Frequently asked questions

Your journey starts with 5 quick questions. Your responses give us a place to start your financial fitness journey.

Whether you work on our suggestions or do your own thing, we’ll help you manage your plan in steps once you've created your account.

Once inside Otivo, we suggest:

• Checking out the Dashboard (aka 'Home') and the financial icons to see the order we've recommended you work on your finances.
  • The financial icons are: Debt, Save, Insurance, Invest + Retire (which includes Super). These relate to the types of financial plans you can create to help you achieve your financial goals.
• Start a plan: fill in the details of your chosen plan so we can provide guidance and advice.
• Make a financial commitment to achieve your goal sooner (we help you work that out).
• Keep track of your goal to ensure payments are made and everything else you’re working on is manageable.
• Keep your plans details updated so our advice is current. Linking your accounts like mortgage and super keeps the values updated (every 24 hours) or you can do it yourself.

To reset your password, click on 'Log in' and select 'Forgot password' in the pop-up window. From there, follow the prompts, and we'll send you an email with a link to reset it. If you're using Facebook or Google to log in, you'll need to reset your password through their platforms instead.

At Otivo, we’re dedicated to providing trusted, high-quality financial advice. Holding an Australian Financial Services Licence and Credit Licence (No. 485665), we meet the same corporate governance standards as large advisory firms, with our advice independently audited to ensure compliance. All our advisers meet FASEA standards, have passed the Financial Adviser Exam, and are listed on ASIC’s Financial Adviser Register. Ongoing professional development is maintained through Kaplan Professional OnTrack and overseen by our Chief Advice Officer, Philippa Billings. This includes meeting continuing professional education requirements for Otivo’s Qualified Tax Relevant Providers (QTRP).

No, we don’t share your personal identifiable data with any third party (including your employer if you receive it as part of your employment). Life's stressful enough without worrying about your privacy. That's why we go out of our way to keep the private stuff you share with us under lock and key. Find out more in our Privacy Policy and Security section at the bottom of this page.

At Otivo, keeping your personal information safe is our top priority. Your data is securely stored right here in Australia and protected by robust security measures like firewalls, end-to-end encryption, and CloudFlare services. We use advanced encryption methods to ensure your data stays secure, whether it’s at rest or in transit. Plus, we follow strict privacy policies to guarantee your information remains confidential and is only used for its intended purpose.

Once your account has been created, you can visit Otivo as often as you like.

Yes, Otivo is fully licensed to provide personal financial advice. We hold both an Australian Financial Services Licence and an Australian Credit Licence (Licence No. 485665), meeting all regulatory requirements set by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC). 

Otivo generates personalised financial advice to help you be better off. When you update your details, we’ll automatically adjust your plan to reflect your new situation. Getting started is easy — just answer a few questions, choose how you'd like to pay, and we’ll set you up with 12 months plan so you can explore Otivo whenever it suits you, at your own pace. You can also download a Statement of Advice (SoA) which is a summary of your advice whenever you like.

You can add your partner when you first get started. Or if you’d like to add a partner later, just go to Profile > Account details, and in the Partner Info section, select Add a partner. 

A pop-up will guide you through the rest.

Otivo is fully licensed, has qualified financial advisers and only provides advice online. Automation enables Otivo to use a few details to provide speedy, current and personalised financial advice.

This blend of automation and human expertise ensures both efficiency and accuracy.

Otivo is fully licensed with a team of qualified financial advisers and digital experts. They deliver financial advice exclusively online using automation to provide fast, current and personalised advice with minimal member details. This blend of technology and financial expertise ensures efficiency and accuracy.

Yes. Advice is tailored by using details entered in Otivo's platform (‘inputs’) so that your profile can be assessed to recommend suitable investment option (‘outputs’).

Otivo’s projected retirement income graph is based on the personal and financial information you provide, combined with legally required figures like the current Superannuation Guarantee rate. It also incorporates assumptions about the future to give you an estimate of your retirement income, helping you plan ahead with confidence.

When choosing a super fund, it’s a good idea to look for low fees (ideally less than 1% per year of your account balance), consistent long-term performance (over 20 years if retirement is still a while away), and insurance options if you need them. Around 10 investment options is usually plenty — too many can mean extra fees you might not need. A great place to start is ASIC Moneysmart > Choosing a super fund ASIC’s Moneysmart guide on choosing a super fund. You can also check out comparison tools like the ATO’s MySuper product comparison or browse websites like Canstar for more options.

