Flint Wealth Review - understanding the investment platform offering around 100 managed funds.
Our detailed review looks at Flint, the 2022-launched investment platform offering funds from Castle Point, Clarity, Devon, Fisher Funds, Harbour, Milford, Mint, Nikko, Pathfinder and SuperLife.
Updated 14 August 2023
Summary of Flint
Why do we like Flint? For many reasons:
- The Wellington-based platform offers investment into around 100 managed funds from 10 well-regarded fund managers, with a platform fee of $0/year.
- Launched in early 2022, Flint promises free signup platform fees and access to around 100 actively-managed funds and index funds investing in New Zealand, Australasia and global companies. Investments include equities, alternatives, property, fixed interest and cash.
- Annual fund fees (including performance fees) range from 0.25% to 5%+ p.a.
- Investments from $50 can be made into any fund, a unique offering given that many of the funds usually have $5,000+ or even $100,000+ minimum investments if you go directly.
- Like Sharesies and InvestNow, Flint is free and quick to join. In our review, we created an account in less than twenty minutes (including ID verification).
- The investing market in New Zealand is competitive - InvestNow dominates by way of the number of funds, and Smartshares has the most ETFs on offer, while Sharesies and Hatch appeal to those investing in shares and ETFs. Much like InvestNow, Flint offers funds from boutique managers (Mint, Castle Point, Devon, Pathfinder etc.) alongside larger players like Fisher Funds, Harbour and Nikko AM.
Why do we like Flint? For many reasons:
- Selection - The 100+ funds offer something for every investor type, all conveniently displayed on one easy-to-use platform.
- No platform fees - You won't pay any fees to Flint for using the platform - fund managers pay Flint to appear on the platform, but you don't pay anything extra, and going directly to a fund won't be cheaper regarding fund fees.
- Large range of both active and passive funds – Flint offers options for both active-fund investors and passive fund investors.
- Flint offers free research and insights – qualitative and quantitative research reports on many of the funds are available for free download, which is unique to New Zealand retail investing platforms. Flint also displays RIAA (Responsible Investment Association Australasia) certification against certified funds (RIAA is outlined in our ethical investing guide).
- Overall, Flint isn't for everyone, and you will need to know (or have a good idea) about what fund(s) you want to invest in by conducting your research first. We outline each fund, investor documents and recent performance below to help you understand what's available.
Flint's Background
Flint was first announced in late 2020, although the platform has been in development for several years. It is a joint venture between fund manager Harbour Asset Management, Trustees Executors and Australian research firm Research IP. The NZ Herald has reported that its target market is New Zealanders aged 25 to 50. While Flint is free for investors, the company operating the platform earns commission from the fund managers who use Flint to market their funds.
Our Review
This guide outlines what Flint is, what funds they offer to the New Zealand investor, and what makes it different from other platforms like InvestNow and Sharesies, etc. We also look at the funds available and the managers behind them. Our guide covers:
Flint was first announced in late 2020, although the platform has been in development for several years. It is a joint venture between fund manager Harbour Asset Management, Trustees Executors and Australian research firm Research IP. The NZ Herald has reported that its target market is New Zealanders aged 25 to 50. While Flint is free for investors, the company operating the platform earns commission from the fund managers who use Flint to market their funds.
Our Review
This guide outlines what Flint is, what funds they offer to the New Zealand investor, and what makes it different from other platforms like InvestNow and Sharesies, etc. We also look at the funds available and the managers behind them. Our guide covers:
The Specs of Flint:
- Funds on offer: Currently, Flint offers around 100 funds from 10 different fund managers. The funds are a combination of actively managed and passively managed and cover cash-based investments (bank deposits, bonds and government debt) and actively managed funds with specific industries such as property, Australian industrials, ethical investing, US-listed shares and global markets. Some of the funds on offer are managed by Harbour, a shareholder in Flint.
- Diversity: The number of funds available gives an individual investor a wide choice when deciding about investing. At the same time, the choice could be overwhelming for a newbie investor.
- Research: Qualitative and quantitative research reports on many of the funds are available for free download – a unique offering to New Zealand retail investors.
The fees are as follows:
- Annual fees for using Flint as a platform: $0, with no buying or selling fees.
- Minimum Initial Investment: $50 for all funds. Flint does not currently offer auto-investing, but investors can set up automatic payments to top up balances and manually invest in funds.
- Fund fees: The fees vary based on the manager and are clearly displayed on the investor homepage beside each fund, and these are subject to change. The lowest is the Harbour Enhanced Cash Fund (0.25% p.a.), while the highest is the Devon Alpha (around 5% p.a.). Users can sort the funds by fee to see the range.
- Performance fees: Some funds charge them, others don't. It should not be assumed that a fund will charge the same performance fee every year, as the fund's future performance cannot be predicted.
Risks:
- The funds each offer a unique investment strategy. Some are low risk, some are medium risk, and others are high risk. The returns/profit you make don’t necessarily depend on the risk you take.
- Not all funds are hedged to the New Zealand dollar. This means that if the NZD rises against any overseas currency, the value of your investment reduces in NZD if it's unhedged. You'll need to check each fund for what (if any) hedging they have in place.
