Online forex brokers to pay 3% annual fee to regulatory authority

There is a slight shift in the segment of online forex trading, with authorities jumping in to impose better protections and revenue streams. While protections are for customers, revenue streams majorly pertain to their interest, which is expected to be passed on to the community. 

For online forex brokers, it means a drop in their margin and having to follow more stringent regulations. With both being on the better side in the long term, the article explores how levying an annual fee – 3% – affects the industry and what has prompted the authorities to pitch the new rule.

Financial impact on brokers

Forex brokers work on the fundamentals of buying at a lower price and selling at a higher price before making their cuts. The respective margins are credited to customers for their capital and further investment. Other modes of income for online forex brokers are commission and platform fees, subject to specific applications.

With an additional annual fee, forex trading investment could be less profitable for brokers or more expensive for customers. Here’s how:

• A single percentage of any kind of fee is paid to authorities. However, that is recovered from customers by charging higher commissions or platform fees. Customers suffer, for they end up getting lower margins.
• Assuming online forex brokers keep every point the same, they are forced to book a lower bottom line in the books as there is an additional expense they have to cover every year.

Not to forget, annual fees are subject to change every year and depend on how the sitting Government formulates policies. The financial impact is on forex brokers with an online platform since customers look for alternatives, giving them more profits.

Elevating investor protection

Implementing an annual fee is damaging, except authorities have more than a single thread in their pocket to present. Forex trading investment seeing 3% annual fees as a part of new rules aligns with keeping platforms in line with the protection of investors. It is built on top of the idea that they must furnish all necessary disclosures while onboarding a new customer or accepting funds for trade.

Another way to elevate investor protection is by encouraging online forex brokers to assess the knowledge level of their customers regularly. Therefore, a proposal makes its way wherein platforms must organize relevant education programs. Interestingly, a theory states that such an extension could justify brokers’ increased fees.

Broker compliance strategies

Since an annual fee is unavoidable, online foreign exchange platforms only have the option to comply with new rules. The best they can do is draft strategies to sustain in the market.

• An ideal way could be to inform customers about the development and unavoidable situation.
• Another way is to regularly host educational programs for customers for a basic membership fee.
• The most popular way could be to call an increase in commission a periodic review amid current market conditions.

These statements do not reflect a concrete set of ideas. They merely suggest ways the market could respond to the changes announced by regulatory authorities.

Industry consultation and collaboration

It must be noted that any change or rule implemented in the industry about online forex brokers, in this instance, comes into effect only after authorities have consulted all the major players. An annual fee of 3% on online forex brokers results in both sides reaching an agreement during a discussion session.

The annual fee will ultimately make up for a contribution to the macro-economy. Thereby helping individuals and forex brokers get a more supportive environment. The ongoing dialogue between both sides is likely to consider the following:

• Duration of the current fee structure
• Possibility to modify the annual fee
• Ways to integrate it into the platform without hurting customers

Stakeholders and regulatory authorities will also continue to reach consensus in the future.

Conclusion

Online forex trading is here to stay as more individuals take a rising level of interest in international events. Understanding how currency pairs function to yield profits will keep the segment moving forward. The annual fee of 3% to regulatory authorities is in line with supporting the industry and helping customers learn about what they are dealing with.