A popular rule of thumb is a figure that's around 70% of your household annual salary. It's less because most people have reduced spending habits, a mortgage has been paid off for example.

Tell me more.

An association called ASFA provide detailed retirement expenditure breakdown required for both a comfortable and modest lifestyle in retirement (for singles and couples). Find out more at ASFA Retirement Standard. 

Our super fund data comes from Chant West, and they’re always working to add more funds to the list. If your fund is missing, please contact us so we can notify them and try to get it added for you.

Otivo takes a data-driven approach, sorting investment options into five risk categories. Recommendations are based on their adjusted net performance over the past five years, ensuring the investment option aligns with your age based risk profile.

To check your super contribution caps, log in to myGov > ATO > Home and click on Super. You’ll find details about your fund, contributions, balance, and key limits. The Manage section also helps with things like using super for a home or consolidating accounts. Plus, the Compare Super option makes it easy to explore and compare funds or update your employer on your fund choice.

Otivo uses advanced algorithms to provide personalised investment advice at a fraction of the cost of traditional (face-to-face) advisers. Otivo also differs in the type of investment advice we provide. Otivo won’t tell you how much of your money should be invested in a specific product or asset class like shares for example.

If you’d like to cancel your Otivo subscription, just log in to your account, head to Profile > Account Details, and select Cancel Subscription/ Deactivate Account at the bottom of the page. Keep in mind that once cancelled, refunds aren’t available. If you have any questions or need help, please reach out us at info@otivo.com.

Having more than one option can lead to increased expenses and complexity. Otivo's algorithm is designed to minimise these complexities as much as possible. The result is a cost-effective selection of appropriately diversified investment options that have been carefully filtered to match your specific risk category.

Otivo takes your current investments into account and looks for similar options. Sometimes, the recommendation may end up in a higher-risk category, indicating a track record of more frequent negative returns. This is a characteristic trait of higher-risk assets, which tend to experience more significant highs and lows.

Our recommendation is designed to suit your unique situation, including your age, by finding the best balance of risk and return. We evaluate each investment option within its risk category, looking at adjusted net performance over five years while factoring in fees. The option we recommend offers the highest net return in your risk category. To help you make an informed decision, we also provide alternative options from higher or lower-risk categories.

Superannuation is a long-term investment, so the two biggest things Otivo looks at are how long you have until you retire, and how long you're expected to enjoy that retirement. Because of this, we don't ask about your own personal attitude to risk.

Otivo keeps your investment recommendations up to date by reviewing them at least once a year or whenever there are updates to its algorithm or new data from trusted research providers like ChantWest. This way, you always have the most accurate and relevant advice at your fingertips.

Yes. The annual return for each investment option is displayed after fees are taken out, so what you see is clear and consistent. Otivo uses a simple, standardised method by starting with a $100,000 balance and deducting the fees. These fee details come from ChantWest, a trusted research group that specialises in superannuation funds, ensuring you get reliable and transparent information.

Yes. If one is available for your age, it's offered either as a standalone or alternative recommendation.

To update your personal information, go to Profile on the Dashboard. Here, you can edit your name, email, mobile number, or partner details. The Financial Summary section allows you to update your gross income, other income, expenses, assets, or debts. Be sure to click Save when you're done.

For specific details, like investment values or loan information, edit them directly in the relevant plan. For example, to update your mortgage details, navigate to Debt > Home Mortgage and adjust the loan amount, interest rate, offset amount, term, or repayment details.

Yes. Please feel free to move to an annual plan — just visit www.otivo.com for all the details. If you'd like to keep your existing data, simply click 'Contact Us,' and we’ll help you through the process. If you'd prefer a fresh start, you can dive right in without our help.

We adjust the five-year performance by taking the difference between the average fee of a risk category and the actual fee of the fund. Funds with fees below the average get a performance boost, and those above see reduced returns.

All super funds charge fees and these add up over time since super is generally a long-term investment of around 30 years or more. Because of this, fees can reduce what you are ultimately able to save. Lower fees mean you keep more in your super account. Otivo's algorithm is set up to strike a balance between returns and cost.

Yes, newer funds without 5 years of historical returns are excluded from Otivo’s recommendations. This is because investment options with at least 5 years of history offer a more reliable and consistent basis for comparison, helping you make more informed decisions.

