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TOP FOREX BROKERS REVIEW

THE INTERNET'S MOST COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF ONLINE FOREX BROKERS AND FOREX REVIEWS. 

Advantages and Disadvantages of Segregated Account

Segregated AccountForex service providers and brokers use a segregated bank account to ensure their clients' funds are kept in a separate bank account with little chance of fraud. A segregated account has ultimately no relationship with the brokerage firm's bank account or the bank itself. Investing in segregated accounts means holding securities at a custodian in an individually managed portfolio. However, unlike a managed account, the client's investment remains in the hedge fund vehicle, and the hedge funds are purchased or sold under the nominee's name.

Functions of a Segregated Account

In the securities industry, segregation means that customer assets and investments held by brokers or financial institutions are separated from those held by the forex brokers or organizations themselves.

However, securities owned by brokerage firms can be traded or invested by their clients as well. Assets of each type must be separated from one another. Keeping the books separately is also necessary. In addition to assets that must be tracked separately, segregation could also be applied to assets whose accounting needs require it.

Separate accounts also have different responsibilities and privileges than accounts held generally by a larger group. Further, most portfolio models, for instance, will be applied to most assets under management by portfolio managers. It may be necessary to introduce discretionary accounts for investors with different needs like- investment objectives and risk tolerance etc., from other investors in the portfolio. The portfolio manager can diverge from his or her usual approach to these separate accounts, separated from the pool.

Just like the regular retail account, segregated accounts are usually two types, individual and managed. We will discuss the functionality of both types of segregated accounts later in this article.

 

RANK VISIT
BROKER
REGULATION

We only list licensed brokers that comply with the requirements of prominent regulatory agencies.

MIN
DEPOSIT

The minimum amount you need to deposit in order to start trading.

DEPOSIT
BONUS
RATING MAX
LEVERAGE

Leverage refers to the ratio of securities you can buy for a given payment. The higher the leverage ratio, the higher your buying power (and the higher the risk). For example, a leverage ratio of 500:1 means you can purchase 500 securities, but only pay the equivalent of 1 security valuation. The leverage ratio offered can vary depending on the experience level of the trader.

PAYMENT
SYSTEM
SUPPORT START
TRADING
1
ASIC, CySEC, FSP
$100
No Bonus
1:500

Telephone: +44 28 2544 7780

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Pros
  • Excellent education tools
  • Low forex fees
  • Fast account opening
  • Easy funding methods
Cons
  • No bonuses
Platforms & Devices
2
ASIC, CySEC, FSA, SCB
$200
No Bonus
1:500

Telephone: +248 467 19 76

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Pros
  • Low forex fees
  • Fast order execution
  • Analytical training materials
  • 90+ instruments
Cons
  • Slow live chat support
  • Non-EU traders don’t get investor protection
Platforms & Devices
3
FSA
$0
No Bonus
1:500

Telephone:

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Pros
  • 9 base currencies
  • 24/7 technical service
  • Direct market access
  • VPS, FIX API, copy trading
  • Superior trading conditions
Cons
  • No negative balance protection
  • Withdrawal fees
Platforms & Devices
4
FCA, CySEC, FSCA, SCB
$100
No Bonus
1:100

Telephone: +44 (0) 203 151 5550

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Pros
  • Excellent customer service
  • Free deposit and withdrawal
  • Negative balance protection
  • Wide range of platform
Cons
  • Inactivity fee
  • High Trading Fees for some CFDs
Platforms & Devices
5
ASIC, FCA, CySEC, SCB
$100
No Bonus
1:500

Telephone:

image
Pros
  • Fully digital account opening
  • Low forex fees
  • Research tools
  • Free Education Resources
Cons
  • No bonuses
Platforms & Devices
6
ASIC, CySEC
$1
100%
1:3000

Telephone: +35 7251 23212

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Pros
  • No withdrawal fee
  • Low stock and stock index CFD fees
  • Negative balance protection
  • No inactivity fee
Cons
  • Average forex CFD fees
  • No PAMM accounts
Platforms & Devices
7
ASIC, CySEC, FSC
$5
Up to $5000
1:1000

