All learn articles

Learn how to start investing—and develop your wealth for the long term—with our library of articles, videos, and podcasts.

88 articles

Investor Journeys—Jacqui
Jacqui shares the money lessons she’s learnt in life, from growing up in poverty and getting into debt, to being a homeowner and now Sharesies investor.
Published date,28 November 2023
3 min read
Investor Journeys
Investor Journeys—Gerry
Gerry shares his experience as an investor in his late 50s, from buying his first shares to discovering the Sharesies app recently on an in-flight broadcast.
Published date,16 November 2023
3 min read
Investor Journeys
Investor Journeys—Tim
Growing up, Tim didn’t learn about investing. After some trial and error, he’s figured out a strategy that works for him and his goals—and sets his young family up for the future.
Published date,22 August 2023
5 min read
Investor Journeys
Webinar recap: How ETFs can fit in your portfolio
Brendan Doggett (Sharesies’ AU Country Manager) and Cameron Gleeson (Betashares’ Senior Investment Strategist) chat about the power of exchange-traded funds.
Published date,1 August 2023
1 min read
Build your Portfolio
Rights offers: what you need to know
Rights offers are one way that companies raise money. Let’s look at how they work, what they mean for investors, and how to decide whether to take part in one.
Published date,10 May 2023
8 min read
Explainers
Webinar recap: how to do due diligence
You may have heard the term ‘due diligence’. This is the research you do to decide whether you’re going to put money into an investment or not.
Published date,18 April 2023
3 min read
Build your Portfolio
What’s a dividend reinvestment plan?
A dividend reinvestment plan (DRP or DRIP) can make it cheaper and easier for you to grow an investment. But how does it work?
Published date,27 February 2023
4 min read
Explainers
How to compare funds tracking the same index
What are ETFs actually tracking, and how do people tell the difference between them and choose which one to invest in?
Published date,17 February 2023
4 min read
Explainers
An investing checklist for the new year
The start of the year is a great time to do a “stocktake” and think about what kind of investing you’d like to do in the year ahead!
Published date,1 February 2023
4 min read
Build your Portfolio
Resources to start investing in 2023
From online tools to podcasts and videos, we’ve pulled together a list of money and investing resources to explore in 2023
Published date,24 January 2023
3 min read
Investing basics
Investor Journeys—Julia
University graduate Julia has always found ways to earn and save money. She shares how investing is helping her reach her goal to be financially independent.
Published date,12 January 2023
2 min read
Investor Journeys
Investor Journeys—Brooke
23-year-old Brooke didn’t understand investing until she made a start. She shares how she’s educated herself and why she wants to be financially independent.
Published date,10 January 2023
4 min read
Investor Journeys
Taking stock: 2022 and beyond
Replay our Taking Stock webinar, as Brendan and Scott Phillips (The Motley Fool’s Chief Investment Officer) share their investing insights from 2022.
Published date,21 December 2022
1 min read
Explainers
Investor Journeys—Lili
Lili is a Brisbane-based university graduate who started investing as a student. Now earning an income, she shares how she decides what to invest in and why.
Published date,20 December 2022
3 min read
Investor Journeys
Ethical investing with BetaShares and Perpetual
With so many ethical investment options now at the table, how do you make sure your investment is doing what it says on the tin?
Published date,14 December 2022
1 min read
Explainers
Investor Journeys—Jacinta
Jacinta was recently diagnosed with ADHD and autism. She’s found that investing on the Sharesies platform suits her neurodivergent way of thinking.
Published date,22 November 2022
4 min read
Investor Journeys
Exchange-traded funds, explained
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are like the investing world’s bundle deal, so should you consider adding them to your Portfolio?
Published date,11 October 2022
5 min read
Explainers
A short history of share market downturns
We look at some notable share market downturns and why it’s always important to look at the big picture.
Published date,3 October 2022
6 min read
Market movements
How to invest when the market dips
It can be hard to know what to do in a market dip. We look at some things to keep in mind when the market dips.
Published date,25 July 2022
6 min read
Market movements
Market roundup: Cash rate rises, volatility continues
In this monthly series, we ask share market commentators to give their take on the state of global share markets.
Published date,21 June 2022
7 min read
Market news
The name’s bond… investment bond
Bonds are a bit different from shares—so we thought we’d spend some time explaining what they are and why people consider investing in them.
Published date,31 May 2022
4 min read
Explainers
Market roundup: Ongoing volatility, so look to the long term
In this monthly series, we ask share market commentators to give their take on the state of global share markets.
