Onboarding for Asian Market Access - Any recent friction points?
Been looking to expand some of my Asian market exposure, particularly into some of the lesser-traded equities on the SET and IDX, beyond the usual HKX and Nikkei. The issue I'm running into isn't necessarily finding a broker offering these, but the onboarding process itself. Specifically, the KYB requirements for non-resident entities seem to have gotten increasingly granular, to the point where even with all documentation ready, there are often multiple back-and-forth cycles for verification. It’s not just a time sink, but the lack of clarity on specific nuances for certain jurisdictions is frustrating. Has anyone navigated a smoother path recently for establishing accounts for broader Asian equity access, or found particular firms to be more efficient with their compliance reviews for non-local entities? I'm curious if there are specific regions or firm types that are more streamlined in practice than their initial documentation suggests.
Totally get what you're saying. I've heard similar complaints, especially with the IDX. It feels like every year the KYB gets a little more intense for those less common markets. Have you tried approaching local banks directly for introductions, or are you sticking with international brokers?