For many Australians over 60, investing has traditionally been about securing retirement, managing superannuation, and ensuring financial independence. But something interesting is happening. More grandparents are now investing not just for themselves, but for their grandchildren.
Raiz Invest, the Australian micro-investing platform that recently celebrated 10 years of helping Australians save and invest, is seeing this shift first-hand. And the numbers tell a compelling story. Almost 1 in 10 Raiz users aged over 60 have already opened an associated Raiz Kids account, meaning thousands of Australians in their 60s and beyond are actively building investment portfolios for the next generation.
There’s a lingering assumption that investing apps are mostly used by younger Australians, but the data suggests otherwise.
Among Raiz users, those aged over 60 hold balances that are around 12% higher on average than younger customers. Even more striking, the median balance – often a better reflection of what a typical investor holds – is more than 60% higher for over-60s compared to those younger.
In other words, older Australians aren’t just participating – they’re engaged and investing confidently. And when almost 1 in 10 of them also have a Kids account, it signals something more than casual interest. It suggests a generation thinking not only about their own financial future, but about the next one as well.
For decades, grandparents have supported their families in practical ways – helping with school fees, contributing to milestone purchases, or slipping a note into a birthday card.
Today, that support is evolving. Rather than one-off gifts, many are choosing structured, long-term investing. Starting early allows grandchildren to benefit from one of the most powerful forces in finance: time.
Even modest, regular contributions can grow meaningfully over years or decades. More importantly, it introduces children to investing from an early age, helping normalise conversations around money and long-term planning.
Australia is approaching one of the largest intergenerational wealth transfers in history. But wealth transfer doesn’t have to wait for estate planning. It can begin now.
By investing during their lifetime, grandparents can:
Interestingly, Raiz data shows that customers aged over 60 who have funded a Kids account hold balances that are around 35% higher on average than those without one. This suggests that grandparents investing for the next generation aren’t just generous, they’re highly engaged, long-term investors themselves.
As Raiz Invest CEO Brendan Malone explains: “We’re seeing investing become a shared family responsibility rather than something that sits with just one generation. Grandparents are increasingly part of that conversation, and they’re playing a meaningful role in shaping long-term financial outcomes.”
Almost 1 in 10 Raiz users over 60 already have a Raiz Kids account. That figure alone shows that intergenerational investing isn’t a future trend, it’s already underway.
Grandparents today are living longer, staying financially active, and increasingly looking for ways to contribute beyond traditional gifting. The quiet rise of the grandparent investor reflects a broader shift: from simply passing wealth down, to actively building it alongside the next generation. And for many families, that may be one of the most meaningful contributions of all.
For those curious about investing for themselves or their grandchildren, the Raiz app is free to download via the App Store and Google Play, with a range of plans and portfolios to choose from.
Because sometimes, the most powerful gift isn’t something you wrap, it’s something you grow.
To find out more, click on the ‘Deals’ button at the top of every Starts at 60 page to find out how you can receive a $20 bonus investment after downloading the Raiz app and setting up your free account.