Platform comparison · fees as at 5 July 2026
InvestNow vs Kernel
As at 5 July 2026, InvestNow publishes an account fee of "None" and a managed-fund order fee of "None on most funds"; Kernel publishes "None on the Core plan" and "$0" respectively, per each platform's own published pricing.
Fees, side by side
Each figure is read from the platform's own published pricing/FAQ page — linked under every cell with the date it was accessed. Where a platform doesn't publish a figure in those sources, the cell says so; nothing is estimated.
| Fee | InvestNow | Kernel |
|---|---|---|
| Account / admin fee | None "InvestNow does not charge any account or administration fees." As at 5 July 2026 · InvestNow — What are the fees and costs? | None on the Core plan Optional paid plans: Plus at $5/month ($50/year) and Premium at $15/month ($150/year) — these lower the US-share FX fee and add features; funds and KiwiSaver carry no member fee on any plan. As at 5 July 2026 · Kernel — Pricing |
| Managed-fund order fee | None on most funds A small number of funds carry InvestNow-levied transaction fees — the Vanguard funds and the Foundation Series Core Equity funds are charged 0.50% on buys and 0.50% on sells; the Foundation Series Diversified funds are not. As at 5 July 2026 · InvestNow — Foundation Series PIE funds (fee table) | $0 Kernel publishes $0 transaction fees on its funds across all plans; Kernel fund management fees run 0.25–0.50% p.a. As at 5 July 2026 · Kernel — Pricing |
| Share / ETF order fee | Not published in the sources this page verifies against — omitted rather than estimated. | $0 brokerage (US shares & ETFs) The cost sits in the FX fee rather than brokerage. As at 5 July 2026 · Kernel — Pricing |
| Currency-exchange (FX) fee | Not published in the sources this page verifies against — omitted rather than estimated. | 1.50% (Core) · 0.60% (Plus) · 0.40% (Premium) Applies to US shares & ETFs, not to Kernel funds. As at 5 July 2026 · Kernel — Pricing |
| Minimum investment | $250 one-off · $50 via a Regular Investment Plan "Minimum investment amount for Managed Funds purchases is $50, when part of a Regular Investment Plan, or $250 for one-off investments." As at 5 July 2026 · InvestNow — minimum investment FAQ | None for funds · $1 for US shares & ETFs As at 5 July 2026 · Kernel — Pricing |
The fund's own annual fund charge (set in its PDS) applies on either platform and is not shown here — see each fund's page, or the fund-fees guide with its fee-band directory. Platform fees change; each platform's own pricing page is authoritative.
Which funds can you actually reach?
InvestNow
118 of the 304 funds tracked on this site have InvestNow availability verified against InvestNow's own fund pages within the last 90 days — the widest verified shelf overlap with this site's fund universe. Each fund page shows its own verified-on date.
Open the fund screener →Kernel
Kernel's shelf is built around its own funds: 27 Kernel-managed funds are tracked on this site (see the Kernel provider profile). Funds from other managers in this site's universe are generally not available via Kernel.
Kernel provider profile →Structural differences
- → InvestNow is an open-architecture shelf carrying funds from many managers; Kernel's shelf is built around Kernel's own index funds.
- → Kernel also offers US shares & ETFs (FX fee applies, tiered by plan); InvestNow offers managed funds, KiwiSaver and term deposits.
- → Kernel publishes no minimum for its funds; InvestNow orders start at $50 (Regular Investment Plan) or $250 (one-off).
Questions about this comparison
What does InvestNow charge on managed-fund orders?
None on most funds. A small number of funds carry InvestNow-levied transaction fees — the Vanguard funds and the Foundation Series Core Equity funds are charged 0.50% on buys and 0.50% on sells; the Foundation Series Diversified funds are not. (As at 5 July 2026, per InvestNow — Foundation Series PIE funds (fee table).)
What does Kernel charge on managed-fund orders?
$0. Kernel publishes $0 transaction fees on its funds across all plans; Kernel fund management fees run 0.25–0.50% p.a. (As at 5 July 2026, per Kernel — Pricing.)
Do the funds themselves cost the same on each platform?
A fund's own annual fund charge is set by the fund manager in its PDS, not by the platform — the same fund carries the same annual charge wherever it is bought. The platform layer adds (or doesn't add) account fees, order fees, FX fees and minimums, which is what this page compares.
Where do the fee figures come from and how current are they?
Every figure is read from the platform's own published pricing or FAQ page and carries that source URL plus the date it was accessed (currently 5 July 2026). Platform fees change — treat each platform's own pricing page as authoritative, and email hello@managedfunds.nz if a figure has drifted.
Is this a recommendation of one platform?
No. ManagedFundsNZ is not licensed to provide financial advice and is not affiliated with any platform on this page. This is a mechanical, dated comparison of published fees and structural facts; which platform suits an investor depends on circumstances this page does not assess.
More platform comparisons
ManagedFundsNZ is not affiliated with any platform on this page and accepts no paid placement. This is general information, not financial advice — read the relevant PDS and consider personalised advice from a licensed financial adviser before investing.