From being too busy screaming at the umpire to really get behind their team, to the lack of league winning traditions, here’s why Australian Rules Football fans are not as good as English Premier League fans.

An Australian radio show recently pointed out on Twitter that AFL crowds have “slumped to their lowest levels in 26 years,” asking the question: “Why? Why aren’t people going to the footy?”

In the interests of rubbing salt into the wound, this author, who knows very little about the AFL, and is a keen follower of the EPL, would like to throw his thoughts into the mix. Here’s my very biased take on why I think AFL fans are not as good as EPL fans.

Because it is full of marshmallow rules!

— Portuguese Irish Australian Woman (@stamford02) May 24, 2022

EPL Fans Really Know How To Get Behind Their Team

In the EPL, whole stadiums sing. It’s a regular occurrence. Like church (if churches let you get drunk). It’s also not uncommon for entire stadiums of people to know the words to quite moving chants. Though AFL fans know how to make a lot of noise and can also produce a magical atmosphere too, there seem to be fewer unifying traditions (and more individuals screaming individual abuse at the ref or players rather than getting behind their team with something positive).

EPL Fans Have More Traditions

Even though this year’s mass invasion of the pitch when Manchester City won the league went wrong (a crossbar was broken and the opposition keeper Robin Olsen was allegedly assaulted), the passion of English Premier League fans really is beautiful. Even though some stuffy souls (see, the below letter sent in to The Guardian) reckon it’s a bad example to set, even going as far as to suggest players need to show more restraint in their celebrations lest they set a bad example for the fans, we’d say it’s something – bar things like assaulting the opposition’s keeper, obviously – to admire.

“For several seasons we have witnessed players indulging in a series of increasingly histrionic acts when their team has scored a goal: sliding on their knees across the pitch, kicking corner flags and – worst of all – jumping over barriers to embrace their exulting fans. Equally deplorable are the responses of coaching staff and subs who encroach the pitch to join in this triumphalism. If fans resort to irresponsible and violent behaviour, they are doing little more than following the lead provided by their idols.” (Graham Downie, writing to The Guardian).

Football Stadiums Let Even The Most Emotionally Stunted Men Feel Part Of Something Beautiful

Though English football hooligans are a shining beacon of assholery (and though, obviously, going around kicking people’s heads in is not an acceptable way to express your emotions), the other 99.9% of male football fans are actually tapping into something Tim Winton summed up nicely in the novel Breath.

Talking about surfing in Western Australia (just bear with me here), Winton wrote: “How strange it was to see men do something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant, as though nobody saw or cared.”

Singing and chanting together at a football game is a great way for men, who might be repressed in other areas of their life, to engage in something pointless and beautiful.

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English Premier League Fans Jeer At The Referee… With A Sense Of Humour

Rather than (just) yelling and screaming at the referee over perceived injustices (EPL fans love to do that too), EPL fans often jeer at the referee with a sense of humour. They even get to know them, in some cases, better than the players themselves…

English Premier League Fans Know How To Frustrate The Other Team

They don’t call it a home ground advantage for nothing. English Premier League Fans are a key part of their side’s ‘game management (aka ‘champagne football’). This can involve celebrating their team’s possession of the ball (yelling “ole” after each successful pass), ironically celebrating the other team’s possession of the ball (when they haven’t had it for much of the game) and much more.

RELATED: Aussie Soccer Pundits Embarrass Themselves After Writing Off Real Madrid

English Premier League Fans Are More Creative With Their Sledging

EPL fans just do it better. Sorry. Don’t believe me? Check out this list.

English Premier League Fans Travel To Support Their Team

This isn’t unique to the English Premier League, but English Premier League fans lead the way when it comes to this ultimate act of passion and loyalty – even if it sometimes means waking up at some ungodly hour for a flight, or getting on a coach full of your hungover, frustrated compatriots without having slept.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this (I’ll admit) very biased, possibly somewhat ill-informed (something I’m missing about the AFL? Let us know on social media) article, and I look forward to hearing what you think too!

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The post Sorry, Australia: AFL Fans Are Not As Good As EPL Fans appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Since its inception, YouTube has been a platform for many content creators to make a serious name for themselves and earn some considerable money in the process. Some of the highest earners to make a name for themselves include PewDiePie, Zella and David Dobrik. But the man who can currently comfortably lay claim to being the biggest name on YouTube, and the highest earner, is MrBeast.

So, who is MrBeast, how did he become famous and how much is he worth?

MrBeast Quick Facts

Name: Jimmy Donaldson
Age: 24
DoB: 7 May 1998
Nationality: American
Height: 6ft 3in / 1.9m
Instagram: @mrbeast – 18.7m followers
YouTube: MrBeast6000 – 96.5m subscribers / MrBeast Gaming – 27.4m subscribers
Net Worth: $55 million (estimated)

Who is MrBeast?

MrBeast is the online alias of Jimmy Donaldson, an American YouTube content creator, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was on the 7th of May 1998 in Kansas but moved to Greenville, North Carolina at a young age. He graduated from Greenville Christian Academy in 2016.

MrBeast YouTube Career

Jimmy Donaldson – MrBeast – uploaded his first video to YouTube in February 2012 when he was just 13-years-old. The majority of his early content was either what is known as a ‘Let’s Plays’ video – a video that shows him playing various video games – videos of himself estimating the personal wealth of other YouTube personalities or videos providing tips and advice to anyone else wishing to become successful via YouTube.

MrBeast didn’t attract many subscribers in his first couple of years of uploading content, but that changed in 2015 – 2016, by which time his content had started attracting audiences and his subscriber base quickly rose to around 30,000.

