Ardan International Review
We will talk about the advantages and disadvantages of the Ardan International platform and tell you why it isn’t a good idea to buy right now.
This post will also focus on the pros and cons for financial advisors and clients.
If you are looking to invest in better alternatives, or want a second opinion, you can contact me on advice@adamfayed.com or WhatsApp (+447393450837).
You can also apply for my services here, if you are an expat or high-net-worth individual.
As the facts change over time, we will try to update this article, but we can’t always alter facts instantly.
Decisions about whether to go ahead with Ardan should not be made based on this article alone.
First, what is Ardan International?
Ardan International is an international wealth management platform that’s focused on the global financial services sector.
The online platform was rolled out in 2013 for financial advisers.
Ardan International is based in the Isle of Man and is a unit of investment, savings and protection services provider International Financial Group Ltd or IFGL.
Who can access the Ardan International platform?
Ardan can be utilized by expats, trustees, and corporate bodies. This platform was developed with investors based in other countries in mind specifically.
Because it is versatile, it can be put to use in a variety of ways to consolidate all of one’s investments into a single location.
Clients living abroad who do not wish to keep their money in a bank account for an extended period will find this service to be very convenient.
The question is whether Ardan is a good alternative to the other options out there.
Does it mean I can trade on my own using the platform?
Since Ardan is a wealth management platform that is led by advisers, only authorized individuals working for adviser firms are allowed to execute trades on Ardan International.
Where is the platform sold?
Worldwide, but typically in expat-focused areas, such as:
· Dubai
· Shanghai
· Singapore
· Brussels
· Bangkok
· Kuala Lumpur
· Qatar
What Ardan International investment options are available?
Over 80,000 funds are available on the Ardan International platform, alongside countless currencies, from Euro to USD and Japanese Yen.
Equities, structured notes and a range of other investment options are available on the platform.
Ardan International Fees
The custody fee is 0.4% per year. They have also removed minimum fees, which should be good for smaller accounts.
However, there are extra fees such as:
- Fund fees
- Advisor fees
- Sometimes hidden fees that aren’t easy to spot — for example on structured notes.
Whilst Ardan’s fee structure is competitive on smaller accounts, it often isn’t on medium and especially larger amounts, when you factor in the above considerations.
Why should financial advisers use the Ardan International platform?
Even though I think potential clients should consider superior alternative options, there are many positives for financial advisors and wealth managers.
According to Ardan International, it makes no difference whether your customers are individuals, trustees, or corporate entities; the platform can accommodate all of them. Each one has the capacity to hold multiple portfolios.
Besides, the open architecture of the platform enables investors to hold a variety of assets, including funds, structured notes, and tradeable assets, such as equities and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
You can keep everything in the same location, so it is simple to get an overall picture of the wealth of your customers.
You have the option of either setting up, monitoring, and trading your client base’s Model Portfolios by yourself or outsourcing these responsibilities to a third-party discretionary fund manager.
Your time will be freed up, and the handling of the portfolios you manage for your clients will become much easier and more effective.
You can also control the level of access that your customers are granted to the platform, and your customers have the ability to configure the platform in a manner that is tailored to your particular methods of conducting business.
Ardan International also said that you’re permitted to hold investments denominated in various currencies.
You can trade currencies online, invest in different currencies, change the base currency of the platform at any time, and switch between holding cash in multiple currencies.
So, it’s really ideal for the investor who wants to move freely across international borders.
Besides, the Ardan International platform enables you to operate a fee-based charging model that is completely transparent. This is extremely useful in a world where regulations are continually being tightened.
The value of assets held on platforms in the United Kingdom increased almost sixfold in the eight years after the rollout of the Retail Distribution Review (RDR) in 2008.
This demonstrates that platforms function effectively in environments in which regulations promote increased transparency.
The bigger question is whether the platform is good for the client.
When are adviser fees paid out?
The fees for the advisers are paid on a monthly basis, typically on the 10th of every month for any and all transactions that occurred during the preceding month.
Is Ardan International legit? Are my funds protected?
Ardan safeguards the financial assets of its customers by storing them in separate accounts held at various reputable financial institutions.
Client funds that are segregated are kept completely separate from Ardan International’s operating accounts and are held in the name of the respective clients.
In the extremely unlikely event that Ardan International goes into default on its obligations, the client money will be handed back to the customers instead of being handled as a reclaimable asset by the general creditors of the firm.
When money is transferred from a particular customer to Ardan International, those funds will be directly collected into a separate client money bank account at one of the major financial institutions that Ardan International has picked.
Ardan International, in its capacity as a global custodian, is tasked with the duty of protecting assets.
It takes reasonable precautions necessary for the detection and avoidance of fraud, error, or non-compliance with any laws and regulations that apply.
There is no obligation placed on the firm to select investments or determine their value in any way.
With that being said, most major life insurance and investment platforms are just as safe these days.
