Unlike most students of her age, 21-year old Gabby Simonavičiutė is using some of her earnings to invest for her future.
Gabby, who is in her third year studying events management at university, has a part-time job with a management role.
She says: “Even from when I was little I was aware of money’s worth and the fact it does not grow on trees. I’ve always saved for things, but as I’ve grown a bit older these savings goals have grown more ambitious.”
Gabby says the biggest change was going to university and becoming financially independent at the same time. “I realised that by just saving money I would not reach my financial goals quickly enough so I started looking at other available options, and this included investing.”
Gabby is currently investing some of her earnings into an Isa. This is her only investment at present, though she would like to invest in a pension fund in the near future.
“I’d certainly be interested to know more about pensions, and I like the idea of investing in property too.”
She invests in her Isa via a new fintech app called Wombat. This company, which launched in the summer of 2019, aims its services at younger investors. Like many ‘robo-investing’ apps it claims to have low investment charges, with people able to save from just £10 a month. It also offers an extensive range of themed funds, based on a range of different interests: from computer gaming, to fast-food providers to companies involved in artificial intelligence.
ESG Track Record
A number of these themed funds are based on a company’s track record on environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors.
As Gabby points out these have snappy titles that make it easier to match her investments to her principles.
“I have tried to ensure my investments are aligned to my interests and beliefs. In some way I think of myself as being emotionally invested as well as financially invested in these funds. For example I am interested in investments that try to tackle that environmental crisis, as well as those that promote and stand for equality.”
She adds: “Aside from these I am also tend to look through new technology trends as this is an area I am interested in.”
For example she invests in Wombat’s "The Green Machine" fund. As the name suggests this invests in a range of renewable energy companies that are producing energy from wind, solar and other renewable sources. The fund for example invests in global companies such as First Solar (FSLR), Meridian (MEL) and Vestas (VWS).
Gender Equality ETF
Gabby isn’t just interested in the environmental part, or the “E” of ESG. She also invests in Wombat’s “Women in Power” fund. This invests in an ETF which has a focus on companies which are leading the field in gender equality, with higher ratios of women in senior and boardroom positions, or strict targets to improve performance in this area.
This ETF tracks a number of global companies from across a range of sectors, including Microsoft (MSFT), clothing retailer Gap (GPS), Royal Mail (RMG) and Moneysupermarket (MONY).
Wombat also offers a “Techie” portfolio, which appeals to Gabby’s interest in technology companies. This invests in a number of well-known brands including Google parent company Alphabet (GOOGL), Apple (AAPL), Facebook (FB) and Adobe (ADBE).
Gabby says: “Some of these funds are up by 50%, since I’ve invested, which is empowering when I think about it.”
Looking across her funds, they are all in positively territory at present. But she adds: “This hasn’t always been the case and I have learned first hand that investing can be more volatile.
“When I first started investing I wasn’t sure what I was doing at all. I would be putting my investments towards things that seemed ‘logical’ or in funds that I had read about somewhere.
“This was my starting point. Fortunately, I started investing with really small amounts of money. As I’ve gained a bit more knowledge and experience I have started to build my portfolio with higher values.”
She adds: “I’ve tried to expand my knowledge about investing by reading articles and other information. It has been a journey learning about all this.”