Is my money safe with Stake?

Cash deposits held with Stake are client money protected under the Corporations Act 2001. AFSL holders are legally required to hold client money in segregated accounts, separate from their own operating funds. This means your uninvested cash should not be at risk from Stake's business operations. For invested assets, see separate answers for ASX shares (CHESS-sponsored) and US stocks (held in custody).

What happens to my ASX shares if Stake goes broke?

Your ASX shares are CHESS-sponsored under your own HIN on the ASX registry. They are legally yours, not Stake's — a Stake insolvency cannot affect your ownership. You could transfer your CHESS-sponsored shares to another broker via an off-market transfer. They remain on the registry regardless of what happens to Stake.

What happens to my US stocks if Stake goes broke?

US stocks held through Stake's Wall Street product are held in custody through Stake's US clearing arrangements. AFSL licence conditions require client assets to be segregated from Stake's own assets. In an insolvency, access to assets would be managed through the relevant insolvency process, which may take time. This is standard for all Australian retail brokers offering US market access — no Australian retail broker offers CHESS-equivalent protections for US-listed securities.

How does Hello Stake compare to CommSec for safety?

Both are AFSL-licensed and ASIC-regulated. Both offer CHESS-sponsored ASX trading. The key difference is institutional backing: CommSec is owned by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), one of Australia's largest banks, which provides additional stability. Stake is an independent company with 500,000+ customers. For the specific protections that matter most — CHESS ownership of ASX shares, segregated client money, ASIC regulation — both offer equivalent protections.

Updated June 2026 · Written by Jayme

Is Hello Stake Safe? AFSL, CHESS & ASIC Regulation Explained (2026)

Q: Is Hello Stake safe in Australia?

Yes. Hello Stake (hellostake.com) is regulated by ASIC and holds an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL). For ASX trades, it is CHESS-sponsored — your shares are registered directly under your own Holder Identification Number (HIN) on the ASX registry, independent of Stake. US stocks are held in custody through Stake's clearing arrangements, which is standard for all retail brokers offering international market access.

Q: Is Hello Stake regulated by ASIC?

Yes. Hello Stake (operated by Stake Invest Pty Ltd) is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and holds an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL). You can verify Stake's AFSL status on ASIC's MoneySmart website or the ASIC Connect registers by searching for 'Stake Invest Pty Ltd'.

Hello Stake is AFSL-licensed, CHESS-sponsored for ASX trades, and regulated by ASIC. Here's exactly what each of those protections means in practice — and the honest limits of what they cover.

Key takeaways

·Hello Stake (Stake Invest Pty Ltd) is AFSL-licensed and regulated by ASIC — the same regulatory framework as CommSec and all other Australian retail brokers.
·ASX shares purchased on Stake are CHESS-sponsored: registered under your own HIN on the ASX registry, legally independent of Stake's financial health.
·Uninvested cash is held as segregated client money under the Corporations Act, separate from Stake's operating funds.
·US stocks are held in custody — not CHESS-equivalent. This is standard for all Australian retail brokers offering US market access.
·Investments carry market risk and are not government-guaranteed. This applies to all investment platforms, not just Stake.

How Hello Stake protects your money and shares

AFSL licensed & ASIC regulated

Hello Stake (Stake Invest Pty Ltd) holds an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) issued by ASIC. This is the same licence category required by CommSec, nabtrade, and all other retail brokers in Australia. You can verify Stake's AFSL on ASIC's MoneySmart register by searching 'Stake Invest Pty Ltd'.

CHESS-sponsored for ASX trades

When you buy ASX shares through Stake, they are registered under your own Holder Identification Number (HIN) on the ASX's CHESS registry. Your shares are legally yours — not Stake's — and remain on the registry independently of Stake. If Stake closed, your ASX shares would still be accessible via the registry.

Client money segregation

AFSL holders are required under the Corporations Act 2001 to hold client money in segregated accounts, separate from their own operating funds. Your uninvested cash is not mixed with Stake's business finances.

500,000+ investors

Stake has grown to over 500,000 customers since launching in Australia in 2017. The platform is consistently rated 4.6★ on the App Store and 4.7★ on Google Play. ProductReview.com.au users rate it 3.9/5 across hundreds of reviews.

US stocks are held in custody (not CHESS)

CHESS only applies to ASX-listed securities. US stocks (on NYSE, NASDAQ) held through Stake's Wall Street product are held in custody through Stake's US clearing arrangements — standard for all Australian retail brokers. There is no CHESS equivalent in the US market for retail investors.

Not government-guaranteed (unlike bank deposits)

Unlike bank deposits (which are protected by the Australian Government Guarantee Scheme up to $250,000 per institution), investment accounts are not government-guaranteed. Your invested assets are subject to market risk. This is the same for all investment platforms in Australia.

How to verify Stake's AFSL yourself

You don't have to take anyone's word for it — you can check Stake's licence status directly on ASIC's public registers:

Go to moneysmart.gov.au or ASIC Connect (connectonline.asic.gov.au)

Search for 'Stake Invest Pty Ltd' under the financial services register

Confirm the AFSL is current and covers the services Stake provides (dealing in financial products, providing financial product advice)

Stake vs CommSec vs Superhero: safety comparison

Protection	Stake	CommSec	Superhero
ASIC regulated / AFSL licensed
CHESS-sponsored for ASX shares			—
Client money segregation
US stocks CHESS-sponsored	—	—	—
Major bank institutional backing	—		—
Government deposit guarantee	—	—	—

Verify current arrangements with each broker. Broker structures can change.

What would happen if Stake closed?

This is the most important question for any investor using a non-bank broker. Here's the realistic picture for each asset type:

ASX shares (CHESS-sponsored)

Shares remain on ASX CHESS registry under your HIN
Accessible immediately via another CHESS-sponsored broker
ASIC and the registry operator would coordinate access
No sale required — transfer to new broker possible

US stocks (held in custody)

! Held in custody through US clearing arrangements
! In insolvency, assets managed through formal process
AFSL requires segregation of client assets from firm assets
Same situation applies at all Australian retail brokers for US stocks

Important context: Stake has been operating since 2017 with 500,000+ customers. There is no history of regulatory action or financial instability. The risk of insolvency at any AFSL-licensed broker is low — but it's worth understanding how each asset type is protected regardless.

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Not financial advice. Always verify licence status on ASIC's MoneySmart register before opening any investment account.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Stake is AFSL-licensed, regulated by ASIC, and CHESS-sponsored for ASX trades — your shares are registered in your name independently of Stake. US stocks are held in custody (standard for all international retail brokers). Cash is held in segregated client money accounts.