Investing in global giants like Apple, Nvidia, Microsoft, or the S&P 500 used to require complex paperwork, high minimum balances, and costly international wire fees. Today, mobile trading platforms have made foreign stock markets accessible to everyday Filipino investors.

Gotrade allows users in the Philippines to trade fractionally in US equities and Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) with as little as $1. This comprehensive guide covers how Gotrade works, step-by-step account funding, executing trades, and fundamental principles for managing risk.

What is Gotrade?

Gotrade is a mobile investment platform designed to give international investors direct access to the United States stock market.

Fractional Shares: Instead of purchasing a full share of a company trading at hundreds of dollars, Gotrade enables fractional investing. You can buy a fraction of a share based on the exact dollar amount you want to invest (starting at $1).

Commission-Free Trading: Gotrade operates on a commission-free model for standard market orders, lowering the barrier to entry compared to traditional international brokerage accounts.

Download Gotrade App!

Regulation & Security: Gotrade executes trades through Alpaca Securities LLC, a US broker-dealer regulated by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Customer accounts are protected by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) up to $500,000 (including $250,000 for cash claims) against broker insolvency.

READ MORE: How a ₱10.5M Target Portfolio Can Yield ₱50,000 in Monthly Passive Income

Overview: US Stocks vs. ETFs

When building a US-focused portfolio, assets generally fall into two primary categories:

1. Individual US Stocks

Buying stock in a public company gives you fractional ownership in that business.

Growth Stocks: Companies reinvesting profits to expand rapidly (e.g., Nvidia, Tesla, Amazon). These carry higher volatility but potential for higher capital gains.
Dividend Stocks: Established businesses that distribute a portion of their earnings back to shareholders periodically (e.g., Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson).

2. Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)

An ETF is a basket of securities that trades on an exchange just like a regular stock. Instead of picking individual companies, an ETF lets you purchase instant diversification across hundreds of companies in a single transaction.

Index ETFs: Broad market funds like the S&P 500 (e.g., VOO, SPY) or NASDAQ-100 (e.g., QQQ) track the performance of top US corporations.
Sector ETFs: Funds focused specifically on technology, healthcare, clean energy, or real estate.

How to Deposit Funds on Gotrade (From the Philippines)

Gotrade makes depositing Philippine Pesos (PHP) straightforward by integrating local payment channels that automatically convert your PHP into USD.

1. Open the Funding Section

Locate the deposit screen in the app.

Open the Gotrade mobile app and tap the Deposit button or navigate to the Funding tab at the bottom menu bar.

2. Select Deposit Channel

Choose your local Philippine payment option.

Choose your preferred local payment gateway. Gotrade supports instant local bank transfers (such as BPI, UnionBank) as well as e-wallets (like GCash or Maya).

3. Enter Deposit Amount

Specify your deposit in PHP or USD.

Enter the total amount you wish to transfer. The app will show a real-time exchange rate breakdown along with any transparent conversion or processing fees before you confirm.

4. Authorize Payment

Complete the transaction via Online Banking/E-Wallet.

You will be redirected to complete the payment via your selected bank app or e-wallet interface. Once authorized, funds typically reflect in your Gotrade wallet balance within minutes to a few hours, depending on the chosen method.

Get Started with Gotrade

Join Gotrade to invest in US stocks starting with just $1 in under 10 minutes. Use the referral code GQX9ZV or click the link below to set up your account:

👉 https://heygotrade.com/referral?code=GQX9ZV

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How to Invest (Buying Your First Stock/ETF)

Once your account is funded with USD, purchasing shares takes under a minute:

Search for the Asset: Use the search bar in the app to find a stock or ETF by its company name or ticker symbol (e.g., AAPL for Apple, NVDA for Nvidia, VOO for Vanguard S&P 500 ETF).
Tap 'Buy': Click the Buy button on the asset details screen.
Select Order Type:

Buy in Dollars ($): Enter the precise dollar amount you want to invest (e.g., $5, $20, or $100). The system calculates the fractional share count automatically.
Buy in Shares: Specify the exact number of whole or fractional shares you wish to purchase.

Review & Confirm: Swipe or tap to confirm your order. If the US market is open (9:30 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern Standard Time), the order executes instantly. If the market is closed, your trade queues to execute as soon as trading resumes.

Download Gotrade App!

