Trading platform eyes SMSFs with expansion into international equities
With many SMSF investors looking to diversify their portfolios, one trading platform plans to expand into direct trading for international stocks.
SelfWealth founder and managing director Andrew Ward said with many SMSFs looking to diversify beyond the traditional stocks held by SMSFs, SelfWealth will launch direct trading for international stocks from the middle of the year.
While investors can gain an exposure to international asset classes through the ETFs on the platform, they will be able to directly access international stocks from the middle of the year.
“So investors will be able to buy companies like Facebook and Google,” he said.
“So whilst there’ll still be ETFs which is a great way to get diversification internationally, some people want to own those individual shares because they touch and feel those products and services every day.”
One of the interesting trends that the data from the platform has shown, he said, is that “with all the turmoil going on with the banks and the royal commission, more SMSFs are diversifying and reducing their weighting toward the bigger traditional stocks”.
“Portfolio sizes are also getting a little bigger this year in regard to the number of stocks in the portfolio.”
Miranda Brownlee
Miranda Brownlee is the deputy editor of SMSF Adviser, which is the leading source of news, strategy and educational content for professionals working in the SMSF sector.
Since joining the team in 2014, Miranda has been responsible for breaking some of the biggest superannuation stories in Australia, and has reported extensively on technical strategy and legislative updates.
Miranda also has broad business and financial services reporting experience, having written for titles including Investor Daily, ifa and Accountants Daily.
