How to Invest in the US Stock Market from New Zealand

Platforms like Stake and Hatch make buying shares in the US effortlessly accessible - our guide explains everything you need to do before you sign up, as well as a range of investing alternatives

Updated 3 July 2020

​With companies like Facebook, Nike, Alphabet (Google), Microsoft and Bank of America taking centre stage, the opportunities on the US markets are endless. Comparing what’s available on the NZX (Auckland Airport, Air New Zealand, Spark and Fletcher Building, among others), it’s perfectly reasonable to want to invest in the US sharemarket. Now, thanks to several investment platforms, New Zealanders have the opportunity to do just that. Best of all, the platforms compete vigorously with each other, helping drive down the trading fees to record lows.

In this guide, we outline and explain:
Your free guide to Investing in the US, thanks to Stake
  • This MoneyHub guide is sponsored by our friends at Stake.
  • If you're looking to understand how investing in the US works, our guide helpfully takes you through the entire process, step by step as well as answering all of your questions.
  • Stake is the only investment platform to offer free brokerage, so you can trade as much as you want. Our Stake review explains more.

​Investing in the US - All the Options Compared

There are many ways you can invest in US shares. Both Hatch and Stake offer dedicated platforms that let you buy and sell US shares. Other options available in New Zealand include investing platforms which offer US-focused managed funds, ETFs tracking US shares and general e-brokers that offer a limited number of US companies. Most of the platforms don't charge monthly fees, so you're free to join just more than one while keeping your ongoing costs down.
Dedicated US-trading investment platforms:
  • Hatch - offers 3,500+ funds and ETFs, with US$3 per trade brokerage fee; our Hatch review explains the platform in detail.
  • Stake - offers 3,800+ funds and ETFs with 0% brokerage fees and an app; our Stake review explains the platform in detail.
  • Our guide to Hatch vs Stake reveals each platform’s competitive edge.

Other options offering US investments:
  • InvestNow – offers 30+ US-based funds, both index and actively managed; our InvestNow review outlines more.
  • Smartshares – offers a number of ETFs focused on the US markets; our Smartshares review outlines more.
  • Sharesies – offers a number of funds, ETFs and launches direct US share trading in mid-2020; our Sharesies review outlines more.
  • ​ASB Securities – offers US trading via its platforms; our ASB Securities review outlines more.
  • Fund managers – examples include Milford Asset Management, Pie Funds and Fisher Funds, which have a selection of managed funds focused on the US markets.

​Considering Hatch or Stake to invest in the US markets? Our guide to Hatch vs Stake reveals each platform’s competitive edge.

​5 Must-Know Facts about Investing in the US Sharemarket

Before making your first investment, it's important to know how the platforms compare and what to consider before going further. The ultimate of each platform is to minimise investor costs and maximise returns, so being aware of the key differences will help you find a platform that's right for you.

​Brokerage fees vary between platform – some are free

Brokerage fees are charged whenever you buy and sell shares. You’ll pay anything from $0 to US$30+ per trade, which adds up if you make a few trades and are paying above-average to do so. Stake proudly offers 0% brokerage fees, which is the cheapest brokerage option available to New Zealanders right now. ASB Securities, by comparison, charge the most. In general, the lower the brokerage fee, the more profitable your investments will be.

​You’ll pay to convert NZD to USD – know the margin before you invest

Most platforms use the foreign exchange spot rate (the market rate that banks use) and charge a fee on top as a way to make money. Hatch charges 0.50% while others charge 1.00% or even 1.50%. For example, if you invest US$1,000, you’ll either pay a US$5 fee (Hatch) or as much as US$15. You’ll pay the same again when you convert USD to NZD (and some platforms may automatically convert your USD to NZD which isn’t helpful, and expensive by way of FX fees, if you want to buy more US shares right away).  

​Most platforms are free to use with no monthly fees

Most are free or offer a ‘freemium’ model, which means you’ll only pay when you trade. Stake is one platform which offers enhanced features for a monthly fee, such as the ability to trade on unsettled funds (perfect for day trading) and stop-loss (which means you won’t lose money if the US share markets drop overnight while you sleep in New Zealand). For most investors, a free-account with any platform is most likely all that’s needed.

​User experience and depth of data is key – make sure you ‘road test’ the platforms to find out what works for you

The more data a platform offers, generally, the more informed you’ll be about a company's price history. While you can always use Google Finance or Fool.com (LINK) to see the latest data, having it in one on your platform offers a far better user experience. Hatch and Stake are examples of powerful platforms that deliver live share price updates, graphs and the ability to search by sector etc. Another consideration is whether you prefer to use an app or a website, or both. Some platforms are website-only, so this can limit your options if you want the convenience of on-the-go access.

​Know upfront how customer support is handled

Is support phone-based, e-mail only or chat-bot? And is support available during the US markets (around 2am to 9am in New Zealand) or during NZ work hours? While the customers of most platforms don’t tend to require ‘urgent’ support, it’s still a consideration to make. If you're quite particular on the support level you need, this will influence the platform significantly.
​Considering Hatch or Stake to invest in the US markets? Our guide to Hatch vs Stake reveals each platform’s competitive edge.

