My name is Les, and I’m currently trialling early retirement after running several different businesses over the past 20 years.
My experience spans across industries such as commercial banking and finance, franchised car dealerships, import/export distribution of automotive parts, motorsport event management, property trading and development, and retail-focused marketing businesses. I’ve always had an interest in how businesses operate, both the good and the bad, which has shaped my approach to wealth management.
Why I decided to trust Stockspot with our investment portfolio
As I transitioned into retirement, I was looking for a simpler, more hands-off investment approach. Stockspot, with its ETF-based structure, aligned well with my understanding of the market. Over the years, I’ve seen how Stockspot’s portfolio performs in real-world scenarios, through both market ups and downs.
At the same time, I noticed that as my commercial property portfolio matured, the rising government taxes (like windfall gain tax, land tax, and other levies) were cutting into my rental yields. So, I made the decision to sell our residential and industrial investments and keep only lifestyle and large commercial properties. The fact that Stockspot offers direct ownership of investments, instead of pooling funds, was another key reason I trusted them with our portfolio.
My investing experience
The signup process with Stockspot was incredibly smooth. I’ve dealt with complicated overseas investment forms like the US IRS W-8, so the ease of setting up with Stockspot was a relief. Using my self-managed super fund, company, and individual accounts, I was able to get everything up and running quickly.
One of my goals was to create a way for my family to grow a capital base for my grandchildren. Stockspot has made it easy for everyone – parents, grandparents, uncles, and aunties – to contribute to this fund in a simple, hassle-free way.
My portfolio has moved with the market, and I’ve noticed that the highs feel higher and the lows don’t feel as low (as the stock market reports), thanks to Stockspot’s structure. In the early days, I checked my portfolio daily, but now that I’m more familiar with how it works, I only check in monthly.
What I like about Stockspot
What I really appreciate about Stockspot is its simplicity and transparency. Setting up our Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF), company, and individual accounts with Stockspot was incredibly straightforward.
I can track my investments anytime, day or night, and it’s easy to understand without getting lost in the details. Stockspot offers a good spread of investments, and you can start with any amount, which makes it accessible. The low-fee structure is a huge plus, especially compared to the costly financial services I’ve used in the past.
My money tips for those considering investing with Stockspot
I’ve referred several people to Stockspot, and they’ve been motivated by its simplicity and ease of use.
My advice is simple: just start. You don’t need tens of thousands to get going. Add to your investment regularly, even if it’s a small amount, and over time, you’ll see growth. Moving away from major banks and into a low-cost, easy-to-understand platform like Stockspot has been a game-changer for me. It’s definitely better than the expensive “team approach” I’ve been a part of before.
