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How much money do I need to be rich in Australia?

March 5, 2023

In 2017/18

If you’ve ever wondered how the other side lives, new statistics have provided insight into how much money you need to be rich in Australia.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics released its Survey of Income and Housing 2017/18, giving people a snapshot of the assets and debts of Australians.

The ABS has separated Australia’s population into five segments, called quintiles, each representing 20 percent of the people.

It found average household wealth has grown to about $1.02 million, from nearly $749,000 in 2005/06.

Household wealth is calculated by adding up all the assets a household owns and then subtracting the value of debts such as home loans.

The survey found the top 20 percent had an average net worth of $3.2 million.

Rising house prices have been the most significant factor pushing up household wealth, but only 22 percent of households own a property other than the home in which they lived.

The average amount owing on a home loan was $102,600, the average student loan debt was $5000 and the average credit card debt was $3000.

Superannuation is also becoming a key factor separating the rich from the poor. The wealthiest households now hold on average $646,000 in their super accounts compared with those in the next quintile who only had about $216,000.

The most affluent Aussies also had a lower proportion of their money tied up in the property.

WEALTHIEST HOUSEHOLDS — TOP 20 PERCENT

These households were the most likely to have both partners working and not having kids. In about 53 percent of cases, two people in the household were employed.

They were also the most likely to have money invested in their own businesses, with almost 8 percent putting their money into this, a lot more than other quintiles that all had less than 2 percent invested.

Australia’s wealthiest households had more money in shares and private trusts, and investment loans made up 6 percent of their debt, which is higher than for other groups.

These households held more than 60 percent of all household wealth.

WEALTHIER THAN AVERAGE — FOURTH QUINTILE

This group is more likely to be an older couple with more mature children.

However, almost a third of this group were also couples without kids.

The home they live in is their biggest asset, with 94.6 percent paying off or owning their own property. About 17 percent of their wealth also comes from their superannuation fund.

AVERAGE ASSETS — THIRD QUINTILE

This is your classic young couple with babies and young children.

This group has the most wealth tied up in their family home, with these mortgages making up 70.4 percent of their liabilities — the most out of any quintile.

About 88.9 percent of these households lived in a home they owned or were paying off.

The middle 20 percent of households held 11 percent of all household wealth, averaging about $564,400 per household.

LESS WEALTHY — SECOND QUINTILE

Less than half of this group own a home with or without a mortgage.

They are more likely to have wealth tied up in superannuation or as money in the bank.

The contents of their homes make up 11.7 percent of their household wealth.

Car loans are often the biggest debt they have apart from their mortgage.

LEAST WEALTHY — BOTTOM 20 PERCENT

This group features the biggest proportion of single-parent families (13.4 percent) compared with other quintiles.

They are also the most likely to be single-person households (36.7 percent) with about 40.5 percent of household income coming from government pensions and allowances.

Only 3.9 percent had an owner-occupied home and 2.3 percent had other property assets.

They had the highest amount of debt owed on student loans.

The bottom 20 percent controlled less than 1 percent of all household wealth, with an average wealth of about $35,200.

In 2022

Survey reveals the eye-watering amount of money Australians need to consider themselves rich

The whopping amount of money that an Australian needs to earn to feel rich has been revealed.

If you don’t earn $336,516 per year, then your peers won’t think you’re well-off.

That’s according to data that comparison website Finder compiled exclusively for news.com.au, released on Wednesday, after surveying more than 1000 people.

The findings shone a light on the different expectations of what it means to be successful depending on how old you are.

Generation Z – who are aged between 10 and 25 – listed the highest amount of money in order to be rich person.

For the youngest generation, $428,474 is needed to classify yourself as rich.

That’s more than six times greater than the median personal income of $52,338, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The expectations of the different age groups.

Meanwhile, Millennials had the second-highest figure for their wealth fantasy, at $345,785.

