Stake is an Australian-based financial services company that provides an online platform that allows users to invest in the U.S. stock market. It has a user-friendly interface and low fees, as well as a variety of features, including education on investing, portfolio tracking and analytics, and a risk management tool. In this Stake review, learn how Stake's cost-friendly starter plans allow users to start investing with as little as $50 and enjoy low-cost access to global markets. It also offers a mobile app and plans to expand its services to other markets.
Stake provides a range of educational content and resources, as well as customer support 24/7. It also offers fast deposit and withdrawal options, tax optimization features, and automated investing. Furthermore, Stake provides access to a wide range of investment options, allowing customers to diversify their portfolios. Stake's pricing is competitive with other similar services.
Starting your investing journey can be challenging, but thankfully, there are platforms like online brokers that make the process easier and more manageable. But with so many different brokers available, how do you choose the one that's best suited for you? In this Stake review, we'll go over one of the best commission-free brokers in Australia, its features, pros and cons and best use cases.
What Is Stake
Stake is a commission-free online stockbroker that provides access to U.S. stocks, ETFs, and options. It also has a mobile app and plans to expand its services to other markets. It’s a well-known Australian financial services company founded in 2017 in Melbourne. It provides a platform that allows users to invest in the Australian and U.S. stock markets.
Stake’s costs are relatively low, eliminating the need to pay high brokerage fees or to buy expensive stocks. It also offers a variety of features, including education on investing, portfolio tracking and analytics, and a risk management tool.
Stake has been featured in many news outlets and has been praised by customers for its user-friendly interface, low fees, and wide range of features. One of its top features is its “Copy Portfolios,” which allows users to copy portfolios of experienced investors and receive updates about their investments in real-time.
The platform also offers an extensive range of educational resources and live classes, as well as the ability to track your portfolio performance, manage risk, and set up automatic alerts.
Features Of Stake
#1 Affordable Beginner Options
Stake is an attractive option for those looking to break into the world of financial services. With the company, you can start investing with as little as $50 and enjoy low-cost access to global markets. Stake offers a $3 brokerage on ASX trades and a $0 brokerage commission on U.S. trades. This is significantly lower than the fees charged by traditional brokers, making it very appealing. The company also offers a $10 sign-up bonus and free stock for new members.
Additionally, the plan includes access to the Stake app, which is a powerful platform that helps you to track and manage your investments and has a variety of other features.
#2 User-Friendly Interface
Stake offers a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for customers to manage their investments. The platform features a clean, intuitive design that helps customers navigate their way around the platform quickly and easily. You don’t need to be a financial expert to get started, as the platform provides simple guides and tutorials to help customers get started with the app. Furthermore, customers can easily monitor their portfolio performance and track their investments in real-time, allowing them to make informed decisions.
#3 Educational Resources
Stake provides a range of educational content and resources to help customers learn about the stock market and make informed decisions when it comes to investing and trading. Customers can access a range of videos, podcasts, and articles which are designed to help them stay up-to-date with the latest financial news and trends. Furthermore, Stake’s customer support team is available 24/7 via live chat and email, giving customers peace of mind that they can get help when they need it.
#4 Free Trial
Stake offers a 30-day free trial, which allows customers to test out the platform before committing to a paid plan. This reduces risk for beginners when signing up, allowing them to make sure that Stake is the right platform for them.
#5 Fast Deposits And Withdrawals
Stake offers fast deposit and withdrawal options, allowing customers to fund their accounts quickly and easily. Customers can deposit funds into their accounts via bank transfer, credit/debit card, or PayPal. Furthermore, customers can withdraw their funds quickly and easily too, with the funds being available in their bank account within 2-3 days. This makes it easy for customers to access their money when they need it, giving them more control over their finances.
#6 Tax Optimization
Stake offers tax optimization features, allowing customers to reduce their tax burden. Customers can use Stake’s features to track their capital gains and losses, allowing them to take advantage of tax-advantaged investments. Furthermore, Stake provides a range of tax-saving strategies, such as limiting capital gains tax to 15% rather than being included in your personal assessable income. This approach can help customers reduce their tax bills by up to 20%. Therefore, you keep more of your profits and make better investment decisions.
#7 Automated Investing
The automated investing feature allows customers to set up a portfolio of investments with minimal effort. Customers can select their risk profile and investment goals, and Stake will create a portfolio based on the customer’s preferences. The platform will then manage the customer’s portfolio, rebalancing and adjusting investments as needed. This makes it easy for customers to diversify their portfolios and take advantage of a range of investment options without having to manage the investments themselves.
#8 Diversified Investment Options
With Stake, you can diversify your portfolio and take advantage of different asset classes. Customers can invest in stocks, ETFs, options, and more, giving them access to a range of markets and sectors. This allows customers to create a portfolio tailored to their individual investment goals and risk appetite. Additionally, Stake provides research and insights into different investments, allowing customers to make more informed decisions.
Pros Of Stake
- Stake offers a wide range of financial services, including investing, trading, and portfolio management.
- Stake is a publicly traded company, meaning its operations are transparent and regulated.
