Financial Snacks: How do we choose ETFs?

Ever wondered how someone achieves success in the stock market? Today on the podcast, I’m joined by Heloise Greeff, the first Female Elite Pro and one of the most popular copied investors on eToro, the world’s leading social trading platform. In this episode, she shares with us her approach to investing and the winning strategies that have made her the powerhouse investor she is today.  Heloise’s journey to becoming an investment superstar begins with the pocket money budgeting her mother taught her at a young age, as well as some playful exercises in investing. Growing up playing with cars with her older brother, she found herself drawn to study engineering after school and became trained as a mechatronics engineer. This led to her obtaining both an MBA and PHD in machine learning, and has made her the data-obsessed engineer she is today! With this impressive background, Heloise spends time not only researching and publishing novel machine learning algorithms, but consulting some of the world’s largest tech companies and exciting startups. So, how does all of this tie in with investing?  Heloise applies her skills in data analysis to navigate the stock market and lead her in her decision-making. The results speak for themselves, with her average return being almost 30%. For context, the S&P 500 clocks in at around 10% on average, making Heloise’s success more than a little impressive!  Heloise talks about the concerns she faced around her future pension, which led her to take her first steps into the world of investing. While she’s now at the top of her game, it wasn’t immediately smooth sailing, and she talks about the regrets she has on certain decisions she made in the early days. This serves as a reminder to those of us starting out that it's a learning curve for everyone, and mistakes are bound to happen.  We discuss the six pillar strategy Heloise has adopted, with an emphasis on the three main ones she calls ‘the basics’. While she focuses strongly on risk management, Heloise also believes in making investment choices based on what makes you ‘uniquely you’. In what areas are your strengths? What gets you excited? Finding out where your passions lie is one secret to developing a strong portfolio.  When it comes to successful investing, there’s no magic wand. Heloise emphasises the value of patience and discipline, and shares her tips on how to get started on what can be an exciting, long term journey in the stock market.  So, grab your notepad and pen and get ready to take your investment game up a notch with Heloise's incredible words of wisdom!   This episode is brought to you by eToro, Australia's leading social investing platform with over 30M users worldwide allowing you to explore local & global markets, diversify your investments and copy popular investors strategies! Click here to find out more.   LINKS: The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel: https://www.amazon.com.au/Psychology-Money-Morgan-Housel/dp/0857197681    CONNECT WITH HELOISE: Website: http://greeffinvest.com/  Instragram: https://www.instagram.com/greeffinvest/  eToro: https://www.etoro.com/people/rubymza  CONNECT WITH LADIES FINANCE CLUB   Join our free Facebook group - Ladies Finance Club Money Chat   Website: https://www.ladiesfinanceclub.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladiesfinanceclub/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ladies-finance-club/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we have the pleasure of chatting with Marina, a pioneering feminist who challenged societal norms by investing whilst running a business. She embarked on this journey at a time when it was uncommon for women to do so and in this episode, we hear all about Marina's investing history, tips and experiences that have shaped her journey towards financial freedom. Marina's financial story begins with her decision to study dentistry after school, a field that appealed to her as a challenge given it was largely male-dominated at the time. At a time when many women were encouraged to stay home and have babies, she had rather different goals for her life. Marina talks about her longtime desire to become self-employed and the master of her own destiny, leading her to eventually start her own business and take the leap into investing.  Though she admits she didn’t know a lot about making investments at the time, Marina talks about the inherent self-confidence and determination she possessed from an early age. We hear about how this drove her to make her first property purchase in her twenties, and the challenges she faced entering the share market in a time before the internet or online brokers.  Calling herself a conservative investor, Marina warns us not to become tied up in fear and greed, two things that we know drive the markets. Instead, she encourages us to start simple, build slowly and be in it for the long game. While investing in the share market can feel daunting for those starting out, Marina reminds us that with today’s platforms, it’s possible to start out with small amounts and is certainly never too late to begin.  