Gen X (aged in their 40s and 50s), brought down the average and had the lowest number overall, seeing $294,705 as necessary to enshrine one’s status as rich.

Baby Boomers thought that $306,505 was enough to be pushed into the threshold of wealth.

The same survey found that the average Aussie saved $645 per month this year amid the cost of living crisis, and has $30,745 in direct savings.

Sarah Megginson, the money expert at Finder, said these were massive expectations considering Australia’s average wage.

“While a small number of high-income earners can make average income figures seem impressive, the typical Australian is on a salary of just over $50k,” she said.

“Keep in mind true wealth is not just about money. Feeling rich can also be having a sense of satisfaction and contentment in all aspects of your life.”

She added, “Building wealth doesn’t have to mean earning the most competitive income – the best thing you can do is develop great financial management skills.”

In 2021, a study revealed how much Australians were making on average and perhaps unsurprisingly, workers over the age of 45 earned the most.

Workers aged between 45 and 54 brought in the highest salaries per year, at an average of $80,298, according to a study released by Instant Offices last year.

Australians aged between 35 and 44 came in at a close second, taking home $78,192 a year.

Teenagers, to no one’s surprise, raked in the lowest wages, at just $19,952 annually. Aussies in their twenties made $58,3635 a year, on average.

source: news

CommSec review: CommSec share trading account

Details about CommSec share trading account

September 11, 2022

5 Comments

Company background

Launched in 1995, CommSec is one of Australia's oldest share trading platforms for retail investors.

Today, it's among the country's largest and best-known online brokerages, offering Australian and international shares, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and self-managed super fund (SMSF) accounts.

You don't need to be a banking customer of Commonwealth Bank to open a CommSec share trading account, although it can be advantageous to open up a Commbank everyday account.

What are the key features of a CommSec share trading account?

The CommSec share trading account offers useful features for both novice and advanced investors. However, the platform is simple enough to use that new investor won't be too overwhelmed.

While its brokerage fees aren't the lowest on the market for trades of more than $1,000, there's no minimum trade requirement on your standard Australian shares account. This means you won't be charged an inactivity fee or any other monthly fee.

Plus, one of the platform's biggest drawcards is the free high-quality data feeds and research on all listed securities.

Fees
★★★★★ 3.8/5

Brokerage fees are low for small trade sizes but increase the higher the trade. On the plus side, there is no inactivity fee.

Trading tools
★★★★★ 4.3/5

CommSec offers a long list of conditional orders plus margin trading and charting tools.

Research and Education
★★★★★ 4.8/5

CommSec offers broker analysis on stocks, company announcements plus regular market updates.

Available securities
★★★★★ 3.5/5

CommSec offers shares, ETFs, warrants, and options.

Customer support
★★★★★ 3/5

There is no live chat but you can phone or email from 8 am to 7 pm, Monday to Friday.

Single Commonwealth Bank login

Current clients of Commonwealth Bank can use a single login to easily switch between both CommSec and NetBank, which helps to keep all finances in one place. If you choose to go down this path, it pays to set up a Commonwealth direct investment account (CDIA). A CDIA is the same as a regular transaction account. However, it can also be used as a trade settlement account, which is viewable right next to your current bank balances within NetBank. Plus it gives you the option of having a debit Mastercard attached to the account.

CHESS-sponsored shares

The Clearing House Electronic Subregister System or CHESS is a management system used by the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).

CHESS sponsorship is automatically applied to all newly opened CommSec share trading accounts.

If your account is CHESS-sponsored, it will have a unique holder identification number (HIN).

Think about it like insurance. Under a CHESS model, the shares are in your name and you can update key details. So on the off chance, that anything happens to the broker, you have access to shares.

Real-time prices, news, and research

All CommSec share trading accounts provide clients with up-to-date market prices and data.

With a CommSec share trading account, you're able to stay up-to-date with the latest news and releases as they happen. You can access reports, videos, and analyses from CommSec analysts directly within the platform.