Published date,26 May 2022
7 min read
Market news
Structuring investment portfolios for market dips
It's hard to say exactly when a share market dip will happen—so it’s helpful to be prepared, and consider how to structure a portfolio to weather a market dip.
Published date,25 May 2022
4 min read
Explainers
How does the global economy affect investing?
In a super-connected world, it’s inevitable that global events can impact investment portfolios right here in Australia.
Published date,24 May 2022
5 min read
Explainers
Raising capital: debt vs. equity
Sometimes, companies need extra cash for their business. Getting this extra cash is called raising capital, and they generally do this through debt or equity.
Published date,9 May 2022
6 min read
Explainers
How to review your investment portfolio
If you’re investing for the long term, it usually makes sense to review your portfolio every now and again to check you’re still on track to achieve your goals.
Published date,3 May 2022
5 min read
Build your Portfolio
Market roundup: Continued global uncertainty, but increasing share market stability
In this monthly series, we ask share market commentators to give their take on the state of global share markets.
Published date,27 April 2022
7 min read
Market news
Investor Journeys—Liz
Liz is a collector of hobbies; from designing and sewing her own clothes, to houseplants and video games. Her latest obsession? Investing.
Published date,21 April 2022
4 min read
Investor Journeys
Investor Journeys—Rob and Lach
Meet Rob and Lach, the hosts of Unlikely Investors, a podcast series by Pedestrian Group and Sharesies. They shared their own adventures into investing.
Published date,14 April 2022
6 min read
Investor Journeys
“Buy low, sell high”: what is it in practice?
In investing, we hear the phrase “buy low, sell high” a lot. But when we dig into it, you can see that it’s a lot more complex than just four words!
Published date,13 April 2022
5 min read
Explainers
Why invest?
There are lots of different reasons why people invest. It can be personal, and is often tied to your wider life and financial situation.
Published date,11 April 2022
3 min read
Explainers
What’s a blue chip?
We explain what a blue chip is, why people invest in blue chips, and what tradeoffs you make when you invest in them.
Published date,31 March 2022
4 min read
Explainers
Investor Journeys—Alyssia
On top of building a new house with her partner, 22-year-old med student Alyssia shares how she’s building an investment portfolio using the Sharesies platform.
Published date,31 March 2022
3 min read
Investor Journeys
Investor Journeys—Kate
We sat down with Kate to discover why she started investing and how the Sharesies platform is helping her to reach her long-term financial goals.
Published date,25 March 2022
3 min read
Investor Journeys
Market roundup: How Russia and Ukraine are affecting global markets
In this monthly series, we ask share market commentators to give their take on the state of global share markets.
Published date,16 March 2022
6 min read
Market news
Investor Journeys—Hannah
When 29-year-old firefighter Hannah isn’t throwing some serious tin around at the gym, she’s working on building long-term wealth using the Sharesies platform.
Published date,16 March 2022
4 min read
Investor Journeys
Investing ethically: it’s up to you
Let’s have a look at how you can invest ethically, and what to look for when you’re investing with ethics in mind.
Published date,7 March 2022
5 min read
Build your Portfolio
Why invest overseas?
Let’s look at why you might invest in overseas companies and funds, and what you might consider when looking to invest in different-sized economies.
Published date,7 March 2022
4 min read
Explainers
What’s capital, and why does it matter?
Capital is one of the core ideas of investing. It’s one of the reasons why we, as investors, have opportunities available to us.
Published date,7 March 2022
4 min read
Explainers
Market roundup: Climbing inflation and the elusive COVID ‘bounce-back’
In this series, share market commentators give their take on global markets. First up, the Motley Fool’s Scott Phillips chats with Sharesies’ Brendan Doggett.
Published date,28 February 2022
5 min read
Market news
What's dollar-cost averaging?
Dollar-cost averaging is when you choose to invest a certain amount on a particular investment regularly, regardless of whether the share price is high or low.
Published date,23 February 2022
3 min read
Investing basics
What’s an investment horizon?
How long you plan to invest for—aka a ‘time horizon’ is an important decision. Generally, this has a big impact on the type of things you invest in.
Published date,23 February 2022
3 min read
Investing basics
Investing in thematic exchange-traded funds
What's a thematic ETF? How do you invest in thematic ETFs? We chat with BetaShares, ETF Securities, and VanEck to find out more.
Published date,17 February 2022
8 min read
Build your Portfolio
Top resources to start investing in 2022
Keen to learn more about investing but not sure where to start? We’ve pulled together a list of resources for taking the first steps on your learning journey.
Published date,15 February 2022