These funds can carry higher risks. Otivo aims to present diversified options to ensure a balanced investment approach.

Based on the information Otivo has and the criteria used by the algorithm, the most suitable option is recommended. It may be a lower or higher returning investment and could change over time.
 
Your age plays an important part in the filtering process. Similar to a Lifestages investment strategy, more of your super is invested in defensive assets like cash and fixed interest as you get older. 
 
Historically, defensive assets have offered the lowest returns. This is one simple example of how a lower-returning investment might be recommended.
 
The algorithm is doing a lot of work in finding you a suitable investment option. From a technical perspective, a lower-returning investment might be recommended because of:
 
Risk category alignment: The algorithm first assigns you to one of the five risk categories based on your age. Each risk category has a specified allocation for defensive and growth assets. Depending on your age, you might fall into a category that prioritises stability over high returns. This would mean you could be recommended a "safer" investment that might not have the highest return but aligns with your age and associated risk tolerance.
 
Fee adjustment: Otivo doesn't just consider raw returns. It adjusts returns based on fees. The algorithm gives a boost to funds with fees below their category's average, and it reduces the returns for those funds with above-average fees. So, even if a fund has high returns, if it also has high fees, its adjusted return might be lower. This fee-adjustment process can make a lower return, but lower fee funds are more attractive because higher fees can erode future returns.
 
Diversification: Otivo excludes non-diversified and geared funds. These types of funds might have higher returns but come with increased risks. By prioritising diversified options, the algorithm ensures members are recommended options that provide a balance between risk and return.
 
Five-year performance record: Funds without a full five-year performance record aren't recommended. Higher returning funds may be newer and lack this 5-year history.
 
Lifestage investment option: If a LifeStage investment option is available for your age bracket, it might be included in the recommendations, even if its performance is not the highest. This is because the LifeStage option is specifically tailored for members of certain age groups.
 
Consistency over high returns: The algorithm, by design, focuses on consistency and stability for the long term, rather than chasing the highest returns. This approach is based on the philosophy that while higher returns can be enticing, they often come with higher risks.
 
Given the above, the recommended investment option is not just about the highest return, but a balanced consideration of risk, fees, diversification, and alignment with age-specific financial goals.

To help you get the ball rolling, Otivo provides a template that you can email to yourself which includes all the main info that most employers need to contribute part of your salary into super. Please remember to enter the amount you want to add to your super. Once you've filled it out, just email it to your Human Resources or Payroll contact.

Yes, there is an age limit. Once you turn 75, superannuation law no longer allows you to salary sacrifice into your super.

There are a couple of reasons this might occur. For example:

• If your salary is zero, there’s none to sacrifice.
• If you haven’t paid off lifestyle debt, such as a credit card or personal loan,  Otivo recommends you prioritise this ahead of topping up super.
• If your tax rate is 16% or lower, Otivo does not recommend sacrificing salary into super. These contributions and earnings get taxed at 15% which might be higher than your tax rate. 
  • Otivo thinks you might be disadvantaged in pursuing a salary sacrifice strategy and recommends you speak with a financial adviser to explore your options.

Yes, low-income earners can generally sacrifice salary into super. However, if your tax rate is 16% or lower, Otivo doesn’t recommend it, as the benefits of salary sacrificing might not outweigh the tax advantages.

Otivo doesn’t recommend using your remaining income for personal contributions if you can’t cover at least three months of expenses. We want to ensure you have enough funds to handle everyday costs and any unexpected emergencies.

There are a couple of reasons you might not receive advice about making personal contributions using savings to claim a tax deduction.  

If you don’t have at least three months of expenses saved, Otivo recommends prioritising this over topping up your super. 
Additionally, if your personal tax rate is 16% or lower, the tax benefits of deductible contributions may not work in your favour, as super contributions are taxed at 15% on the way in.

For those earning less than $45,000, this strategy might not be advantageous, and Otivo suggests speaking with a financial adviser to explore your options.

Once you turn 75, super fund trustees are generally not allowed to accept personal contributions made by members for themselves, except in specific cases. For example, if you turn 75 today, the contribution must reach the fund within 28 days of the month you turned 75. Because of these restrictions, Otivo stops providing contribution advice after age 75 and recommends consulting a financial adviser to explore your options.