Understanding that YouTube viewers will watch pretty much anything, MrBeast uploaded a video of himself simply counting to 100,000 in January 2017. It took him 40-hours to complete, but he edited it so that it only took 24-hours to watch. He followed this up with a second video showing himself counting to 200,000.

MrBeast continued to upload videos of himself performing obscure stunts, such as watching paint dry, which drew more and more attention to his account.

By this point, MrBeast was already earning considerable money through YouTube and so held various competitions for people to win some cash. One notable event saw one contestant win $1 million.

MrBeast’ most-viewed YouTube video to date is one where he recreated Squid Game – the immensely popular Netflix survival drama – which saw 456 people compete for a $456,000 prize. The video currently has over 248 million views.

MrBeast Gaming

To help segregate his videos, MrBeast created the MrBeast Gaming YouTube channel in May 2020 and which already boasts over 23 million subscribers. The MrBeast Gaming channel is where you will find videos of players competing in gaming events for cash prizes.

MrBeast Burger

MrBeast created the MrBeast Burger fast-food delivery chain in December 2020. MrBeast Burger is an entirely online offering; what is known as a virtual dining concept, which means burgers are only available via delivery. Customers can order burgers via the official MrBeast Burger app for iOS and Android, or via door-to-door food delivery services such as UberEats, Doordash and GrubHub.

There are currently over 1,000 MrBeast Burger locations that all work on a ghost-kitchen model, the majority of which are found in the United States of America, but there are 5 locations in London, England. MrBeast finds restaurants that are struggling – usually because of the Covid-19 pandemic – and pumps money into them, so that they can resume their usual business, but also cater to the MrBeast Burger menu.

MrBeast Chocolate

In January 2022, MrBeast founded his own food company, called Feastables, which currently has its own range of chocolate bars, appropriately called MrBeast Bars. They are currently only available in the USA, and in a limited range of flavours: Original, Almond, Quinoa Crunch, Milk Chocolate and Chocolate Sea Salt.

MrBeast has partnered with other brands to offer yet more chances to win prizes via the Feastables brand.

MrBeast Net Worth

Forbes reported that MrBeast earned $54 million in 2021, putting him on par with the likes of Lewis Hamilton. Not all of his money is earned through YouTube – payments come from both YouTube and advertising revenue – as he also has various sponsorship deals.

MrBeast’s net worth is an estimated $55 million, although various online publications state it is much lower, at around $25 million. Whilst he may earn a considerable amount of money, MrBeast invests heavily into his video content, with the majority of his videos costing around $300,000 to produce.

He also gives large sums of money, either to winners of competitions or in the form of donations to various charities. He claims he runs his channel at a loss.

MrBeast Merch

Perhaps unsurprisingly, MrBeast also has his own range of merchandise available to buy via his own website. Merchandise includes t-shirts, hoodies, phone cases, backpacks and homewares.

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The post Who Is MrBeast? All You Need To Know About YouTube’s Biggest Star appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Jake Gyllenhaal began his acting career when he was just a child but has become one of the most successful and acclaimed actors in the business. The born and raised LA actor has been nominated for one Oscar and two Golden Globes and has been a part of some of the best movies ever made.

So, if you’re in the mood to watch Gyllenhaal in one of his incredible performances – first of all, we don’t blame you. And second of all, we’ve got you covered… Here are the best Jake Gyllenhaal movies.

Brokeback Mountain

7.7 IMDb score, stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger, Anne Hathaway & Michelle Williams, Drama & Romance, released in 2005

Brokeback Mountain follows two young men who first meet in the summer of 1963 when they’re both hired to herd sheep. Then over the span of nineteen years, the film explores the complicated but beautiful relationship the two men have – they are in love with each other but won’t be accepted in a 1960s society for being gay.

Both Gyllenhaal and Ledger turn in phenomenal performances – both were nominated at the Oscars for acting awards – and Brokeback Mountain is simply a poignant film everyone should see at least once in their lifetime.

Where To Watch: Tubi.

End of Watch

7.6 IMDb score, stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Peña & Anna Kendrick, Action, Adventure & Crime, released in 2012

While it may look like just a standard buddy cop film, End of Watch is actually exceptional. The film is a mockumentary and follows two cops, Brain and Mike who are being hunted by both a drug cartel and a Mexican gang.

Overall, End of Watch is extremely entertaining and both Gyllenhaal and Peña give great performances.

Where To Watch: Netflix Australia & Stan.

Nightcrawler

7.8 IMDb score, stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo & Bill Paxton, Crime, Drama & Thriller, released in 2014

This thought-provoking and thrilling film sees Gyllenhaal as Lou Bloom – a man ambitious enough to become a nightcrawler (a crime journalist who follows police sirens to film and break crime news immediately as it happens). Incredibly gritty and filled with fantastic social commentary, if you haven’t seen Nightcrawler before, you’re in for a treat.

And if you have seen it; watch it again!

Where To Watch: Stan.

Prisoners

8.1 IMDb score, stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Hugh Jackman & Viola Davis, Crime, Drama & Mystery, released in 2013

Gyllenhaal plays Detective Loki opposite Jackman’s Keller Dover – a man whose daughter goes missing. Detective Loki has only one lead to find the missing girl but can’t arrest the main suspect due to a lack of evidence. Frustrated, Dover takes matters into his own hands.

Prisoners is haunting and extremely well-acted; especially by Gyllenhaal and Jackman.

Where To Watch: Netflix Australia & Binge.