Create personalized watch lists

One of the key benefits of CommSec is it allows investors to create personalized lists that view live pricing, research, and data points.

CommSec Pocket

The company has diversified into an app called CommSec Pocket, which allows investors to start trading with as little as $50.

This is to help newer investors get started, with traditional brokers setting minimums of $500 before they can begin trading.

With CommSec Pocket, you can't buy and sell shares, but you will gain access to 7 themed ETFs and pay just $2 per trade.

Trade international shares and ETFs

CommSec allows you to invest in overseas markets by opening a CommSec international securities trading account. Within a single account, clients have the ability to buy shares in US companies such as Apple and Google along with global stocks and ETFs listed in over 25 overseas markets.

Browser and app account access

CommSec shares trading account holders can log in and place trades through a number of portals. Trades can be placed online via a web browser, through the CommSec mobile app for iPhone and Android, or simply by calling up and placing an order over the phone. Even without Internet access, you have the peace of mind that comes with having phone access to the CommSec office.

Advanced trading tools

One of the key features of CommSec is its trading tools, which include the following:

Advanced charting
Create personalized watchlist
Live prices, research, and market data
Research tools
Portfolio health checks
Margin and trading tools
Weekly stock recommendations from experts

What markets can I trade in with a CommSec share trading account?

Depending on which CommSec trading account you choose, you'll be able to trade in a number of different markets:

Australian shares. Buy shares in Australian companies listed on the ASX.
International shares. Buy shares in international companies listed on more than 25 of the biggest global stock exchanges by opening an international account. Exchanges include the NYSE, NASDAQ, LSE, and TYO.
Options trading. Trade options that allow you to buy more shares in a company at a specific price level.
ETFs. Buy and sell listed funds such as ETFs and other exchange-traded products traded on the ASX.

Additional trading options

Aside from trading in various markets, CommSec allows you to trade the following:

Warrants
Fixed income securities
Margin loans
CommSec Pocket micro-investments.

Who is CommSec designed for?

CommSec is designed for pretty much anyone, but its ease of use and beginner features can certainly help those newer to the market.

Some of the more advanced trading features are probably more suited to those who have traded before. But this all depends on what account you choose to start with.

The majority of clients can trade a range of assets through a basic CommSec account although signing up for direct investment has some advantages.

For total novices looking to start investing small amounts of money, there is CommSec Pocket. For serious traders, there is CommSec One, option accounts, and margin loan accounts.

What account types are available with a CommSec share trading account?

Through CommSec, you can open an Australian share trading account and an international share trading account.

In terms of trade settlement, you can use either a CommSec CDIA, your own account or you can trade through margin loans.

Trading with the CommSec CDIA

If you choose to conduct trades using the CDIA, you'll benefit from lower brokerage fees and no account-keeping fees. Plus, you can earn tiered interest on funds in your account and have access to all free live trading tools and market research.

Trade shares from $10.
No account-keeping fees.
Earn interest on funds over $10,000.

Trading using your own cash account

If you choose to trade with CommSec using your own cash account, you'll still have access to all the same tools. However, you'll be charged a higher brokerage fee (starting at $29.95).

Trade shares from $29.95.
Access free live trading tools.

Margin trading

If you choose to trade using a margin loan, you get access to the same benefits such as free trading tools and live market data. However, you'll also get access to risk management tools and portfolio monitoring.

Trade shares from $10.
Trade shares and invest in managed funds using borrowed funds.
Access risk management and portfolio monitoring tools.

What types of customer support are available from CommSec?

