Share

cover art for 5. First decision every investor makes: Finding a broker

12 Steps to Get Started Investing

5. First decision every investor makes: Finding a broker

Season 1, Ep. 5

This 12 part series is originally found within Get Started Investing Podcast, which helps beginner investors break down barriers. We cover all the basics you need to start your investing journey. If you like more of this content, listen to Get Started Investing in your preferred podcast app.  

*****

The first decision every investor has to make, whether you are Warren Buffett or a new investor. We all start our investing journey with the same first step - choosing a broker. To make a trade in the share market you have to go through a broker, and with technology these days there has never been more choice.

So in this episode we answer the big question, "how do I actually buy shares?". We then break down all the factors you should consider so you can be confident in making the first choice in your investing journey.

In this episode you will learn:

  • What is a broker
  • How brokers have changed with the internet and new technology
  • Factors to consider when deciding on a broker
  • How Bryce and Ren chose their first broker and if they've changed over time.
  • Some of the different costs that may be charged by a broker
  • How you can access overseas markets (and why you definitely should!)
  • What market data is offered by different brokers
  • How brokerage platforms are trying to become communities
  • What you should consider if you have multiple brokerage accounts


*****

Want more Equity Mates? Come to our website and explore! You’ll find information on our full network of shows, including our Equity Mates Investing Podcast, book recommendations, blogs, news, and more. 


*****

In the spirit of reconciliation, Equity Mates Media and the hosts of Get Started Investing acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people today. 


*****


Get Started Investing is a product of Equity Mates Media. 


All information in this podcast is for education and entertainment purposes only. Equity Mates gives listeners access to information and educational content provided by a range of financial services professionals. It is not intended as a substitute for professional finance, legal or tax advice. 


The hosts of Get Started Investing are not financial professionals and are not aware of your personal financial circumstances. Equity Mates Media does not operate under an Australian financial services licence and relies on the exemption available under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) in respect of any information or advice given.


Before making any financial decisions you should read the Product Disclosure Statement and, if necessary, consult a licensed financial professional. 


Do not take financial advice from a podcast. 


For more information head to the disclaimer page on the Equity Mates website where you can find ASIC resources and find a registered financial professional near you. 

 

Get Started Investing is part of the Acast Creator Network. 

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 12. 12. Be Global, Be Different, Get Out of Your Own Way

    20:51||Season 1, Ep. 12
    This 12 part series is originally found within Get Started Investing Podcast, which helps beginner investors break down barriers. We cover all the basics you need to start your investing journey. If you like more of this content, listen to Get Started Investing in your preferred podcast app.  *****You've made it to the end of Get Started Investing. We hope this series has helped you get started on your investing journey.In this final episode we are closing out the series by wrapping up the key themes and sharing some advice we have collected while doing the podcast. Just because the series has come to an end, doesn't mean your listening to the Equity Mates team has to. Come across to the Equity Mates Investing Podcast and continue your journey. We speak to experts, break down key concepts and discuss our own personal investing journeys. Investing is a journey best shared. Being able to talk about concepts and ideas is useful and motivating. The Equity Mates podcast and Equity Mates community is full of like-minded people looking to share their investing journey. Most importantly, good luck on your investing journey. The stock market has been history's greatest wealth creator and getting started investing can change your life. Whether it is retiring early, reducing reliance on your paycheque or upgrading your lifestyle - making the right decisions now can help you get there.In this episode you will learn: Go Global - make sure you look outside Australia. The biggest share market in the world is the US; get involvedBe Different - don't always follow the crowd. For good returns, consider trying to be a bit different; rather than just ASX200 index, consider one that is for growth, or momentum, or emerging markets; having a mix is importantGet Out Of Your Own Way - automate what you can, be consistent; take the emotion out of buying and selling*****Want more Equity Mates? Come to our website and explore! You’ll find information on our full network of shows, including our Equity Mates Investing Podcast, book recommendations, blogs, news, and more. *****In the spirit of reconciliation, Equity Mates Media and the hosts of Get Started Investing acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people today. *****Get Started Investing is a product of Equity Mates Media. All information in this podcast is for education and entertainment purposes only. Equity Mates gives listeners access to information and educational content provided by a range of financial services professionals. It is not intended as a substitute for professional finance, legal or tax advice. The hosts of Get Started Investing are not financial professionals and are not aware of your personal financial circumstances. Equity Mates Media does not operate under an Australian financial services licence and relies on the exemption available under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) in respect of any information or advice given.Before making any financial decisions you should read the Product Disclosure Statement and, if necessary, consult a licensed financial professional. Do not take financial advice from a podcast. For more information head to the disclaimer page on the Equity Mates website where you can find ASIC resources and find a registered financial professional near you. Get Started Investing is part of the Acast Creator Network. C7eSbbzUDrmwuoQgExVN
  • 11. 11. Building an investment portfolio

