Platforms

A Platform, Master Trust or Wrap Account is simply an administration system for your investments.
 
Platforms make investing in funds simple.
  • Consolidated reporting at tax time
  • Access to many funds (wholesale funds) you would not be able to access as individuals
  • Many platforms provide online access to allow you to view daily valuations
  • Access to online fund buying, selling and switching between funds
  • Combine your managed funds with other investments and even margin loans or shares into one package

Broadly Investment platforms, Wraps, Master Trusts & Portfolio Administration Services (PAS), are similar products. They allow investors to group their diversified investments, to differing degree’s, under one financial administrative service. The service manages the paperwork of investing in multiple funds and other assets, producing regular consolidated statements of your investments and one consolidated statement at tax time.

The most popular of these products is called a Master Trust (sometimes called a Master Fund or a Personal Investment Fund). It is an investment fund which invests in a range of other managed funds.
Another similar product is a Wrap Account. The difference is that Wrap Accounts can also cover direct investments like shares and property.

Many people invest their money through platforms. These structures are becoming more common for Superannuation and Pension accounts as a simpler way of managing your money.