Spider-Man: Far From Home

7.4 IMDb score, stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Tom Holland & Samuel L. Jackson, Action, Adventure & Sci-Fi, released in 2019

Whenever Gyllenhaal appears onscreen in Spider-Man: Far From Home, he’s simply a delight to watch and pulls serious focus; clearly, he’s having such fun playing the role of Mysterio. This is what makes it one of his best films.

Plus, Spider-Man: Far From Home is awesome. A great movie to unwind with after a long stressful day,

Where To Watch: Netflix Australia.

Zodiac

7.7 IMDb score, stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr. & Mark Ruffalo, Crime, Drama & Mystery, released in 2007

Based on a true crime, Zodiac is set in the 1970s and focuses on the investigators and reporters who were desperate to catch the infamous Zodiac serial killer. Gyllenhaal plays Robert Graysmith, the real-life reporter who worked extensively on the Zodiac case and wrote the book that this film was based upon.

If you’re a true crime lover, Zodiac is a must-watch; it’s an extremely good film thanks to a top-tier cast and a chilling and suspenseful storyline.

Where To Watch: Rent or purchase on Apple TV+, Amazon Prime, Google Play, Microsoft Store, YouTube or Fetch.

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The post The Best Jake Gyllenhaal Movies And Where To Watch Them appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Amazon has quickly become the go-to site for pretty much everything; including streaming. The e-commerce conglomerate owned by Jeff Bezos has hopped on the streaming service bandwagon and now offers access to a multitude of movies and television shows as well as original content, like The Boys.

If you’re thinking of getting an Amazon Prime Video subscription, here’s everything you need to know.

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What Is Amazon Prime Video?

Amazon Prime Video – often referred to simply as Prime Video – is a video streaming service that is extremely similar to other services including Netflix Australia and Stan. Essentially, you pay a subscription cost and in return get access to popular movies, TV shows and Prime Originals – films and TV shows that are exclusive to and were made solely for the platform – that you can stream via the internet and watch on a compatible device.

Prime Video has been around since 2006, although back then, it was only available in a limited number of countries and only as part of a full Amazon Prime subscription. It wasn’t until Amazon secured the right to The Grand Tour, the motoring show hosted by former British Top Gear presenters, Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond in 2016, that Prime Video expanded globally to some 200 countries, including Australia.

Since acquiring The Grand Tour, Amazon has pumped more and more money into original content, some of which has gone on to win awards, including the Oscar-winning Manchester By The Sea.

Amazon also made the decision to separate Prime Video from a full Prime membership in select countries, meaning customers can enjoy Prime Video for a low monthly fee, instead of paying much more in return for the complete suite of Prime benefits, including next-day delivery.

Amazon Prime Video Cost

• $6.99/month including full Prime benefits
• 30-day free trial available

Amazon Prime Video is actually the cheapest major streaming platform in Australia and represents incredibly good value. Prime Video costs just $6.99 a month in Australia (or $54 for an annual subscription) and this price actually grants you access to all Amazon Prime benefits: free two-day shipping on eligible Amazon domestic items, and free shipping on items shipped from overseas when you spend $49 or more, free games, Amazon Music and Amazon Reading.

This price also includes free access to ultra high definition content (where applicable); something that other platforms, such as Netflix, make you pay extra for. Plus, Amazon Prime Video offers a 30-day trial so you can test out the full benefits of the platform before you commit to a subscription.

What devices can I use to watch Amazon Prime Video?

Amazon Prime Video Australia is available on a wide range of devices, much like the other big streaming services. Put simply, if you’ve got a device that can connect to the internet, then there’s a good chance you can stream Prime Video. Compatible devices include:

• Smart TVs
• Smartphones
• Gaming Consoles
• Tablets
• PCs & Macs
• Amazon Devices (Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, Fire tablet, Echo Devices with a screen)
• Select Blu-Ray Players
• Media Players and Set-Top Boxes

What can I watch on Prime Video Australia?

It must be said that the library of available content to watch on Prime Video is smaller than what you’ll find on services such as Netflix, but when you consider you’re paying much less each month, this is to be expected. That’s not to say there’s nothing worth watching on Prime Video, because there are indeed some true gems and you’ll still be able to find some of the best movies and TV shows ever made available on the platform.

Noteworthy content includes:

• Jack Ryan
• The Marvellous Ms. Maisel
• Mozart in the Jungle
• Good Omens
• The Grand Tour
• The Man in the High Castle

Additionally, Prime Video does often secure rights to recently released movies, which are made available to rent or buy. So, while you can’t watch them for free, Prime Video is definitely a streaming service to check out if you want to watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters before anyone else.

The post Amazon Prime Video Australia: Everything You Need To Know appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The following article was produced in partnership with Moncler.

Moncler has always done things a little bit differently.

The French brand, famous around the globe for its luxurious, impeccably crafted skiwear, might be a favourite of the jet-set and fashion-forward, but it’s never forgotten its origins as technical gear for alpine workers and the jacket of choice for the world’s most adventurous mountaineers. It’s got both style and substance.

Perhaps it’s not a surprise, then, that Moncler’s first-ever luxury fragrance is also a rather different proposition. Fresh, exciting and innovative, Moncler Pour Homme is one of the most clever colognes ever made – and a must-have addition to your fragrance rotation.

A woody aromatic fragrance, Moncler Pour Homme was designed to capture the vibrant natural beauty of an alpine forest – very appropriate for a brand born in the Alps.