Flint's Funds:
To best explain Flint's fund offering, we have listed them by their fund manager with direct links to the specific fund. Recent returns are illustrative only - Flint's funds can be sorted by 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns (where available) when investors log in to their account.
Flint partners with Research IP for fund research and insights. Many of the funds on Flint have Research IP research reports available for download. For up-to-date fund performance data, we also suggest watching this MoneyHub YouTube video to access the Morningstar data.
Returns data: All fund return information is on Flint. While you currently need to sign up for a Flint account to view this information, you don't need to complete the verification process.
Flint partners with Research IP for fund research and insights. Many of the funds on Flint have Research IP research reports available for download. For up-to-date fund performance data, we also suggest watching this MoneyHub YouTube video to access the Morningstar data.
Returns data: All fund return information is on Flint. While you currently need to sign up for a Flint account to view this information, you don't need to complete the verification process.
Manager: Clarity Funds Management Limited
Manager: Devon Funds Management Limited
Manager: Fisher Funds Management Limited
Manager: Harbour Asset Management Limited
Fund |
Minimum Investment (directly with fund manager) |
Available on Other Platforms? |
$100,000 |
Yes - InvestNow |
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$100,000 |
Yes - InvestNow |
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$100,000 |
Yes - InvestNow |
|
$100,000 |
Yes - InvestNow |
|
$100,000 |
||
$100,000 |
Yes - InvestNow |
|
$100,000 |
Yes - InvestNow |
|
$100,000 |
Yes - InvestNow |
|
$100,000 |
Yes - InvestNow |
|
$100,000 |
Yes - InvestNow |
|
$100,000 |
Yes - InvestNow |
|
$100,000 |
Yes - InvestNow |
|
$100,000 |
Yes - InvestNow |
|
$100,000 |
Yes - InvestNow |
Manager: Milford Asset Management Limited
Fund |
Minimum Investment (directly with fund manager) |
Available on Other Platforms? |
$1,000 |
Yes - InvestNow |
|
$1,000 |
Yes - InvestNow |
|
$1,000 |
Yes - InvestNow |
|
$1,000 |
Yes - InvestNow |
|
$1,000 |
Yes - InvestNow |
|
$1,000 |
Yes - InvestNow |
|
$1,000 |
Yes - InvestNow |
|
$1,000 |
Yes - InvestNow |
|
$1,000 |
Yes - InvestNow |
|
$1,000 |
Yes - InvestNow |
Manager: Mint Asset Management Ltd
Fund |
Minimum Investment (directly with fund manager) |
Available on Other Platforms? |
$250 |
||
$250 |
||
$250 |
Manager: Pathfinder Asset Management Limited
Manager: SuperLife
Flint has close to 40 SuperLife funds available. The full list can be found here, with each funds’s returns after fund charges and tax at 28% (your tax may be lower). As a point of comparison, SuperLife funds don't have any minimum investment when purchased directly with SuperLife or via a third party.
Flint has close to 40 SuperLife funds available. The full list can be found here, with each funds’s returns after fund charges and tax at 28% (your tax may be lower). As a point of comparison, SuperLife funds don't have any minimum investment when purchased directly with SuperLife or via a third party.
Manager: TAHITO
The TAHITO Te Tai o Rehua Fund is outlined here. This fund is also offered by InvestNow.
The TAHITO Te Tai o Rehua Fund is outlined here. This fund is also offered by InvestNow.
Who is Flint suited to?
- Best For: Investors looking for easy access to active and passive funds operated by established and respected fund managers. The low minimum investment of $50 per fund makes the platform widely accessible, and the zero platform fees commitment means what you contribute is what you invest.
- Not suitable for: Anyone looking for short-term gains; the funds on Flint are, in most cases, long-term investments that will ride markets up and down.
- Most suitable investor: Anyone looking for a concentrated portfolio of active and passive funds who doesn't want to sign up directly with each fund manager, or use InvestNow. Flint is a platform for long-term investment and wealth creation - it won't offer much to anyone looking to buy and sell (i.e. trade) funds regularly.
Standout Features:
- No account or transaction fees – this is the main draw to Flint. Every dollar you invest is allocated to the funds you choose to buy.
- You can access funds that usually require a high initial investment. While the majority of Flint's funds are also available on the InvestNow platform, which has a $250 minimum investment, Flint offers investors exposure to around 100 boutique funds that are a combination of actively managed and passively managed.
- Flexible ongoing investing from $50 is perfect for new (and experienced) investors looking to invest in established funds while avoiding brokerage fees on individual trades. As the funds invest in shares, there is direct exposure to local and global markets.
- The funds offer a lot of diversity, but managed fees vary, so it’s important to be comfortable with what you’re investing in and ensure it represents value for money.
- Fund research is available for download through most of the Flint funds.
- Flint partners with RIAA (Responsible Investment Association Australasia) - Flint displays RIAA certification against funds certified as ‘responsible investments’ against qualifying funds - the first investing platform to do so in New Zealand.
But be aware:
- To learn more about a fund, you’ll need to download its investor prospectus – these vary from 10-50 pages each, and is not particularly user-friendly to a newbie investor. Flint links these documents to each fund summary.
