Australia’s Corporations Law defines a ‘retail investments’ as a financial product aimed at an investor in need of regulatory protection, whereas a ‘wholesale investment’ is intended for those seeking to access wholesale markets which tend to offer more complex financial products.
Retail investors are sometimes referred to as non-professional investors.
A ‘retail investment’ is covered by consumer protection provisions. A ‘wholesale investment’ is for professional investors or institutions who are considered to be better informed and better able to assess the risks involved, and do not need the same level of consumer protection as retail clients.
Retail investments include managed funds, exchange traded funds (ETFs), securities and bonds. Retail investments typically have lower minimum investment requirements and higher fees than wholesale investments.
Wholesale investments may also include managed funds, but can also provide access to more complex investments such as venture capital, unlisted trusts and private equity. Wholesale investments typically have higher minimum investment requirements, and lower fees than retail investments.
Retail and wholesale investment products are not mutually exclusive, and an investor can potentially hold both types in their portfolio. It should be noted that wholesale opportunities are only available to individuals who meet ASIC’s requirements to be classified as either a sophisticated investor or professional investor.
Sophisticated investors are typically high net worth investors with a verified gross income of $250,000 or more in each of the two previous financial years, or having net assets of at least $2.5 million.
A professional investor either holds a financial services licence, or owns or controls assets of at least $10 million.
