Find a broker or adviser

A full service broker may offer advice, research, access to floats, access to their internet site, and financial planning. A non-advisory broker may offer access to information, low-cost trading, and straight through order entry.

Brokers typically charge a flat fee or a percent of the value of the trade for higher amounts. Take into account any additional services they offer.

Most brokers offer emailed or mailed updates on opportunities, regular newsletters with research, and access to the firm's website.

Some brokers offer substantial market information on their websites. There may be a cost for clients to use this service.

Brokers will sometimes provide seminars and classes on aspects of investing for their clients.

The broker should always let you know of any conflict of interest or if any association exists.

This can be either the use of an internal research department, or subscriptions to research organisations. Some non-advisory firms will not offer research.

You could expect a quarterly review however this depends on how actively you trade. This could involve re-weighting your portfolio and reviewing the overall performance of your shares.

This question is particularly relevant if you want to be able to trade shortly after choosing your broker.

You may need (or prefer) to use different service providers for different markets.

Are orders placed through a related stockbroking firm in the overseas market or is a third party involved? Check the licensing and regulation of each party and any other protection available to you.

If you prefer to deal in Australian dollars you should ask when and how currency conversion takes place. In addition to the timing, check the typical Buy/Sell spreads and whether there are any additional fees for conversion. If a cash account needs to be set up, check whether interest is paid and any other features available, including the reporting of foreign currency interest for Australian tax purposes.

The ability to trade online may mean you can place orders while overseas markets are open. Alternatively, the stockbroker may operate a night desk. Some brokers take your orders during the Australian Business day and queue them to be entered into the overseas market when it opens. Ask whether your stockbroker will resubmit any unexpected orders.

This determines how easily you can sell financial products or borrow against them, participation in corporate actions, reporting and access to your account information.

This affects your ability to diversify your holdings and take advantage of different opportunities.

Just as levels of service and pricing differ between brokers for domestic trading, so too will the level of service and pricing of trading international financial products. 

This can vary per market and per exchange.

Various sources of research information are available.

This may or may not be of interest to you.