While investors can gain an exposure to international asset classes through the ETFs on the platform, they will be able to directly access international stocks from the middle of the year.

“So investors will be able to buy companies like Facebook and Google,” he said.

“So whilst there’ll still be ETFs which is a great way to get diversification internationally, some people want to own those individual shares because they touch and feel those products and services every day.”

One of the interesting trends that the data from the platform has shown, he said, is that “with all the turmoil going on with the banks and the royal commission, more SMSFs are diversifying and reducing their weighting toward the bigger traditional stocks”.

“Portfolio sizes are also getting a little bigger this year in regard to the number of stocks in the portfolio.”