Marina's journey is a great reminder that investing isn't merely about accumulating wealth; it's about taking control of your life and future. She talks about the comfort and financial freedom she’s gained, and how her financial independence has afforded her the life she truly desires.  So tune in for some amazing insights on how to level up your knowledge on investing, take charge of your finances and begin to create the life of your dreams!    This episode is brought to you by eToro, Australia's leading social investing platform with over 30M users worldwide allowing you to explore local & global markets, diversify your investments and copy popular investors strategies! Click here to find out more.   LINKS: Australian Investors Association CONNECT WITH LADIES FINANCE CLUB   Join our free Facebook group - Ladies Finance Club Money Chat   Website: https://www.ladiesfinanceclub.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladiesfinanceclub/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ladies-finance-club/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, I am joined by Dr. Grace Sha, a compelling speaker, author, and the innovative founder of the Mental Wealth Institute. Grace is a high achiever and successful dentist but years ago found herself burning out. Questions of what she was doing and where she was going overwhelmed her and a rocky relationship added to the struggle. She refused to let these challenges define her and began a journey of self-discovery.  When Grace reached the other side of burnout, she decided to use her experience to help others suffering like she had and wrote the book "Mental Wealth, How to Journey From Burnout to Abundance."  In this book, she details her experiences and offers practical advice on identifying burnout and achieving work-life balance. In this conversation, we discuss some of Grace's experiences working with patients with mental health challenges, volunteering in mental institutes, and being in a psych ward. She notes the value of conversations with psychologists and psychiatrists in understanding the reasons behind her actions and the impact they have on her life. We also talk about Grace’s journey investing in property. The value of investing this way was instilled in her as a child and she started as soon as she could. Now she’s not only a property investor but a property developer. Not wanting other women to be scared of entering the property market, she shares the top lessons she has learned to help you stay confident and informed.  Grace also shares how her perspective on wealth has changed over the years. While many people associate wealth solely with money, Grace highlights that true abundance involves being free to choose the life you live. She stresses that financial freedom is a good first step to living comfortably and fulfilling one's basic needs. This episode is brought to you by eToro, Australia's leading social investing platform with over 30M users worldwide allowing you to explore local & global markets, diversify your investments and copy popular investors strategies! Click here to find out more.   CONNECT WITH Grace Sha Website: https://www.thementalwealthinstitute.com/ LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/drgracesha CONNECT WITH LADIES FINANCE CLUB Join our free Facebook group - Ladies Finance Club Money Chat Website: https://www.ladiesfinanceclub.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladiesfinanceclub/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ladies-finance-club/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today’s Financial Snack episode, Josh dives deep into the major trends dominating 2023.The first is AI which has been dominating discussions across the world. While the AI trend isn't brand new—it's been on the radar since around 2016—it's only now that it's growing out of its infancy, presenting a tempting proposition for investors.  We also discuss the continued significance of clean energy, with more and more governments pledging to achieve zero emissions, as well as the intriguing shifts in economic landscapes such as inflation and interest rates. For anyone keen on understanding the trajectory of investments this year, this is a must-listen. This episode is brought to you by eToro, Australia's leading social investing platform with over 30M users worldwide allowing you to explore local & global markets, diversify your investments and copy popular investors strategies! Click here to find out more.   CONNECT WITH JOSH GILBERT LinkedIn: Josh Gilbert | LinkedIn CONNECT WITH LADIES FINANCE CLUB Join our free Facebook group - Ladies Finance Club Money Chat   Website: https://www.ladiesfinanceclub.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladiesfinanceclub/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ladies-finance-club/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today’s episode, I’m joined by the powerhouse that is Tina Tower. She’s a business coach & strategist with a whole heap of experience building her empire and inspiring others to do the same. She’s won awards like Telstra National Young Business Woman of the Year Award and Australian Business Champion for her work.  