First, you’re hit with a unique Alpine Green accord, which blends into Clary Sage – energetic and fresh, like you’re blitzing down a black run surrounded by pine trees. Cedarwood, Vetiver and the fragrance’s Mountain Woods accord form an earthy dry-down that is both crisp and warm all at once. There’s also a beautiful, almost cucumber-like element to Moncler Pour Homme that reminds you of a fresh cocktail at apres-ski. Santé.

It’s a mature yet playful fragrance that immediately transports you to a winter wonderland no matter what time of year you happen to be wearing it.

Moncler Pour Homme doesn’t just smell good – it looks good, too. Moncler Pour Homme comes in a unique ribbed silver bottle that at once pays homage to the sorts of canteens mountaineers would take on long hikes as well as the iconic quilted construction of a Moncler jacket.

That’s not all. The bottle also boasts an LED screen which you can customise using a dedicated app. The bottle can display scrolling personal notes or fun Alpine animations at the press of a button and can be recharged via a USB-C port.

It’s a considered and innovative design that turns the humble perfume bottle into a piece of dynamic art. It’s a bottle so cool you won’t want to hide it away in your wardrobe or bathroom, you’ll want to put it on display.

The fragrance itself can also be ‘recharged’ (which indeed is how you say ‘refill’ in French anyway) with additional refill bottles, meaning you can get plenty of use out of the cool LED screen.

It also makes a great gift for a man who’s perhaps a bit over your stock-standard fragrance. Imagine their face when they open it up to find their new favourite cologne wishing them ‘Happy Birthday’!

Discover the Alpine adventure that is Moncler Pour Homme here.

The post Moncler’s Futuristic First Fragrance Is A Game-Changer appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

If you’re one of the 9 million Australians who currently invest in the ASX share market or if you’re just looking at getting started, the platform you choose to buy and sell shares on can have a serious impact on the long-term performance of your portfolio. 

Ideally, you want to find a platform that charges the lowest fees, has the most user-friendly interface as well providing an extensive range of research tools so that you can dig into the important info about any company you choose. 

Now, all Aussie share trading platforms come with their ups and downs, that’s why we’ll be going through the best share trading platforms for Australians looking to get stuck into investing this year.

What Type of Investor Are You?

Before we get stuck into the review, it can be really helpful to figure out what type of investor you are before trying to make a decision concerning any of the platforms in the review below. Different platforms may be more suited to your needs depending on how often you’re looking to buy and sell shares, how much money you want to invest at a given time and so on. 

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Casual Investor

A casual investor is someone who invests regularly as part of a long-term investment strategy, but doesn’t spend hours following the markets and obsessing over charts. If you’re looking to do ‘set and forget’ style investing, or you only make one or two trades each month — you most likely fall into the casual investor category. 

Regular Investor

A regular investor is someone who buys and sells shares on a frequent basis all while staying up to date with the relevant market information. Regular investors tend to want more advanced research tools so that they can dig into all of the important specifics on different companies. So, if you find yourself making between 5 and 10 trades a month and getting stuck into niche financial information, then you fall into the regular investor category. 

Advanced Investor (Trader)

A trader is someone who invests on a near-daily basis and wants the capability to interact with relatively complex financial instruments like derivatives. As traders often make more than 50 trades a day, finding a platform with low fees and all the necessary bells and whistles is of utmost importance. 

Now that you’ve hopefully figured out which category of investor you fall into, let’s get stuck into figuring out which share trading platform is the best choice for you and your investment portfolio in 2022. 

The Big Four Banks

For anyone that is already banking with one of the big four: Commonwealth, Westpac, NAB or ANZ — one of the best ways to reduce financial confusion is to keep all of your money in one place. While the share trading platforms offered by the big four banks do charge higher fees compared to independent trading platforms, the ease of use for moving money around in a single application can be a big positive for investors looking to keep things simple. 

Commsec 

Commsec is the Commonwealth Bank’s flagship share trading platform, and it’s definitely a top choice for anyone who is already using Commonwealth Bank to manage their finances. The integration between the Commbank and Commsec platforms make it easy for users to transfer funds in and out of their share trading account.

The Commsec platform is available on desktop as well as via a mobile app, both of which are fairly user friendly and offer a pretty solid range of educational tools for beginners as well. A major downside to Commsec is that investors can only trade on the Australian share market (ASX) as international shares (the U.S. stock market) are not immediately available to new users, with the platform requiring users to make an application.

Fees

Commsec, being one of the Big Four banks, is definitely more on the more expensive side when it comes to fees. You can find the fees that Commsec charges listed here:

• $10 fee for all trades under $1,000 on
• $19.95 – $29.95 for trades over $1,000 for Commbank users who have a CDIA account.
• $29.95 for all trades with no CDIA account. 
• For International Trades, investors will be charged a: $19.95 – 39.95 USD fee as well as 0.6% foreign exchange (FX) fee. 
• Accounts that are inactive for over 1 year will be charged a $25 fee. 

Westpac

Westpac share trading is Westpac bank’s share trading platform, and again, it may be a good choice for anyone who is already using Westpac to easily manage their finances. The integration between the Westpac banking and Westpac share trading platforms makes it easy for users to keep their money all in one place.

The user-friendliness of the Westpac share trading platform is on par with the other big four banks, offering a fairly intuitive experience on both desktop and mobile app. Much like the others, users have to make a separate application to trade international shares, meaning that most users are limited to ASX only share trading. 

Fees

Because Westpac is also a member of the big four Aussie banks, users can definitely expect relatively high fees. Westpac charges the following fees to its users. 