No. Otivo provides advice on the most popular types of contributions that Australians make. These include…

• The Superannuation Guarantee ('SG'). These are compulsory employer contributions that most Australians receive until they stop working.
• Salary sacrifice. This is module 2.1 and called: Contributions from your salary. It's an extra payment on top of SG that your employer contributes to increase the overall contributions made on your behalf.  It's different to adding after-tax money to super and is called salary sacrifice. 
• Personal contributions. This is module 2.2 and called: Tax deductible contributions using savings.  Whether you're employed, self-employed, unemployed or retired, you might be eligible to claim a tax deduction on your after-tax super contributions.

Please speak with a financial adviser if you need guidance outside of what Otivo is offering.
 

Please feel free to complete the advice modules in any order that suits you. For the super-focused modules though, we recommend starting with Investment options inside super, then move on to Contributions from your salary, Tax deductible contributions from savings, and wrap up with Insurance. 

Yes. After completing each module, you can download a copy of your advice in a document called a Statement of Advice (SOA) — you can find the download button in the left-hand menu. As you complete a module, the SOA content will automatically update to the latest advice. We recommend you keep a complete record of your advice. You can log in and download it anytime at no extra cost.
 

Otivo uses an inflation rate of 2.5% per year. Called the Consumer Price Index (CPI), it’s recommended by the government as an appropriate rate to increase things like salary. It cannot be changed.
 

Yes. Otivo shows the results in today's dollars. This means the projection takes into account the impact of inflation between the time of the illustration and the future date, ensuring all figures are presented in terms of today's purchasing power.
 

At 92, regardless of whether you've added a partner or their age. Otivo uses this because the regulator (ASIC) thinks it’s important to set a standard retirement age that considers how long some of us might live. 
 

No, due to various unpredictable factors like legislative changes, investment returns, market movements and personal circumstances, neither your final super benefit nor your annual retirement income can be precisely predicted.

Otivo's projections start from the current quarter, like 1 July or 1 October, to ensure your advice is always aligned with the latest financial period.

Yes. Otivo’s calculator doesn't include unpredictable elements like market and exchange rate movements or movements in interest rates, which can affect the actual outcome. 
 

In 2024-25, super law only permits $1.9 million to be used to start an income stream using super. Because of this rule, Otivo’s projection assumes that the excess is withdrawn and spent.

Super rules allow excess amounts to stay in the growth phase until death  (also called the accumulation phase), where earnings will be taxed at a maximum of 15% (30% if you’re a high-income earner). 

Someone in that scenario could have money in 2 super products (one in the growth phase and one in the pension phase) — both charging fees and requiring time and effort to administer.
 

Investment returns are added to the balance of your investment each quarter after fees have been deducted. These fees, which cover the cost of managing your investments, are deducted from your account before tax. Returns cannot be changed.

Earnings from non-super investments are shown net of fees and cannot be changed. Investments outside of super may generate a return that differs from what is used by Otivo’s calculator and can impact your tax bill. Please speak with your tax adviser if you’d like to know more about tax.
 

Otivo provides contribution advice to people aged between 18 and 75. If you're 18 or older and working more than 30 hours per week, your employer is required to make super contributions under the Superannuation Guarantee (SG). There's no upper age limit for SG contributions, so Otivo continues to apply this rule until your chosen retirement age.

Otivo provides advice on personal insurance within your super by helping you determine the right level of cover you need. To do this, we assess what insurance you already have inside and outside of super and calculate how much cover is appropriate to protect your lifestyle and give you peace of mind.

No, Otivo is designed specifically for accumulation funds and doesn’t work for defined benefit funds since they operate differently. If you’re in a defined benefit fund, we recommend speaking with a financial adviser to explore your options.

Yes, enter an employer contribution rate of 0%. Use module 2.2: Tax deductible contributions using savings.

We'll help you work out an appropriate amount to contribute using spare cash for which a tax deduction could be claimed. This is useful for managing a tax bill while growing your super balance.

Yes, Otivo is designed to help, even if your account balance is low. We provide advice to help you grow your super and save more for a comfortable retirement.

Yes, Otivo takes future super changes into account if they are legislated and ready for use. For example, Otivo incorporates the legislated increases to the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) rate, which is set to rise by 0.5% annually until it reaches 12% from 1 July 2025 onwards. Otivo only uses facts and figures that are confirmed and have a legislated start date.

