The role of a broker

What is a broker?

A broker has direct access to the market for trading shares, and acts as an agent to buy or sell shares, for which a fee is charged. A broker may also offer a range of other products and services including advice on which shares to buy or sell.

What do brokers do?

Apart from buying or selling shares on your behalf, most advisers or stockbroking firms also offer:

  • advice on traditional investments such as shares, debentures, government bonds and listed property trusts
  • advice on a wide range of non-listed investment options (eg cash management trusts, property and equity trusts, etc)
  • investment plans tailored to your financial needs
  • planning, implementing and monitoring of your investment portfolio
  • retirement planning
  • research on national and international trends to help maximise your returns and minimise risk

Why do you need a broker?

Shares listed on ASX can only be bought or sold through a broker.

If you need help in selecting a stockbroking firm or adviser, visit the Find a broker section.