5 Basic Investment Principles to Remember

Before deploying capital into foreign markets, keep these core risk management rules in mind:

Principle	Explanation
1. Understand Foreign Dividend Withholding Tax	The US government applies a standard 30% withholding tax on US source dividend payments for Philippine residents. Factors like capital gains from stock price appreciation are generally exempt from US tax for non-US residents.
2. Factor in Foreign Exchange (FX) Volatility	You are buying US Dollar assets using Philippine Pesos. Your total portfolio value is impacted not only by stock price movements but also by the PHP/USD exchange rate shifts.
3. Embrace Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA)	Rather than attempting to time the market with a large lump-sum purchase, invest fixed amounts on a recurring schedule (e.g., monthly). DCA smooths out market fluctuations over time.
4. Prioritize Diversification	Avoid concentrating all your capital into a single company or sector. Diversifying across broad ETFs or a mix of industries reduces single-stock drawdown risk.
5. Invest for the Long Term	Equities experience short-term market volatility. Focus on long-term wealth accumulation rather than speculative day trading.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the minimum amount required to start investing on Gotrade?
You can start buying fractional shares with as little as $1 USD.

Do I actually own the underlying shares on Gotrade?
Yes. You hold direct beneficial ownership of the shares (including fractional share rights). You are entitled to your proportionate share of any dividends paid by companies you own.

What are the official trading hours for the US Stock Market in Philippine Time (PST)?
The US stock market regular trading session runs from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM EST. In Philippine Standard Time (PST), this translates to:

Standard Time (Winter): 10:30 PM to 5:00 AM PST
Daylight Saving Time (Summer): 9:30 PM to 4:00 AM PST

How do withdrawals work back to the Philippines?

You can withdraw your uninvested cash balance directly back to a local Philippine bank account via the app's Funding / Withdraw tab. Withdrawals typically take 1 to 3 business days to settle, subject to standard processing fees.

Investing in international markets carries risk, including potential loss of principal. Always evaluate your personal risk tolerance and financial goals before allocating funds.

What is Gotrade?

Download Gotrade App!

READ MORE: How a ₱10.5M Target Portfolio Can Yield ₱50,000 in Monthly Passive Income

Overview: US Stocks vs. ETFs

When building a US-focused portfolio, assets generally fall into two primary categories:

1. Individual US Stocks

Buying stock in a public company gives you fractional ownership in that business.

Growth Stocks: Companies reinvesting profits to expand rapidly (e.g., Nvidia, Tesla, Amazon). These carry higher volatility but potential for higher capital gains.
Dividend Stocks: Established businesses that distribute a portion of their earnings back to shareholders periodically (e.g., Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson).

2. Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)

Index ETFs: Broad market funds like the S&P 500 (e.g., VOO, SPY) or NASDAQ-100 (e.g., QQQ) track the performance of top US corporations.
Sector ETFs: Funds focused specifically on technology, healthcare, clean energy, or real estate.

How to Deposit Funds on Gotrade (From the Philippines)

Gotrade makes depositing Philippine Pesos (PHP) straightforward by integrating local payment channels that automatically convert your PHP into USD.

1. Open the Funding Section

Locate the deposit screen in the app.

Open the Gotrade mobile app and tap the Deposit button or navigate to the Funding tab at the bottom menu bar.

2. Select Deposit Channel

3. Enter Deposit Amount

4. Authorize Payment

Get Started with Gotrade

RELATED: I Earned My First P100,000 Monthly Income (And Here's How I Did It)

How to Invest (Buying Your First Stock/ETF)

Once your account is funded with USD, purchasing shares takes under a minute:

Search for the Asset: Use the search bar in the app to find a stock or ETF by its company name or ticker symbol (e.g., AAPL for Apple, NVDA for Nvidia, VOO for Vanguard S&P 500 ETF).
Tap 'Buy': Click the Buy button on the asset details screen.
Select Order Type:

Buy in Dollars ($): Enter the precise dollar amount you want to invest (e.g., $5, $20, or $100). The system calculates the fractional share count automatically.
Buy in Shares: Specify the exact number of whole or fractional shares you wish to purchase.

Review & Confirm: Swipe or tap to confirm your order. If the US market is open (9:30 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern Standard Time), the order executes instantly. If the market is closed, your trade queues to execute as soon as trading resumes.

Download Gotrade App!

5 Basic Investment Principles to Remember

Before deploying capital into foreign markets, keep these core risk management rules in mind:

Principle	Explanation
1. Understand Foreign Dividend Withholding Tax	The US government applies a standard 30% withholding tax on US source dividend payments for Philippine residents. Factors like capital gains from stock price appreciation are generally exempt from US tax for non-US residents.
2. Factor in Foreign Exchange (FX) Volatility	You are buying US Dollar assets using Philippine Pesos. Your total portfolio value is impacted not only by stock price movements but also by the PHP/USD exchange rate shifts.
3. Embrace Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA)	Rather than attempting to time the market with a large lump-sum purchase, invest fixed amounts on a recurring schedule (e.g., monthly). DCA smooths out market fluctuations over time.
4. Prioritize Diversification	Avoid concentrating all your capital into a single company or sector. Diversifying across broad ETFs or a mix of industries reduces single-stock drawdown risk.
5. Invest for the Long Term	Equities experience short-term market volatility. Focus on long-term wealth accumulation rather than speculative day trading.