The trickiest part of the investment process for clients is frequently deciding whether to invest in stocks or bonds, passive funds, etfs, actively managed or multi-managed funds, or DFM (Discretionary Fund Management). There are countless possible choices for assets. The platform you use, however, can significantly affect how comfortable you are with investing if you select the investment mix that is appropriate for you.
An online management system that makes it possible to purchase and sell financial assets is all that a platform is. When selecting a platform to store their wealth, the following are some crucial considerations:
Comparing charges and fees could be difficult;
Platforms are scrambling to entice assets under management since they collect fees based on the value of the assets you hold on their platform. Some platforms use eye-catching "special offers" and low administration fees to attract you to deposit your money with them. However, be aware that there could be additional, occasionally concealed fees, such as asset custody costs, FX transaction costs, buy/sell transaction costs, and even costs for getting access to your money or shifting your investment to another platform.
Taking into account all research and resource options;
Many of the newest systems provide customers a wide range of investing options at the push of a button. The speed and caliber of the data at hand may be a determining factor in making informed decisions in this era of information. The more basic systems even restrict clients to a set of pre-selected portfolio models or only offer access to a very small number of funds. On the other hand, some platforms provide in-depth research and fund data. To make sure the platform delivers what you need, if at all possible, take some time to investigate demonstration site access.
Ensure that the platform has a strong enough financial base to stand the test of time;
With platforms, the cheapest option may not always be the one that makes the most sense over the long term. A sizable and well-funded platform will have the means to continuously invest in enhancing its performance. This will ensure that you receive the most up-to-date financial information, that transactions are completed efficiently, and that the business can continue to fulfill its regulatory obligations.
At Melbourne Capital Group, our team has developed an investment platform that allows our clients access to over 7,500 institutionally priced funds as well as direct stock purchases from most of the main exchanges around the globe. Our clients have the option of investing in assets of their choice or one of our actively managed portfolios.
When creating a platform for our clients, our seasoned management team went through a careful evaluation process to ensure that we could deliver the optimum combination of cost effectiveness and operational excellence.