Yes. Super rules set limits on how much you can contribute to the tax-advantaged super system. Otivo considers these contribution limits, along with factors like your income and expenses, to work out a suitable amount for you to contribute to super.
 

Retirement begins on 1 July of the year you reach your desired retirement age. For example, if you plan to retire in 2025, Otivo assumes your retirement will start on 1 July 2025.

Otivo uses a retirement income product called an ‘account-based pension’ which is commonly available. 

An account-based pension is an account where you invest your superannuation and which pays a regular income. With an account-based pension, you can generally choose from a range of investments and select the income you draw, subject to minimum super pension requirements.
 

Once retired, Otivo does not calculate or deduct any tax payable on income earned or payments made. Please speak with a tax adviser if you have questions.
 

Once you start receiving income payments using super, the earnings are tax-free and payments are not taxable if you’re over age 60. Otivo has used these tax and super laws in its calculator.
 

The age pension is a government payment designed to support the basic living standards of older Australians. It's paid to people who meet age and residency requirements. There is also a means test to figure out who needs it the most. Pension rates are indexed by the government to ensure they keep pace with Australian prices and wage increases.
 

Income drawdown rules apply to each type of super pension. Otivo uses an account-based pension (ie super pension) which requires minimum drawdowns to be used based on age for the relevant year. 

For example, if I’m age 65, the standard minimum percentage is 5%. This is multiplied by the balance to give the minimum income payment I must receive from my account-based pension for that income year. 

Otivo starts with this and might increase the super pension amount (as there’s no maximum) to ensure your desired retirement income is met each year. If not, other income sources like the age pension might help top up your income needs.
 

Otivo calculates the age pension based on the current rates set by the Department of Human Services (DHS) and updates them when changes occur. Payments depend on factors like whether you have a partner and your sources of income. Using the information you provide, Otivo applies DHS means testing rules for the relevant income year. If you include your partner's details, eligibility is assessed as a couple. Payments are rounded up for amounts of 50 cents or more to ensure accuracy.

Because DHS has already taken into account inflation in setting the payment amount, there’s no need for Otivo to inflate it further.
 

Otivo excludes the Work Bonus test because the average Australian stops working by the time they reach the pension age which is currently 67.
 

It depends on your date of birth. DHS uses this to work out what your qualifying age is. If born after 31 December 1956 the qualifying age is 67. It might be sooner if born before 1 January 1957:

_{Source: Australian Government Social Security Guide, Qualification for age.}

No. The only real estate DHS excludes is your principal home (that’s the term they use). For an investment property, DHS deduct the loan amount owed when calculating its value for the asset test.
 

Insurance cover in super is exactly that, it’s insurance cover available through your super account.

There are a couple of perks to having insurance inside super. For starters, premiums are often cheaper since super funds buy insurance in bulk. Having your premiums deducted straight from your super balance makes it easier too, but does impact its growth. And because your insurance premiums are deducted directly from your super balance, your take-home pay isn't unaffected. You usually don't need health checks either for default insurance cover. Having insurance cover inside super can also potentially be a tax-effective way of funding insurance premiums. 

When considering insurance cover through your super, keep in mind it can be limited and may not meet your specific needs. Switching funds or having an inactive account could leave you uninsured, and paying premiums from your super reduces retirement savings. Payouts might face delays as they require trustee approval, and they may also be subject to tax based on factors like the type of insurance, payment method, and the age of you or your beneficiaries.

If you think you've misplaced your super, just hop onto myGov and head to the ATO section. There, you can check which super fund has your super and whether there's any insurance cover attached to it.

Given your life is ever-changing, getting the balance right can be tricky.  Ideally, your insurance needs should reflect what's happening in your life now, like how much debt you have, plus any future expenses like education or unexpected medical bills. Otivo takes into account any insurance cover that you already have, before helping you get the cover you need. Please note that Otivo does not consider the specific features within the insurance products and whether they're a good fit for you.

• Death cover: Also known as life insurance, Death cover pays a lump sum or income stream to your beneficiaries if you die, or to you if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness and have less than 24 months to live.
• Total and Permanent Disablement (TPD) cover: pays a lump sum if you become totally and permanently disabled because of illness or injury.
• Salary Continuance Insurance (SCI) cover: Also known as Income Protection, provides you with a monthly income if you can’t work due to illness or injury for a specified period.  

