iCharts Discussions

[umesh1]

India Discount brokerage (low) vs full service brokerage, what to expect?
I have seen many people do not understand difference between full service and discount brokers. I have traded with both (ICICI, MOSL, ANGEL, INDIABULLS, RK Global) and (Zerodha). Discount brokerage is still evolving concept in India.
If you use a brokerage, it’s useful to understand the difference between full-service brokers and discount brokers. Think of it this way: When dining out, your choice of restaurants ranges from Uncle’s kitchen to Oberoi’s Amar Vilas (any 5 star)
Both provide very tasty food.
At Uncle’s kitchen (any local brand), you have to do self service or waiter will take orders, you have to wait for waiter to come over. Waiter will not suggest good food for evening etc. He will either tell you what’s hot or cold and take order quickly.
Same guy will just deliver food and plates on table. He may give you pleasant smile or may not. He will expect you to eat fast, pay bill quickly and leave place so he can serve next customer. Uncle will charge Rs. 10-15 for cup of coffee and 5 for cut-in tea and 7 for full cup of tea.

At 5 star restaurant, you will be welcomed by some sweet sixteen young girl (selected by top officials). The captain will talk to you about evening (if you have foreigners, he may speak some welcome words in foreigner’s native language – see we expect FDI here ). Captain will give suggestions about food, help you select it, will take orders on latest ipad. If you do not like one of dishes (which he suggested) he will not charge you for that dish as well.
Even if you order just one cup of coffee (he will not offer cup of tea as it’s not there in menu card), he will not disturb you for next 3 hours. You will endup paying Rs. 350 for coffee and 150 for some taxes and 200 Rs. for tip, total= 700/-.

Uncle always say his kitchen is best in town. Does Uncle lie? No, as he is serving different market segment. People do not expect him to hire sweet sixteen and have Captain for service.
Full-service brokerages offer following

IPO investments
Stock buy and sell in cash market
Bonds buy and sell
Mutual funds buy and sell
Annuities
Insurance (health, life, term, investment)
National Saving Certificates, Kisan certificates
Margin funding for IPO
Margin funding for stock trading
Margin funding for FNO
Loan against gold (under different name)
Loan against stocks
Research reports on fundamentals
Research reports on technicals
RM
offline and online trading
PMS for stocks
PMS for mutual funds
Wealth management
Commodities
Private equity
Investment advisory
Trading calls for multiple market segments and different time frame – intraday, short term, long term
Demat
ECN, good backoffice and software to manage assets
Call and trade
Funds transfer from almost all banks
Facility to trade in all exchanges in India
Facility to trade in all major global exchanges
Forex trading in local and international markets
SLB
Full service brokerage firms offer multiple products to cater different market segments. Full service brokers will have some subbroker near to your house. Discount broker may have only one office in India.

Let’s talk about discount brokerage
Discount brokerage firms in India mainly offers

High speed trading terminal
High speed order execution systems
DMA
Shared servers for co-location.
Basic backoffice as per law
ECN
Call and trade
Email support
They expect do-it-yourself investor/ traders. They will not spend time on educating investors like full service one (see Uncle’s waiter and Captain in 5 star). They do not offer own DMAT service.

Full service brokers will have RM coming to your office / home to open your account. Discount brokers may not do that.

Both provide equal level of security for investor’s money in accounts as brokerage is highly regulated business. Both are at par in eyes of Sebi or stock exchanges like NSE, BSE. It’s not like discount broker will run away with your money and full service one will not. Money is equally safe with both.

Discount broker charges much less fees as against full service. Max brokerage (by al type of l brokers) can not be higher than 2.5% (see sebi site for actual details) of trade value.

If you buy Merc, your dealer giving 2 weeks training to your driver about how to drive Merc. Merc provides free pick up for your vehicle (any where in India even if your Merc is far remote area in India) to workshop. Merc service manager gives regular calls to customer on regular frequency asking about how car is doing. Merc customers are not expected to ask for why servicing charges are so high.

But, if you buy Nano or Maruti and say “you know what Merc dealer do so much and this non sense Nano/ Maruti dealer is hopeless etc”. Does this makes sense?

As people do not expect owner of Uncle’s kitchen to hire sweet sixteen and have Captain for service. People should not expect discount brokers to offer services of full service brokers at rate of discount broker’s brokerage.

[pkholla]

Umesh: Great stuff! Always something new to learn from you. We only need open mind and receptive ear!
We can also trade, as I do, with 1 star outfit. Reasonable rate, some advice if needed, some personalised service= "Toyota Qualis"
Cheers, Prakash Holla

Joke: 1995: In Bombay, a Marwadi and Bharat Shell (JV of BPCL with Shell) were each buying 1/2- 1/2 tanker of LPG sourced from Middle East.
Marwadi was operating out of desk inherited from his father in Kalbadevi, Rs 40/m bhada. Bharat Shell had hired 2500 sqft office in Cuffe Parade with a/c and carpets. There were sweet 20s receptionist, sweet 20s boss's asst etc, piped music, imported magazines.
Marwadi was charging Re 1 less per kg as compared to BS for LPG sourced from same oil field in same container ship!
Who would you buy from???

[AmitSwl_FnO]

Umesh..nice info...keep it flowing...v good....