A broker the size of CommSec is naturally expected to have a high level of customer support access. If you have queries or problems, there are a number of choices:

Frequently asked questions (FAQ). The CommSec FAQ page is fairly in-depth. You can also download product disclosure statements and information guides throughout the site.
Phone support. CommSec has 2 English-speaking numbers for clients located both within Australia and overseas. It also has a Cantonese/Mandarin number for use within Australia.
Email support. The support email address allows clients to articulate their problems via text. Questions are usually answered within 1 business day.
Questionnaire form. Unfortunately, this form doesn't lead to a live chat session. The questionnaire form on its support page feels a little redundant, especially because attaching any supporting screenshots or documentation will open up an email window anyway.
Twitter support. CommSec has now opened a @CommSecSupport Twitter handle and it goes some way to supplementing the broker's lack of a live chat feature.

Overall, CommSec customers can expect a reasonably high level of customer support for an online broker. The only disappointing feature about CommSec's customer service is the fact that it doesn't have a live chat option. The live form on its website isn't actually live, and it can take 1-2 days for a response to come through via email. That's frustrating for clients who have short questions that could easily be answered on the spot by a live chat representative.

What are the fees I can expect from a CommSec share trading account?

There are a few basic fees and brokerage charges you need to be aware of when using CommSec:

Brokerage fees. These vary depending on the amount you're trading and the cash settlement method you choose:
Trades are placed through a CDIA cash settlement account. If you're a CHESS-sponsored customer and settle through either your CDIA or CommSec margin loan account, you'll pay $10 brokerage for trades of Australian shares up to $1,000. For trades between $1,000 and $10,000, you'll incur a $19.95 brokerage fee. This fee rises to $29.95 for trades between $10,000 and $25,000 and to 0.12% for trades over $25,000.
Trades are placed through a non-CDIA cash settlement account. If you choose to settle your trades through a different cash settlement account, then trades up to $10,000 will incur a $29.95 brokerage fee. This fee rises to 0.31% for trades over $10,000 and $59.95 for trades over $10,000 that are placed over the phone.
International fees. Brokerage fees vary depending on which country the shares you want to buy are listed. Fees for US shares are US$19.95 while shares listed on the London Stock Exchange are US$39.95 or 0.40%, whichever is greater.
Phone fees. Trades settled over the phone charge much higher brokerage fees. Transactions up to and including $10,000 charge $59.95.

Ongoing account fees. You pay nothing when you first open a CommSec share trading account. There are also no monthly account-keeping or inactivity fees for your Australian account. However, there is an annual $25 fee for international accounts if you don't conduct at least 1 trade during the year.

Is CommSec worth the fees?

While it is true that reducing fees is a great way to improve your investment returns, for a lot of investors, using CommSec could be worth the additional expense.

CommSec is certainly more expensive than discount online brokers, even though they do not have a management or inactivity fee.

The reason why it might be worth the additional money is due to its tools, features, and ease of use. This can be especially useful for newer investors.

How do I pay for shares on a CommSec share trading account?

You have a few options when paying for your share trades through CommSec. When you buy shares, the settlement must occur within 2 business days – this is called "T+2". This means your funds will need to be available by this date or you'll incur a fee. Options include the following:

Automatic direct debit. CommSec can automatically direct debit funds from your nominated bank account. This is the simplest and most common way to pay for your share trades.
BPAY. The alternative to automatic direct debit for Australians is through BPAY. Your BPAY details can be found within your CommSec share trading account profile page and can be used as an alternative.

How do I open a CommSec share trading account?

When you're ready to open a CommSec share trading account, click the Open Account button on the CommSec website. You'll be faced with the following screen asking whether you'd like to trade with a CommSec cash account or your own cash account:

Selecting the first option to trade using CommSec's cash account will give you a new CDIA, which essentially means you get cheaper brokerage fees. You can choose to trade from an account outside of CommBank, but you'll be hit with higher fees. You can read more about what these options mean in our CDIA guide. Once you've selected the account you'd prefer to use, follow this 4-step process:

Complete residency and ID check
Provide personal details
Register interest
Download trading platform and mobile app

To complete the account opening process, you must be 18 years or older and have the following documentation handy:

Name
Address and contact details
Valid email address
Mobile phone number
Tax file number