2 min read
Investing basics
What does it mean to be an investor?
Let’s look at what it really means to be an investor, and how you can use investing to connect to your underlying ethics, values, and preferences.
Published date,18 January 2022
4 min read
Explainers
Helpful terms for comparing companies
So, you want to invest in individual companies—but how do you choose which ones to invest in? Understanding these terms will help you decide!
Published date,13 January 2022
6 min read
Explainers
What are compound returns?
Compound returns are a great reason to invest—if you can get them. They’re also a great example of how investing helps make your money work for you.
Published date,13 January 2022
6 min read
Explainers
Is it too late to start investing?
Think investing for the long term is just for people in their 20s or 30s? Well, we’ve got some great news: no matter your age, you might benefit from investing.
Published date,13 January 2022
4 min read
Explainers
Who’s in charge of a company?
As an investor, it’s useful to understand who’s in charge of running a company. After all, the company succeeds or fails based on their decisions.
Published date,13 January 2022
4 min read
Explainers
The easy investing strategy you didn’t know about
Who knew setting-and-forgetting counts as an investing strategy? We cover how it may help you reach your financial goals.
Published date,5 January 2022
3 min read
Build your Portfolio
An intro to cryptocurrency
Let’s cover what you might consider if you’re looking to buy and hold crypto—like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and thousands of others—and the different ways to do it.
Published date,21 December 2021
3 min read
Build your Portfolio
A deep dive into investment liquidity
Let’s open the floodgates on what liquidity is, what it’s determined by, and the risks associated with it. Full steam ahead!
Published date,9 December 2021
5 min read
Explainers
Investor Journeys—Maryann
We sat down with the 31-year-old mother-of-one to chat about her investing journey and how the Sharesies platform fits in with her financial goals.
Published date,3 December 2021
4 min read
Investor Journeys
Behind the scenes: Share prices for companies and exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
Let’s look at how share prices work for companies and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on the Sharesies platform.
Published date,15 November 2021
5 min read
Explainers
What’s an IPO?
An initial public offering (IPO) is a process that a company goes through to become ‘listed” on an exchange. Once listed, people can buy shares to invest in it.
Published date,15 November 2021
7 min read
Explainers
Investment jargon explained
Let’s break down some of the investment jargon you’ll likely come across over and over again.
Published date,15 November 2021
5 min read
Explainers
Behind the scenes: Sharesies’ process for Australian investments
Let's look at what happens when you place a buy or sell order for investments on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) through the Sharesies’ platform.
Published date,15 November 2021
4 min read
Explainers
Behind the scenes: Sharesies’ process for NZ investments
Let’s dive into what happens when you place a buy or sell order for investments listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX).
Published date,15 November 2021
4 min read
Explainers
Behind the scenes: Sharesies’ process for US investments
We’re pulling back the curtain on what happens when you place a buy or sell order for US investments through the Sharesies platform.
Published date,15 November 2021
4 min read
Explainers
Is it better to save or invest?
When it comes to managing your money, should you be saving, investing, or both?
Published date,15 November 2021
4 min read
Build your Portfolio
Investor Journeys—Hannah
Hannah didn't know about investing growing up. But now she’s become a confident investor through the Sharesies platform.
Published date,19 October 2021
4 min read
Investor Journeys
Investor Journeys—Dave
Dave owns a beautiful home in Melbourne and is building a Sharesies portfolio with his two sons in mind. We had a quick chat about why he started investing.
Published date,7 October 2021
4 min read
Investor Journeys
Investor Journeys—Annabelle
Having once been bogged down by buy-now-pay-later debt, Annabelle is now on the road to building an investment portfolio that she’s proud of.
Published date,6 October 2021
4 min read
Investor Journeys
Annual reports: what they can tell you about a company
Companies share heaps of information publicly—it’s part of the deal when listing on an exchange. One way they do this is by releasing annual reports.
Published date,6 October 2021
5 min read
Explainers
Planning for your future
Let’s take a look at the impact of investing now, building a regular investing habit, and how you can shape your money for years to come.
Published date,8 September 2021
2 min read
Build your Portfolio
Invest, save, or spend?
Every decision you make with your money falls into one of three categories: investing, saving, and spending.
Published date,3 September 2021
4 min read
Build your Portfolio
Why do shares change price?