- Stake’s user-friendly interface makes it easy to navigate and manage investments.
- Stake’s fees are among the lowest in the industry, making it an affordable option for investors.
- Stake offers a variety of educational resources to help investors understand the markets and start investing right away.
- Stake provides a comprehensive range of research and analysis tools to help investors make informed decisions.
Cons Of Stake
- Stake does not offer margin trading, which may be a disadvantage for more experienced investors.
- Stake only offers access to markets in the U.S., Europe, and Australia, so investors looking to invest in other regions may need to look elsewhere.
Stake Review: Pricing
Stake offers four pricing tiers, which include Stake, CommSec, Nab, and Selfwealth. The associated fees are $0, $19.95, $11, and $9.50, respectively, and are charged per trade.
The most popular plans are Stake and CommSec, which are essentially the starter plan and the premium plan. The former plan is aimed at beginners.
Both plans provide access to the same range of investments, including exchange-traded funds, stocks, and options. Customers also have access to Stake's proprietary portfolio builder and trading tools, as well as customer service and educational resources.
Stake does not offer a refund policy or guarantee. However, they do offer a 30-day free trial period. This allows customers to try out the service and make sure it meets their needs before committing to a paid subscription.
In terms of pricing, Stake's plans are competitive with other similar services. For example, some of Stake's competitors offer additional investments for a slightly lower price but also have fewer features and fewer educational resources.
Stake Review Summary
Stake is an Australian-based financial services company that provides an online platform that allows users to invest in the U.S. and Australian stock markets. It has a user-friendly interface and low fees, as well as a variety of features, including education on investing, portfolio tracking and analytics, and a risk management tool. Stake's cost-friendly starter plans allow users to start investing with as little as $50 and enjoy low-cost access to global markets. It also offers a mobile app and plans to expand its services to other markets.
Stake provides a range of educational content and resources, as well as customer support 24/7. It also offers fast deposit and withdrawal options, tax optimization features, and automated investing. Furthermore, Stake provides access to a wide range of investment options, allowing customers to diversify their portfolios. Stake's pricing is competitive with other similar services.
If you're looking for an easy and cost-effective way to invest in the U.S. stock market, Stake is a great option.
Stake Review FAQs
Is Stake worth using?
Yes, Stake is a reputable and reliable Australian broker that is worth using. With Stake, customers can trade a wide variety of stocks and ETFs from the U.S. and ASX, as well as a range of other markets, including Europe. Furthermore, Stake offers low commission fees and low initial deposits, which makes it a great choice for both experienced and beginner traders. Additionally, Stake provides excellent customer service and trading tools, including a mobile app, that make trading easier and more enjoyable.
In addition to its affordability and customer service, Stake also stands out due to its intuitive and easy-to-use platform. Stake’s platform makes it easy to view and analyze market data, track stocks, and make trades. Furthermore, the platform offers a range of educational tools and resources to help investors learn about the stock market and make informed investment decisions. This makes Stake an excellent option for those looking to learn more about the stock market and build their portfolios.
Which is better, Stake or Superhero?
Generally speaking, both brokerages offer a solid range of trading and investing options, but they each have different strengths and weaknesses.
When it comes to fees, Stake charges utmost a flat rate of $3 per trade, while Superhero charges slightly more, depending on the size of the trade. Stake also offers more advanced features than Superhero, including advanced order types, portfolio diversification tools, and real-time market data.
In terms of product selection, both brokerages offer a good range of markets and asset classes. Stake offers a wider selection of international markets, while Superhero offers more options for Australian stocks and ETFs.
When it comes to customer service, Stake offers 24/7 live chat support, while Superhero does not. However, Superhero does offer after-hours support on weekdays and weekends.
Overall, both brokerages offer good value for money and a range of features and services. The best option for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences. If you prefer a more extensive range of international markets and advanced order types, Stake may be the better option.
Is Stake an Australian company?
Yes, Stake is an Australian company. It’s an innovative online brokerage that was founded in Australia in 2017. Stake is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and is a member of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA). Stake is also a member of the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX), which shows that it meets the highest standards of safety and compliance.
Stake is designed to make investing easy and accessible for everyone, and its mission is to give Australians access to global markets with the same technology as the big players. Stake offers a wide range of products and services, including U.S. shares, ETFs, and options, as well as access to over 3,000 stocks and ETFs listed on the Australian stock exchange.
Can Stake be trusted?
Yes, Stake can be trusted. As one of the leading Australian brokerages, Stake has a long track record of providing investors with access to the U.S. stock market and a variety of other financial services. They have a strict adherence to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) regulations, which provides investors with the assurance that their funds are safe and secure.
In addition to being regulated by ASIC, Stake is also a member of the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) and the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA). These organizations help to ensure that Stake is compliant with financial services regulations and provide a safety net for customers should they have any issues with the services they receive.
Finally, Stake is backed by some of the most trusted and reliable institutions in the world, including Tiger Global Management, DST Global, and Sanlam. These institutions have a history of providing reliable business globally, which provides additional assurance to customers that their funds are in safe hands.
