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Small, regular investments into diversified, values-based portfolios. A comparison of ethical investing platforms available in Australia, written for students who want their money to actually mean something.
Impact investing is putting your money into companies, funds, or assets that aim to generate measurable social and environmental outcomes alongside financial returns. It goes beyond traditional ESG screening by requiring intentionality: the investment must be designed to create positive change, not just avoid harm. In Australia, impact investing is regulated by ASICAustralian Securities and Investments Commission. The government body that regulates financial services in Australia. They're basically the financial police. and typically structured as managed investment schemesA fund where your money is pooled with other investors and managed by professionals. You put money in, they decide where it goes based on the fund's strategy. or exchange-traded funds.
Not all ethical investing platforms are built the same. Before you pick one, here are the criteria that actually matter.
Here is how the major ethical and impact investing platforms compare on the criteria that matter most to young investors.
| platform | min investment | fees | ASIC registered | fossil fuel free | impact methodology | app store rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| inaam | $10/month | $10/month flat | Yes (ARSN 691 614 132) | Yes | 3-pillar framework, 24 curated companies | 5.0 |
| Australian Ethical | $1,000 | 0.39%-1.59% p.a. + performance fees | Yes | Yes | Ethical Charter screening | 4.5 |
| Future Super | Super only | $1.50/week + 0.1%-0.32% p.a. | Yes | Yes | Negative + positive screening | 4.3 |
| Raiz Invest | $5 | $3.50/month (under $15K) or 0.275% p.a. | Yes | Partial (Sapphire portfolio only) | ESG-tilted portfolio option | 4.2 |
| Spaceship | $1 | 0.00%-0.05% (under $5K free) | Yes | No (Earth portfolio partial) | Thematic (tech + growth focus) | 4.4 |
Most ethical investing platforms were built for people who already have money. inaam was built for people who are just starting.
Percentage-based fees take more as your balance grows. A 1% annual fee on a $50,000 portfolio is $500 per year. inaam charges $10 per month regardless of your balance. For a student investing $50-200 per month, that is a predictable cost with no surprises. As your portfolio grows, the effective fee rate drops.
inaam does not buy an index and call it ethical. The portfolio holds 24 specific companies selected through a proprietary 3-pillar methodology that evaluates financial performance, environmental and social impact, and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Every holding is published. You can see exactly where your money goes.
There is no $1,000 minimum. No lock-in period. inaam is a managed investment scheme structured for people who want to invest small amounts regularly, which is exactly how most university students can afford to invest. The app is available on both iOS and Android.
inaam Impact Investments Fund (ARSNAustralian Registered Scheme Number. A unique ID given to managed investment schemes registered with ASIC. Think of it like an ABN but for investment funds. 691 614 132) is regulated by ASIC with Primary Securities Ltd as the Responsible Entity. This means your money is held in a separate trust structure, there is an independent custodian, and the fund operates under the same regulatory framework as major Australian managed funds. This is not a fintech experiment. It is a proper financial product.
All investments carry risk, including impact investments. The value of your investment can go up or down. What makes a platform safer is proper regulation, not the label "impact." Look for ASIC-regulated funds with a Responsible Entity, a published PDS, and transparent fee disclosure. inaam meets all of these criteria. But no investment is risk-free, and past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.
It depends on the platform. Some require a $1,000 minimum investment. Others, like inaam, let you start with as little as $10 per month. For university students, platforms with low minimums and flat fee structures are generally more practical than those designed for larger balances.
ESG investing uses environmental, social, and governance criteria to screen or score companies within a traditional portfolio. Impact investing goes further by requiring intentional positive outcomes. An ESG fund might exclude the worst polluters. An impact fund specifically targets companies creating measurable environmental or social change. inaam uses a 3-pillar methodology that combines financial analysis, impact measurement, and values alignment.
Yes. Platforms like Future Super and Australian Ethical offer superannuation products with ethical screening. However, super money is locked until retirement age. If you want to invest ethically with money you can access before you turn 60, you need a non-super investment product like inaam's managed investment scheme.
inaam uses a 3-pillar methodology that evaluates companies across financial fundamentals, measurable social and environmental impact, and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The portfolio currently holds 24 companies across sectors including renewable energy, healthcare, sustainable agriculture, and waste management. The full list of holdings is published and available to all investors.