Apps like Acorns have brought the phrase “micro investing” on the scene with their approach of rounding up to the next dollar whenever you spend money to invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs). So your $3.78 latte would trigger $0.22 moving from your checking account to your Acorns account. While this function fits the connotation of the catchy moniker, I’d like to steal the slogan for an avenue that offers more intentionality and portfolio opportunities than nickel-shifting your transactions will allow. 

Acorns aside, shouldn’t “micro investing” be a closed compound word? I agree. Let’s roll with “microinvesting” instead. Much better.

Of course I’m talking (in part) about Vicinity. It’s my job. But here’s why…

In a word, it’s about options. No, not the kind you can lose your life savings on if the market takes a bad swing. Microinvesting represents a movement towards diversification that levels the playing field for investors of any shape or size. You now have choices about which investment opportunities win your dollars.

While retail investing in public companies with spare change through snazzy apps gives some options, private companies – including small businesses, startups, and real estate, have largely been reserved for accredited investors. This means 99% of businesses that exist haven’t been an option for your portfolio. And the BIG companies where you can invest relatively tiny amounts have BIG market influencers you have nothing to do with.

But for about 7% of a single Google share, you can take part in a growing, job-creating, customer-loving private company near you. You can even talk with the owner to learn about your investment. And with investments starting at $100, you can spread your investments across a variety of companies, making you as diversified as…a well-diversified angel investor.

Even for our accredited friends who seek to take part in private investments, needing to drop $25k or even $50k as a minimum investment can make it REALLY hard to diversify the way you’d want. Microinvesting helps solve this diversification problem across the wealth spectrum.

In summary, microinvesting options are breaking down the walls on investment types and amounts that have pigeon-holed investors into pretty narrow buckets. This unlocks access to companies in various stages, sizes, and industries for dollar amounts that fit your comfort level.

So go ahead and click “add to dictionary” on microinvesting and pair your new choices with personal responsibility (still required) to create a portfolio you can love and be proud of.