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Investing Insights with Tony Alexander: Sticking to a strategy

Investing Insights

After a year of monthly surveys, Tony Alexander finds that most investors prefer not to change up their investment plans too much, even when times are choppy. When it comes to growing their wealth, Kiwis seem content to tune out the noise and think long term.

  • Tony Alexander

    Independent economist

Each month, Tony surveys over 28,000 Kiwis to find out what they’re investing in and how they’re investing in it. He then analyses their responses and reports on how investment preferences are changing over time. This gives us a look into people’s thoughts on different shares, types of property, active vs passive fund management, whether to use an advisor or an app, which countries to invest in, and much more.

Below, we look at some of the key trends in Tony’s November survey.

Long-range vision

Taking stock after a year of monthly surveys, it’s clear that investors don’t change their investment strategies often, deciding on their preferred mix of assets, risk profile, sectors and country and sticking with them for the long term. 

Adding to assets

Despite the likelihood of further monetary policy tightening, choppy share markets, and predictions of global and maybe even domestic recessions, most investors plan to keep building their investment portfolios. While the proportion has eased from August and September (when 75% of investors planned to add to asset holdings), it remains steady at a still significant 68%.

Bar graph showing the proportion of respondents thinking of adding to investments has eased from August and September (when 75% of investors planned to add to asset holdings), but remains steady at a still significant 68%.

Sector mainstays

As ever, energy, health and IT remain the most preferred investment sectors.

Bar graph showing the Energy sector was being the preferred sector to invest in, at just over 16% of respondents. The Health sector sits at just under 12%, and IT at 9%.

Going for growth

As anyone who’s been keeping tabs on global markets over the last few months will know well, share markets can be highly volatile. However, investors who are considering investing in managed funds still far prefer high growth or growth-oriented approaches—perhaps prepared to take more risk for potentially higher long-term returns than what might be achieved by a conservatively-positioned fund.

Chart showing that investors still prefer actively managed funds over passive funds, but the gap between the two is shrinking over recent months.

Download the report

For a deeper dive, download the full Investing Insights report for November 2022 [PDF, 1.66 MB].


Investing Insights is conducted in partnership with Tony Alexander. All analysis is Tony’s and not influenced by Sharesies.

Ok, now for the legal bit

Investing involves risk. You aren’t guaranteed to make money, and you might lose the money you start with. We don’t provide personalised advice or recommendations. Any information we provide is general only and current at the time written. You should consider seeking independent legal, financial, taxation or other advice when considering whether an investment is appropriate for your objectives, financial situation or needs.

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