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Get Started Investing

Learning to invest is on a lot of people’s ‘to do’ list but it can be hard to know where to get started. The world of investing is full of confusing jargon, charts and data, and for too many people it is put in the ‘too hard’ basket.

At Equity Mates Media, we know that anyone can learn to invest. We're proof of that.

Forget what you think, investing is for everyone.

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There is no better place to start than with these 12 hand-picked episodes from our investor primer series, Get Started Investing

01. Why we invest

Asking why someone invests may seem like a silly question – to make more money of course! But why investing, and why the stock market?

This episode explains why we invest.

In this episode you will learn:

  • The concept of compounding, and why it matters
  • Why the stock market has been history’s greatest wealth creating machine
  • How investing can help you retire early
  • Investing keeps you informed about the world around you

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02. Saving to invest

One of the most common reasons we hear from people not investing is that they don’t have enough money. We will show you why that is not the case.

With technology you can get started with just a few cents (literally). 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
  • Rule of threes
  • Two debit cards

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03. Basics of investing

The world of investing can be confusing. Full of acronyms and jargon.

The good news is that everyone feels this way when they’re starting. However, once you scratch the surface and understand what you’re doing with your money when you’re investing – it’ll all make sense.

In this episode you will learn:

  • What is the share market?
  • What are you actually buying?
  • What does it mean to own a share?
  • The different styles of investing
  • How to know what style is right for you
  • The difference between passive and active investing

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04. What can we invest in?

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 opportunities that are out there.

With so much opportunity at our fingertips the hardest part is knowing where to start.

In this episode you will learn:

  • The three most common assets – money, stocks and bonds
  • The definition of inflation and the risk it plays into your portfolio
  • 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
  • Why stocks are the preferred asset class at Equity Mates

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05. Finding a broker

Every investing journey starts with the same first step – choosing a broker.

To make a trade in the share market you have to go through a broker, so in this episode we answer the big question, “how do I actually buy shares?”.

In this episode you will learn:

  • Factors to consider when deciding on a broker
  • How Bryce and Ren chose their first broker and if they’ve changed over time
  • 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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06. Just get started: buying an index

An index is the perfect opportunity to remove the indecision and give you access to hundreds of 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
  • 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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07. Pardon the jargon: terms you need to know

A lot of people in the finance industry 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.

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

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08. Knowledge is power: finding the right 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.

To manage this information flow, the important skill is not being able to find information but finding the right information.

In this episode you will learn:

  • How we find information
  • Difference between top down and bottom up approaches
  • Where you can find information put out 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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09. How to find a good company

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 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.

In this episode you will learn:

  • The vast number of companies available for you to invest in
  • Three ways you can narrow 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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10. Tips when buying and selling

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?

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11. Building an investment portfolio

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.

In this episode you will learn:

  • 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
  • How to identify your risk profile
  • Diversifying assets: 5% rule & Perfect portfolio
  • Importance of asset allocation
  • How much of your portfolio should be made up of individual stocks vs. ETFs or LICs
  • Diversification and rebalancing your portfolio

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12. Be global, be different, get out of your own way

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.

In this episode you will learn:

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

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Read The Book

All Recommended Reading

Get Started Investing: It's easier than you think to invest in shares

Does the stock market seem too complicated? Do you think that investing is only for those with more money? Do you want to start investing but don't know where to begin?

This is the guide to investing you've been waiting for.

Investing in the stock market has never been more accessible. We show why the stock market has been the most powerful money-making machine that has ever existed and how you can access it with just a few spare dollars.

Get your copy

Watch The Videos

Equity Mates on Ausbiz
  • Stop making these investing mistakes! | Get Started Investing

    Stop making these investing mistakes! | Get Started Investing

    Hey! Scared of investing because you don't want to stuff it up? Well, this is the right place to look. We’ve all made mistakes, and WILL make more mistakes as we learn to invest. That's part of the course! Don’t let the fear of making one stop you from getting started, and if you're wondering what other mistakes might be lurking on the horizon, that's what this episode is all about. We go through some of the most common mistakes out there, so you hopefully don’t make them yourself. If you want to let Alec or Bryce know what you think of an episode, contact them here.

    16 Dec, 2021

  • Understanding different types of assets

    Understanding different types of assets

    We continue our chapter series with a deep dive into all your questions about assets! An asset is any resource that can be owned or controlled and has economic value. Everything from your house or your car, to a business’ intellectual property, are assets. Alec and Bryce talk about elements that beginner investors should think about when making investment decisions around assets, especially when making judgements on risk. They also talk about which asset class produces the best returns, what the most popular asset classes are, and why they could be useful...

    16 Dec, 2021

  • ESG Investing - What are my options? | Get Started Investing

    ESG Investing - What are my options? | Get Started Investing

    In today’s Get Started Investing, we rehash some of the concepts that we’ve learned over the past two weeks, outline the divestment v engagement debate, and then talk about what you should be looking for when you’re backing the professionals to select your ESG stocks for you, and talk about how to look for an ethical super fun.

    16 Dec, 2021

  • 5 mistakes to avoid when investing in ETFs

    5 mistakes to avoid when investing in ETFs

    Don't make these mistakes when you're investing in ETFs!

    16 Dec, 2021

  • How to build a balanced portfolio

    How to build a balanced portfolio

    Tune into this episode with Gemma Dale to learn about the key pillars to building an portfolio.

    16 Dec, 2021

  • Dollar Cost Averaging 101 | Get Started Investing

    Dollar Cost Averaging 101 | Get Started Investing

    Dollar cost averaging (or DCA) is the investing strategy of dividing up the total amount to be invested and periodically purchasing over time in an effort to reduce the impact of volatility on the investment.

    16 Dec, 2021

Study The Course

Equity Mates at Rask

The Rask + Equity Mates collaboration is a match made in heaven.

Together, we bring you the best courses to learn about the nitty-gritty of investing in shares/companies — from beginning to dividend.

Take a free course or become part of the highly-rated Value Investor Program, where you’ll get downloadable resources, learn to do your own Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) valuation, research ASX or global companies using free and premium analyst tools, and so much more.

Once you truly know the ins-and-outs of this analysis you’ll feel more confident and in control of your investment portfolio.

Watch the video to learn more, or click here to enrol in a course.

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The perfect compliment to our Get Started Investing podcast series. Every week we’ll break down one key component of the world of finance to help you get started on your investing journey. This email is perfect for beginner investors or for those that want a refresher on some key investing terms and concepts.
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