    33:38||Season 1, Ep. 11
    This 12 part series is originally found within Get Started Investing Podcast, which helps beginner investors break down barriers. We cover all the basics you need to start your investing journey. If you like more of this content, listen to Get Started Investing in your preferred podcast app.  *****What does it take to build a great portfolio?This episode we debunk the myth that you need to be an expert to build a great portfolio. The truth is, it's simple, as long as you're dedicated, do your own research and are prepared to have some fun. We discuss the simple building blocks that we think are fundamental to building a portfolio and that are achievable for the beginner.In this episode you will learn: What is an investing portfolioThe 4 pillars for building a portfolio - goals, risk, diversify and allocateImportance of having a strategy or at least end goalHow to set personal investing goalsThinking about riskHow to identify your risk profileDiversifying assets: 5% rule & Perfect portfolioImportance of asset allocation:Do you keep some cash available to put into the market when it drops?How much of your portfolio should be made up of individual stocks vs. ETFs or LICs.For a beginner would a heavier focus on the latter be appropriate?Diversification and rebalancing your portfolio Want more?*****Want more Equity Mates? Come to our website and explore! You’ll find information on our full network of shows, including our Equity Mates Investing Podcast, book recommendations, blogs, news, and more. *****In the spirit of reconciliation, Equity Mates Media and the hosts of Get Started Investing acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people today. *****Get Started Investing is a product of Equity Mates Media. All information in this podcast is for education and entertainment purposes only. Equity Mates gives listeners access to information and educational content provided by a range of financial services professionals. It is not intended as a substitute for professional finance, legal or tax advice. The hosts of Get Started Investing are not financial professionals and are not aware of your personal financial circumstances. Equity Mates Media does not operate under an Australian financial services licence and relies on the exemption available under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) in respect of any information or advice given.Before making any financial decisions you should read the Product Disclosure Statement and, if necessary, consult a licensed financial professional. Do not take financial advice from a podcast. For more information head to the disclaimer page on the Equity Mates website where you can find ASIC resources and find a registered financial professional near you.  Get Started Investing is part of the Acast Creator Network. 
  • 10. 10. Tips when buying and selling

    32:23||Season 1, Ep. 10
    This 12 part series is originally found within Get Started Investing Podcast, which helps beginner investors break down barriers. We cover all the basics you need to start your investing journey. If you like more of this content, listen to Get Started Investing in your preferred podcast app.  *****Now that you've found a company you'd like to buy, there are a few things to consider when buying, and selling.In this episode you will learn:How do I then buy the shares?How do I sell the shares?Types of orders; what are they and what's their purpose: market order, limit order and stop orderHow do I know when is a good time to buy?Dollar cost averagingHow do I know when is a good time to sell?*****Want more Equity Mates? Come to our website and explore! You’ll find information on our full network of shows, including our Equity Mates Investing Podcast, book recommendations, blogs, news, and more. *****In the spirit of reconciliation, Equity Mates Media and the hosts of Get Started Investing acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people today. *****Get Started Investing is a product of Equity Mates Media. All information in this podcast is for education and entertainment purposes only. Equity Mates gives listeners access to information and educational content provided by a range of financial services professionals. It is not intended as a substitute for professional finance, legal or tax advice. The hosts of Get Started Investing are not financial professionals and are not aware of your personal financial circumstances. Equity Mates Media does not operate under an Australian financial services licence and relies on the exemption available under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) in respect of any information or advice given.Before making any financial decisions you should read the Product Disclosure Statement and, if necessary, consult a licensed financial professional. Do not take financial advice from a podcast. For more information head to the disclaimer page on the Equity Mates website where you can find ASIC resources and find a registered financial professional near you.  Get Started Investing is part of the Acast Creator Network. 
  • 9. 9. How to Find a Good Company

