The table below lists brokerages around the world that offer a range of mutual funds from different fund managers and are willing to accept non-resident clients. As a result, they may be useful to expat investors – or anyone else looking to invest offshore – in search of a convenient platform for buying funds.
Investors familiar with fund supermarkets in countries such as the UK and the US may be surprised by the relatively small number of funds available and by the fact that these companies do not offer reduced annual management fees on the funds through trail commission rebates (although most at least reduce or get rid of the entry fee). Unfortunately, straightforward multinational fund supermarkets offering a wide range of funds at low cost don’t really exist at present, for reasons discussed in this article.
Despite their limitations, these firms may well be cheaper and more convenient than purchasing funds directly from a fund management firm. And they are likely to be substantially cheaper and more flexible than the offshore investment bonds from life insurance companies that are aggressively sold to expatriates in Asia and the Middle East.
These fund supermarkets generally do not accept US citizens or residents and offer very limited choices to them if they do. This is a common problem for all US persons trying to open financial accounts overseas today, reflecting the reluctance of foreign firms to risk complications from Regulation S and now FATCA. In practice, investing in non-US mutual funds has tax disadvantages for US persons in any case and it may be better to invest in US funds through a US discount broker.
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Notes on the offshore fund supermarket comparison table
The companies listed above operated in regulated financial jurisdictions that offer some investor protection (although this should not be taken as an endorsement of any particular firm). There are other companies claiming to offer offshore fund supermarkets that can easily be found by searching for the relevant terms online. However, it is often unclear who is behind them or they are attached to companies with a very mixed reputation. As a result, they are not included here.
However, this table is not necessarily comprehensive – it simply reflects those fund supermarkets currently known to accept offshore clients and believed to be reliable. If you would like to suggest another reputable broker for inclusion, you can send an email using the contact form.
Information in the offshore fund supermarkets comparison table comes from the companies’ websites and leaflets, conversations with staff members and conversations with investors who use the services. While I try to ensure it is accurate and up-to-date, I cannot guarantee that. You should always check current terms and conditions before opening an account. If you identify any errors or omissions, please email me using the contact form.