- Once you purchase a fund, it takes 2-4 working days to process the transaction.
- Harbour Asset Management, a major owner of Flint, offers a portion of the funds listed on Flint, although the range is extensive with income and growth focus.
- As is the case with any index fund or equities investment, markets go up and down. The Dotcom bubble in the early 2000s sank global indexes, as did the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. Global markets move up and down and past performance is no guarantee of future performance.
The Bottom Line
- Flint is an excellent initiative for new, small and experienced investors alike, looking for a concentrated offering of active and passive funds investing in various industries and countries. With around 100 funds available, there is something for everyone’s risk profile.
- We see Flint as an alternative to InvestNow, given the crossover of funds on offer. Flint arguably won't appeal to every existing InvestNow users. However, Flint may appeal to some existing InvestNow users who want an easy-to-use dashboard and research on funds.
- We believe Flint may appeal to the growing number of investors looking beyond Sharesies for a wider selection of funds. Best of all, Flint has onboarded some of New Zealand's most trusted fund managers.
- Investors will need to do their research and pick fund(s) that meet their needs - however, at $50/fund, there is room to gain experience (and grow wealth) by investing in more than one fund.
The Competition – Flint vs InvestNow vs Kernel vs Smartshares and Simplicity
- Flint is similar in size to InvestNow (approx. 100 funds vs 140+ funds) but offers far more funds than Simplicity (five funds), Kernel (10+ funds) and Smartshares (40+ ETFs). Sharesies also offers a handful of funds, including selected Pathfinder funds.
- Flint has heavy crossover with InvestNow – the majority of Flint's funds can be invested in via InvestNow.
- Minimum contributions: To start a portfolio with Flint you'll need $50 per fund.
- No auto-investing. Unlike InvestNow, Kernel or Sharesies, Flint does not offer auto-investing, but our discussions with Flint's team suggest this is being added soon.
- Overall, Flint has a wide range of actively and passively managed funds, offering one sign up process to access multiple funds across managers.
Six Must-Know Flint Facts
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“Free Fees” does not extend to fund management and performance fees.While there are no platform fees, each fund manager charges a management fee, deducted from your investment. For example, a 1% p.a. management fee applied to a $10,000 investment balance will cost the investor $100/year.
Some funds also charge a (small) bid/ask spread when buying or selling. This is usually less than 0.50% of the fund price, and the difference represents the transaction cost of buying or selling the fund. Not all funds charge bid/ask, so check before making any investment to understand what fees may apply. |
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Signing up isn't complicated, but you’ll need to wait a couple of days before making your first investment.Signing up takes around 15-30 minutes, and you'll need to provide proof of ID. You’ll need to set up login access first, using an email and creating a password. After this, you’ll need to complete your registration by entering personal details (tax rate, IRD number, bank account numbers and other financial disclosures). You can then fund your account, and once the money has cleared, you can select any one of the funds to invest into.
We understand that deposits made to Flint are cleared the following day, so it may take 1-2 working days from funding your account to be able to buy into a fund. |
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Some funds offered are managed by the owners of Flint.Flint is owned by Formosa Wealth Limited, a Wellington-based company. Formosa is in turn owned by:
Harbour Asset Management Limited is the manager of the Harbour funds, representing a portion of the funds on Flint. |
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Flint offers a wide range of fund managers and investment diversification opportunities.The funds available cover a wide array of sectors and global interests, encapsulating almost all of the funds offered by Castle Point, Clarity, Devon, Fisher Funds, Harbour, Milford, Mint, Nikko, Pathfinder and SuperLife. To help explain the funds in detail, the tables above link to each fund's profile page as documented by its investment manager.
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Each investment is $50+ but you cannot auto-invest (at this stage).Auto-investing is popular, but Flint doesn't offer it right now. Any investor can, however, set up an automatic payment with their bank to regularly increase their balance.
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The performance of the Flint fund portfolio is transparent and easy to sort.Users will see all the Flint funds when they log in, and the funds can be sorted on 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns (where available). These returns are updated monthly. Users can then view the fund's management fee, Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), fund type, a performance graph, investment objectives, total fund size and inception date. The information is succinct, well-presented and made very user-friendly for beginner and experienced investors alike. Investors can easily filter by funds including by RIAA certification to see what funds are classed as ethical should this be of importance to them.
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Conclusion
- Flint is best compared alongside InvestNow - both reduce platform administration fees to $0 while giving access to high-end funds with a $50 minimum investment.
- Past performance of many funds may appear impressive, but this is no guarantee of future returns.
- For anyone looking for access to boutique managers, Flint will have value. For those already with InvestNow, Flint offers some additional funds, which otherwise have $5,000 - $100,000 minimum investments.
- Flint offers free research and insights and qualitative and quantitative research reports on many of the funds are available are for free download, which is unique to New Zealand retail investing platforms. Anyone wanting to improve their understanding and investing experience will, most likely, find these reports useful.
- Despite the similarities to InvestNow (by way of funds on offer), Flint is a welcome addition to the suite of investing platforms currently available.