• $19.95 – $29.95 fee on all ASX trades.
• For international trades, investors will be charged a: $19.95 – 39.95 USD fee as well as 0.6% FX fee. 
• Accounts that are inactive for over 1 year will be charged a $63.50 USD fee, which is fairly substantial relative to its competitors. 

NAB

NABtrade offers some of the lowest fees out of the big four. The NAB share trading platform is extremely similar to its main competitors and it offers a pretty stock standard experience on both desktop and mobile app. 

Like the other banks, users have to make a distinct application to trade international shares, meaning that everyone is initially limited to ASX only share trading, a pretty substantial downside if you’re looking to pick individual U.S. stocks like Amazon, Tesla or Facebook. 

Fees

NAB, another big four bank, offers its users slightly lowers fees than its three main competitors, with NAB charging the following fees to its users. 

• $14.95 – $19.95 fee on all ASX trades.
• For international trades, investors will be charged the same $14.95 – $19.95 fee as well as a 0.5% – 0.8% FX fee. 
• However, accounts that are inactive for over 1 year will be charged a fee that amounts to whatever 0.5% of the entire portfolio is worth (which could be a substantial sum depending on how large the investment portfolio is). 

ANZ

ANZ’s share trading platform is one of the least user-friendly and most expensive of the big four share trading platforms. As a result of continued feedback, ANZ made the decision to transfer over its users to an independent share trading platform, CMC Markets (which is reviewed below). 

Unfortunately, the information regarding fees concerning ANZ’s transition to a CMC markets branded platform is not entirely clear. If ANZ continues to charge their in-house fees despite using CMC markets platform, it would make sense for users to simply join up with CMC Markets and transfer their portfolio in order to gain access to much lower fees and a wider range of investment choices. 

Fees

ANZ, the final big four, offers some of the least competitive fees in the industry when looking at an overall structure:

• $19.95 – $29.95 fee on all ASX trades.
• For international trades, investors will be charged an eye-watering $59 fee as well as a 0.6% FX fee. 
• Accounts that are inactive for over 1 year will be charged a fee that amounts to whatever 0.5% of the entire portfolio is worth (which could be a substantial sum depending on how large the investment portfolio is) as well as a potential, monthly $19.95 subscription fee as well. 

Best Independent Share Trading Platforms

If you’re just getting started in investing or you’re looking for a low-fee alternative to the big four, independent share trading platforms can be the best way to create an efficient, cost-effective long-term investment portfolio. If you’re trading frequently or you just want to save massively on fees, choosing from one of the platforms below is definitely a good option.

CMC Markets – Best Overall

CMC Markets is Australia’s most comprehensive share trading platform, offering investors immediate access to a variety of international markets including the US, UK, Canada, Japan and more. It offers more advanced trading tools as well if you want to try your luck on trading foreign exchange, commodities and even cryptocurrency. 

With a broad scope of features, CMC Markets offers all the tools that both casual investors and active traders would be seeking, making it one of the best overall share trading platforms for Australians to use.

The only major downside to CMC Markets is that the user interface on both the desktop and mobile application feels a bit clunky and it’s really not all that user-friendly. This means that beginners to share trading may find the platform hard to navigate, which is a pretty major downside to an otherwise solid trading platform. 

Fees

CMC Markets, offers some of the most competitive fees in the Australian share trading industry:

• $0 fee on all trades under $1000
• $11 fee on all trades over $1000
• $0 in extras fee on international trades, however, all international trades will incur a 0.6% FX fee.
• CMC Markets does not charge an inactivity fee. 

Selfwealth – Great Resources

Selfwealth offers a pretty good overall user experience as well as relatively low fees when compared to other industry competitors. The platform also offers investors access to both Australian and US markets, making it a solid choice for investors who want exposure to a wide range of stocks, without being overwhelmed by other more technical options. 

The main upside to Selfwealth is that it offers unique and powerful tracking tools, that show investors important information about their investment portfolio as well as allowing users to measure their performance against other market-leading investors. Offering transparency into the share portfolio of other industry leaders, is a really good tool for helping casual investors level up their investments.  

Fees

The only substantial downside to Selfwealth is that they don’t offer the most competitive fees in the Australian share trading market. Here are Selfwealth’s fees:

• Blanket $9.50 fee on all trades
• Blanket $9.50 fee on US trades +  0.6% FX fee.
• CMC Markets does not charge an inactivity fee. 

IG Trading – Lowest Fees

IG Trading offers one of the widest ranges of international markets for investors to choose from including Australia, the US and the UK while simultaneously offering some of the lowest fees. IG Trading additionally offers cryptocurrency trading as well as access to a huge range of complex financial instruments as well. 

Much like CMC Markets, IG trading also suffers from a pretty clunky user interface, meaning that the user experience for beginners could be a little bit intimidating. What the platform lacks in intuitive design is made up by the extremely low fees it offers across the board, making it the superior choice for any investor looking to trade frequently. 

Fees

Where IG Trading really shines is its fee structure, offering investors:

• $5-8 fee on Australian trades.
• $0 fee on US and UK trades + 0.7% FX fee
• IG Markets will hit investors with a solid $50 per quarter (every 3 months) fee if users do not trade a minimum of 3 times during that quarter. 

Superhero – Most User Friendly

Superhero is a mobile app-based trading platform that offers its users the most easy-to-navigate platforms in the industry. The app is extremely beginner-friendly and is a great way for total newbies to get a handle on investing without being intimidated by a bunch of complicated charts and technical jargon. 

The major downside to Superhero is that it only offers ASX as an investment option — if you want to trade US shares, you’ll have to use a different platform. However, for those of you who are sticking to the Australian market and are looking for an inexpensive, user-friendly way to do so, Superhero is definitely one of the top choices. 

