Sharesies Review; Is this investing platform trustworthy?

Sharesies is a micro-investing platform that allows individuals to invest small amounts of money and gain access to a variety of investment options. They offer a user-friendly interface, multiple investment types and simple withdrawal procedures, making them a popular choice amongst new investors. In this article, we provide an overview of Sharesies, including answers to frequently asked questions about the platform. Read on for the full Sharesies review..

The Good

  • Auto investing option
  • Attractive pricing structure
  • Attractive, easy to navigate website
  • App for iOS or Android
  • Invest in Australian shares, US shares, NZ shares or ETFs
  • Sharesies blog has heaps of helpful articles related to investing
  • No minimum investment amount
  • Winner of Canstar’s 2022 Innovation Excellence award
  • Great for beginners looking to get into investing
  • Fast, easy account set up process

The Bad

  • No option to buy shares other than US, NZ and Aussie shares
  • Some of the fees may deter some investors (though they seem pretty reasonable in my opinion)
  • May not suit more experienced investors looking for more investment options or sophisticated investment resources
  • Not CHESS sponsored

Verdict: Sharesies have great features, low pricing and an easy-to-use interface. Great option for any investor, particularly beginners!

Introduction

Investing can be a daunting experience, especially for those who are just starting out. However, micro-investing platforms like Sharesies take some of the stress out of the process by providing individuals with a cheaper, more accessible way to start building a diversified portfolio. In this article, we provide a comprehensive overview of Sharesies, including their features, investment options, and procedures for withdrawing money, to help you make an informed decision about whether this platform is the right choice 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 PolicyTerms of Use, and Financial Disclaimer.

What is Sharesies?

Sharesies1 is an online investment platform that allows individuals to invest in a range of assets, including stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and managed funds. They provide an accessible way for people to invest their money, even with limited investment experience or knowledge. Users can invest as little or as much as they like, and the company offers educational resources to help users make informed investment decisions.

sharesies logo

Where is Sharesies based?

Sharesies is based in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, situated on the southern tip of the North Island. However, being an online platform, Sharesies is accessible to all New Zealand (and Australian) residents. Sharesies is therefore regulated by the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) of New Zealand2.

Who is Sharesies owned by?

Sharesies is owned by Sharesies Limited, a New Zealand-based company. If you were after a more specific answer, unfortunately, you’re out of luck. Information about the ownership structure and management team of Sharesies isn’t currently public knowledge. However, they are a privately owned company (meaning they are not publicly traded) and were co-founded by Sonya Williams3 and Brooke Roberts4, who both remain Co-CEOs and directors to this day.

Is Sharesies a micro-investing platform?

To determine if Sharesies is a micro-investing platform, we first must understand what they are. A micro-investing platform enables individuals with less money to break into the investing world via a low minimum investment threshold. These platforms aim to make investing accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation, and to allow individuals to build wealth over time through regular, small investments.

sharesies review, sharesies auto invest
Sharesies offers the convenience of auto invest

These platforms typically offer a variety of investment options, including stocks and ETFs. They often use technology like mobile apps to make investing easy for users. Additionally, they may offer features such as automatic investment plans and investment advice, allowing users to build a diversified portfolio over time.

By enabling users to invest a minimum investment amount of $5 in stocks and ETFs via an online platform, Sharesies fits the definition of a micro-investing platform5. At the same time, there’s no limit to the amount that you can invest, so it’s possible to make larger, more regular investments as well.

Do I own my Sharesies shares?

A common concern, particularly for new investors, when choosing an investment platform is who holds the underlying ownership of the assets. When you invest in shares through Sharesies, you do not hold legal ownership of them. Sharesies operate as a nominee for their customers, meaning they hold the investments on behalf of their customers in their own name, and under their own omnibus Holder Identification Number (HIN)6. This is known as indirect ownership, and its similar to how Superhero investing works

This means that when you invest in shares through Sharesies, you may not have voting rights or other shareholder benefits associated with direct, legal ownership of the shares. However, you still have the right to receive any dividends or capital gains associated with your investments. Additionally, you can sell your investments through the Sharesies platform, allowing you to realize any gains or losses from your investments. Be sure to read the fine print before commencing any omnibus investment arrangement so that you are clear on your specific entitlements and protections.