The key difference between ‘any occupation’ and ‘own occupation’ TPD insurance lies in the type of work you're unable to perform if you become disabled. ‘Own occupation’ means you're considered disabled if you can't do the specific job you had before your disability, and this cover is typically more expensive and usually only available outside of super. ‘Any occupation’ means you're disabled if you can't work in any job that suits your education, training, or experience, and this cover is generally available within super funds and is more affordable.

Super laws require that the rules for insurance cover within super must match those for paying out super for events like death, terminal illness, permanent disability, or temporary disability. This means that super fund trustees are not able to take out new insurance from 1 July 2014 (when the law changed) where the cover includes 'Own occupation' in TPD insurance, certain salary continuance definitions, or trauma insurance.

A super account will be considered ‘inactive’ if there haven't been any contributions or rollovers into it for 16 consecutive months. Don't worry though, your super provider will send you plenty of reminders before they pull the plug on your insurance cover.

Otivo doesn’t provide details on annual insurance premiums because premiums are based on personal factors like your level of cover, age, job, health, lifestyle, and any special rates from your employer. Since Otivo doesn’t collect this information, you’ll need to contact your super fund provider directly to get accurate premium details or make adjustments to your insurance.

No problem. You can enter multiple insurance providers, in and out of super. Once you’ve provided all your insurance details, Otivo can assess your levels of insurance cover based on your existing needs and provide a recommendation.

No. To implement this advice, you'll need to talk to your super fund. If your situation is complex, you might need help from a financial adviser.

A waiting period is the length of time you have to wait after an injury or illness that stops you from working before you can claim salary continuance benefit payments. 

For example, this could be 30 or 90 days. If you choose a shorter waiting period, like 30 days, it means you'll pay more for your insurance coverage. So when you're picking your waiting period, it's important to consider how long you can go without being paid and whether the insurer pays the monthly benefit in arrears.

This is how long you'll receive payments if you can't work. Generally, you can choose between 2 years, 5 years, or until you're 65. If you go for a 2-year benefit period, your payments will keep coming for 2 years or until you’re fully recovered and back to work, whichever comes first.

Who receives the payout for insurance in super depends on the type of cover. Death cover forms part of your super balance and can pay a lump sum or income stream to your nominated beneficiaries, estate, or you if you’re terminally ill. Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) cover payouts typically go directly to you if your claim is approved. Salary continuance cover benefits are generally paid directly to you rather than being added to your super balance. Keep in mind that insurance payouts may have tax implications, so it’s worth consulting a financial adviser or tax expert for guidance.

Super laws restrict when you can access your super and any insurance payouts from your super. You can only access these funds if you meet specific conditions, such as reaching age 65, being diagnosed with a terminal illness, or having an illness or injury that prevents you from working permanently or temporarily. These laws can affect your insurance claim in several ways, including eligibility for payout, timing of claim submission, potential payout reductions, tax implications, and compliance with legal requirements to avoid claim rejection.

Group insurance is often offered through your super fund and is usually managed by your employer on behalf of all members. It doesn’t include those members who have a cover that has been underwritten. It typically adopts a uniform approach, with limited customisation, but the premiums are often cheaper. 
 

With individual policies, you're in control when you own the policy. You can customise it to your needs since you purchase it directly from the insurer, but it might cost more. Plus, you're responsible for paying the premiums directly, unlike group insurance, which can be deducted from your super account.

An algorithm is a complex system of automated, sequential instructions designed to solve a problem or complete tasks.

Asset classes are categories of investments, such as shares, bonds, managed funds, and real estate (property).

Chant West is a super fund research house that evaluates and rates super funds in Australia.

Diversified options refer to investing across various asset types to reduce the overall risk of a portfolio.

Growth investments aim for high returns, while defensive investments prioritise stability and lower risk in performance.

Geared refers to using borrowed funds to amplify potential gains or losses in an investment’s value.

Higher-risk assets are investments with a greater potential for loss but also higher potential returns.

A Lifestage investment is a portfolio designed to match your risk tolerance and goals at different stages of life.

A single asset class refers to an investment type, such as shares, bonds, managed funds, or real estate.

ASIC stands for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. It is the regulatory body in Australia responsible for overseeing and enforcing laws related to financial services, markets, investments, and corporations.

For many working Australians, their second greatest asset is their super balance (home is first).

Accordingly, age 60 is popular for those who stop working and can access their super (it's used to meet living expenses once retired).

Reaching age 65 is also a popular retirement age as it's when super can be accessed without restrictions like having to retire, and many reach age pension age.

