Ardan Investment Platform Review 2025
As part of our ongoing commitment to provide valuable insights and reviews of investment products for expats, we are conducting a detailed analysis of the Ardan International global investment account.
What Is The Ardan International Wealth Platform?
Ardan International is a wealth management platform launched in 2013, designed to provide international investors, expatriates, trustees, and corporate entities with a secure and efficient way to manage their investments.
The platform allows users via their financial advisers to consolidate various investments into a single online location, offering up-to-date valuations and a comprehensive view of the entire portfolio.
Ardan Wealth Management Platform Review
Platform Regulation
Ardan is licensed by the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority (IOMFSA), ensuring that your investments are protected in accordance with global best practices and the stringent regulations of the IOMFSA.
The Isle of Man holds an Aa3 sovereign rating from Moody’s, maintains OECD white list status, and is recognized by the IMF as “a well-regulated offshore finance center of excellence.”
Ardan Account Safety
As part of International Financial Group Limited (IFGL), Ardan provides customers with the confidence and security of belonging to a trusted global network. IFGL serves international investors worldwide, managing over 214,000 clients, more than USD 27 billion in assets, and employing over 610 staff.
All assets are held through a nominee company, Ardan Nominees Limited, while client funds are maintained in segregated accounts.
This structure guarantees that your assets are never commingled with Ardan’s own. In the unlikely event of Ardan’s failure, client assets remain protected and cannot be used by liquidators to settle Ardan’s debts.
Ardan is independently audited by PwC and is required to submit regular reports to the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority, ensuring compliance and full reconciliation of all registered assets.
Ardan holds a B (Strong) financial strength rating from AKG and a 5 out of 5 star service rating—the highest in the international platform sector.
Ardan Platform Cost & Charging Structure
The platform has no setup fees; however, your adviser will charge for both initial and ongoing advice.
We have listed the standard platform fees below:
<£500k: 0.4%
£500k - £1m: 0.35%
£1m - £5m: 0.30%
> £5m: 0.25%
Ardan Adviser Fees
Ardan allows advisers to charge up to 5% in initial fees and 1.5% in ongoing fees. However, typical adviser charges range between 3%–1% for initial fees and around 1% for ongoing management.
The Wealth Genesis charges a flat £3000 initial and 0.85% ongoing fee.
Ardan Platform Investment Options & Fund Range
Ardan provides access to over 80,000 financial instruments, including funds, ETFs, equities, and structured notes. As part of the IFGL Group, clients benefit from discounted costs on thousands of assets.
Multi-Currency:
Clients can invest in any of 11 available currencies, hold multiple currencies simultaneously, and transfer funds between currencies at highly competitive exchange rates.
Multiple Portfolios:
Clients can open multiple portfolios within a single account, allowing them to segregate different financial planning needs.
Model Portfolios:
Clients gain access to managed model portfolios from Discretionary Fund Managers and investment firms available on the platform.
Minimum Investment Values With Ardan
There are no account minimums; however, as an adviser-only platform, your adviser may have a minimum investment requirement they adhere to.
Exit Penalties & Surrender Charges
Ardan is a fee-based platform that does not pay out commissions. As a result, there are no exit penalties or lock-in periods when withdrawing your money, whether from individual investments in funds or when exiting the platform entirely.
This transparent ‘pay-as-you-go’ fee structure ensures you have easy access to your capital whenever you need it.
Tax Efficiency and Treatment
While there is no formal literature on taxation, the platform is generally considered tax-efficient. Based on client experience, in most locations, there is no tax liability as long as funds remain invested and are not withdrawn. However, upon withdrawal, or the rebalancing of the portfolio, Capital Gains Tax (CGT) may be applicable in the country of residence. It is recommended to seek professional tax advice for specific guidance.
International Estate Planning
Ardan provides a complimentary Beneficiary Trust, which is automatically activated upon your death. This ensures a smooth, probate-free transfer of your assets to your designated beneficiaries. This separates it from several competitors.
Asset Transfer & Consolidation
Ardan offers an Asset Transfer service that makes it simple to consolidate your investments. This service enables you to transfer assets from other financial products or accounts directly into your Ardan portfolio, streamlining your financial management. Impressively, there is no additional cost for this service.
Ardan Offshore Investment Platform Summary
The Ardan offshore investment platform meets all the key criteria when selecting a global wealth management service. It allows you and your adviser to build a portfolio tailored to your objectives. Additional benefits, such as a wide range of currencies, extensive investment options, a complimentary Beneficiary Trust in the event of death, no extra charges for in-specie transfers, and a highly competitive fee structure, make it a top choice for any expat investor.
Expat Investment Advice
The Wealth Genesis offers transparent, high-quality bespoke advice at a fixed cost to expats worldwide.
This service goes beyond just product selection and fund allocation, extending to the ongoing management of your investments.
We ensure that your portfolio adapts to your changing needs, providing you with peace of mind and planning for any future inheritance tax (IHT) considerations.
