Update: The site now has a comparison table of offshore fund supermarkets. Read that to compare what’s available, read this article to understand why the choice is so limited.
If you prefer to search out the best funds on offer rather than just buy what’s being advertised heavily, you may be very frustrated by the limits your fund supermarket imposes on you.
Perhaps you want to invest in funds that aren’t distributed in your home country. Or you may be an expat, looking to invest in the same funds you used before, but can’t get an account at home because you’re no longer resident.
Given how easy it is to open an account with a foreign stock broker that trades multiple international markets, you may be wondering if it’s possible to do the same with funds. Are there any offshore fund supermarkets that let you buy funds from around the world?
Frankly, choices for retail investors in this area are slim. International fund supermarkets are an underdeveloped niche, probably because the number of people who have this need is relatively small, while regulation can make the idea awkward. But let’s take a look at what’s available.