It was a rather well done infographic from online share trading platforms Hatch which boosts about its numbers for 2021. And it is probably entitled to.

If Hatch was a managed fund, other than a KiwiSaver Scheme, it probably had some of the strongest inflows in the market.

That raises the question are these platforms a threat or opportunity for financial advisers?

First to the numbers.

Hatch, which was set up by KiwiWealth, and recently sold to FNZ, says in 2021 its members, so-called Hatchlings, invested more than $1.1 billion with the platform - that's about $150,000 an hour.

It says deposits into the platform totalled $569.7 million (or about $1,189 a minute), and this was double last year’s total.

Some of the other highlights are a little perturbing such as this one: "620 investors joined the ‘Six Figure Club’. At one point during the year, they each made unrealised gains of $100,000 - or almost twice the average Kiwi salary."

There is no doubt these platforms are successful, but are they a threat or opportunity for financial advisers? The simple answer is who knows. Maybe Hatchlings are just learning the basics of investing and will realise they need some professional advice. 

Or maybe will get into trouble at some stage, and need advice.

Or, the worst case scenario, is we have 1987 all over again. Thousands of investors lose heaps of money and are turned off shares for decades. The fallout from 1987 is really only just, finally vanishing (probably due to age).

I know the regulators are concerned about these platforms. While they are great for getting people to save, they are largely unregulated. There are plenty of stories around on the internet how people invest in whims, tweets, Reddit posts and other things.

No doubt pieces like the Herald's Top Broker Picks for 2022 will be enough for people to buy Scott Technology or Trade Window - largely unheard of and unresearched companies.

It really does seem that regulation is miles behind what is happening in the market. Other participants including financial advisers and managed investment schemes are tightly regulated, then there is billions of dollars flowing to these platforms.

When the market turns, as it inevitably will, it is going to be interesting times. Will that be 2022?