Stake

Stake, an online investment platform based in Sydney

Stake is an online investment platform operating from Sydney, Australia, presented as a tool for investing in the Australian and U.S. markets. According to its own description, the platform brings together around 750,000 investors and offers a global investing experience for Australia and New Zealand. The company defines itself as a firm seeking to remove barriers between ambition and financial progress, with the stated goal of unleashing the investor within everyone.

Two markets on a single platform

Stake's core proposition is access to two markets from a single account. On one hand, the Australian market (Aus) allows investing in more than 2,500 securities listed on the ASX, spread across 77 industries, and includes stocks, ETFs, bonds, A-REITs, hybrid securities and LICs. On the other hand, the U.S. market (Wall St) gives access to more than 11,000 stocks, ETFs, government bonds and OTC securities, with the option to buy fractional shares from 10 U.S. dollars.

Fee structure

The pricing schedule indicated by the platform sets a fee of 3 Australian dollars per trade on the ASX and 3 U.S. dollars per trade on Wall St, in both cases for orders up to 30,000 dollars. For amounts above that threshold, the fee applied is 0.01%. The company sums up its model as simple, low-cost brokerage.

Features and tools for investors

The platform includes a series of features aimed at trading and tracking investments:

• Extended hours: an additional 9.5 hours of Wall St access per trading day.
• CHESS sponsorship: investors get their own Holder Identification Number and hold ASX shares in their name.
• Track your overall performance: a performance chart showing returns from both current and sold positions, not just today's snapshot.
• Multiple watchlists and real-time summaries explaining significant price moves.
• Market tools: most traded shares list, stock comparison tool, stock explorer and stock return calculator.

Superannuation and SMSF administration services

In addition to trading, Stake offers services linked to Australian retirement savings. Stake Super, operated by Stake SMSF Pty Ltd, assists in setting up a self managed super fund (SMSF) under a no-advice model. The platform also allows transferring an existing portfolio to Stake, both U.S. and ASX securities, with transfer rewards subject to minimum amounts and conditions.

The Stake Accumulate Fund

The product offering includes the Stake Accumulate Fund (ARSN 680 653 374), an income fund issued by K2 Asset Management Ltd, the company acting as its issuer. The platform presents this fund as an option to put money to work within its suite of products.

Origins and presence

Stake notes that it began by making Wall Street more accessible to Australian investors and that today it offers a set of options spanning trading in two markets, an income fund and SMSF administration. The company states that all its development is done from Sydney, Australia, and that the platform is available for Australia and New Zealand. The site shows ratings of 4.7 and 4.6 in the app stores, as well as third-party recognition such as the WeMoney award for best investment platform of the year and Finder's recognition as most trusted investment platform.

Corporate structure and regulation

Trading activity is channelled through Stakeshop Pty Ltd, which operates as Stake and is an authorised representative of Stakeshop AFSL Pty Ltd, holder of Australian financial services licence number 548196. Stake SMSF Pty Ltd, which operates as Stake Super, is not licensed to provide financial product advice under the Corporations Act. The Stake Accumulate Fund is issued by K2 Asset Management Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of K2 Asset Management Holdings Ltd. The company warns that the information on its website and app does not constitute an offer or solicitation in jurisdictions where Stake is not regulated or cannot market its services, and that the advice it provides is of a general nature, without considering personal objectives, circumstances or financial needs.