Investors come from all walks of life and income groups, including young people, retirees, and even parents investing for their children’s future.

Twenty years ago, investing outside the property market was seen as the exclusive domain of the wealthy and somehow out of reach for the average earner.

Today, half of all Australians own shares, either through direct shareholdings or indirectly through managed funds.¹

Did you know?

• 51% of the adult population in Australia, or 7.4m people, owned shares either directly or indirectly in 2003;
• In Australia, 5.7m people, or 39%, own shares directly;
• Australia is at the forefront of share ownership in the world;
• Share ownership is increasing in all age groups, except the 18 to 24 year old bracket, where the fall might be as a result of a stronger focus on getting into the property market; and
• The average value of direct investment in the Australian sharemarket rose to a record $40,800 per investor in 2003.