We start off by talking about her first business, which she started at only 20 years old, a tutoring centre and educational toy store. Her drive and business savvy allowed her to expand the business to 35 centres with 120 staff! Eventually, she sold the company to focus on her newly discovered passion - helping other women build and scale their businesses.  Tina talks about her experience visiting a financial planner for the first time last year. Something she had believed was only for the super-rich but now regrets not doing much sooner. Her financial planner taught Tina about financial products and avenues for investment that she had no idea existed!  Tina also shares how she came to understand the value of investing, especially for women. Investing is an avenue to build your financial stability - something critical to feeling free and empowered in uncertain times.  I know you’ll absolutely love this episode, so sit back and enjoy!    This episode is brought to you by eToro, Australia's leading social investing platform with over 30M users worldwide allowing you to explore local & global markets, diversify your investments and copy popular investors strategies! Click here to find out more.   CONNECT WITH TINA TOWER Website: https://www.tinatower.com/about   CONNECT WITH LADIES FINANCE CLUB Join our free Facebook group - Ladies Finance Club Money Chat   Website: https://www.ladiesfinanceclub.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladiesfinanceclub/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ladies-finance-club/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Investing is a key step for many people’s financial wellbeing, and more and more Australians take it up each year. If you’ve ever wondered what everyone else is choosing to invest in, this episode has got the goods!    Drawing on a survey of 10,000 retail investors conducted by eToro, Josh Gilbert joins me for another snack size episode today to explore the various assets that women are investing in and how they approach the world of finance. Josh sheds light on popular sectors and assets, as well as the growing importance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations in investment decisions.   Whether you find safety in numbers, or want to buck the trends, I know you’ll get a lot out of this episode’s bite-sized goodness!    This episode is brought to you by eToro, Australia's leading social investing platform with over 30M users worldwide allowing you to explore local & global markets, diversify your investments and copy popular investors strategies! Click here to find out more.   CONNECT WITH JOSH GILBERT LinkedIn: Josh Gilbert | LinkedIn CONNECT WITH LADIES FINANCE CLUB   Join our free Facebook group - Ladies Finance Club Money Chat   Website: https://www.ladiesfinanceclub.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladiesfinanceclub/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ladies-finance-club/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today’s episode of the Ladies Finance Club, we welcome the incredible Laetitia Andre, CEO of Essential Shift Consulting. Laetitia Andre hails from the south of France and had a successful career in strategy consulting before experiencing burnout. Following a pivotal moment, she moved to Australia with her husband, where she discovered a new way of living and working.  Later she created her own business, Essential Shift Consulting, dedicated to helping high-achieving entrepreneurs achieve their goals and avoid burnout.  In this episode, Laetitia shares how she encourages female entrepreneurs to make space to listen to their inner voice, allowing them to connect with their intuition. By tuning in, they can make decisions that feel right, leading to a more fulfilling and sustainable business journey. During our conversation, we also talk about money blocks, her personal relationship with money, and the success stories of her clients. Laetitia share’s a lot of wisdom shared in this episode that I know you’re going to love. Enjoy!    CONNECT WITH LAETITIA  Website:    https://www.essentialshift.co/’ Her Book: www.lightitbook.com  CONNECT WITH LADIES FINANCE CLUB Join our free Facebook group - Ladies Finance Club Money Chat Website: https://www.ladiesfinanceclub.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladiesfinanceclub/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ladies-finance-club/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to today’s snackable finance episode! One of the most common questions we get from women learning about ETFs is: How do we choose the right ones? Josh from eToro joins us to give a quick rundown on the best way to decide which exchange traded funds are right for you.  Josh explains that not all ETFs are the same, and in terms of buying in Australia, international companies may be included in the options. He also explains how understanding what sectors, countries or themes you want to invest in is the best place to start.  There are thousands of ETFs out there, so how do we narrow down our choices? Josh advises us to pay attention to the size of the fund, who is running it and what stocks it owns. This will give you an understanding of their performance, as well as the fees involved.  