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Record 11.5 million Australian adults now invest outside super, ASX survey finds

Younger investors driving uptake of AI tools and ETFs, study shows

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
Sources2 outlets
A record 11.5 million Australian adults now hold investments outside their superannuation and main home, representing 54 per cent of the adult population, according to the ASX Australian Investor Study 2026. The survey of roughly 4,500 people found 2.5 million Australians have joined the investor population since 2020, with younger investors aged 18 to 29 making up 21 per cent of all investors.

The ASX Australian Investor Study 2026, based on polling conducted in January and February, has painted a picture of a nation deeply engaged in financial markets. ASX chief executive Anthony Attia said, "Australia is a nation of investors," noting that public participation in share trading is among the highest in developed markets.

Shares remain the most widely held asset class, followed by residential property, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), term deposits and cryptocurrency. For the first time, the survey examined how investors use artificial intelligence tools for investment information and advice. AI uptake was strongest among younger investors, with 14 per cent of those aged 18 to 29 using such tools.

"What is particularly encouraging is the next generation of investors entering the market," Mr Attia said. "Almost one million more Australians are looking to start investing."

Since the survey, ETF investing has continued to surge. Data from investment firm Betashares showed the Australian ETF industry experienced $7 billion in cash inflows in both August and September, pushing assets under management to a record $388 billion. ETF ownership has more than doubled since 2020, a trend Mr Attia attributed to innovation opening new opportunities. Recent tax changes announced in the May budget appear to be fuelling enthusiasm for stocks and ETFs.

The typical investor is middle-aged with a median gross income of $110,000 and an average age of 46.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The record participation rate means more Australians are exposed to market risk and returns outside the protections of superannuation.
  • The rapid uptake of AI tools for investment advice raises questions about consumer protection and the quality of information younger investors receive.
  • The ETF boom signals a shift toward low-cost, diversified investing that could reshape the financial advisory industry.

Background

Australia has long had high levels of household investment in shares and property, often encouraged by a compulsory superannuation system and tax settings that favour capital gains. The ASX has run its Australian Investor Study for over a decade, tracking trends in participation and asset preferences. Exchange-traded funds have grown rapidly worldwide as investors embrace passive strategies, and Australia has followed that trend.

Key Perspectives

ASX and market operators: They celebrate the democratisation of investing, pointing to innovation and the entry of younger investors as signs of a healthy market. Young investors and financial technology platforms: They benefit from low-cost access and AI-driven advice, but may lack the experience to critically evaluate automated recommendations. Critics and consumer advocates: They will likely raise concerns about the reliability of AI tools for investment advice, especially given the survey's finding that 14 per cent of 18 to 29 year olds already use them.

What to Watch

  • Whether ASIC or other regulators respond with guidance on AI-generated investment advice.
  • The trajectory of ETF inflows: if they continue at current rates, the industry could surpass $500 billion in AUM in 2027.
  • How the government's May budget tax changes play out in investor behaviour over the remainder of the financial year.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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