Bell Direct Review
- Is a regulated broker
- Bell Direct provides an excellent Self-Managed Superannuation Fund (SMSF) solution along with SMSF tools and diversification as well as tax reporting
- Fast trade execution speed
- Quality research
- Several customer support channels
- Advanced charting package
- Rich list of tradable assets
- User-friendly trading platform
- High cost of placing trades on mobile devices
- Offers limited integration for derivatives trading
Bell Direct is an Australia-based online stock brokerage company founded in 2006 by Arnie Selvarajah. The company’s long experience in the financial industry means that it is able to provide traders with superior trading experience. The broker offers ASX information, excellent SMSF solution, as well as online share trading. Traders can purchase or sell stocks on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) through Bell Direct’s trading platform.
Bell Direct is the brokerage brand of Third Party Platform Pty Ltd, a company that is licensed and regulated by the Australian Securities and Exchange Commission (ASIC). It seeks to give traders access to real-time broker research, daily trading ideas (which include six long and short trade ideas), free conditional orders, and access to a fully interactive HTML5 charting technology that allows them to visualize complex pricing data and technical indicators. In addition to this, traders are also given access to portfolio strategy tools. Clients are also provided with Straight Through Processing (STP) to ASX trading with 1-second placement guarantee. Bell Direct accepts international traders.
Exchange Platform
Bell Direct allows its clients to participate in the markets through the following trading platforms:
WebTrader Platform
Bell Direct provides traders with an award-winning, feature-rich, web-based trading application that has a fully responsive layout. The platform is equipped with the all-new Markit charting solutions, which allow clients to manipulate the data displayed through panning and zooming directly. Traders can also draw on, annotate, and save all their charts. The platform also features Multi-Order Pad, which allows users to purchase or sell a stock in their portfolio across several accounts, all in one click. Traders can also create pre-determined orders for equities, interest rate securities, as well as warrants. Other trading tools available on the platform include broker research tool, strategy builder, visual depth chart, technical insights and a market heat map, all of which can help you to make the next big move in the stock market.
Mobile Trading Platform
Bell Direct allows traders to execute trades on the go using the web-based mobile trading solution which has been optimized for mobile users. The feature is available for both Android and iOS powered devices, and it allows traders to buy and sell assets, view the latest research reports, track their portfolio, trace and update orders, get stock quotes and market depth, read live news feeds and company announcements, view and edit watch screens, etc. The mobile app format of the trading platform can do almost all the things its bigger brother could. To trade using your mobile phone, open your phone’s web browser and go to http://www.belldirect.com.au, then log in to your account using your username and password. You will be automatically redirected to the mobile site, from where you can trade.
Exchange Markets
Bell Direct allows its traders to trade a variety of instruments that include:
- ASX listed equities
- ETFs
- Options
- Warrants
- Managed funds
- IPOS
- Interest rates and securities
- XTBs (Exchange Traded Bond Units)
Deposit and Withdrawals
Bell Direct clients can deposit funds into their trading account by electronic means through either of:
- BPay: Traders can use their Biller Code and BPay number to transfer money into their Bell Direct trading account.
- Electronic transfer: Bell Direct clients can use their BSB and account number to send funds to their trading account.
To withdraw funds, all you need do is to visit the fund transfer section in your trading account and submit a funds transfer request whenever you like. The amount you can withdraw depends on the cash balance in your account as well as any buys pending settlement and open buy orders you have at the time when your withdrawal request is being processed.
Withdrawal requests that are submitted before 2:30 pm AEST on working days are processed on the same day, while withdrawal requests submitted after 2:30 pm AEST on a working day will be processed at 2:30 pm AEST the next business day. However, the cut-off on non-settlement days and shortened Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) trading days such as on Christmas Eve and New Year’s eve is 12:30 pm AEST.
Help and Support
For any inquiries or questions regarding Bell Direct products, services, or prices, clients can contact the company’s helpdesk in the following ways:
- Phone: Clients can contact Bell Direct customer support representatives by phone on the following numbers 1300 786 199 (Australian residents), +61 3 8663 2700 (international clients). Phone support is available 8 am to 7 pm, Mondays to Fridays, Eastern Standard Time (EST).
- Email: Bell Direct clients can also reach the customer support team through email at [email protected].
- Fax: Traders can fax Bell Direct’s customer support team via (03) 8663 2799 (Australian residents), and +61 3 8663 2799 (international clients).
- Postal address: Traders can send their questions and concerns to the following postal address: GPO Box 1630 SYDNEY NSW 2001.
Security and Fairness
Bell Direct’s parent company, Third Party Platform Pty Ltd, is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and holds Australian Financial Services License (AFSL) number 314341. As such, the company is bound by the rules set by ASIC. ASIC regulations contain strict compliance and reporting requirements. So, traders need not worry about being defrauded.
Conclusion
Bell Direct is a reliable online broker. The company has been on the scene for about 12 years now and has won several awards for its excellent service offerings. It offers a feature-packed trading platform along with some of the most innovative tools known to the industry. Bell Direct’s trading platform is beginners friendly, yet sophisticated enough for experienced traders, which makes it suitable for traders of all experience levels.