hands-off approach to investing, then read on, as this article will examine the key details of QuietGrowth, including who owns it, the pros and cons of using it and how much it costs, enabling you to make an informed decision on whether it is the right investment tool for you.
CaptainFI is not a Financial Advisor and the information below is factual review information, not financial advice. This website is reader-supported, which means we may be paid by advertising on the site, or when you visit links to partner or featured sites. For more information please read my Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, and Financial Disclaimer.
What is QuietGrowth?
QuietGrowth is a robo advice online platform established in 2014 that leverages algorithms and technology to provide automated investment management services. These services are tailored to individual clients based on their investing goals, time horizon and risk tolerance.
“QuietGrowth is a digital investment management service. We manage the investments of clients to achieve risk-optimised returns over the long-term. We are an MDA robo adviser. QuietGrowth provides personalised investment advice to the client and manages the funds that the firm invests on behalf of the client. We offer online what a high-quality wealth manager offers for long-term investing. Moreover, our service is available to those who do not have access to a high-quality wealth manager due to insufficient investible money. And we do it for a low QuietGrowth fee.
QuietGrowth solves your need for a high-quality and trustful investment adviser and investment manager. We are a financial advisor, and our service is referred to as robo advice or digital advice. The securities are held under the client’s own individual Holder Identification Number (HIN). We support individual, joint, SMSF, trust, and company account types.”
quietgrowth.com.au
Where are they based?
QuietGrowth is based in Delaware, USA, but has two subsidiaries: an Indian one and an Australian one. QuietGrowth’s Australian subsidiary is headquartered in Sydney. The company therefore caters to clients around the world, managing their investments via an online platform.
How does QuietGrowth work?
Those interested in using QuietGrowth’s services must first complete a short questionnaire about their financial position, risk tolerance and investment objectives. QuietGrowth will then use this information to construct an investment portfolio, primarily of low-cost ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds), that is personalised to meet the needs of that particular client.
Following this, a statement of advice is issued and a brokerage account is created, including the generation of a cash account. Finally, the investor deposits cash and invests. The platform automatically manages the portfolio, rebalancing it as necessary to ensure it stays aligned with the user’s goals. This hands-off approach allows users to grow their wealth effortlessly, without needing to understand complex financial markets or make time-consuming investment decisions.
Compared to “back in the day,” using online platforms like QuietGrowth to get started with investing is incredibly fast and simple!
What does QuietGrowth invest in?
Quiet Growth comprises its clients’ investment portfolios from a wide array of low-cost exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which may have stocks, bonds, or commodities as the underlying assets.
ETFs offer broad market coverage, including various sectors, commodities, and international markets. Known for their low costs and high liquidity, ETFs provide an efficient way for Quiet Growth to diversify their clients’ portfolios across different sectors and asset classes, reducing risk and potentially enhancing returns. It includes investments from different locations worldwide, balancing each client’s risk tolerance with achieving the best long-term returns.
This strategy aligns with Quiet Growth’s philosophy of simple, cost-effective investment management.
How much does QuietGrowth charge in fees?
QuietGrowth has a simple fee structure that combines an MDA management fee and administration fee into one amount, charged as a percentage of the total investment. The percentage charged depends on the size of the investment. Balances of up to $10,000 incur a 0.6% annual fee, for example, with this number shrinking to 0.36% for larger balances exceeding $2 million.
You can find out more about QuietGrowth’s fees on their website. Scroll down and you can even use their slider tool to work out the fee as a dollar amount for any given investment balance.
What is the benefit of robo-advice?
A robo-advice service like QuietGrowth boasts several advantages. It provides automated, algorithm-driven investment management, eliminating emotional bias and human error. It offers cost-effective solutions with lower fees than traditional financial advisors, making it accessible to a broader range of investors.
It’s important to note that while robo-advisors offer various benefits, they may not be suitable for everyone. Investors with complex financial situations or those who prefer a more personalized touch may still choose to work with human financial advisors for personalised investment advice.
Additionally, understanding the specific features and limitations of a particular robo-advisor is crucial for investors considering this approach.
How does QuietGrowth compare to other robo-advisors?
According to Finder, QuietGrowth is one of the most inexpensive robo-advisors on the Australian market in terms of fees. It’s also said to be the most advanced digital investment management service in Australia.
It does, however, have one of the larger minimum investments and only offers ETFs, with other providers offering stocks, cash and bonds with no minimum investment amount.
Excluding the managed funds on the list, QuietGrowth also has one of the most limiting investment ranges with only 5 investment portfolios available.
Who owns QuietGrowth?
QuietGrowth was founded by Dilip Sankarreddy and Krupakar Chinnasani in 2014 and they remain the majority shareholders of the company. According to its website, several other individual investors own minority stakes in QuietGrowth.
What other services do QuietGrowth provide?