Telephone: +501 223-6696

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Pros
  • Low withdrawal fees
  • Great educational tools
  • Wide range of leverage
  • Multilingual customer support
Cons
  • Non-EU traders don’t get investor protection
  • Lack of weekend customer support
Platforms & Devices
8
FCA, DFSA, FSCA, FSA, CMA
$5
100%
1:1000

Telephone: +44-2030978571

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Pros
  • Low spread
  • Controlled by several regulators
  • Numerous deposit and withdrawal
  • Favorable trading conditions
Cons
  • Few account currencies
  • Only USD or EUR as base currencies
Platforms & Devices
9
ASIC, FCA
$0
No Bonus
1:500

Telephone: +61 2 9965 5830

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Pros
  • Automatic insurance coverage
  • Low entry threshold
  • Fully digital account opening
  • Low forex fees
Cons
  • Limited research tools
  • Only forex and CFD trading
Platforms & Devices
10
FCA, ASIC, DFSA
$200
No Bonus
1:500

Telephone: +1786 628 1209

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Pros
  • Digital account opening process
  • Seamless deposit and withdrawal
  • Attractive trading conditions
  • No inactivity fee
Cons
  • No cent account
  • Few analytical materials
Platforms & Devices

The Advantages of Segregated Account Investing

Investing in this kind of account comes with immense benefits. Keep on reading to know all the pros.

Customized

An extensive dialog is held to create an exclusive portfolio that adds value within the context of the client's total portfolio. As a result, a dedicated solution is provided rather than something standard. Every client has specific concerns and requirements; however, investors generally focus their attention on risk appetite/tolerance, exposure preferences, liquidity requirements, and eliminating indirect exposures.

Transparency

Having complete knowledge about the exact exposures which comprise a client's portfolio gives them confidence. To accomplish this goal, hedge fund positions are summarized in detail, together with detailed analyses of attribution and contribution. Clients can also benefit from meeting their investment managers directly if they wish to gain even deeper knowledge and gain further confidence in their investment portfolios.

Consideration of Individual's Needs

Customers benefit from holding a dynamic portfolio that adjusts to market cycles and progresses as a whole. A critical part of this evolution of exposure is the consideration of the client's individual needs. With increased comfort with a client's investment style, clients can modify their risk tolerance within the portfolio, integrate their long-only investments into their hedge fund portfolio, and create a core-satellite approach to hedge fund investing.

Insights & Education for Investment Decision-Makers

Reporting for segregated accounts is typically tailored to the client's and stakeholders' needs. As a first step, ensure that the client has regular contact with an investment decision-maker. Also, reporting materials are frequently designed to be comprehensive and cover the exact level of detail that is required.

Low Chances of Information Gap

There is no doubt that this can encompass high-level, high-quality market commentary in addition to more in-depth qualitative and quantitative reviews. In such a setting, the client can better appreciate hedge fund nuances and how to most effectively approach the opportunities. This can dramatically reduce, and in some cases eliminate, the risk of information shortage.

Zero Fund Redemption Risk

Clients were able to evaluate their portfolios from an investment perspective rather than based on the fear of being the last in line. Customers with segregated accounts can dictate liquidity preferences at the creation stage and monitor their liquid investment portfolio throughout; a dialogue can be initiated about hedge fund positions. So, the risk can be controlled.

Defending Headline Risk

Having access to information about the names of the portfolios allows clients with segregated accounts to respond to questions immediately. In addition, several core  features of hedge funds underlying can be shared, such as concentration, liquidity,  leverage, and directionality. So, the headline risk is also defended.

Preferences for Structure

Increasing client diversity has resulted in fewer similarities in hedge fund structure, and therefore a less favorable outcome for commingled funds. In addition, the segregated account structure can result in a lower cost structure for the client, depending on the set-up requirements.

