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The tool is designed to play a role in the financial education of kids by avoiding the gamification of funds.
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Pearler releases child investment app
17 March 2023
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10 minute read
Investment company Pearler has released an app called Headstart designed to assist parents teach children about finances and investing.
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Co-founder of Pearler Nick Nicolaides said the app was more than just an allowance or pocket money tool.
“We feel privileged to play a role in the financial education of Aussie kids,” said Mr Nicolaides. “We hear from our customers that they are seeking better options to invest on behalf of children, and chat with them about it as they get older.”
“Finance apps today don’t address this issue. They either gamify pocket money or, where investing is concerned, tag kids as an additional account under the adult – with no meaningful thought put into how children learn and engage with technology.”
Mr Nicolaides said the Headstart app was about encouraging parents to discuss financial goals with their children and educate and share the investment journey as it grows.
“It might be saving for their first car, gap year travel or a buffer for life’s surprises. Headstart allows you to set goals, track them and share them. It’s a powerful tool for passing on positive money habits, and developing financial literacy and financial wellbeing in a family,” he said.
“Our view is that features promoting simple, automatable passive investing help form the basis of a sound investment strategy.”
“They are also well-suited to kids, who have the benefit of time on their side.”
The company said once the child reached 18 they could take over management of the account or continue to engage in it with the parent or guardian who established the account for them.
Pearler said opening a Headstart account is free, nor are there fees on balances under $100.
The app offers a managed fund that invests in ASX-listed ETFs based on the Pearler community’s most popular ETFs, both local and global, with the structure set up to make it set and forget by investing in micro amounts.
Pearler’s head of customer service Cathy Sun said a tool such as Headstart to help educate children had been greatly requested by the company’s clients.
“While we have already been helping people do this with direct ASX shares, there are minimum investment amounts and costs that don’t quite fit with getting a child started, especially with just a few dollars,” said Ms Sun.
“With the launch of Pearler Headstart we are now helping parents every day to move from direct shares to the new app on behalf of their kids.”
“This not only simplifies the process for parents, it also avoids the paperwork, costs, and minimums that come with shares investing.”
Mr Nicolaides said furthering the education on investing was crucial as many Australians viewed it as something that just happened behind the scenes.
“We have a great system in AUstralia where 10.5 per cent of your wage is effortlessly swept in super,” he said.
“So we are a country of investors, but without the education to match. There are way too many people, especially young people, who aren’t given enough guidance or support.”
“As a result, they’re not thinking about long term financial independence, much less their government mandated retirement savings. We are putting Pearler in the forefront of a move to turn that situation around.”
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