What you need to know between online mobile brokers and traditional systems to start your investment journey

Tiger Brokers shares how you can choose the right investment tools for your success.

When starting your investment journey, there are plenty of things to consider. However, one of the most important first steps is to decide on your brokerage, and whether to go for a more traditional brokerage or an online mobile brokerage. Even for seasoned investors, it may be time to consider porting your investments online and within reach of your fingertips. As we become more mobile and nomadic, technological tools that are embedded into our smartphones and computers may just enhance your investment journey and open up a world of opportunities.

What are the differences between online brokers and traditional brokerage firms?

Whilst both offer you the same access to markets and opportunities, traditional brokerages tend to place emphasis on a one-on-one, personalised approach—where an assigned broker will guide and help you make investment decisions and inform you on opportune times to invest in a given asset. This people-centric approach, of course, generally comes with higher trading and commission fees, which may put off younger investors who may not necessarily have the same amount of investable income.

On the other hand, online mobile brokerages put the power in your hands. Whilst new retail investors may not get the same guidance or advice, it allows them to remain agile and experimental with their investment decisions. This lower barrier to entry—both in terms of commission and trading fees, as well as the minimum sum for investment—may encourage newer investors to jump on the bandwagon. In addition, online mobile brokerages are generally computer- and app-based, which also allows investors to keep track of international markets at any given time, without being tied to their brokers’ trading hours.

On the whole, whether you are opting for traditional or online brokerages, it is also important to consider other facts that will sway your decision. It’s important to understand your personal risk appetite, how hands on you’d like to be in your investment journey, how much advice you’d need, the types of investments you’d like to make, the different markets you’re interested in, and ultimately, what you want out of your investment journey.

So, how can online mobile brokerages help you grow your wealth?

Due to the nature of mobile brokerages, this means that information is always at your fingertips. Online mobile brokerages, like Tiger Brokers, have a bevy of tools that will help you make informed, timely decisions, ranging from news and market watches to candlestick charts and information about the given company you are interested in. Making informed decisions is the first step to becoming a savvy investor, no matter if you are new or seasoned.

Many online mobile brokerages offer easy and flexible solutions for the informed investor. This includes features such as multi-asset accounts that allow you to further diversify your portfolio, which in turn, manages and spreads your risk exposure. Having different types of assets in different markets also means that you are not at the mercy of one market’s volatility, whether that is through economic or political means. Opportunities are also aplenty, with the ability to invest in different companies that you are personally interested in or believe in.

With the agile nature of online mobile brokerages virtually operating in the cloud, these tech-centric models also mean that investors can enjoy lower trading and commission fees, and lower investment sums as opposed to traditional brick-and-mortar establishments. For many investors, this translates to having more bang for your buck, with the ability to start whenever and wherever.

There are 3 things that differentiate us from our competitors

1. Fast and seamless client onboarding process – clients are able to have their accounts opened within hours.

• complimentary real-time stock quotes, free even for foreign markets
• dedicated multilingual customer service during trading hours
• 24/7 finance news update in our app
• the application also includes Artificial intelligence driven data screeners, and easy to analyse trading charts

2. Our Tiger Trade’s robust interface provides investors with an unparalleled experience with

3. One of the lowest transactional brokerage rates. This lowers the barrier of entry to help investors better diversify their portfolio, balancing their investment risk and reward.

Use information to your advantage

For investors new and seasoned, an important tenet is to always be well informed and educated on the types of things you want to pour money into. That is also why Tiger Brokers places emphasis on giving you the right tools to make your investment journey a success. On top of that, download your favourite news trackers to keep abreast of international news, which helps keep you up to date with global happenings. This generally makes decision-making processes easier when you want to find out where to invest and what to invest in. Additionally, fully utilise all the charts, markers and indices available to you for simple comparisons and to keep track of companies you are interested in.

At Tiger Brokers, we are constantly trying to improve our product offerings. Most recently, we’ve debuted the ability to buy fractional shares. On top of that, keep your eyes peeled for Tiger Brokers’ various programmes, from referral fees and bonuses, to ultra-low commissions or trading fees for new markets like the ASX.

Ultimately, there are always pros and cons to everything in life. Whilst traditional brokers have a great track record and reputation, online mobile brokerages also give users the tools and flexibility to chart their own investment journeys. At the end of the day, it’s all about how you want your money to work for you.

Take it one step further when diversifying your international portfolio with our Refer a Friend promo where you and your friends can enjoy stock vouchers, commission-free trades and Level 2 market data. We’ve also got Ace Trader goodies where you’ll get to enjoy 30% off commissions and free stocks!

We are proud to be a Silver Sponsor at this year’s Singapore FinTech Festival. With the unlimited possibilities of the FinTech world, we have launched a new programme that injects a little bit of fun to the industry. Harnessing the power of network connections, get in on the fun with your friends and family and purchase shares you want to invest in for just $1! The more teammates you have, the faster you can achieve your targets. Stay tuned here for more details.