Fees

Superhero is one of the more low-cost share trading platforms available, with the simplest fee structure, offering its users:

• $0 fee on ETF purchases.
• $5 fee on all ASX trades.
• Superhero does not charge an inactivity fee. 

STAKE – Best Up-and-Coming

Stake is a share trading platform that offers a unique investing experience on both desktop and through its mobile app. Stake offers investors comprehensive access to both the US and Australian markets in a clean, user-friendly layout.

In terms of usability, both the desktop platform and the app are extremely simple and easy to use, making it a fantastic great choice for newbies. There are also incentives provided when users first deposit funds into their respective accounts. When users first deposit into Stake Wall St (American stocks) they will be given a random free share of Nike, Dropbox, GoPro or an alternative mystery stock. First time users who deposit funds into their Australian account will be given $10 to invest how they see fit.

Stake also takes care of all foreign tax worries by completing a US tax form that is sent to you before the end of the financial year (EOFY). 

Fees

Stake is another very low-cost share trading platform, with a super simple fee structure, offering its users:

• $0 fee on US trades.
• $3 fee on ASX trades.
• Stake does not charge an inactivity fee. 

eToro – Best “Social Investing”

eToro markets itself as a “social trading” platform, meaning that all users can see the best traders on the platform and copy their investing strategy. Although the platform is definitely targeted toward more active investors, being able to learn from others and share investment ideas makes eToro a solid option for anyone looking to increase their skills.

Fees

eToro is one of the best trading platforms for users looking to save on fees. eToro offers its users:

• Blanket $0 fee on all trade
• Only charges 0.5% FX fee
• $5 withdrawal fee for when investors want to move money from the eToro platform into their bank accounts.
• If users leave their accounts inactive for 1 year, eToro will begin charging a $10 per month inactivity fee.

Read Next

• Best Australian Real Estate ETFs… For When You Can’t Afford A House
• We Investigated Whether Australian Super Funds Will Ever Invest In Crypto

The post Australia’s Best Share Trading Platforms 2022: Your Ultimate Guide appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Looking for a surfboard shop to pick up a brand new surfboard? You’ve come to the right place.

With Sydney being home to some of the best wave breaks on the planet, it’s no wonder there are numerous surfboard shops slinging the latest surfboards, wetsuits and surf clothing, all designed to help you improve on the waves.

It’s not just the locals that need the latest surfboards and clothing, but amateurs and backpackers who want to try learning need to call upon these shops to get the right gear for their skill level. Not only do surfboard shops stock all the latest gear, but the staff that work in them are experts in their field, so can give you tips and tricks to try on the waves.

If you’re already a competent surfer, you may be on the hunt for a new Mecca to become loyal to, either because it stocks a particular brand you like or the owner is just a decent human being. So here are the surf shops in Sydney you need to be visiting to pick up your surfboards, wetsuits, leashes and every other piece of kit you could need.

Keel Surf & Supply

7c Lawrence Street, Freshwater, 2096

Located in Freshwater in Northern Sydney, Keel Surf & Supply never intended to become the destination it is today. Instead, the founding duo set up a pop-up store that continually proved to be successful and six and a half years later they’re the go-to store for a range of surfboards, accessories and clothing.

Keel stocks its own brand of clothing, which comfortably competes with the global brands in terms of both style and quality, while boards come from a solid range of suppliers including McTavish, Vouch and Panda to name a few.

The owners behind the store know surfing inside out, so are more than happy to answer any questions and give advice as to what boards are right for you, no matter your skill level.

Onboard Store

4/76 Darley Street, Mona Vale, 2103

Situated north of Sydney in Mona Vale, Onboard Store – part of Onboard Industries, a manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer in one – is a one-stop surf shop for all your surfing needs. Founded by Mel Hayhoe and Drew Down in 1989, Onboard Industries can build you a custom-made surfboard using proven hardware from the likes of Channel Islands, Tokoro and Simon Anderson.

If you’re after a softboard then you’re in luck, as Onboard stocks Catch Surf models, and with other brands such as Buell, Vans and its own Onboard range of apparel, this Mona Vale mecca has everything you need.

Haydenshapes

5-7 Tengah Crescent, Mona Vale, 2103

Mona Vale really is a place to go when it comes to surfing hardware, as the Haydenshapes surf store proves. Founded by Hayden Cox in 1997 at the spritely young age of 15, Haydenshapes is a surfboard manufacturer dedicated to building “premium performance designs that are fun to surf.”

The company’s boards are recognisable by their black and white aesthetic, owing to a carbon fibre rail – which also makes them look insanely cool in the process. The store itself is a monochromatic shrine to the art of surfing, that is worth the trip just for the architectural-inspired design alone.

The Surfboard Warehouse

535 Pittwater Rd, Brookvale, 2100

With three stores in Sydney and four overall in New South Wales (the Surfboard Warehouse store in Tweed Heads is the largest in Australia) you’re never going to be too far from having access to one of the largest ranges of surfboards and surf gear in the country.

No matter what type of board you’re after, be it a shortboard, soft board or even a stand-up paddleboard, The Surfboard Warehouse will stock it. Not only does The Surfboard Warehouse stock a wide range of brands under their store roofs, but they also have 2 x World Champion Australian surfer Beau Young on hand to design a range of exclusive boards.

