AI overtakes super funds as Australians struggle to navigate investing and tax changes

22 September

• One in three prospective investors don’t understand the government’s CGT changes
• Beginner investors are twice as likely as Advanced investors to favour investment property
• Australian investors scored an average GXIQ score of 63 out of 100
• Australians can also discover their own GXIQ score by completing a free, 15-question quiz on the Global X website.

Australians are giving themselves a pass mark when it comes to investing, but new research suggests the nation remains significantly underprepared for the financial decisions needed to build long-term wealth.

The findings come from the inaugural GXIQ Investor Scorecard 2026, launched today by Global X ETFs Australia. It reveals Australian investors score an average of just 63 out of 100 on investment knowledge, highlighting significant gaps in financial literacy, diversification and understanding of investment risk.

The research, based on a survey of more than 2000 current and prospective investors, found that while many self-identify as low-risk investors, they often rely heavily on familiar assets such as residential investment property and may misunderstand the risks associated with concentrated portfolios.

The findings also reveal a profound shift in how Australians are learning about investing, with artificial intelligence now overtaking superannuation funds as a source of investment information among younger, highly knowledgeable investors.

Alex Zaika, CEO of Global X ETFs Australia, said the results should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers, financial advisers, industry leaders and financial institutions.

"Global X began developing the GXIQ initiative earlier this year, as we could see how policy uncertainty would add unnecessary complexity for Australians trying to get ahead. The result is in, and while a national score of 63 out of 100 isn't disastrous, it's nowhere near where we need to be as a country,” he said.

"We know that Australians want to take control of their financial future. We can see that in the growth of SMSFs. Many people are choosing to manage their own super, or be involved in how their portfolio is shaped, which we completely support. However, too many of us are still relying on assumptions, old ideas, and familiar assets to make major financial decisions.”

According to the research, investors with higher GXIQ scores were significantly more likely to hold diversified portfolios, look beyond property and Australian shares, and make investment decisions with greater confidence.

Only 15% of Australian investors qualified as 'Advanced' investors, while more than half fell into Beginner or Intermediate categories.

Mr Zaika said Australia risks developing a two-speed investor economy, where those with stronger investment knowledge increasingly build diversified portfolios and create wealth, while others remain anchored to a narrow set of familiar assets.

“The real risk right now is confusion around the government’s CGT and negative gearing changes. Our research found that almost one in three prospective investors (29%), that’s those who want to invest, don’t understand what the government has announced,” he said.

Meanwhile, one in four prospective investors (25%) said they are less likely to invest following the CGT changes, only a third say it won’t impact them and just over one in 10 (12%) said they now are more likely to invest.

“The tax changes mean many Australians have delayed starting their investment journey, which is a bad outcome for them, their financial future and the economy.”

The findings come at a time when Australians are increasingly turning to non-traditional sources for investment education. Among younger Advanced investors, AI tools, online forums and social platforms are playing a growing role in shaping investment decisions.

"Financial institutions like to think they are influential in this space, but the results show otherwise. People are gathering information from everywhere. They are using social media, YouTube, Reddit, podcasts and ChatGPT. The industry needs to acknowledge that reality and respond to it,” Mr Zaika said.

He added the results highlight the need for a national conversation about financial literacy and investor education.

"We've spent years talking about improving financial literacy, but the investing landscape has changed dramatically. Australians are being asked to take greater responsibility for building wealth, planning for retirement and navigating increasingly complex markets,” he said.

"If we don't improve investor knowledge at a national level, there is a real risk that many Australians will be left behind."

The GXIQ Investor Knowledge Test measures understanding across key investment concepts including diversification, risk, compound interest, tax and investing fundamentals. The resulting score creates an individual GXIQ rating from 0 to 100.

Global X has launched the GXIQ Investor Knowledge Test to encourage Australians to benchmark their understanding of investing and identify areas where they can improve their knowledge and confidence.

A national benchmark and personal score

The Global X Investor Quotient, or GXIQ, is a new national benchmark of investor knowledge.

It measures investors’ understanding of core concepts, including diversification, compound interest, investment risk, tax and investing fundamentals. Participants receive a score from zero to 100 and are placed in one of four categories:

• Beginner: 0 to 39
• Intermediate: 40 to 69
• Proficient: 70 to 89
• Advanced: 90+

Key findings

• Australian investors scored an average GXIQ of 63 out of 100.
• Only 15% of investors achieved an Advanced rating.
• Property remains the preferred investment for less knowledgeable investors.
• More knowledgeable investors are significantly more diversified.
• AI has overtaken super funds as a source of investment information among younger Advanced investors.
• One in three prospective investors do not understand recent capital gains tax changes.
• Lack of investment knowledge is one of the leading barriers preventing Australians from investing.

Find your GXIQ

Australians can take the free 15-question quiz, receive their GXIQ score and compare their investment knowledge with the national benchmark at:

Take the GXIQ Investor Knowledge Test

The full GXIQ Investor Scorecard 2026 is available at:

Download the GXIQ Investor Scorecard 2026

Research methodology

Global X ETFs Australia commissioned Nature to conduct a 15-minute online survey among a nationally representative sample of 2,012 Australians.

The sample comprised 1,507 current investors and 505 prospective investors. Current investors were defined as people holding at least one investment outside their home and superannuation. Prospective investors did not currently invest but intended to do so within the next six months.

Fieldwork was conducted between 25 May and 7 June 2026. Results were weighted across key demographics including age, gender and location. The research was conducted in accordance with ISO 20252:2019 and ISO 27001:2013 standards.

For All Media Queries

Please contact James Mitchell, Global X ETFs | +61 413 619 034 | james.mitchell@globalxetfs.com.au

About Global X ETFs Australia

Global X ETFs Australia is a leading ETF provider with a growing range of cost-effective and innovation-led products which are built to help Australian investors achieve their investment outcomes by providing access to a successful pool of ETFs across thematics, income, commodities, digital assets and more. Global X Australia’s nuanced understanding of the local market is backed by international resources and expertise to deliver a beyond ordinary experience for all stakeholders.

About Global X ETFs

Global X ETFs was founded in 2008. For more than a decade, our mission has been empowering investors with unexplored and intelligent solutions. Our product lineup features over 500 ETF strategies worldwide and over US$170 billion in assets under management.¹ While we are distinguished for our Thematic Growth, Income, and International Access ETFs, we also offer Core, Commodity, and Alpha funds to suit a wide range of investment objectives.

Global X is a member of Mirae Asset Financial Group, a global leader in financial services, with more than US$800 billion in assets under management worldwide². Mirae Asset has an extensive global ETF platform ranging across the US, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Europe, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam with over US$208 billion in assets under management.³

<sup>1. Assets under management as at June 2026, Global X
2. Assets under management as at July 2026, Mirae Asset Financial Group
3. Assets under management as at July 2026, Mirae Asset Global Investments</sup>

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