Overall, this style of nominee arrangement allows for a cheaper and more accessible way to invest in a range of products, but it does come with some trade-offs, such as the potential loss of some non-monetary shareholder benefits and when compared to a CHESS sponsored broker it is more unclear about how shares will be distributed in the event of sharesies collapsing.

What are the Sharesies fees?

Sharesies charge a number of fees for their services that are standard for investment firms across the globe. For Australian shares, these charges include a buy/sell fee of 1.9%, capped at AU$6, charged for each transaction on the platform. Therefore, for orders above AU$316 the fee, as a percentage of the transaction value, decreases as the transaction value increases.

Management fees are also charged when you invest in ETFs to cover operating costs and provide ongoing support to investors, however, these are charged by the provider of the ETF and not Sharesies. The average management fee for Australian ETFs ranges from 0.10% to 0.50% per year, although some may charge higher or lower fees. These management fees are included in the ETF’s unit price. It’s always a good idea to compare the management fees of different units and providers before making an investment decision, as fees can impact investment returns over time.

sharesies pricing
Sharesies pricing structure

A foreign exchange fee of 0.6% of the total transaction value when buying shares listed on international exchanges is also charged to cover the costs of currency conversion and other exchange-related expenses. This fee is calculated and deducted from the amount you wish to be converted.

There is also a card processing fee that is charged when you top up your Sharesies wallet with a debit or credit card. The amount charged depends on how much you’re using to top up your wallet.

In certain circumstances, other fees may be charged by Sharesies. Head to their website’s pricing page7 to learn more, or to calculate fees for transactions completed in USD or NZD.

How does Sharesies work?

The Sharesies platform is designed to be user-friendly and accessible. Here’s how to begin investing with them:

1.     Create a Sharesies account: This typically involves providing some personal information, including your name, address, and email. You’ll also need to provide your bank details so you can transfer funds into your account.

2.     Deposit money into your Sharesies account using a debit card, credit card, or internet banking.

3.     Choose your investments from the range available

4.     When you’re ready to buy or sell an investment, execute the trade. Sharesies will manage the ownership of your investments on your behalf and handle any dividends or other benefits that you are entitled to.

5.     Monitor and manage your investments and make changes as needed. Sharesies provides up-to-date information on your portfolio, as well as tools and resources to help you stay in the know and make sound investment decisions.

sharesies app, sharesies review
Investing through the Sharesies app.
The user interface of the website is also very easy to navigate.

Do you get paid dividends on Sharesies?

If you invest in companies or ETFs that pay dividends, you’ll receive a portion of them based on the number of shares or units you own. These dividends will be paid into your Sharesies account, and you can choose to either reinvest them or withdraw the funds to your bank account.

It’s worth noting that the amount of dividends you receive will depend on the companies or ETFs you invest in. Some pay dividends regularly (quarterly or annually), while others may not pay dividends at all. Before investing, ensure you conduct due diligence on the dividend policies of the companies or ETFs you’re considering, so you have a clear understanding of the potential returns on your investments.

Can you use Sharesies in Australia?

Despite being based in New Zealand, according to their website, Sharesies is available to residents of Australia who are over 18. If you’re based in Australia and looking to invest more locally, however, you could consider other investment platforms based in Australia that offer similar services to Sharesies, such as Superhero or Pearler.

What can you invest in, through Sharesies?

As discussed earlier in this article, Sharesies allows users to invest in a range of stocks, ETFs, and managed funds that are listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX)8, The New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX)9, or the three largest US exchanges, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)10, the Nasdaq11 and the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE)12.

sharesies investment options

FAQs about Sharesies:

On their website, Sharesies covers their FAQs, some of which include questions about minimum investment amounts, the safety, security and ownership of investments, queries about wallet top-ups and withdrawals and many more. If you have a question for Sharesies that isn’t answered on their FAQs page13, you can contact them here.

Is Sharesies good for beginners?

