A fund pools money from lots of different people and invests it en masse on their behalf. Funds can focus on different things: only US companies, climate companies, big or small companies. Retirement savings schemes are technically funds too. Funds suit people who feel overwhelmed by options and want a professional managing their money.

A portfolio manager oversees an entire fund, with analysts covering different areas reporting in, and makes the final decisions. They must understand many industries and economics such as interest rates and inflation, with the aim of beating the market: finding ideas that outperform, avoiding ones that underperform, and protecting money when markets fall.

Three pillars: female-led businesses, which evidence shows tend to outperform long term; founder-led businesses, whose owners think long term rather than short-term CEO changes; and future-focused companies such as AI, healthcare, businesses with positive planetary impact and those thinking about the next 10 to 30 years.

They recommend a minimum five-year time frame because it is a growth fund investing in companies whose share prices go up and down. You can withdraw, but if you need the money within five years you may be forced to pull it out during a downturn, so it may not be the right investment.

The fund is based and regulated in New Zealand and invests globally, but initially only New Zealanders can invest, needing an IRD number and proof of a New Zealand address. New Zealanders living overseas can still invest, and they plan Australian and UK versions later.