If you take a look at a line graph of any share price history, you might see all kinds of movements. Sometimes it goes up in price, sometimes it goes down.
Published date,9 August 2021
5 min read
Explainers
How an index fund works
Index funds are investments that track an index—like the S&P/ASX 200. They follow a set of rules, and tend to track the overall share market’s movements.
Published date,2 August 2021
5 min read
Explainers
What to think about before you sell
Before selling your shares, you might want to think about your goals, the price you’re locking in, and whether or not you need the money.
Published date,23 July 2021
5 min read
Build your Portfolio
What’s an ADR?
An American depositary receipt (ADR) represents shares in a foreign company that’s listed on an exchange outside of the US. But how do they differ from shares?
Published date,20 July 2021
5 min read
Explainers
Investor Journeys—Alex
Alex started building her investment portfolio six years ago using multiple investment platforms—and now, she has a Sharesies account too!
Published date,19 July 2021
4 min read
Investor Journeys
Three things to think about before you start investing
Before you start investing it can help to think about your budget, saving up an emergency fund, and making a plan to tackle debt.
Published date,16 June 2021
3 min read
Investing basics
Some investment strategies to get you started
If you’re just starting your investing journey, an investing strategy can help you figure out what to invest in, when to buy and sell shares, and how much to sell your shares for.
Published date,4 June 2021
5 min read
Build your Portfolio
Why invest for the long term?
Investing for the long term is a strategy where you expect an investment to grow over many years—even if its value goes up and down in the short term.
Published date,27 May 2021
5 min read
Explainers
Who owns the investments I have through Sharesies?
Short answer: you do. You’re in control of your money and investments, and tell Sharesies what to do with them (such as buy or sell shares).
Published date,24 May 2021
4 min read
Explainers
How much should I invest?
When deciding how much to invest, having a goal—and an investing strategy to reach it—can help you choose an amount that’s affordable and sustainable.
Published date,14 May 2021
4 min read
Investing basics
Four beginner investor mistakes (and some ways to avoid them!)
When you’re starting out as an investor, you’re bound to make a few mistakes. That’s okay! Here’s some ways you can avoid some of the common pitfalls.
Published date,14 May 2021
4 min read
Investing basics
How to form an investing habit
Check out our top tips on how to build an investing habit—from starting small, to investing with mates.
Published date,14 May 2021
4 min read
Build your Portfolio
An introduction to corporate actions
Corporate actions: when companies do something that might affect share prices. We explain more about corporate actions and how they affect your investment.
Published date,22 April 2021
5 min read
Explainers
How to choose a fund to invest in
If you’re investing in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for the first time, you might feel a bit spoiled for choice. Here's how to narrow it down.
Published date,12 April 2021
2 min read
Build your Portfolio
What is risk anyway?
Different investments have different levels of risk. But what does this mean in practice? What’s the difference between low-risk and high-risk investments?
Published date,12 April 2021
6 min read
Investing basics
A deep dive into foreign exchange
We explain why foreign exchange—the concept of buying and selling foreign currency—is a major factor when you’re investing overseas.
Published date,12 April 2021
5 min read
Explainers
Investing 101: how to start investing
So you want to start investing. The problem is, you have no idea where to start. That’s okay! We’re here to help with this handy guide.
Published date,9 April 2021
4 min read
Investing basics
The different dimensions of diversification
By investing across lots of different things, you spread your money around. It’s like the old cliche—“don’t put all your eggs in one basket”.
Published date,9 April 2021
6 min read
Investing basics
Is now a good time to invest?
Choosing when to invest is entirely your choice, but it can help to think about your goals, financial responsibilities, and when you’ll need your money.
Published date,23 March 2021
4 min read
Explainers
How do I make money from investing in shares?
When you’re investing, even for the long term, you probably have one main goal: to make money. But how exactly do you do this? Let’s get into the details.
Published date,23 March 2021
4 min read
Investing basics
Questions to ask when you invest in companies
Investing in companies is about giving you a shot at the returns you want, in a desirable time horizon, while taking risks you’re comfortable with.
Published date,22 March 2021
6 min read
Build your Portfolio
Due diligence: a fancy word for doing your homework
Due diligence is the research you do to decide whether you’re going to put money into an investment or not—think of it as doing your investment homework.
Published date,17 March 2021
5 min read
Investing basics

