ASB Securities allows you to purchase US and UK shares, however:
- They only provide market information and research on NZ and Aus equities
- Their fees for the US and UK markets are an absolute rout (90 USD and 90 pound respectively per transaction).
My advice would be, if you have decided you want to invest your money yourself, then you can't go wrong with Interactive Brokers. They have a 10kUSD capital requirement you cover easily, the fees are much lower.
You ask above if you should seek advice from a financial advisor. Completely up to you, in my experience and opinion not worth the fees, but perhaps worth an initial consult and see how you feel about them thereafter.