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Picture Book · Investing

The leaky bucket: why fees matter

Story pages

A woman in a sun hat carrying a metal bucket of water along a backyard path to vegetable beds
Grace carries water to her vegetable garden every day.
Close view of water droplets falling from a small hole in the bottom of a metal bucket onto a garden path
A tiny hole lets a little water drip out on every trip.
A long garden path with a trail of small wet drops leading back to a tap
Fees work a bit like that hole. A small percentage each year can add up over decades.
The woman struggling to carry three dripping buckets at once
Several super accounts can mean several sets of fees and insurance premiums.
The woman sitting at a garden table reading papers carefully with reading glasses
Before combining accounts, check insurance, exit fees and features. You could lose cover you need.
The woman watering a thriving vegetable garden with one sturdy bucket
Cheapest isn't automatically best. Compare fees alongside investment options, insurance and service.

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General advice warning. This picture book is general information only. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs, and it is not personal advice. Rules and thresholds change. Before acting, consider whether it is right for you, read any relevant Product Disclosure Statement and our Financial Services Guide, and seek personal advice. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Information as at 27 October 2026. Sources:

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