    24:37||Season 1, Ep. 9
    This 12 part series is originally found within Get Started Investing Podcast, which helps beginner investors break down barriers. We cover all the basics you need to start your investing journey. If you like more of this content, listen to Get Started Investing in your preferred podcast app.  *****We've taken the plunge and put money into the stock market through an index fund. Now it is time to take the next step and buy our first company. There are thousands of companies on offer just in Australia, with hundreds of thousands of companies available across the globe (latest estimates 630,000). With so much choice, no one can research every company.So we introduce three simple ways to cut down that number of companies to a far more manageable list. This is the daunting part for a lot of people. Starting the research process on individual companies and trying to assess which will be good investments.This episode should make a little easier but most importantly, should remind you that you don't need to get it right every time. No one has a 100% track record in investing. The good thing - to build long term wealth you don't even need to get 50% right. By selling companies you are losing money on, and letting your good picks grow and grow - you can still make money while being wrong half the time.In this episode we start to unpack how. In this episode you will learn: The vast number of companies available for you to invest inThree ways you can narrow down your choicesLook around and use your experiencesFollow the leaderStock screenersKey things to keep in mind when buying individual companies*****Want more Equity Mates? Come to our website and explore! You’ll find information on our full network of shows, including our Equity Mates Investing Podcast, book recommendations, blogs, news, and more. *****In the spirit of reconciliation, Equity Mates Media and the hosts of Get Started Investing acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people today. *****Get Started Investing is a product of Equity Mates Media. All information in this podcast is for education and entertainment purposes only. Equity Mates gives listeners access to information and educational content provided by a range of financial services professionals. It is not intended as a substitute for professional finance, legal or tax advice. The hosts of Get Started Investing are not financial professionals and are not aware of your personal financial circumstances. Equity Mates Media does not operate under an Australian financial services licence and relies on the exemption available under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) in respect of any information or advice given.Before making any financial decisions you should read the Product Disclosure Statement and, if necessary, consult a licensed financial professional. Do not take financial advice from a podcast. For more information head to the disclaimer page on the Equity Mates website where you can find ASIC resources and find a registered financial professional near you.  Get Started Investing is part of the Acast Creator Network. 
  • 8. 8. Knowledge is Power: Finding the right information

    28:33||Season 1, Ep. 8
    This 12 part series is originally found within Get Started Investing Podcast, which helps beginner investors break down barriers. We cover all the basics you need to start your investing journey. If you like more of this content, listen to Get Started Investing in your preferred podcast app.  *****One of the best and worst things about investing in the 21st century: there is never a shortage of information. You can find more facts and opinions on a company than you'll never need, but it also means you can get lost in this sea of conflicting opinions.One Equity Mates guest referred to it as the "firehose of information" which we think sums it up quite nicely. To manage this information flow, the important skill is not being able to find information but finding the right information. In this episode we break down how we manage information and list some of our go-to sources.In this episode you will learn: How we find informationDifference between top down and bottom up approachesWhere you can find information put out by companies themselvesWhat you can learn from traditional financial mediaHow the internet has created a whole culture of sharing information and ideasSome of our favourite financial books and podcastsStocks and resources discussed: Thought Starters Australian Financial ReviewYahoo financeGoogle financeTrade view*****Want more Equity Mates? Come to our website and explore! You’ll find information on our full network of shows, including our Equity Mates Investing Podcast, book recommendations, blogs, news, and more. *****In the spirit of reconciliation, Equity Mates Media and the hosts of Get Started Investing acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people today. *****Get Started Investing is a product of Equity Mates Media. All information in this podcast is for education and entertainment purposes only. Equity Mates gives listeners access to information and educational content provided by a range of financial services professionals. It is not intended as a substitute for professional finance, legal or tax advice. The hosts of Get Started Investing are not financial professionals and are not aware of your personal financial circumstances. Equity Mates Media does not operate under an Australian financial services licence and relies on the exemption available under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) in respect of any information or advice given.Before making any financial decisions you should read the Product Disclosure Statement and, if necessary, consult a licensed financial professional. Do not take financial advice from a podcast. For more information head to the disclaimer page on the Equity Mates website where you can find ASIC resources and find a registered financial professional near you.  Get Started Investing is part of the Acast Creator Network. 
  • 7. 7. Pardon the Jargon: Terms you need to know

    25:43||Season 1, Ep. 7
    This 12 part series is originally found within Get Started Investing Podcast, which helps beginner investors break down barriers. We cover all the basics you need to start your investing journey. If you like more of this content, listen to Get Started Investing in your preferred podcast app.  *****At Equity Mates we are the only media company with an official policy on jargon. We hate it and officially are against it. A lot of people in the finance thrive when their clients don't understand what is being discussed and don't know what questions to ask. So, pardon the jargon, but here is some you need to know.More importantly, at the end of this episode, we explain how we figure out what jargon mean when we come across terms we're unfamiliar with. This will help you do the same next time you come across jargon you're not familiar with.In this episode you will learn: Market jargon: Bull & Bear, CHESS, Equities, Liquidity, ETF, Crypto & CapitalCompany specific jargon: P/E ratio, Income Statement, Balance Sheet & DividendTrading jargon: Portfolio, Volatility, Yield, Diversification, Allocation & Capital GainsHow to figure out the meaning of jargon you come across in the future*****Want more Equity Mates? Come to our website and explore! You’ll find information on our full network of shows, including our Equity Mates Investing Podcast, book recommendations, blogs, news, and more. *****In the spirit of reconciliation, Equity Mates Media and the hosts of Get Started Investing acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people today. *****Get Started Investing is a product of Equity Mates Media. All information in this podcast is for education and entertainment purposes only. Equity Mates gives listeners access to information and educational content provided by a range of financial services professionals. It is not intended as a substitute for professional finance, legal or tax advice. The hosts of Get Started Investing are not financial professionals and are not aware of your personal financial circumstances. Equity Mates Media does not operate under an Australian financial services licence and relies on the exemption available under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) in respect of any information or advice given.Before making any financial decisions you should read the Product Disclosure Statement and, if necessary, consult a licensed financial professional. Do not take financial advice from a podcast. For more information head to the disclaimer page on the Equity Mates website where you can find ASIC resources and find a registered financial professional near you.  Get Started Investing is part of the Acast Creator Network. 
  • 6. 6. Just get started: Buying an index