It makes sense therefore, that the ABS latest report on Australian Retirement and Retirement Intentions state that:

• There were 3.9 million retirees.

• 55% of people over 55 were retired, up from 53% in 2016-17.

• Average retirement age (of all retirees) was 55.4 years - and 55% were women.

• Half a million people intend to retire within 5 years.

• Average age people intend to retire is 65.5 years.

• The government age pension was the main income source for most retirees.

• Retirees with no personal income remained around 30% for women and 7% for men.

It's important to remember that your income needs to last as long as you do. Most of us underestimate how long we'll live.

The ABS reported that males and females born in 2019-21 are expected to live to age 81.3 and 85.4 respectively. If we run out of income before then, the age pension is likely to be the main source of income.

To ensure we don't outlive our retirement savings (aka retirement income longevity), projections often use a conservative estimate of around age 92 or older to ensure that retirement income is planned and managed for a longer period.

We're different from 'robo-advisers' who specialise in that.

We're a digital financial advice service that specialises in providing advice (not products or investments).

If we decide to offer pre-selected portfolios in the future, for example, we'll promote it on our home page.

Many of Australia's most forwarding thinking companies and pay us to provide advice to their employees.

Subscribers from the general public also pay us directly.

We don't earn any commissions from product providers.

It's all in our Financial Services Guide .

From Dashboard (aka 'Home') > Profile > Financial summary > Assets > Other assets > select 'Add an asset', enter details and click 'Save', for your details to be updated.

This depends on your employer, as some require you to use your work email while others don’t. To check or update it, just head to the Dashboard > Profile > Personal Info and look for the Email field. Try changing it, and if it saves, you’re all set!

If you choose to deactivate your account, here’s what to expect:

Paid accounts: You’ll retain access until the end of your current billing period.
Free trial account: Your access will end immediately upon deactivation.

Once your account is deactivated, you won’t be able to log in or access your Statement of Advice online. We recommend downloading a copy for your records before deactivating.

By law, we’re required to keep your records for seven years. If you need access to your Statement of Advice in the future or change your mind, please get in touch with u

No. This is usually a complex affair and you need assistance from a legal adviser and tax specialist to structure the trust in a manner that works for your specific circumstances.

To update an investment property, head to the Dashboard > Profile > Financial Summary > Assets section > Other Assets. From there, select 'Investment Property' from the Asset Type drop-down menu, enter the value and annual income, and hit 'Save.' If you have debt on the property, scroll down to the Debt section under Assets, choose Other Debts, click 'Add a Loan,' fill in the details, and hit 'Save' again.

To check if you have life, income, or disability insurance in your super, log in to your Otivo account and go to Insurance > Personal Insurance, then click "See if this applies to you." You can also check your annual member statement for details and costs, log in to your super fund’s website to view your insurance information, or use MyGov > ATO > Super to track down your accounts. If you don’t find any insurance, it might be because you’re an inactive member with a low account balance. In this case, please check in with your super fund.

Go to Account > Account details > Your details and click on the pencil. A pop-up will open in which you can enter your preferred email address. It also provides on what'll happen.

Note that you might not be able to do this if your employer is funding your subscription.

If something’s not right, we’d love to hear from you so we can make it better! You can reach out to us at support@otivo.com, and we’ll handle your concern according to our Internal Dispute Resolution Policy — just let us know if you’d like a copy. We’re also proud members of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), an independent service that provides free and fair resolution for financial and credit-related complaints. For more details, you can check out our Financial Services Guide (FSG) Click here to access it. 

We’re here to help!

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Otivo is here to help you take control of your finances, offering personalised advice on managing debt (like mortgages and credit cards), super investments, contributions, personal insurance, and managing your money. While we cover a lot, you might reach a point where your financial needs become more complex, or you need advice on specific products or investment strategies. That’s when a financial adviser could provide extra support and guidance tailored to your goals.

Yes, you can update your partner's information anytime. This helps us better understand your household so we can provide advice that’s tailored to your needs. Just head to the Dashboard > Profile > Personal Info. From there, you can view, edit, add, or remove your partner's details

We understand some of our questions might feel a bit personal, but they help us get to know you better so we can provide advice personalised to you. That’s the foundation of financial planning — the more details you share, the more tailored our advice is.

