Start Small, Grow Steady

By June Ramli

When I first decided to dip my toes into the world of investing, I didn’t turn to a bank loan or my savings account. Instead, I looked around my house.
Old cameras, unused kitchen gadgets, and a few once-loved tech toys—I sold them all. After a few weeks of online listings and pick-ups, I had $1,000 in hand. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to start.
What I didn’t have was confidence—at least, not yet.
That’s where Tiger Brokers came in. I’d heard about the platform from a few friends and remembered writing about them in the past.
This time, I decided to truly immerse myself in the experience—not just as a journalist, but as a first-time investor.

Before risking a single dollar, I began exploring their demo platform, a risk-free feature that lets you practice trading with virtual funds. It felt like a financial flight simulation—perfect for a cautious newbie like me.
I could try placing trades, monitoring charts, and even reacting to market changes, all without any real money on the line. According to a Tiger Brokers spokesperson, that’s exactly the point.
Through the platform’s “Learn & Invest” hub, I also began soaking up bite-sized educational content—everything from understanding ETFs to decoding market terminology.
It felt empowering to learn at my own pace, and for the first time, investing didn’t feel like a foreign language. This wasn’t about trying to become an overnight millionaire. It was about turning clutter into capital and seeing what I could do with the tools at hand.
And with Tiger Brokers, I was off to a promising start—without spending a single real dollar.
A Tiger Brokers spokesperson urged Australians to take the leap into investing with discipline, patience and consistency.

“The biggest hurdle is often psychological,” he explained. “People think they need thousands of dollars to start. In reality, just starting small and staying consistent is what makes the difference over time.”
He illustrated the point with a simple example: putting aside $25 a week for 40 years could add up to about $330,000 by retirement.
“That’s the power of compounding,” the Tiger Brokers spokesperson said, adding that the earlier people begin, the more effective compounding becomes.
The spokesperson told DailyStraits.com that the most important step for any new investor is simply to start.
For those unsure where to begin, the spokesperson suggested keeping it simple with exchange-traded funds (ETFs). “ETFs are cost-effective and diversified,” he said.
“They take the guesswork out of trying to pick individual winners and give you broad market exposure right from the start.”
When discussing strategies across different life stages, the spokesperson said younger investors should lean toward equities to capture long-term growth, while older investors should adopt a more conservative approach. “A simple rule of thumb is 100 minus your age,” he said.
“That’s roughly how much of your portfolio can be in equities, with the rest in safer, fixed-income products. But no matter your age, the key is to stay invested and avoid panic when markets dip.”
He cautioned against short-term thinking, particularly during downturns.
“Markets will always have ups and downs,” he noted. “The investors who succeed are those who don’t panic-sell. They hold their ground and let compounding do its work.”
Addressing more advanced strategies like options, the spokesperson urged beginners to proceed carefully. “Options can be useful for risk management, especially puts,” he said.
“But they carry risks and should only be used once you truly understand how they work. That’s why demo accounts are so valuable – you can learn without losing money.”
On the Tiger Trade platform, he highlighted features designed to make investing more accessible. “We wanted to build a platform where anyone could start, even with just a dollar,” he explained.

“Fractional shares, auto-invest, and transparent fees mean there are no hidden surprises. You pay only when you trade.”
He also pointed to Tiger GPT, the company’s AI-powered educational tool, as a resource for new and experienced investors alike.
“Tiger GPT helps you research dividends, track earnings announcements, and understand company fundamentals. It’s like having a coach in your pocket,” he said.

For Australians on modest incomes, the spokesperson reassured that investing is still possible.
“Prioritise essentials, of course, but try to set aside even a small amount regularly,” he advised.
“It’s not the size of the investment that matters most—it’s the habit. Dividend-paying stocks can also be a good way to generate additional income over time.”
The spokesperson closed by returning to a simple core philosophy that matched my own beginner journey: “Just start, start small, and stay the course. Don’t wait for the perfect moment or the perfect amount. The earlier you begin, the more time you give your money to grow.”