Freedom Fund Audit: Is Your Money Working Hard Enough?
Your Freedom Fund deserves a performance review. Not a panic. Not a shame spiral. Not a wild spreadsheet rampage at midnight. Just a calm look at what your money owns, what job it is doing, what it costs, and whether you would choose it again today.
No shame. No hype. No crystal ball. Just maths.
Monday was theory. Thursday is the performance review.
In Week 6 of Rebel Finance School, we learn why low-cost global index funds are such a powerful, simple benchmark. Then we turn that measuring stick on what you already own.
That might be a rental property, pension, ISA, GIA, 401(k), KiwiSaver, adviser-managed portfolio, active fund, default fund or something mysterious that has been quietly sitting there for years whispering, “I’m probably fine?”
The Freedom Fund Audit tools help you investigate. Not panic. Not chase. Not copy Alan and Katie. Investigate.
Property needs maths
Property can be brilliant. Property can also be expensive, illiquid, tax-heavy and hassle-heavy. The tool helps you see the full picture.
Investments need looking inside
Your pension or portfolio is not a magic box. What do you own? What does it cost? What job is it doing?
Compare to understand
This is not about chasing last year’s winner. It is about understanding what you already own and choosing consciously.
Our measuring stick is a low-cost global index fund.
A benchmark is not magic. It is not a promise. It is not a prediction. It is just a sensible measuring stick.
For these tools, the benchmark we've used is Vanguard FTSE Developed World ex-UK (slightly less diversified than FTSE Global All Cap but 7 years more data available). It's still a global index fund: broad, boring, diversified, low-cost and beautifully understandable.
We are not saying the benchmark wins every year. We are saying: if you are taking more cost, hassle, concentration, complexity or illiquidity, it is worth knowing what you are getting in return.
Use these tools if you already have money working somewhere.
You do not need to be a spreadsheet wizard. You just need curiosity, your numbers, and a willingness to look under the bonnet.
This is for you if you have...
Do not use this for money needed soon.
If the money’s job is safety, bills, tax, or spending soon, do not bully it into pretending it is long-term investing money.
Important: cash and emergency funds are not “lazy” if their job is safety. A short-term job and a long-term investing job are different jobs. Don’t compare your pineapples.
Property vs Global Index Fund: Do the Maths, Not the Hype
Property can be brilliant. Property can also be expensive, illiquid, tax-heavy, hassle-heavy and weirdly hard to compare properly.
This tool helps you compare an investment property against a simple global index fund benchmark.
Not because property is bad. Not because index funds always win. Because every pound or dollar can only have one job at a time.
We are not anti-property. We are pro-maths.
The tool helps you check:
Investment / Pension / Adviser Portfolio: Compare, Don’t Chase
What is actually inside your pension, ISA, GIA, 401(k), KiwiSaver, adviser portfolio or active fund?
This tool helps you compare what you already own against a simple global index fund benchmark.
This is not the fund Olympics. We are not trying to crown last year’s winner. We are checking whether your money is doing the job you would choose for it today.
Compare to understand, not to chase.
The tool helps you check:
When Google Sheets asks about the script, this is expected.
When you make a copy of the tool, Google Sheets may show a warning about an attached Apps Script file. That is expected.
The script helps the copied tool fetch the latest index fund prices so the benchmark comparison can update.
If you want the tool to work properly, click “Make a copy” and allow the copied script to run when prompted.
If you are not sure what is happening, check the Start Here and Troubleshooting tabs inside the tool.
Start with one thing. Get curious. No shame, just data.
You do not have to audit your entire financial life in one heroic spreadsheet marathon. Pick one thing. Run the comparison. Learn something useful.
Make your own copy
Open the tool and make a copy so your numbers stay private and editable.
Choose one property, fund or portfolio
Start with one investment property, one pension fund, one adviser portfolio or one active fund. Done is better than perfect.
Fill in the numbers you know
Use statements, platform data, factsheets, tax records or your best available information. If something is missing, write it down as a question.
Let the benchmark update
The tool uses the script to fetch the latest benchmark fund prices. That is why Google Sheets shows the warning when you copy the tool.
Read the result as information, not instruction
A comparison is not an order to buy, sell or panic. It is a better question generator.
Investigate before changing anything
Check costs, tax, risk, access, liquidity and the full picture before making decisions. A little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing.
The question is not “Did this beat the benchmark last year?” The better question is: “Knowing what I know now, would I choose this again today?”
Freedom Fund Audit: Is Your Money Working for You?
Watch the Week 6 Thursday workshop to see how the tools fit into the bigger Rebel Finance School investing journey.
What happens after you compare?
The tool does not make the decision for you. It helps you ask better questions and make conscious choices.
It looks simple and sensible?
If your investment is low-cost, globally diversified, understandable and doing the job you chose, brilliant. Stop fiddling. Go live your life.
It looks expensive or confusing?
Investigate. What are you paying? What do you own? What is the adviser doing? What risk are you taking? What job is this money doing?
You would not choose it again?
Slow down. Understand fees, tax, access, risk, liquidity and consequences before changing anything. No panic moves.
You need more information?
That is still progress. Write down your questions, gather statements, check factsheets, and come back to the tool when you have better data.
Hindsight is useless for choosing the future. Past winner does not mean future winner. We compare so we can understand, not so we can chase.
Keep learning. Keep it calm. Keep moving.
If today’s audit shows something worth investigating, that is a win. You found information. You are not behind. You are not bad with money. You are learning how to manage your Freedom Fund consciously.
Educational only. You make your own decisions.
This page, the workshop and the tools are for education only. They are not financial, investment, pension, mortgage, tax, legal or regulated advice.
We are not financial advisers. We do not recommend specific products for your personal situation. We do not know your full financial life, goals, risk tolerance, tax position or personal circumstances.
Investments can go down as well as up. Property can fall in value. Funds can underperform. Fees, taxes, inflation, exchange rates, liquidity and personal circumstances all matter.
You are responsible for your own decisions. Use these tools to learn, investigate and ask better questions before you act.