Get Started Investing

One of the most common reasons we hear from people not investing is that they don't have enough money. In this episode we will prove to you why this is certainly not the case, and why learning to save is critical to getting started investing. We'll also share some of our money saving tips that help us keep on top of our savings. In this episode you will learn:

• How much money you need to get started
• Money saving tips
• How Bryce & Alec both manage their savings
• The 'Rule of Threes'

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We understand how you might be feeling right now - that you don't know enough about investing and the markets to get started. Let us comfort you by saying it is ok to feel like this. Investing is a life-long journey, and you will continue to learn more and more as you go.

At this point you know why we're investing and hopefully have picked up some good savings habits. So, in this episode we get into the heart of investing and start unpacking all the basics

In this episode you will learn:

• What is the sharemarket?
• How does a company come to be listed on the sharemarket?
• The major market in Australia and how it operates
• What are you actually buying (i.e. what is a stock?)
• What does it mean when you own a share?
• The different styles of investing
• The investing style that Bryce and Alec use in their personal investing
• How to know what investing style is right for you
• The difference between passive and active investing Stocks & resources discussed:
• A2 Milk (ASX: A2M)
• Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BKB.B)

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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 plays
• The three most common assets - money, stocks and bonds
• What role money (or cash) plays in your investing portfolio
• The definition of inflation and the risk it plays into your portfolio
• Why stashing cash under your mattress isn't a good investment
• An introduction to the difference between stocks and bonds
• The meaning, and importance of, diversification
• How you can buy other types of assets on the share market
• How you actually make money from these assets
• What a dividend is and how you get it as an investor
• Why stocks are the preferred asset class at Equity Mates

Head to the Get Started Investing website for more info - https://equitymates.com/get-started-investing
Want more? Subscribe to Equity Mates Investing Podcast, social media channels, Thought Starters mailing list and more here - https://equitymates.com
Equity Mates is a part of the Diamantina Media Network - the home of Australia's favourite podcasts. For more information, click here - https://diamantina.com.au

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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

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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 again
• What is an index
• The major index in Australia - ASX 200
• Major indexes around the world - S&P500, Dow Jones, NASDAQ100, FTSE100, DAX
• A few indexes that track the whole world
• Two main ways you can access an index - on market and off market
• How the ETF has made it easier to access indexes than ever before
• Other ETFs that track 'baskets of stocks'.
• How you can invest in 'themes' like biotech, marijuana and space exploration

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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 world 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 & Capital
• Company specific jargon: P/E ratio, Income Statement, Balance Sheet & Dividend
• Trading jargon: Portfolio, Volatility, Yield, Diversification, Allocation & Capital Gains
• How to figure out the meaning of jargon you come across in the future

Stocks and resources discussed:
• Equity Mates glossary
• Investopedia
• Equity Mates Discussion Group
You can find these in your course resources!


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One of the best things about investing in the 21st century: there is never a shortage of information. You can find more facts and opinions on a company that you’ll never need, but it also means you can get lost in this sea of conflicted 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’ll learn:
• How we find information
• Difference between top down and bottom up approaches
• Where you can find information put by companies themselves
• What you can learn from traditional financial media
• How the internet has created a whole culture of sharing information and ideas
• Some of our favourite financial books and podcasts

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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 evert 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 process on individual companies and trying to assess which will be good investments. This episode should make it 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 it 50% right. By selling companies you are losing money on, and letting your good picks grow and grow - you can still make money by 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 in
• Three ways you can arrow down your choices
• Look around and use your experiences
• Follow the leader
• Stock screeners
• Key things to keep in mind when buying individual companies


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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 order
• How do I know when is a good time to buy?
• Dollar cost averaging
• How do I know when is a good time to sell?

Head to the Get Started Investing website for more info.
Want more? Subscribe to Equity Mates Investing Podcast, social media channels, Thought Starters mailing list and more here
Equity Mates is a part of the Diamantina Media Network - the home of Australia's favourite podcasts.

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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 portfolio
• The 4 pillars for building a portfolio - goals, risk, diversify and allocate
• Importance of having a strategy or at least end goal
• How to set personal investing goals
• Thinking about risk
• How to identify your risk profile
• Diversifying assets: 5% rule & Perfect portfolio
• Importance 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? Subscribe to Equity Mates Investing Podcast, social media channels, Thought Starters mailing list and more.
Equity Mates Investing Podcast is a part of the Diamantina Media Network - the home of Australia's favourite podcasts. For more information, visit http://diamantina.com.au/

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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:

Three key messages we learnt from Patrick O'Shaughnessy:
1. Go Global - make sure you look outside Australia. The biggest share market in the world is the US; get involved
2. Be 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 important
3. Get Out Of Your Own Way - automate what you can, be consistent; take the emotion out of buying and selling

Stocks and resources discussed:
• Millennial Money by Patrick O'Shaughnessy
Want more? Subscribe to Equity Mates Investing Podcast, social media channels, Thought Starters mailing list and more.
Equity Mates Investing Podcast is a part of the Diamantina Media Network - the home of Australia's favourite podcasts. For more information, visit http://diamantina.com.au/

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