Kernel Wealth Review: How Does It Work and Is it Good for Kiwis?
Our Kernel Wealth review breaks down the platform's features, fees, and how it works. Learn how to invest with Kernel Wealth and decide if it's right for you.
Tiger Brokers¹ is a popular investment platform offering New Zealanders access to investments locally, and in the US, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and other key Asian markets.
This Tiger Brokers review explores how to use Tiger Brokers, the fees you pay and the markets you can invest in. We’ll also touch on Wise which is a helpful tool for people converting, sending and receiving foreign currencies for investments, travel and day to day use.
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Tiger Brokers launched in 2014 and claims to be the fastest growing investment platform with Millennials and Gen Z, thanks to its easy to use app and low costs. You can buy and sell a broad range of assets including local and international stocks, fractional shares, options, futures, ETFs and more.
We’ll explore the products and investigate how to invest in Tiger Brokers in a moment, but let's loot at some things to keep in mind.
Tiger Brokers isn’t your only option - when choosing the platform you want to use for investing, bear in mind these pointers:
- Fees can vary based on trade and asset type - look out for a platform with low fees for the types of investment you want to make
- Currency exchange usually comes with fees - check the costs of conversion if you want to diversify your portfolio into other countries
- Third party fees can add up- these costs don’t get paid to Tiger Brokers, but are still important to understand
- Make sure you like the provider’s interface before you sign up- online and mobile investing is super convenient, but only if you find the platform app easy and intuitive to use
The value of investments can go down as well as up. This guide is for information only and does not constitute advice. Get professional help if you’re new to investing, to help you understand the risks involved and how to make the most of your money.
Tiger Brokers offers products and services which may suit a range of investors, from beginners to the more experienced. That means there are many different features you can access right for your app - although not all of them will suit every investor’s goals.
If you’re unsure about which products work best for you, get professional advice before putting your money at risk. Here’s a summary of key products and services from Tiger Brokers.
Buy and sell stocks across key markets including New Zealand, Australia, the US, Hong Kong, China and Singapore. This allows investors to diversify across different geographic markets to mitigate risk.
ETFs are available from New Zealand, Australia, the US, Hong Kong and Singapore. These are popular products for investors building a balanced portfolio.
Set a daily, weekly or monthly automatic investment amount and buy into US and Hong Kong stocks and ETFs on a regular basis. You can start from as little as 2 USD or 500 HKD and use regular investments to build your portfolio over time.
Options and futures trading is a more advanced and more risky option compared to some other asset classes, and should be used carefully. Tiger Brokers offers US options, and futures for 24 hour trading in 100+ products.
Tiger Brokers is a New Zealand registered company, and subject to New Zealand client assets regulations. It is considered a safe provider to use, with normal common sense precautions.
Here’s a summary of some key fees you’ll need to consider when trading with Tiger Brokers. Bear in mind that some other fees, like pass through fees, may apply, which aren’t paid to Tiger Brokers but which still push up the costs of your trades.
Here we’ve summarised stock trading fees only - different fees apply for Tiger Brokers' other service options. The full pricing detail is available on the Tiger Brokers website.
| Service | Tiger Brokers fee² |
| US Stocks & ETFs & OTC |
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| US Fractional Shares |
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| ASX Stocks & ETFs |
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| New Zealand Stocks & ETFs |
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| HK Stocks & ETFs |
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| China A-shares |
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| Singapore Stocks & ETFs |
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| Currency exchange |
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*Details correct at time of research - 11th March 2026
To use Tiger Brokers you’ll first need to register an account and get verified. To comply with the law you’ll be asked to provide both a proof of ID and a proof of residential address to sign up³. The usual documents used for ID are a New Zealand passport or driving license. If you don’t have these you may use a foreign passport, but it’ll have to be certified first.
You may be able to confirm your address automatically without providing additional documents, but in some cases you’re also prompted to upload an image of a recent proof of address, like a utility bill in your name.
Let’s take a look at how to invest in Tiger Brokers - buying and selling stocks, and withdrawing your money in the end.
Here’s how to buy shares using your new Tiger brokers account⁴:
- Log into Tiger Brokers and click the magnifying glass to find the stock you want to buy
- Click the Trade tab at the bottom and select Buy
- For a quick trade use Tiger Brokers Lite, or for more details about your purchase follow the instructions for Tiger Brokers Pro
- In both cases you need to select the order type and number of shares, as well as your purchase price
- For a Lite trade your order is processed at this stage - with the Pro route you can view the brokerage fee first, and then tap Place Buy Order
Here’s how to sell shares you’ve bought through Tiger Brokers:
- Log into Tiger Brokers and click the magnifying glass to find the stock you want to sell
- Click the Trade tab at the bottom and select Sell
- Enter and confirm the details of your sale, then tap Place Buy Order
Once your funds are settled you can withdraw your money⁵. You’ll need to have your balance in NZD as you can only link a New Zealand bank account to Tiger Brokers. If your balance isn’t already in NZD this means paying the Tiger Brokers conversion fee before you withdraw. Funds are usually deposited to your verified bank account in a day or so. There are no Tiger Brokers withdrawal fees⁶.
Tiger Brokers is a popular option for investors who want ease of access, to allow them to buy and sell assets with nothing more than a phone or laptop. Tiger Brokers offers good investment data and a broad range of asset classes and types which can be appealing to beginners and more experienced investors alike.
As there's no one best investment platform out there it’s still worth comparing a few before you decide on Tiger Brokers - look out for low fees and intuitive trading interfaces, as well as access to the markets that interest you.
While you’re thinking about how best to manage your money, why not also check out Wise. Wise can help people living an international lifestyle, or investing abroad, with low cost ways to manage currency conversions and overseas payments, plus a powerful international account that lets you hold, send, spend and receive a broad range of foreign currencies all in the same account.
The Wise account is an easy way to save up to 4x when you send, spend, and withdraw money internationally. Hold and manage 40+ currencies, including NZD, USD, EUR, and more. All you need to do is sign up for a free account to get started, there's no monthly fees either.

You can exchange currencies at the mid-market rate on every conversion — basically the rate you see on Google. And with zero foreign transaction fees, and low, transparent pricing, Wise usually gives you the best value for your money.
You'll get 8+ local account details in NZD and a selection of other global currencies to get paid conveniently to your Wise account. And when it's time to send money abroad, enjoy fast, low-cost transfers to 140+ countries. Plus, you can get a linked Wise debit card for spending internationally at the same great mid-market rate.
When it comes to managing money globally, the Wise account is a handy tool that makes it easier and simpler.
This general advice does not take into account your objectives, financial circumstances or needs and you should consider if it is appropriate for you. Savings claim based on our rates vs. selected New Zealand banks and other similar providers in Jan 2026. To learn more please visit https://payout-surge.live/nz/compare%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Please see Terms of Use and product availability for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
Sources:
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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