If you have managed fund investments or life insurance, then you're likely to be paying a commission to your adviser or broker, even if you haven't spoken to them in years. And you'd be paying them not just once, but year after year.

Called a trailing commission or trail, this annual fee is paid by the fund manager or life insurance company to your adviser. Depending on the fund or insurance policy you choose and the size of your investment or cover, this trail can add up to thousands of dollars every year.

If you invested in a managed fund or purchased life insurance, income protection or TPD through a financial adviser, they possibly receive the trail.

But at InvestSMART, we share the trail with you.

Who can save with TrailCap?

Managed funds held with the following managers that may be eligible for a cashback include:

  • Advance Asset Management Limited
  • AMP Capital Investors Limited
  • AMP Life Limited
  • APN Funds Management
  • Australian Unity Funds Management Ltd
  • BlackRock Investment Management (AUS) Ltd
  • BT Funds Management Ltd
  • Challenger Limited
  • Colonial First State Investments Limited
  • Fidante Partners Limited
  • Hunter Hall Investment Management Ltd
  • Macquarie Investment Management Limited
  • Man Investments Australia Ltd
  • MLC Investments Limited
  • MLC Limited
  • OnePath Funds Management Limited
  • Perpetual Investment Management Ltd
  • UBS Asset Management

Life insurance, income protection or trauma cover (TDP) held with the following insurance companies that may be eligible include:

  • AIA Insurance
  • TAL Insurance
  • Zurich Insurance

The TrailCap program is only applicable to those funds managers or life insurance companies listed above. It does not apply to any wholesale managed funds, or managed funds or insurance companies/policies which do not pay InvestSMART a trailing commission.

How we help you save?

At InvestSMART, our upfront trail is capped at $300 a year. For every dollar in trailing commissions we receive after that, we give 50 percent back to you as an annual payment.

That can make a big difference over time - especially if you and your family have more than one managed fund investment or insurance policy. Here's an example of how a couple with a super fund and life insurance could save with InvestSMART's TrailCap:

Investor/Policy holder Invested Amount/Cover Fund manager/Insurance company Annual trailing commission
Daniel $20,000 BT Funds Management $100
$17,500 Colonial First State $87.50
$35,000 Perpetual $175
Kate $30,000 MLC $150
$25,000 AXA $125
Daniel and Kate's super fund $160,000 AMP $800
Daniel's life insurance policy $580,000 AIA $580
Total trailing commissions $2,017.50
Less $300 cap $1,717.50
Annual savings $858.75
This is a hypothetical example based on the experiences of real InvestSMART clients. It does not represent any particular individual.

Ways we help you save