Sharesies is a great option for beginners who are just starting out investing. One of the main advantages of Sharesies is that they allow individuals to invest small amounts of money (micro-investing), making investing accessible to people with limited funds. Additionally, Sharesies offers a user-friendly platform that makes it easy for beginners to get started with investing, including educational resources such as articles, investment guides and podcasts, that can help users understand more about investing before taking the first step.

sharesies learning resources, sharesies review
Sharesies has heaps of free learning resources about investing on their website

How do I get my money out of Sharesies?

While not explicitly stated on their website for non-account holders to see, withdrawing money from Sharesies should be a fairly straightforward process, involving steps similar to the below:

1.     Log in to your Sharesies account using your email address and password.

2.     Navigate to the “Withdraw” section of your account. Enter the amount you wish to withdraw and select a bank account to transfer the funds into.

3.     Review the details of the withdrawal and make sure that everything is correct. If everything looks good, confirm the withdrawal by clicking the “Submit” button.

4.     Wait for the withdrawal to process, which typically takes 2-3 business days. You will receive a notification once the funds have been transferred to your bank account.

How many people use Sharesies?

As Sharesies is a private company, the likes of which typically keep this information confidential, the exact number of Sharesies users is not disclosed to the public. However, Sharesies is a popular micro-investing platform and has received positive reviews from users, suggesting that it has a significant user base. Some unverified online estimates suggest that the total number of users has surpassed 500,000. If you’re interested in knowing the number of users on Sharesies, you could try reaching out to their customer support for more information.

Does Captain Fi invest through Sharesies?

Not currently. I currently have my investing automated with Pearler Autoinvest, however Sharesies, with similar auto-invest feature and low pricing for brokerage makes it an attractive alternative.

Advantages of using Sharesies:

  • Auto investing option
  • Attractive pricing structure
  • Attractive, easy to navigate website
  • App for iOS or Android
  • Invest in Australian shares, US shares, NZ shares or ETFs
  • Sharesies blog has heaps of helpful articles related to investing
  • No minimum investment amount
  • Winner of Canstar’s 2022 Innovation Excellence award
  • Great for beginners looking to get into investing
  • Fast, easy account set up process

Disadvantages of using Sharesies:

  • No option to buy shares other than US, NZ and Aussie shares
  • Some of the fees may deter some investors (though they seem pretty reasonable in my opinion)
  • May not suit more experienced investors looking for more investment options or sophisticated investment resources

Summary – How trustworthy is Sharesies?

To conclude, Sharesies is a popular micro-investing company that provides individuals with a simple way of investing smaller amounts of money into a variety of investment types. They offer a user-friendly interface, transparent information about the investment ownership structure and their financial regulation, as well as simple withdrawal procedures, making them a trustworthy option for many users.

However, as with any investment platform, their level of trustworthiness will depend on several factors, including their security measures, the stability of their financials, and regulatory compliance (which could always change in the future, despite a clean past), as well as maintaining competitive brokerage fees. It’s important to carefully review terms and conditions, as well as any available information about security and financial health before making any investments. Additionally, you may want to consider seeking the advice of a financial advisor to help you make safe and intelligent investment decisions.

Reference List:

  1. https://sharesies.com.au/
  2. https://www.fma.govt.nz/
  3. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonya-williams-830ab747/
  4. https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooketanderson/
  5. ‘Micro-Investing Platform’, Jake Frankenfield, Investopedia. Published (updated): March 26, 2021. Accessed online at https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/microinvesting-platform.asp on Feb 15, 2023.
  6. ‘Holder identification number (HIN)’, MoneySmart.gov.au. Accessed online at https://moneysmart.gov.au/glossary/holder-identification-number-hin#:~:text=A%20HIN%20is%20a%20unique,HIN%20on%20a%20CHESS%20statement on Feb 15, 2023.
  7. https://sharesies.com.au/pricing
  8. https://www2.asx.com.au/
  9. https://www.nzx.com/
  10. https://www.nyse.com/index
  11. https://www.nasdaq.com/
  12. https://www.cboe.com/
  13. https://sharesies.com.au/faqs

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