For many people, investing is an intimidating affair that requires a lot of time, money and financial expertise. This couldn’t be further away from the truth! Just like all good habits, such as exercising, the inertia to begin can easily be overcome by starting with small steps that allow us to do it regularly. As we start building an investing habit, we generally pay more attention our spending patterns and manage our finances better.
This is why we’ve introduced a simple and accessible solution to help beginners get started on their investment journey and existing investors cultivate a good investing habit.
Introducing AutoInvest
AutoInvest is a micro-investment solution that incorporates investing into your day-to-day activities. Every time you make a Grab transaction, an additional amount of your choice is automatically transferred from your GrabPay Wallet and invested.
You’ll automatically invest when you: Take a Grab Ride, Order GrabFood, Shop with GrabMart, Pay in-store and online with your GrabPay Wallet or GrabPay Card. Do note that no money will be invested for transactions made using Cash, PayLater or Corporate Postpaid payments.
Starting from as low as just $1, you could earn an estimated 1.8% p.a. returns after all fees without any hidden costs (returns are not guaranteed or protected). Transfer your money back to your GrabPay Wallet anytime you want and spend it on anything your GrabPay Wallet balance or GrabPay card can pay for.
This is an ideal solution for squirreling away small investments for a little special buy like a pair of headphones, or that Nespresso machine you’ve been eyeing.
How Are My Investments Managed?
For AutoInvest, we have selected money market and short term fixed income mutual funds to create an investment solution with stable returns.
By leveraging Grab’s technology and the expertise of two leading asset managers – Fullerton Fund Management (a subsidiary of Temasek Holdings) and UOB Asset Management, AutoInvest allows you to participate with ease in a portfolio of conservative funds that is professionally and actively managed.
Each of the funds has been screened for investment objectives that complement each other. On an ongoing basis, we review the portfolio composition and will rebalance the portfolio to ensure that we optimize returns while keeping risk in check. If a portfolio is not rebalanced on a regular basis it can tilt towards a particular asset. We use a smart algorithm that uses data to ensure the portfolios are set up properly on a forward looking basis.
We have taken great care in selecting our asset management partners. Their performance track record, risk management approach, technology and system capabilities, as well as investment philosophy have been evaluated extensively.
How Does AutoInvest Stack Up Against Competition?
Today, Singaporeans have a multitude of investment options to choose from when it comes to lower risk investments. However, most products have either a lock-in period of a few months to a few years, or sometimes a hefty penalty fee if you get out early.
AutoInvest doesn’t have any lock-in period so you’re not bound to stay invested. More importantly, there aren’t hoops to jump through like a minimum monthly spend, required month on month balance increase, or to take up loans and insurance. Just day 1 returns that you can watch and grow, and withdraw to your GrabPay Wallet. The withdrawal usually takes 4 working days to account for the timing of each underlying fund. We are striving to enable the transfer of your funds within 2 working days where possible.
Are There Fees?
Yes, you pay a low all-inclusive fee charged by the asset managers that comes up to around 0.45% per annum. That’s less than $0.45 per year for every $100 invested.
However, GrabInvest doesn’t charge you any additional fees but instead, takes a small cut from the fees charged by the asset managers.
Also, the 1.8% p.a estimated returns are net of the above-mentioned fees without any hidden costs (returns are not guaranteed or protected).
AutoInvest is truly a transparent, convenient, and low cost investment solution for everyone. Set up your plan once and you’re enroute to building a good investing habit without having to make any changes to your lifestyle.
