By Paul Feeney

For a lot of Australians, superannuation is the main — sometimes only — investment they think about. And that makes sense. It's automatic, it's tax-effective, and it's easy to set and forget. But super alone may not be enough to build the kind of financial freedom many people are working towards.

In this webinar, Otivo CEO Paul Feeney walks through how Australians can get licensed, personalised advice on growing wealth outside of super. If you've got a few minutes, it's worth a watch. But if you'd prefer the short version first, here's what you need to know.

Why investing outside of super matters

Super is a long game. You generally can't access it until you reach preservation age, which for most Australians is 60. So if you've got financial goals before then — buying a home, funding a child's education, building a buffer, or simply getting ahead — you'll likely need a strategy that sits outside your super fund.

The challenge is knowing where to start. Many Australians turn to online forums, social media or even AI chatbots for investing guidance. While these can be a useful starting point, they're not licensed to give financial advice and they don't know your individual situation. That means any guidance they offer is, at best, generic.

ETFs — a simple way to invest for many Australians

When it comes to investing outside of super, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are something many Australians consider. An ETF is a single investment that can hold a wide range of assets — shares, bonds, property and more — all in one place. Because they're listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), they can generally be bought and sold through a standard brokerage account.

One of the reasons ETFs are popular is their built-in diversification. Rather than putting money into a single company or sector, a broad-based ETF spreads exposure across many different assets and regions. This doesn't eliminate risk, but it can help smooth out the ups and downs that come with investing in individual stocks.

How Otivo's investing advice works

Otivo's investing advice is designed to make this process straightforward. When you log in, the platform already knows key details about your financial situation — your income, savings and available cash flow. Using that information, it can recommend a specific ETF suited to your investment timeframe and goals, suggest how much to invest as a lump sum upfront, and indicate how much it may be helpful to contribute on a regular basis, such as each pay cycle.

The recommended ETF is chosen from hundreds of options available on the ASX, filtered to find one that aligns with your timeframe and a well-diversified approach to investing.

Investing timeframe matters more than most people realise

One thing Paul highlights in this webinar is how much the length of your investment horizon shapes the type of portfolio that might suit you. Someone investing for three years and someone investing for eight years are in quite different positions — not just in terms of how much they might accumulate, but in terms of how much volatility they're likely to be comfortable with.

A shorter timeframe generally points towards more conservative investments, like cash or fixed interest. A longer horizon may allow for more growth-oriented options, like shares and property. Otivo's advice takes this into account automatically, adjusting the recommendation to reflect your goals and how long you have to reach them.

Seeing your net worth, not just your super balance

Another feature worth mentioning is how Otivo shows your full financial picture — not just your super. When you log in, you can see your current net worth and a projection of what it could look like by the time you retire if you follow the advice available to you. It's the kind of visibility that can make a real difference to how motivated people feel about taking action.

Many people are surprised to see how much their financial position could change over time with relatively small, consistent contributions. Regular investing — even in modest amounts — can add up significantly over years, particularly when markets recover from short-term volatility.

Choice alongside the recommendation

Otivo's approach is to give a clear recommendation, but not to leave people without options. Within the investing module, it's possible to compare other ETFs, view historical performance, explore the top holdings, and filter by fee level, geographic exposure or sector. For those who want to dig into the detail, it's all there. For those who'd prefer to just act on the recommendation and get started, that's equally straightforward.

Getting started

Otivo is a licensed digital advice service — meaning the guidance it provides is real financial advice, not just information. It's backed by qualified advisers and built to help everyday Australians make better financial decisions, without the cost or complexity of traditional financial planning.

The best time to start investing is today. Get started and let's be better off.

The information in this communication is current as at April 2026 and has been prepared by Otivo Pty Ltd ABN 47 602 457 732, AFSL and Australian Credit Licence No. 485665. This content is general information only and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. It is not personal financial or taxation advice and should not be relied on as such. Before acting on any information, you should consider its appropriateness having regard to your personal circumstances. This material must not be reproduced in whole or in part, or posted on any social media platform, without the prior written consent of Otivo Pty Ltd.

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