Impacting Change

During stressful times, clients of segregated accounts have the opportunity to work alongside their investment managers to implement changes in their portfolios. There can be a result of this in some cases: when there are turbulent times, cash levels may be higher than usual; in other cases, it may result in a consolidated list of quality managers, shifting away from a more diversified portfolio.

The Disadvantages of Segregated Account Investing

However, it has some cons too, which are not that significant if you can focus on benefits properly.

Expensive

There is a cost associated with every great benefit described above. The initial deposit for opening a segregated bank account is usually between a few thousand dollars and many thousands of dollars. Thus, the initial deposit requirements of a segregated account may be very high depending on the bank through which you open it.

Heavy return Price

For brokerage firms and forex companies, managing these accounts comes with a significant investment, and they expect a high amount on return. The regulatory requirements that surround segregated accounts are another potential issue.

Requirements to Fulfill

For large companies to open segregated accounts, there are many requirements they need to meet. Without the requirements, it is not possible to open an account.

Falling prey to Frauds or Scammers 

Unauthorized offshore accounts that claim to be US-based accounts are one of the most common forms of fraud using segregated accounts. After the trader has been scammed, the broker will use the funds to invest in their business. Also, some scammers out there claim to have segregated accounts but do not hold the legal authority needed to operate them. Traders can be fooled into transferring funds to these scammers, where the funds will be misappropriated, and it is much harder to file for chargebacks when scammers have taken the money.

Not Trustworthy Enough

To achieve the trust of traders, some companies will attempt to cut corners when it comes to operating segregated accounts since there is a lot of regulation to follow. Frauds of this type are particularly elusive and dangerous. It isn't something you would anticipate companies doing, but it might happen, and the customers suffer a heavy loss.

Individual Segregated Account vs Segregated Managed Account

The Forex world is divided into institutional and retail investors. While the institutional investors need a huge investment, the retail trader can start forex trading with a small investment. In both cases, the account holder can trade by themselves as well as hire someone to the trader on behalf of them. That is where the managed account term comes.

As we have mentioned earlier, the segregated account separates the clients’ funds from the broker’s fund. Hence, the individual segregated account works for the retail traders. On the other hand, a segregated managed account separates the institutional client's fund or even sometimes the personal investor’s fund if the investor used a managed account to trade.

What is an Individual Segregated Account, and How does it Work?

It is a simple segregated account through which the forex broker keeps the retail client’s fund separately from their company’s account. The individual investor can see the details of their fund from the segregated account.

Through this account, the account holder can use that funded money to continue their trading. Apart from the individual account holder, the institutional trader may also have the individual account if they trade by themselves. The institutional trader can appoint someone to the trader on behalf of the company.

What is a Managed Segregated Account, and How does it Work?

The managed segregated account allows anyone to trade through an expert or the manager. It works with MAM, PAMM or any kind of managed account. However, like the managed account, you will need to pay some fees to the person who trades for you.

You can appoint someone from the broker or from a third-party organization to initiate your trading. Like the regular segregated account, segregated managed account holders can also see the account details as well as the trading details. However, it all depends on the broker. Some brokers don't provide access to the account holder if the account manager is from the brokerage firm.

Which One Should You Choose?

According to the general forex regulations, regulatory bodies worldwide want to force the brokers to keep the trader's fund separated from the organization's fund. So, you can choose any type of segregated account depending on your experience. If you are confident enough about your trading expertise, you can easily choose the individual segregated account. On the other hand, if you are a newbie or don’t have the confidence or even don’t have time to trade, you can choose the managed account.

Nevertheless, your funds remain safe in either way. But you have to choose the broker wisely and make sure the broker is regulated. It is because there are many forex scams brokers who will offer you the segregated accounts with all the benefits and afterward don’t provide access to your funds or account.

So, to summarize, Forex trading or segregated accounts are considered high-risk businesses due to their volatile nature. But it has both advantages and disadvantages. Anyone willing to take a risk can open a segregated account, and they are well protected as the account is segregated. The company controls the funds but cannot be used to cover ongoing expenses or invest in. A broker's operation is, however, governed by the regulations under which he or she is registered, which are determined by the country in which they are incorporated.

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