Aloha Surf Manly

44 Pittwater Road, Manly, 2095

Aloha Surf in Manly hit its 30th birthday in 2021, having been founded by a team of guys in 1991, which included Damien Hardman, the winner of the ASP World Tour the same year and Greg Clough, a master board shaper. Aloha has remained well-managed to serve the residents of Manly and beyond with all their surfing needs, despite being no longer owned by the same guys. But, current owner Timmy was the manager since 1992, so he’s pretty much part of the furniture.

Regardless of ownership, the Aloha Surf shop continues to provide a well-stocked range of surfboards and associated gear to wave-riders from beginner level all the way through to pro. The store has a very welcoming vibe, including to the likes of backpackers – it’s named by Lonely Planet as a must-visit destination store – and aims to put its quality of customer service above all else. It’s even a go-to store for the senior surfer on the DMARGE team.

Long Reef Surf

1012 Pittwater Road, Collaroy, 2097

For all things wetsuit related, look no further than Long Reef Surf in Collaroy. This shop was founded in 1985 and continues to be run by owner Peter Ford. He has since amassed a team with a wealth of knowledge that is committed to helping customers of all ages and experience levels find the gear they need, which is especially true of wetsuits.

A vast range of bodyboards and softboards is also stocked, along with other surf-related hardware.

WSS Boards

6/410 Pittwater Road, North Manly, 2100

Windsurfers, kiteboarders and SUP-riders rejoice, WSS Boards is here for you. This store came about after WindsurfnSnow and Balmoral Paddlesurf teamed up to create one megastore in Sydney to cover the vast majority of watersports.

That means the range of gear on offer is nothing short of extensive, and with two sets of knowledgeable and experienced staff just waiting to look after you, you can be sure you’ll only leave with what you need and nothing you don’t. The team are happy to demo surfboards with you too, so you don’t make buying decisions based on ‘on-paper’ information alone.

Surfection Mosman

522 Military Road, Mosman, 2088

It’s all about the customer at this Mosman-based store. Serving the Sydney community since 1985, Surfection consistently aims to make sure it stocks the very latest surfboards and surf-related hardware, and won’t try and sell you something you don’t need. If you head in with a particular surfboard in mind, or you at least tell the guys what you want the board to do, they’ll happily show you their warehouse which is bursting with various models.

Pick up some extra info while you’re there too, such as the best waves and beaches nearby to try out your new purchase and you’ll soon become friends for life.

Surf Culture

186 Bondi Road, Bondi, 2026

Moving down the coast a little we reach Bondi, which is home to Surf Culture. This shop has recently upped sticks from its Bondi Junction location to move closer to the action in Bondi Beach, yet it continues to offer amazing customer service to help you walk away with exactly what you walk in for.

The range of surfboards, wetsuits, accessories and apparel is extensive too, so you’re not going to be left short of options. It’s therefore not just a surf store for seasoned pros, but newcomers looking to make their first waves in the sport.

The Bodysurfing Shop

2/386 Bronte Road, Bronte, 2024

Yes, you read that right. Surfing isn’t confined to the use of a buoyant device upon which you dart through barrels and carve up a fat one, but it can be carried out using the natural buoyancy provided to you by biology. Bodysurfing has actually been around for many years, with some believing it to pre-date board-surfing, originating in 2000 B.C. The earliest recordings of the sport, however, date back to 1899.

The Bodysurfing Shop in Bronte is dedicated to the very art, stocking everything you need to get out into the waves and start barreling some tubes of your own. All you really need is a handplane and a set of fins and you’re good to go, and The Bodysurfing Shop stocks some of the best brands around.

Triple Bull

23 Kingsway, Cronulla, 2230

Take yourself away from tourist-central Bondi and head further down the coast to Cronulla, where you will stumble upon Triple Bull. This local gem has been serving the needs of local residents for more than 30 years and is staffed by people who hit up some of the biggest waves around themselves. This gives them the knowledge to pass on to you, the customer, with regards to what surfboards and gear you need for your particular style and experience level.

Wannabe surfers are welcome too, with a huge range of surf-branded apparel, and with a constantly rotating stock of pre-owned surfboards, you can even find yourself a bargain.

PCC Surfboards

34 Kareena Road, Miranda, 2228

For a truly custom board shaped just for you, you’ll do well to check out PCC Surfboards. Owned by Stuart Paterson, who has been shaping for some 35 years and has been living and working in and around the Cronulla area for the majority of his life. PCC will listen to exactly what you want and build you a surfboard to fulfil those needs, as they can either shape a surfboard from a pre-made design or can build you one entirely from scratch.

Sydney Surf Shops FAQ

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Managing a Formula 1 team isn’t exactly a walk in the park, but one man seems to have understood the assignment perfectly: Toto Wolff. Toto has been the team principal of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team since 2013 and during that time, has led them to an unprecedented eight consecutive Constructors’ championships from 2014 to 2021.

But who exactly is Toto Wolff, how did he become so successful and how much is he worth? Allow us to reveal all.

Toto Wolff Quick Facts

Name: Torger Christian “Toto” Wolff
Age: 50
DoB: 12 January 1972
Nationality: Austrian
Height: 6ft 5in / 1.96m
Relationship Status: Married
Spouse: Susie Wolff, married October 2011
Children: Son Benedict Wolff and daughter Rosa Wolff with his first wife, Stephanie and son, Jack Wolff, born 2017 to mother Susie Wolff.
Net Worth: $580 million (estimated)

Who Is Toto Wolff?

Toto Wolff is an Austrian motorsport executive, former racing driver and investor. He was born on 12 January 1972 in Vienna, Austria, to a Polish mother and Romanian father. During his life, Toto has become multi-lingual, being fluent in German, French, English, Italian, Spanish and Polish.