    24:13||Season 1, Ep. 6
    This 12 part series is originally found within Get Started Investing Podcast, which helps beginner investors break down barriers. We cover all the basics you need to start your investing journey. If you like more of this content, listen to Get Started Investing in your preferred podcast app.  *****Halfway through this series and we're only just getting to 'buying your first stock'.What have we been talking about... The theme of this episode is all about 'just getting started'. In the spirit of this we are introducing the concept of an index. An index is the perfect opportunity to take the indecision out of getting into the market and giving you access to hundreds of great companies all in one easy trade. It is the perfect way to just get started!In this episode you will learn: What Bryce and Ren would purchase if they were starting their investing journey againWhat is an indexThe major index in Australia - ASX 200Major indexes around the world - S&P500, Dow Jones, NASDAQ100, FTSE100, DAXA few indexes that track the whole worldTwo main ways you can access an index - on market and off marketHow the ETF has made it easier to access indexes than ever beforeOther ETFs that track 'baskets of stocks'.How you can invest in 'themes' like biotech, marijuana and space exploration*****Want more Equity Mates? Come to our website and explore! You’ll find information on our full network of shows, including our Equity Mates Investing Podcast, book recommendations, blogs, news, and more. *****In the spirit of reconciliation, Equity Mates Media and the hosts of Get Started Investing acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people today. *****Get Started Investing is a product of Equity Mates Media. All information in this podcast is for education and entertainment purposes only. Equity Mates gives listeners access to information and educational content provided by a range of financial services professionals. It is not intended as a substitute for professional finance, legal or tax advice. The hosts of Get Started Investing are not financial professionals and are not aware of your personal financial circumstances. Equity Mates Media does not operate under an Australian financial services licence and relies on the exemption available under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) in respect of any information or advice given.Before making any financial decisions you should read the Product Disclosure Statement and, if necessary, consult a licensed financial professional. Do not take financial advice from a podcast. For more information head to the disclaimer page on the Equity Mates website where you can find ASIC resources and find a registered financial professional near you.  Get Started Investing is part of the Acast Creator Network. 
  • 4. 4. What can we invest in?

    25:13||Season 1, Ep. 4
    This 12 part series is originally found within Get Started Investing Podcast, which helps beginner investors break down barriers. We cover all the basics you need to start your investing journey. If you like more of this content, listen to Get Started Investing in your preferred podcast app.  *****The beauty of investing is the world of choice that is available to you. Technology has broken down barriers and it has never been easier to access all of the opportunity that is out there. From Australian property to Asian stocks, European bonds to American currency, we can now buy all of these online. With so much opportunity at our fingertips the hardest part is knowing where to start.So in this episode we break down some of the key assets that you can invest in (and one that you shouldn't!).In this episode you will learn: The definition of an asset and the two functions it playsThe three most common assets - money, stocks and bondsWhat role money (or cash) plays in your investing portfolioThe definition of inflation and the risk it plays into your portfolioWhy stashing cash under your mattress isn't a good investmentAn introduction to the difference between stocks and bondsThe meaning, and importance of, diversificationHow you can buy other types of assets on the share marketHow you actually make money from these assetsWhat a dividend is and how you get it as an investorWhy stocks are the preferred asset class at Equity Mates*****Want more Equity Mates? Come to our website and explore! You’ll find information on our full network of shows, including our Equity Mates Investing Podcast, book recommendations, blogs, news, and more. *****In the spirit of reconciliation, Equity Mates Media and the hosts of Get Started Investing acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people today. *****Get Started Investing is a product of Equity Mates Media. All information in this podcast is for education and entertainment purposes only. Equity Mates gives listeners access to information and educational content provided by a range of financial services professionals. It is not intended as a substitute for professional finance, legal or tax advice. The hosts of Get Started Investing are not financial professionals and are not aware of your personal financial circumstances. Equity Mates Media does not operate under an Australian financial services licence and relies on the exemption available under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) in respect of any information or advice given.Before making any financial decisions you should read the Product Disclosure Statement and, if necessary, consult a licensed financial professional. Do not take financial advice from a podcast. For more information head to the disclaimer page on the Equity Mates website where you can find ASIC resources and find a registered financial professional near you.  Get Started Investing is part of the Acast Creator Network.