Find a broker or adviser

There are a number of things to consider before you start looking for a broker or adviser, such as how much money you would like to invest in the market, and whether or not you will need help to decide which investments to choose.

Important considerations

Before you start looking for a broker or financial adviser it is important to know how much money you would like to invest in the market and whether or not you will need help to decide where to invest.

While you can place a trade for as little as $500, it is important to consider your investment goals before you begin trading. Here are some questions to ask yourself before you begin your search for an adviser:

What do you want to achieve from your investments?
Do you want a return in the form of income or capital growth?

Are you prepared to risk some of your investment capital for the opportunity to make higher returns?

What is your investment time horizon?

A full service broker or financial adviser can help assess your current financial situation and set your financial goals.

If you are interested in low-cost trading and confident in your sharemarket knowledge you may prefer an online stockbroker.

For more information, please refer to our start investing section on the website.

You can use the ASX Find an Adviser website to help you with your search for an adviser.

Types of stock and futures brokers

The main difference between brokers is whether they offer advice or not, they are either:

Full service brokers
Offering advice on buying and selling securities, make recommendations, provide research and compile tailored investment plans. They typically charge a higher brokerage fee as a result of the advice and other services offered. Accredited advisers are also available for options, warrants and futures or,
Online brokers
Offering no recommendations or advice regarding the appropriateness of your decision, hence their brokerage fees tend to be lower. This is an attractive option for investors confident in their sharemarket knowledge and trading decisions. They are typically either internet based or telephone based.

Did you know 63% of Australians are open to receiving financial advice in the future?

The ASX Australian Investor Study 2020 shows Australian investors are active, engaged and open to professional advice.

There has also been a renewed interest in advice in light of recent market movements impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 84% of respondents who were already receiving financial advice found their adviser helpful throughout this period, and 17% of non-advised investors say they are more likely to consult a financial adviser in future. However, 25% of investors said they didn’t know how to find a suitable adviser.

Introducing the ASX Find an Adviser website

ASX is pleased to launch the Find an Adviser website, helping to improve accessibility of advice for investors seeking professional guidance on their investment goals.

You can use the Find an Adviser site to search for advisers near your suburb and filter results by distance and your desired investment amount. The search results will display a list of advisers meeting the criteria, the firm they work for and the ASX listed products they advise on, such as Shares, ETFs, LICs, mFund, Bonds, Hybrids, Warrants and Options. You can also see more information about the adviser’s biography and qualifications.