1. Broker Overview
Univest Securities, LLC, established within the last 2 to 5 years, operates as a private brokerage firm headquartered in New York, United States. The company primarily serves individual and institutional clients, providing a range of financial services and investment products. With a focus on retail trading, Univest Securities offers access to various asset classes, including stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds, and options.
Since its inception, Univest Securities has aimed to cater to the diverse needs of its clients, positioning itself as a player in the competitive financial services landscape. The firm operates without regulatory oversight, which raises concerns regarding investor protection and accountability. Despite this, it has developed a user-friendly trading platform that allows clients to manage their investments conveniently.
The business model of Univest Securities includes wealth management and capital markets advisory services, targeting both retail and institutional investors. The firm emphasizes providing tailored financial solutions to meet the unique objectives of its clients.
Univest Securities operates without a valid regulatory license, which poses significant risks for investors. There is no oversight from major regulatory bodies, and the firm has not established a comprehensive anti-money laundering (AML) program. This lack of regulation means that clients may have limited recourse in case of disputes or issues related to their investments.
Key regulatory information includes:
- Regulatory Status: Unregulated
- Licenses: No valid regulatory information available
- Client Funds Policy: There is no indication of client funds being segregated from the firm's operational funds.
- Investor Compensation Fund: Univest Securities does not participate in any investor compensation schemes.
- KYC and AML Compliance: The firm has faced scrutiny for failing to implement adequate KYC and AML measures, raising concerns about its operational integrity.
Given these factors, potential clients should exercise caution when considering Univest Securities as their brokerage.
3. Trading Products and Services
Univest Securities offers a diverse range of trading products, catering to various investment strategies. The key offerings include:
- Forex Trading: The firm provides access to a limited number of forex currency pairs, although specific details on the number and types of pairs are not disclosed.
- CFD Products: Clients can trade CFDs across multiple asset categories, including indices, commodities, stocks, and cryptocurrencies.
- Unique Products: Univest Securities may offer unique trading products, although specific details are not readily available.
- Retail Trading Services: The firm focuses on retail trading, providing individual accounts for personal investors.
- Institutional Client Services: Univest Securities also caters to institutional clients, offering specialized services tailored to larger investment firms and funds.
The firm is committed to updating its product offerings regularly, although specific frequencies for updates or new products have not been disclosed.
Univest Securities offers a proprietary trading platform designed for accessibility and ease of use. The platform is available as a web trader and mobile application, supporting both iOS and Android devices. Key features of the platform include:
- User-Friendly Interface: The platform is designed to be intuitive, allowing traders of all experience levels to navigate easily.
- Execution Model: Univest Securities employs a market-making execution model, which may affect the pricing and spreads offered to clients.
- Server Location: The firms servers are located in the United States, ensuring relatively fast execution times for domestic clients.
- API Access: While specific details on API access and automated trading support are limited, the firm may offer options for algorithmic trading.
Overall, the trading platform aims to provide comprehensive tools for market analysis, trade execution, and portfolio management.
5. Account Types and Trading Conditions
Univest Securities offers several account types to accommodate different investor needs:
- Standard Accounts: The firm charges a commission of $10 per trade, which is relatively high compared to industry standards. Specific minimum deposit requirements are not disclosed.
- Advanced Account Types: Higher-tier accounts, such as VIP or professional accounts, may be available, although details on these accounts are not specified.
- Special Accounts: Information on special accounts, such as Islamic or corporate accounts, is not provided.
- Demo Account Policy: There is no clear indication of whether a demo account is available for prospective clients.
- Leverage Ratios: The firm does not specify leverage ratios for different products, which may vary based on the asset class.
- Minimum Trade Sizes: The minimum trade sizes are not disclosed, leaving potential clients in the dark regarding trading flexibility.
- Overnight Fees: Specific policies regarding overnight fees are not provided.
6. Funding Management
Univest Securities supports various funding methods for clients, although detailed information is limited:
- Deposit Methods: Clients can deposit funds via wire transfers and checks. Credit card or e-wallet options are not explicitly mentioned.
- Minimum Deposit Requirements: Specific minimum deposit amounts for different account types are not disclosed.
- Deposit Processing Times: The processing times for deposits are not specified.
- Deposit Fees: The firm charges fees for wire transfers, with domestic transfers costing $30 and international transfers costing $50.
- Withdrawal Methods and Limits: Withdrawals can be made through wire transfers and checks, although details on limits are not provided.
- Withdrawal Processing Times: The processing times for withdrawals are not specified.
- Withdrawal Fee Structure: Similar to deposits, withdrawal fees apply, with $30 for domestic and $50 for international wire transfers.
7. Customer Support and Educational Resources
Univest Securities provides customer support through various channels:
- Support Channels: Clients can reach the support team via phone, email, and potentially through online chat or social media, although specific details are not provided.
- Service Hours: Customer support is available Monday to Friday, from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM EST.
- Multilingual Support: The availability of multilingual support is not specified.
- Educational Resources: The firm may offer educational resources such as webinars, tutorials, and eBooks, although specific offerings are not detailed.
- Market Analysis Services: Daily analysis, news updates, and research reports may be available, but specifics are lacking.
- Trading Tools: Tools such as calculators, calendars, and signal services may be offered, but details are not provided.
8. Regional Coverage and Restrictions
Univest Securities primarily serves clients in the United States, with no clear indication of international reach. Key regional information includes:
- Primary Service Markets: The firm focuses on the U.S. market, targeting individual and institutional investors.
- Regional Office Distribution: Specific information about regional offices is not disclosed.
- Countries/Regions Not Accepted: There is no detailed list of countries or regions from which clients are not accepted.
- Special Restrictions: Additional restrictions regarding client eligibility or account types are not provided.
In conclusion, while Univest Securities offers a range of products and services, potential clients should carefully consider the risks associated with its unregulated status and the high trading fees. The firms commitment to client service and user-friendly technology may appeal to some investors, but the lack of regulatory oversight raises significant concerns.
Azizie Alwie
Colombia
I have been dealing with this professional team for quite a while and am extremely happy with the service and the quality service received from them. Their staff are always friendly and ready to assist.
Positive
2023-03-13