If you are new to investing or concerned about how to place an order through our DIY Service (via our website or Telephone Trading) please feel free to call 0800 805 777 and one of our Faster Dealers will guide you to get you started.

We would recommend you write down all details of orders before you place them. If you need to phone us for assistance it would be helpful if you could have your Client Number handy. We will have sent you your client number either via email or letter when you first joined!

Please note: First BUY orders must be accompanied by pre-payment; this can be by electronic funds transfer or by sending a cheque.

Once your trade is executed, please expect the following:

If you traded through Direct Trade, our online DIY Service

Via email a trade notice is sent immediately
Via email a contract note is sent 1 hour after the trade has been completed or at the end of the day for part-traded orders (PDF format)

If you traded through our Telephone Trading DIY Service

Via email a contract note is sent 1 hour after the trade has been completed or at the end of the day for part-traded orders (if you have not supplied us with an email address, the contract note will be posted to you)

This communication will include details of the number and dollar amount of the trade and any applicable fees. We strongly advise you to review the trade notice and the contract note to ensure it correctly records your trade. Should you have any queries please call us immediately on 0800 805 777.

Who can open an account?

Company
- Incorporated companies
- Incorporated Societies
- Partnerships
Trust
- Family Trust
- Charitable Trust
- Recognisable Societies & Charters etc
Individual/Joint
- Individuals
- Joint Accounts
- Share Clubs
- Minors (under the age of 18), those under the age of 18 must have an agent (parent/guardian)

To download an application please click here.

What are the risks?

There are risks involved in any investment - risks that the return will be lower than expected and risks that some or all of the money invested (the capital) will not come back ... more >>

Risk vs Return

So you'd like to make a fortune in the sharemarket? Who wouldn't? The first thing you need to understand, before you phone a broker or commit a cent to a portfolio, is that it's impossible to realise a return on any investment without facing a certain degree of risk ... more >>

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What are the risks

Investing is always subject to one fundamental principle - the higher the risk, the higher the return (and vice versa). Some forms of investment, like bank deposits, are widely recognised as low risk but they usually give lower returns. Generally speaking, shares are higher-risk than deposits, debt securities and property. But they also offer the prospect of much higher returns, especially over the longer term.

The risks in share investing are closely linked to all the uncertainties that exist around businesses and the profitability of companies, now and in the future. Some companies - especially those with established businesses and steady profits from year to year - involve far less risk than others (although returns tend to be lower as well).

The risks can be reduced by taking the view of investing for the long term, selecting shares carefully and spreading investment across different types of companies and industry sectors (the process of "diversification").

While history shows that share prices will rise over time, there are no guarantees - especially when it comes to individual companies. Unlike debt securities, which promise a payout at the end of a specified period plus interest along the way, returns from shares come from dividends companies pay out of their profits, and capital appreciation of the shares through a rising share price. Neither of these can be guaranteed.

The worst-case scenario is that a company goes bankrupt and the value of your investment evaporates altogether. Happily, that's rare. More often, a company will run into short-term problems that depress the price of its shares for what can seem like an agonisingly long period of time.

In investing, risk is the chance you take that the returns on a particular investment may vary. Because of the increased uncertainty of returns, investors will, all other things being equal, require a higher return if they take on more risk.

For all the risk, however, there are ways to manage your exposure. The best is to diversify by owning a variety of shares and other investment products, such as debt securities. That way, no single company can endanger your savings. It's also important to remember that investors are well compensated for taking the risk with shares. Historically, the long-term return from shares is much higher than for debt securities, which are less risky. Over time, that spread can make a huge difference in the earning power of your savings.

Risk vs return

No matter what you decide to do with your savings and investments, your money will always face some risk. You could stash your cash under your mattress or in a piggy bank, but then you'd face the risk of losing it all if your house burnt down. You could deposit your money in the bank, but the buying power of your savings would barely keep up with inflation over the years, leaving you with possibly less dollars in real terms than when you started. Investing in shares, debt securities, or mutual funds carries risk of varying degrees.

The second fact you need to face is that in order to receive an increased return from your investment portfolio, you need to accept an increased amount of risk. Keeping your money in a savings account reduces your risk, but it also reduces your potential reward.

While risk in your investment portfolio may be unavoidable, it is manageable. The riddle of controlling risk and return is that you need to maximise the returns and minimise the risk. When you do this, you ensure that you'll make enough return on your investment, with an acceptable amount of risk.

So, what constitutes acceptable risk? It's different for every person. A good rule of thumb followed by many investors is that you shouldn't wake up in the middle of the night worrying about your portfolio. If your investments are causing you too much anxiety, it's time to reconsider how you're investing, and sell those securities that are keeping you awake at night in favour of investments that are a little less painful. When you find your own comfort zone, you'll know your personal risk tolerance - the amount of risk you are willing to tolerate in order to achieve your financial goals.


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