Planto logo
  • App & Content
    Nav item
      App & Content
      Business Solutions
      Corporate
  • EN
     | 
    Image

    Offshore Securities Brokerage: Firstrade Account Opening Considerations for Hong Kong Consumers

    All Posts » Start Investing
    Last updated: Aug 25, 2020•  3 min read

    語言: 廣東話

    Table of ContentsTable of Contents
    • Pro and Con of Firstrade

    Many Hong Kong consumers who feel uncertain about the country’s prospect have been looking to move a portion of their asset overseas in order to reduce geographical risks within their portfolio. When it comes to investment assets, Firstrade is a commission free, offshore platform that Hong Kong investors can easily apply for. 

    Within this article, Planto will be reviewing pro & con of investing with Firstrade as well as providing a step-by-step guide on how to open a Firstrade account.


    Editor’s choice


    Pro and Con of Firstrade

    ProCon
    0 transaction, custodian, or platform feeRelatively high cost of fund deposit or remittance. It would be more cost effective to remit a larger sum in one go
    Wide range of investment options including stocks, ETF, options and more than 11,000 mutual fundsDebit card withdrawal outside of the U.S. will be charged 3% per transaction
    Among one of the easiest offshore account to open for Hong Kong investors. After a completely online account opening process, investors can start trading within a few days after making depositRelatively expensive margin interest
    Assets are protected by Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). If the broker fails financially, investors can be compensated up to US$500,000.No welcome or account opening rewards when compared to other Hong Kong based brokers like Futu or uSmart
    No minimum deposit requirement
    Both product interface and customer service are available in English and Chinese
    Users can apply for Firstrade’ Visa debit card which can be used around the world

    Opening an account with Firstrade

    Firstrade’s online account opening process is very simple and can be completed within a few minutes.

    1. Open an account via Firstrade’s website
    2. Upload identification document (Support both HKSAR Passport or BNO)
    3. Fill in basic information such as name, address, email, employment status and investment preference
    4. Set up electronic signature and submit the application

    A confirmation email will be sent immediately after the application is submitted successfully. When the Planto team tested the account opening process, our account was approved and opened 5 hours after we received the confirmation email – this speed is pretty much the same as opening an U.S. brokerage account in Hong Kong.

    Once the account is opened, one remaining step is to deposit money and start trading.

    Image
    It only takes a few minutes to apply and the account is generally approved within one day.

    Deposit transfer and withdrawal fees vary across different banks

    Depositing funds into Firstrade account follows a similar process as any other brokerages, however fund deposit for Firstrade will be done through an international transfer. The transfer can be made via online banking platform or at bank branches, and it generally requires information such as name of the receiving bank, SWITFT code, payee account name, account number and the user’s full name in English. 

    Image
    Users have to pay for the cost of international wire transfers. Exchange rates and transfer fees vary across different banks.

    When the Planto team inquired about fund withdrawal cost, we were told that Firstrade will not charge any additional handling fee to Hong Kong users who choose to use bank transfer, however banks usually charge transfer fee of about US$35 (approximately HK$270) – but the actual fee may vary from one bank to another.

    If the user choose to use Firstrade’s Debit Card for fund withdrawal, a fee of 3% of transaction amount will be charged each time. However users with asset more than US$10,000 in their account are eligible for free withdraw of up to US$1,000 once every month. In general, the users should avoid making frequent withdrawal in order to avoid unnecessary fees.

    Recommended Readings

    Important information:

    Investment involves risks. This information is intended to be educational and is not tailored to the investment needs of any specific investor. This information does not constitute investment advice and should not be used as the basis for any investment decision nor should it be treated as a recommendation for any investment or action. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The value of investments and the income from them can go down as well as up, so you may not get back what you invest.

    #Firstrade
    #Offshore Account
    Share:
    Share via FacebookShare via TwitterShare via WhatsAppShare via LinkedInShare via URL
    Share via FacebookShare via TwitterShare via WhatsAppShare via LinkedInShare via URL
    Planto half screen app
    Track. Plan. Get advice.Making your finances easier
    Follow us on social for more useful news!
    instagram
    Instagram
    @planto.hk
    facebook
    Facebook
    @Planto.HK
    linkedin
    LinkedIn
    Table of ContentsTable of Contents
    • Pro and Con of Firstrade
    Close

    Subscribe to Planto Newsletter & Stay Updated!

    Hong Kong’s Latest Financial Insights & Offers 🎁

    Try Planto App for Free

    Over 200,000 Downloads in HK

    Apple StoreGoogle Play
    MobileMobile
    About UsToolsSecurity DetailsBlogPrivacy PolicyTerms & ConditionsGoogle API Disclosure
    Planto logo22/F, 3 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, Hong KongPlanto Limited © 2024