A few ideas are useful to keep in mind as you move forward.

1. Global markets can be accessed in three main ways. Investors typically participate through individual stocks, ETFs, or global funds, each offering exposure to global companies but with different structures and levels of involvement.

2. Direct stocks give the highest control. When you buy global stocks through a brokerage account, the shares are held in your name, and you decide which companies to own and when to buy or sell.

3. ETFs provide diversified exposure through a single investment. Instead of selecting individual companies, ETFs allow investors to track an index, sector, or region, offering broad market exposure with one trade.

4. Global funds are actively managed portfolios. In UCITS or global funds, a professional fund manager researches and selects companies, building and managing the portfolio on behalf of investors.

5. Global investing requires a brokerage account. To access international markets directly, investors typically open a global brokerage account through specialised platforms, which connect them to overseas exchanges.