My go-to international brokerage. Founded in 1977, Interactive Brokers is an American multinational brokerage (Nasdaq: IBKR)—and one of the largest in the world. It serves customers from over 200 countries, providing access to products in 150+ markets and 27 currencies worldwide. Its offerings include trading in stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds, ETFs, and more. The platform has been consecutively rated as the #1 Best Online Broker by Barron's for four years.
When asked about brokerages, I generally recommend Interactive Brokers for expats and people living overseas for a few reasons:
- Trusted platform. Long-standing track record (regulated in the US, UK, Singapore, and 7 other countries). Solid solvency, with equity capital far in excess of regulatory requirements and no long-term debt.
- Broad selection. Buy stocks, ETFs, bonds, futures, forex, and mutual funds in over 150 markets across 33 countries.
- Excellent geographic coverage. IBKR has clients in over 200 countries. After you relocate countries, Interactive Brokers also makes it easy to transfer your account to the new country (instead of closing down your account like many brokers).
- Low fees. Commissions start at $0 for US residents or $0.005 per share. Exchanging currency 0.002% with a minimum of $2.
