> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.projectinstill.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Share registries in Australia - URL: https://www.projectinstill.com/share-registries-in-australia/ - Published: 2024-10-29T02:51:20.000Z - Updated: 2024-10-30T07:21:01.000Z - Description: Teaching Kids the basics of financial literacy and investing. We learn about share registries and what we do with them after buying investments such as ETF or company shares. - Author: Shaf Azam - Tags: Investing, #toc 💡 This is part of [Project Instill](https://www.projectinstill.com/the-project/), where I teach my kids (12 and 10) financial literacy and business basics. ## What did I want to do? - I wanted to explain to my kids Ash (12 years old) and Adh (10 years old) what Share registry companies are and their role when buying shares through a broker. - We have already gone through [why we need to invest](https://www.projectinstill.com/why-invest/) and [why ETF is an investment option to be considered](https://www.projectinstill.com/etfs/), and [purchasing ETFs on CommSec](https://www.projectinstill.com/investing-etfs/). ## What is a Share Registry company? When a company is listed on the stock exchange, the company appoints a share registry to manage the administration of its book of shareholders. The share registry contacts the investors (shareholders) on behalf of the company for shareholder matters, and it also manages things like the payment of dividends, distribution of company reports, and shareholder voting. 💡 CommSec is a broker and not a Share Registry company. We need both - a broker and a share registry company to manage a portfolio. ## Why do we need to contact Share Registry? - We need to notify the Share Registry if our address changes. - We need to instruct what should be done to the dividend payments - where they should be paid to or dividend reinvestment plans. 💡 If we don't have our contact address details, we will miss important communication from the Share Registry about the shares we own. ## How do I find the share registry of my ETF? There are three ways to find the share registry of the ETF that we have purchased. ### Holding statement sent by the share registry When an ETF is purchased via CommSec, the share registry sends a holding statement with the share registry's details in the top right corner. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/07/b0/07b05c56-0c23-436f-8f33-5c7d1cc1ecde/content/images/2024/10/IVV-Share-Registry-on-the-Statement.jpg) ### On the CommSec platform Log on to CommSec - Click on **Quotes & Research**, and then **Quotes** - In the search box, enter the code (in this example, I enter **IVV** for ISHARES S&P 500 ETF) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/07/b0/07b05c56-0c23-436f-8f33-5c7d1cc1ecde/content/images/2024/10/CommSec-Code-for-Stock.jpg) - In that stock, click on **Distributions** - Scroll down to ***Registry Details***. Here is an example showing IVV's share registry: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/07/b0/07b05c56-0c23-436f-8f33-5c7d1cc1ecde/content/images/2024/10/IVV-share-registry-ComputerShare.jpg) ### On the listed company’s website Go to the company’s website and search for an Investor Relations section. The share registry will be shown there. --- ## After buying an ETF, what should I do with the share registry? ### Create an account online with each share registry When I received the holding statement from a share registry, I did the following: - Visit their website and create an account. - Activate the account. 💡 Some share registries send physical mail to the registered address with a code, which must be entered on their website to confirm and activate the account. ### Update profile information - I checked to see if my company name was correct. - I checked to see if my address was correct. - I checked if my mobile number and email are correct. - I checked if they had my TFN; if not, I called them up to provide the TFN. ### Add the holdings - Enter the holdings using the HIN, Company name and registered address details. That's it! --- ## Share Registries in Australia The main registry companies in Australia are: - Computer Share ([computershare.com/au](https://www.computershare.com/au?ref=projectinstill.com)) - Link Market Services ([linkmarketservices.com.au](https://www.linkmarketservices.com.au/?ref=projectinstill.com)) - Automic Group ([automicgroup.com.au](https://www.automicgroup.com.au/?ref=projectinstill.com)) --- ## Sample Dashboards of Share Registry Companies ### Computershare ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/07/b0/07b05c56-0c23-436f-8f33-5c7d1cc1ecde/content/images/2024/10/Computershare.jpg) ### Link Market Services ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/07/b0/07b05c56-0c23-436f-8f33-5c7d1cc1ecde/content/images/2024/10/Link-market-Services.jpg) --- ## Next Step Let's look at: - Setting up [Dividend Investment Plans with the share registry companies](https://www.projectinstill.com/reinvesting-dividends-from-etts/). - How do we bookkeep dividends?