Yes, you can make updates anytime! So if you’ve had some changes in your life, like buying a home, paying off a car loan, getting married, or having a child, just add those details, and we’ll tailor the advice to fit your new situation — all at no extra cost.

After you've done your research and found 'the one'. This'll help: How do I choose a super fund?

Use the fund's online application function to make it quick and easy.

It takes about 5 minutes if you've got everything ready:

• Your tax file number
• If insurance in super is required, know what you need ( Tip > use the Insurance plan in your account to work this out). Once the account is created, it's generally possible to add more cover or transfer it from another super fund
• Nominate someone who is eligible to receive your super if you die (it's usually your partner) - 'binding' is useful as it doesn't have to updated every 3 years
• Give the account details to your employer so future super contributions can be made.

Otivo is an online financial advice service designed to help everyday Australians be better off by making more informed financial decisions. We hold both an Australian Financial Services License and an Australian Credit License (No. 485665), ensuring we meet all regulatory standards.

We're currently developing new ways to help you reach your savings goals. In the meantime, we've temporarily taken it down.

We've temporarily paused the bank account linking feature to make some behind-the-scenes improvements. We'll reactivate it as soon as it's good to go!

Super funds typically charge investment fees to cover the costs of managing your investments, and these are directly deducted from your account by the fund. Otivo applies these fees at the start of each quarter after earnings are added to your super balance, assuming all fees are tax-deductible within the super fund. For more details on fees, check your super fund provider's website or their Product Disclosure Statement (PDS). If you have tax-related questions, it's best to consult your tax adviser.

A trustee can only accept contributions that meet all the requirements set out in the super law. Many types of contributions have similar requirements, like age and account balance, while others are very different, such as using the proceeds of your home to make a Downsizer contribution to super where an age limit doesn’t apply. Because super is so complex with many exceptions, Otivo's advice is focused on the most common types of contributions most working Australians make. Please speak with a financial adviser if you need guidance outside of what Otivo is offering.

Otivo’s advice isn’t suitable if you’ve already started an income stream using your super, as your funds have moved into the pension phase and no new contributions can be added. Changing things at this stage can be complex and may involve additional costs. Please speak with a financial adviser if you need guidance on this.

Otivo only looks at your existing premiums and cover to see if you have enough of the right type of insurance. While there may be insurance options available outside of your primary super fund that offer better terms and lower premiums, Otivo does not consider them in its recommendations. 
 

If you want a broader comparison that includes other insurance choices, it's a good idea to chat with a financial adviser.

Super laws don’t allow new trauma insurance to be added through super funds after 1 July 2014. But if you were a member before that date and already had trauma cover, it might still be protected. It’s worth checking your member statement or asking your super fund to confirm. If trauma cover isn’t available through your super and you need it, you can always explore options with an insurance provider outside of super.

There are no hard and fast rules for getting started with Otivo, and with our plan offering 12 months of access, time is on your side. However, here’s a list of information that can help you complete our fact-finding process more quickly — your latest payslip, details of any current or planned super contributions, your most recent super statement, the value of your assets (like shares or savings), a list of outstanding debts (like credit cards or mortgages), any investment income details (like dividends or rental income), your personal insurance policy information, and your super details from your myGov ATO > super services

We start with high-interest debts, like credit cards, and then tackle others, like personal loans. By looking at your income and expenses, we suggest repayments that make it easier to reduce your debt while maintaining your financial stability.

From the Dashboard, head to Debt, then Debt Plan, and click on Add Debt. In the pop-up screen, choose your debt type, fill in the details, and hit Save.

Otivo focuses on helping you prioritise and pay off high-interest lifestyle debt, like credit cards and personal loans. For other debts, like car or investment loans, we use that information to get a clear picture of your cash flow after repayments — but we don’t offer specific recommendations or strategies for those types of loans.

Yes. Otivo assumes you satisfy the Australian residency requirements and that you won't get a pension from the Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA).

You can choose to subscribe either monthly or annually.  All subscriptions need to be manually renewed every 12 months.

Annual subscriptions last for 12 months and don't renew automatically.

Monthly subscriptions will renew automatically each month, but will stop after 12 months and require a manual renewal.

When you complete the Insurance module you will be asked to provide details of your children. Otherwise, you can add children details directly if you go to Profile > Account details > Children

You can start with any module. Each section will take you through the relevant questions needed to complete it.

At this stage Otivo doesn't provide advice on SMSF's.