All learn articles

Investor Journeys—Jacqui

Investor Journeys—Gerry

Investor Journeys—Tim

Webinar recap: How ETFs can fit in your portfolio

Rights offers: what you need to know

Webinar recap: how to do due diligence

What’s a dividend reinvestment plan?

How to compare funds tracking the same index

An investing checklist for the new year

Resources to start investing in 2023

Investor Journeys—Julia

Investor Journeys—Brooke

Taking stock: 2022 and beyond

Investor Journeys—Lili

Ethical investing with BetaShares and Perpetual

Investor Journeys—Jacinta

Exchange-traded funds, explained

A short history of share market downturns

How to invest when the market dips

Market roundup: Cash rate rises, volatility continues

The name’s bond… investment bond

Market roundup: Ongoing volatility, so look to the long term

Structuring investment portfolios for market dips

How does the global economy affect investing?

Raising capital: debt vs. equity

How to review your investment portfolio

Market roundup: Continued global uncertainty, but increasing share market stability

Investor Journeys—Liz

Investor Journeys—Rob and Lach

“Buy low, sell high”: what is it in practice?

Why invest?

What’s a blue chip?

Investor Journeys—Alyssia

Investor Journeys—Kate

Market roundup: How Russia and Ukraine are affecting global markets

Investor Journeys—Hannah

Investing ethically: it’s up to you

Why invest overseas?

What’s capital, and why does it matter?

Market roundup: Climbing inflation and the elusive COVID ‘bounce-back’

What's dollar-cost averaging?

What’s an investment horizon?

Investing in thematic exchange-traded funds

Top resources to start investing in 2022

What does it mean to be an investor?

Helpful terms for comparing companies

What are compound returns?

Is it too late to start investing?

Who’s in charge of a company?

The easy investing strategy you didn’t know about

An intro to cryptocurrency

A deep dive into investment liquidity

Investor Journeys—Maryann

Behind the scenes: Share prices for companies and exchange-traded funds (ETFs)

What’s an IPO?

Investment jargon explained

Behind the scenes: Sharesies’ process for Australian investments

Behind the scenes: Sharesies’ process for NZ investments

Behind the scenes: Sharesies’ process for US investments

Is it better to save or invest?

Investor Journeys—Hannah

Investor Journeys—Dave

Investor Journeys—Annabelle

Annual reports: what they can tell you about a company

Planning for your future

Invest, save, or spend?

Why do shares change price?

How an index fund works

What to think about before you sell

What’s an ADR?

Investor Journeys—Alex

Three things to think about before you start investing

Some investment strategies to get you started

Why invest for the long term?

Who owns the investments I have through Sharesies?

How much should I invest?

Four beginner investor mistakes (and some ways to avoid them!)

How to form an investing habit

An introduction to corporate actions