Benefits and the Bottom Line – What to Watch Out For When Investing in US Shares from New Zealand

Benefits
  • Enormous potential for investments – the NZX offers around 200 companies and ETFs (and arguably, many small companies listed don’t do much). Investing in the US markets opens up over 3,500 companies and ETFs.
  • Low fees – before 2018, investing in US markets was in arguably expensive and inaccessible. Hatch changed that, and Stake made it even more competitive.

But, be aware:
  • Exchange rates fluctuate – if the NZD becomes stronger against the USD, your investments will be worth less in NZD, all other things being equal, in NZD. This means that if you invest NZ$10,000 and the NZD:USD moves from 0.60 to 0.75, your money is worth around NZ$2,000 less if you converted back into NZD at the 0.75 rate.
  • Unlike the NZX50 which is open from 10am to 4:30pm, the US market is open when most of New Zealand is asleep (2am to 10am), so you'll need to factor that in when deciding to buy and sell shares.
  • It’s harder to observe local US market conditions in New Zealand – while there is endless data and stock pick websites pumping out sharemarket noise, you don’t live in the US and therefore are somewhat detached. For example, a2 milk was first seen in New Zealand supermarkets and had local press promoting its health benefits. Its shares slowly, then rapidly, moved from 25 cents to $18. If you are an investor who likes to see what you’re investing in, trading on the US markets can be isolating.

Overall, we say:
  • There's a lot of potential upside from investing in the US market, but never invest any more than you can afford to lose. 
  • Newly launched platforms are safe and have made it affordable and easy to buy and sell US shares.
  • Whatever market conditions are, there's arguably always more buying opportunities than the NZX.

​Considering Hatch or Stake to invest in the US markets? Our guide to Hatch vs Stake reveals each platform’s competitive edge.

Investing in the US – Frequently Asked Questions

Investing in the US markets needs some thought when it comes to foreign exchange rates, tax, investment management and more. Our FAQs below explain what you need to know.

What happens to my investment if the NZD:USD exchange rate moves?

Hatch and Stake don’t offer hedging options. This means that there’s no arrangement to mitigate any move in the exchange rate. So, if the NZD goes up against the USD, and all other things being equal, the NZD value of an investment will be less due to the USD being worth less. But you won’t see that in real terms unless you sell the investment and convert the USD back into NZD.

If you would prefer investments that are hedged, Sharesies, Smartshares, InvestNow or Simplicity offer such funds. There is always a fund’s hedging fee added to the annual management fee, usually around 0.3% to 0.50%.

What do I need to do about tax and the IRD in general?

​When you invest in the US, there are two tax obligations – US Federal and New Zealand taxes. Both the Stake and Hatch platforms take care of all US tax obligations at source (a small fee applies). This means your returns are net of US tax (around 15% for most investors’ dividends and distributions) and you don’t need to do any paperwork as it’s done on your behalf by your platform’s partners.
​
For New Zealand, as long as you don’t hold over $50,000, the IRD doesn’t require anything more than state your overseas income. This guide from Hatch explains the process in detail.

Is my money safe, and who owns the shares I invest in?

It’s reasonable to be concerned who the actual owner of your investment is, especially as Stake and Hatch both use a dealer-broker that’s registered in New York. The good news is that your investments are held by a custodian on your behalf. As you buy more shares, the custodian adds these shares to your account. When you sell the shares, the proceeds (i.e. money) are returned to your Hatch or Stake account. From there, you can either re-invest it in other shares or withdraw it into NZD or a USD bank account.

Our guide to custodians explains more.

Can I invest in a US-based ETFs and managed funds from New Zealand?

Yes – Stake and Hatch offer a number of ETFs on their platform, and many New Zealand fund managers offer investments which invest in US-based companies. A good place to start is looking at the ETF options available of Hatch and Stake, as well as international funds listed on InvestNow. Beyond that, you can look at fund managers such as Milford Asset Management, Pie Funds and Fisher Funds, which have a selection of managed funds focused on the US markets.

I want to invest in the US markets using a platform, but are there alternatives to investing in shares directly?

Yes – ETFs offer the opportunity to invest in a number of American companies operating in a wide range of industries and make investing relatively easier and less time-consuming if you're looking for diversification. Rather than research and pick individual companies, you invest in an ETF or fund that focuses on a particular investment strategy and geographic area. For Stake, some of the ETFs include:
  1. iShares US Aerospace & Defense ETF – this fund invests in American companies specialised in aerospace, such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.
  2. Schwab U.S. REIT ETF – this fund invests in American-based commercial, residential and specialised real estate companies.  
  3. iShares US Regional Banks ETF – as the name suggests, this is a fund which invests in the shares of America’s regional banks.

How much of my portfolio should I invest in US shares?

MoneyHub isn't a financial adviser, so we can't suggest any appropriate ration. As with any investment, diversification is the key to managing risk. Keeping your savings in cash, term investments/fixed-interest, a portfolio of shares and a handful of managed funds is a proven way to minimise your exposure to any one investment.
​Considering Hatch or Stake to invest in the US markets? Our guide to Hatch vs Stake reveals each platform’s competitive edge.

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