In order to avoid over-exposure to certain stocks, Josh talks about looking at the specific weighting within each ETF and how this will help ensure your portfolio is diversified. He gives us tips on using tools such as an ETF screener, which will help you search for specific criteria such as type of industry, company and fees.  So, tune in to this bite-sized conversation for some amazing tips on getting started on your ETF journey!   CONNECT WITH JOSH GILBERT LinkedIn: Josh Gilbert | LinkedIn   CONNECT WITH LADIES FINANCE CLUB Join our free Facebook group - Ladies Finance Club Money Chat Website: https://www.ladiesfinanceclub.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladiesfinanceclub/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ladies-finance-club/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today I’m joined by powerhouse entrepreneur Ruby Lee, who transitioned from working as a corporate accountant to building a successful multi-seven figure coaching business. With a background in finance and a passion for helping others, Ruby has built a global community of coaches and entrepreneurs, teaching them how to build and scale successful businesses with ease and flow.  Ruby’s journey from leaving the corporate world to turn her side-hustle into a million dollar business all started with a creative itch. We hear about her desire to feel more fulfilled in her work, and how she overcame her initial self-doubt to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams. She speaks about navigating motherhood while in the midst of growing her business, and the unconventional route she and her husband took to ensure she had every chance of reaching success.  While she was trained as an accountant, Ruby admits that her relationship with money had not always been healthy. She speaks about the internal trauma around money in her family and how this affected her ability to control her own finances. It was only once she began her spiritual quest to seek growth and healing did she unlock the mindset that transformed her completely.  We hear about Ruby’s coaching philosophy, being the concept of operating in flow state. She describes it as energetics mastery and understanding how your body wants to work in order to be in flow. Ruby believes that once you become unapologetic about the energetics of your own body, the ability to create boundaries and know when to say yes or no will come naturally.  Ruby takes us through the issue of money blocks, an obstacle she sees her clients often struggle with. She talks about her own history with avoiding her own numbers in the past, and how crucial it is that entrepreneurs develop a deep understanding of their finances. Not only does it provide the clarity needed to grow, but empowers us to take control and know our own worth.  Looking ahead, Ruby sees a future where more business owners embrace the power of flow state and prioritise their well-being. She believes that by aligning their work with their natural rhythms and focusing on self-care, entrepreneurs can build sustainable and fulfilling businesses. Ruby’s story is an incredible example of how embracing mindset shifts and developing a healthy relationship with money can unlock entrepreneurs’ full potential and create the business and life of their dreams.  I know this conversation will encourage you to find freedom from your own limiting beliefs around money, and I encourage you to tune in and get inspired by Ruby’s wisdom on and passion for financial health and expansion.   This episode is brought to you by eToro, Australia's leading social investing platform with over 30M users worldwide allowing you to explore local & global markets, diversify your investments and copy popular investors strategies! Click here to find out more.   CONNECT WITH RUBY LEE Podcast: Flow State Business Instagram: @_rubylee_   CONNECT WITH LADIES FINANCE CLUB Join our free Facebook group - Ladies Finance Club Money Chat Website: https://www.ladiesfinanceclub.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladiesfinanceclub/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ladies-finance-club/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to another bite-sized finance episode! Today, Josh Gilbert from eToro gives us the rundown on what the S&P is - and no, it doesn’t have anything to do with condiments! We look at exactly what the S&P, or Standard & Poor’s, is and how it offers a snapshot of the US equity market. We learn about what it takes for a company to make it onto the S&P index, and Josh gives us an example of a prominent company that was only included in recent years. You’ll be surprised!   We then talk about whether companies can list their shares on more than one exchange, and what that means for people wanting to buy stocks in Australia and in the US as well.    So, tune in for a short and sweet explanation of the S&P, how it gauges large-cap US stocks and its ability to provide a clearer picture of the marketplace.    Enjoy!   CONNECT WITH JOSH GILBERT LinkedIn: Josh Gilbert | LinkedIn   CONNECT WITH LADIES FINANCE CLUB Join our free facebook group - Ladies Finance Club Money Chat   Website: https://www.ladiesfinanceclub.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladiesfinanceclub/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ladies-finance-club/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.