In addition to portfolio management, Quiet Growth offers a range of services aimed at meeting diverse financial goals. This includes retirement planning, where they configure an effective strategy to grow your wealth for a comfortable retirement. Quiet Growth also provides users with tax-loss harvesting, a strategy that reduces your taxable income by taking advantage of investment losses.
Quiet Growth offers automatic portfolio rebalancing to ensure your investments align with your financial goals and risk tolerance over time. They have a team of financial advisors available to provide one-on-one advice and guidance, ensuring a comprehensive and personalised approach to wealth management.
QuietGrowth has also partnered with Green Frog Super to offer an SMSF setup and ongoing SMSF administration service. The service gives investors the option to include QuietGrowth portfolios in their SMSF and affords them access to Green Frog’s dedicated Chartered Accountants, who help manage their SMSF and prepare them for audits. For more info on Superannuation in Australia or the best Barefoot Super funds, read my previous articles.
QuietGrowth also offers a “cyber security chat” service, where customers can have a 60-minute call with QuietGrowth’s contracted cyber security expert, for a fee of $230 per hour.
Advantages of using QuietGrowth
Investing with GuietGrowth has its perks, like:
- Low-cost investment management
- Most advanced online investment adviser
- Automated, disciplined investment strategy
- Offers a diversified portfolio across various industries and geographies
- Transparent fee structure
- Accessible to a broader range of investors
Disadvantages of using QuietGrowth
While QuietGrowth is a great low-cost investment service, it does have its downsides, including:
- Limited investment options compared to traditional financial advisors (ETFs only)
- Minimum investment amount
- Might not cater to complex financial situations or specialised investment needs
FAQs about QuietGrowth:
When was QuietGrowth established?
QuietGrowth was established in 2014.
Is there a minimum investment amount?
QuietGrowth stipulates a minimum investment amount of $3,000 for the first portfolio, and $2,000 for all portfolios thereafter.
Does QuietGrowth invest ethically?
Quiet Growth primarily focuses on low-cost ETFs without specific ethical or socially responsible investment screening.
Is there QuietGrowth for kids?
While there is no specific investment option for kids on QuietGrowth’s platform, QuietGrowth does facilitate investing for your children by allowing you to hold multiple portfolios under one account, or even hold multiple accounts. Therefore, you could have a separate portfolio or even account for your children’s investments, though you would remain the legal owner until they turn 18.
QuietGrowth also allows the set up of accounts owned by a family or discretionary trust.
Is QuietGrowth worth it?
The answer to this question depends on individual financial goals, time horizon and risk tolerance, as well as the need for cost-effective, automated investment management. Potential investors should assess whether this kind of service aligns with their specific needs and preferences.
“We started as a firm in 2014, and having been managing the investments of our clients since October 2015. We are the most advanced robo advice solution in Australia. We have been striving to serve your needs better through our algorithm-driven investment service.”
quietgrowth.com.au
Conclusion
Quiet Growth has joined a growing niche in the financial advisory landscape by offering automated, cost-effective investment management services, with customised and diversified portfolios. It offers a disciplined approach to constructing diversified portfolios using low-cost index funds. While it provides a relatively accessible and transparent investment solution, potential users must consider its limitations, primarily in customisation and personalisation, and the minimum investment amount.
Understanding Quiet Growth’s fee structure and investment strategies is crucial to making an informed decision regarding its suitability for your individual investment needs.
Financial Disclaimer
Financial Disclaimer: CaptainFI is NOT a financial advisor and does not hold an AFSL. This is not financial Advice!
I am not a financial adviser and I do not hold an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL). In this article, I am giving you factual, balanced information without judgment or bias, to the best of my ability. I am not giving you any general or personal financial advice about what you should do with your investments. Just because I do something with my money (or use a particular service or platform) doesn’t mean it is automatically appropriate for your personal circumstances. I do not recommend nor endorse any financial or investment product, and my usage or opinion of any product should not be interpreted as an endorsement, advertisement, or intent to influence.
I can only provide factual information based on my journey to Financial Independence, and that is provided for general informational and entertainment purposes only. I make no guarantee about the performance of any product, and although I strive to keep the information accurate and updated as it changes, I make no guarantee about the correctness of reviews or information posted.
Remember – you always need to do your own independent research and due diligence before making any transaction. This includes reading and analysing Product Disclosure Statements, Terms and Conditions, Service Arrangement and Fee Structures. It is always smart to compare products and discuss them, but ultimately you need to take responsibility for your use of any particular product and make sure it suits your personal circumstances. If you need help and would like to obtain personal financial advice about which investment options or platforms may be right for you, please talk to a licensed financial adviser or AFSL holder – you can take the first steps to find a financial advisor by reading this interview, or by visiting the ASIC financial adviser register and searching in your area.
For more information please read my Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, and Financial Disclaimer.
Captain FI is a Retired Pilot who lives in Adelaide, South Australia. He is passionate about Financial Independence and writes about Personal Finance and his journey to reach FI at 29, allowing him to retire at 30.
