GCash GInvest: Ultimate Beginner’s Guide

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GCash has grown to become more than just a digital wallet where you can send money and pay bills. It has insurance plans, savings accounts, loans, credit lines, and an investment platform.

The investment platform on GCash is called GInvest. You may have already heard of GInvest before or seen the GInvest icon on the app.

If you are interested in exploring GInvest to invest for your future self or to make your money work for you, this article will act as a beginner’s guide. You will find all there is to know about the basics of investing using GInvest.

What is GInvest?

GInvest is a feature available on the GCash app that allows users to choose from a marketplace of investment funds.

You can buy, sell, and manage investment products from one of GCash’s partner providers.

What are investment funds?

An investment fund, such as a mutual fund or unit investment trust fund (UITF), is a vehicle wherein investors pool their money together to invest in stocks and bonds collectively. The fund is professionally managed by a fund manager that does the investing for you.

The fund manager decides which financial instruments to invest in on your behalf and also watches out for different market trends. This is different from investing in stocks or bonds where you are the one investing in individual investment vehicles.

Funds available on GInvest

Two companies currently offer different unit investment trust funds (UITFs) that GCash users can invest in. Those two companies are ATRAM Trust Corporation and BPI Investment Management, Inc. under the Bank of the Philippine Islands.

The funds that you can invest in are the following:

  • ATRAM Peso Money Market Fund

This is a Philippine-based fixed-income fund that includes various Philippine treasury bills.

  • ATRAM Total Return Peso Bond Fund

This fund consists of Philippine government and corporate bonds.

  • ATRAM Philippine Equity Smart Index Fund

The ATRAM Philippine Equity Smart Index Fund invests in 30 companies on the Philippine Stock Exchange index.

  • ATRAM Technology Feeder Fund

This is one of the few global funds on GInvest. It invests in equities of foreign technology companies such as Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet (Google), and Samsung.

  • ATRAM Consumer Trends Feeder Fund

As the second global fund on GInvest, the ATRAM Consumer Trends Feeder Fund invests in foreign equities based on consumer needs. Some examples of the fund picks include Amazon, Tesla, and Nintendo.

  • BPI-IMI Philippine Stock Index Fund

The fund invests assets in the stocks on the Philippine Stock Exchange Composite Index (PSEi).

  • BPI-IMI ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund

This is another global fund that is newly introduced to GInvest. It is also the only fund right now that releases dividends. The fund invests assets into a single collective scheme.

GCash’s Partner Providers

The partner providers on GInvest are trusted investment and asset management companies globally and in the Philippines. You can be assured that your money is safe with them, but this does not mean you cannot lose any money. Investments always involve some level of risk and loss.

ATRAM Trust Corporation has a license to operate from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). The trust manages many funds here in the Philippines, and they have five funds available on GCash. BPI Investment Management is the Bank of the Philippines Islands’ asset management arm. Like ATRAM, they are a stand-alone trust corporation.

How to invest on GInvest

Step 1: Open the GCash app on your phone.

Step 2: Tap the “GInvest” icon with the plant.

Step 3: Take the risk profile quiz to determine your risk appetite.

Step 4: Choose one of the funds to invest in.

Step 5: Tap on “Buy.”

Step 6: Input how much you want to invest.

Step 7: Tap “Next” and confirm the transaction.

Step 8: Wait for the SMS and email confirmation. Your investment will be processed within a few days.

How to withdraw from GInvest

Step 1: Open GCash and log in.

Step 2: Go to the GInvest tab.

Step 3: Tap “View Investment Products.”

Step 4: Select the fund you want to sell.

Step 5: Tap on the “Sell” button.

Step 6: Enter your desired amount.

Step 7: Tap on “Next” and complete the sell transaction. It will be reflected after at least eight business days.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long is the processing time for buying and selling on GInvest?

It can take between three and five business days to buy. Selling will take at least eight business days.

Are there fees on GInvest?

GCash does not charge any transaction fees. However, the funds you invest in have management fees since they are handled by a professional fund manager.

Is my investment guaranteed?

Investment funds are less risky since you have the help of a fund manager. However, investing always involves risk and there is a possibility of losing money.

Conclusion

GCash made investing so much more accessible for the average Filipino.

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Jerico
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