Not a lot is known about his personal life, because he remains a rather private man and doesn’t have personal social media accounts. However, he currently lives in Monaco with his wife Susie Wolff, who is also involved in motorsport, being a former racing driver herself – she was the first woman to compete in a Formula 1 race weekend in 22 years at the 2014 British Grand Prix – and is the CEO of the Venturi Racing in the Formula E series.

Motorsport Career

Toto Wolff entered motorsport at the age of 20 in 1992, when he competed in the Austrian Formula Ford Championship, before moving to the German Formula Ford Championship for the 1993 and 1994 seasons. At 22-years-old, he won the 24 Hours Nürburgring Championship in his respective category. He has competed in various other motoring disciplines throughout Europe, and one of his most recent successes was a win at the 2006 Dubai 24 Hour race.

Formula One Career

Toto Wolff hung up his racing gloves in favour of investment and managing in 2009 when he invested in the Williams Formula One Team, becoming a member of the board of directors in the process. He took over Team Executive duties in 2012 and was in charge when the team took its last win to date at the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix.

Toto’s Formula One career seriously took off in 2013 when he was appointed the executive director of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. At the same time, Toto himself acquired a 30% stake in Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd, which has no doubt done wonders for his own personal wealth. By March 2016, Toto had also offloaded his holding shares in the Williams F1 team.

Under Toto’s leadership, the Mercedes Formula One Team dominated the sport between 2014 and 2021, winning eight consecutive Constructors’ titles and seven World Driver’s Championships thanks to British driver, Lewis Hamilton.

Investments

Toto Wolff doesn’t just have a keen eye for racing and leadership, but he’s also a keen investor, and has even founded his own investment companies, Marchfifteen and Marchsixteen. The majority of his investments still revolve around motorsport, such as BRR Rallye Racing, a rally parts dealer based in Europe. He also owns a sports-management company with Finnish former Formula One racing driver, Mika Häkkinen, and the pair have help to manage a number of drivers, including Valtteri Bottas.

How much is Toto Wolff worth?

As of 2021, Toto Wolff’s net worth is an estimated CHF 1.25 billion, according to the Swiss newspaper Handelszeitung. However, this would make his net worth in USD to be around $1.28bn. The majority of other online publications estimate is net worth in USD to be around $580 million.

How much does Toto Wolff get paid?

According to CAKnowledge, Toto Wolff receives a salary of $26 million from Mercedes. He is also claimed to be eligible to receive bonuses based on team wins. For example, it is claimed he receives a $200,000 bonus for every podium finish Mercedes achieves (and with 235 podium finishes from a possible 334, he’s not doing badly) and if Mercedes wins the Constructors championship, he receives a $10 million bonus.

How tall is Toto Wolff?

Toto Wolff commands a serious presence around the Formula One paddock. Not only does he have a thick Austrian accent, but at 6ft 5in / 1.96m tall, he also tends to tower over everyone else.

The post Who Is Toto Wolff? Meet The Mercedes-AMG F1 Team Principal appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Jo Lindner, Instagram’s fitness king, has revealed some shoulder workout variations that promise to supersize your shoulders.

Shoulder exercises are some of the most crucial for men to perform in the gym. Not only can they help give you a broader figure, but having strong shoulders can help improve your overall upper body strength.

You may think you already have a decent shoulder workout routine, but Instagram’s fitness king, German bodybuilder Jo Lindner, has just come out with some variations you might not have thought about.

Taking to Instagram (obviously) recently, Jo takes us through a series of shoulder exercises using plate weights, dumbbells and even the cable machine, which all serve to work all three heads of the shoulder muscle.

Starting with a plate weight – a staple of any well-stocked gym – Jo Lindner shows how you can perform a variety of shoulder exercises using just a single piece of equipment, adding, “when you have a plate, you can do a lot of shoulder exercises.”

He demonstrates front raises, a pressing movement (which will also target your chest muscles) and, one of his favourites, bending over slightly and raising the plate with straight arms. He also shows how you can perform single-arm upright rows to target the delts.

In a second video, Jo Lindner runs us through various ways to perform a favourite shoulder exercise of many, the lateral raise, all of which are performed while sitting on a bench. He utilises being able to bend his body over to help target the rear delt muscles.

Leaning upwards slightly enables you to target the side of the shoulders (essentially a traditional lateral raise) and then he sits upright to perform front raises to target the front head of the shoulder muscle. This, he says, will give you “3D delts.”

Jo also demonstrates how you can employ the use of cables to work your shoulder muscles. Some of you may already use a cable machine to perform single-arm side lateral raises, but did you also know you can perform upright rows with the cables, or even hold the handle grip attachment behind your back?

Regarding the latter, holding the handle behind you, Jo says you’re able to better target the side and even the front of the shoulder, compared to simply raising the cable out to your side. You may need to experiment with different amounts of weight, depending on which position you’re employing.

In a final video clip, Jo explains how a simple change to your regular lateral raises can help to isolate the rear delt muscle. With a pair of dumbbells in each hand, bend over by hinging at the hips. Then, raise your arms out to the side, bending your elbows at a roughly 90-degree angle.

By kicking out your elbow like this, you’re going to target the rear delt specifically, as opposed to using your traps to help raise the dumbbells.

All of Jo Lindner’s shoulder exercise variations are simple changes to what we imagine you’re already doing, so give them a go next time it comes to shoulder day.

• Fitness Trainer’s Brutal Workout Will Give You ‘Boulder Shoulders’ In No Time
• Want Huge Shoulders? Do This Brutal Upper Body Workout

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