Vested Finance
10,000+ US stocks, private market access, charges, Vests, LRS process, SIPC safety — complete guide for Indian investors
You invest in Reliance, TCS, and HDFC Bank. But what about Apple, Nvidia, Tesla, or even OpenAI — before it goes public? For most Indian investors, US stocks felt like someone else’s game — complicated, expensive, and full of paperwork. Vested Finance was built to change that.
Founded in 2018 by Viram Shah and Darwin Arifin — both with Silicon Valley backgrounds — Vested Finance is India’s most focused global investing platform. It does not try to be a mutual fund app, an insurance aggregator, or a banking super-app. It does one thing: help Indian investors access US stocks, US ETFs, global mutual funds, and US private market companies — from a single app, legally, starting from just $1.
In 2026, with US markets at record highs, the dollar strengthening, and AI-era companies like OpenAI and SpaceX raising at extraordinary valuations in private markets — Vested’s timing has never been more relevant for Indian investors looking to diversify globally.
What Is Vested Finance? — Platform Overview
Vested Finance
Vested Finance Inc. is a global investing platform registered in the United States. In India, it operates as Vested Services Private Ltd. — registered under the MCA. The company is backed by Valar Ventures — the VC firm founded by Peter Thiel that also backed TransferWise (now Wise) and N26. The platform works with DriveWealth — a SEC and FINRA registered US clearing firm and custodian — to hold and execute US stock trades on behalf of Indian investors.
US stocks & ETFs
10,000+
Min investment
$1
Brokerage fee
Zero
Forex markup
1.5–2%
SIPC protection
Yes — $500K
Premium plan
~₹249/mo
All Vested Finance Products — Full Range (2026)
Vested Finance
- US Stocks and ETFs: 10,000+ securities listed on NYSE and NASDAQ — Apple, Nvidia, Microsoft, Tesla, Amazon, Google, Meta, and thousands more. Commission-free trading. Fractional shares from $1 — so you can buy a slice of a $180 Apple share without spending the full amount.
- Managed Portfolios (Vests): Pre-built thematic baskets of stocks — Vested’s most unique feature. Examples include AI & Machine Learning, Electric Vehicles, Healthcare Innovation, Dividend Aristocrats, SpaceTech, Crypto-Adjacent, and more. Also available by risk profile — Conservative, Moderate, Aggressive. Vests are managed by Vested Finance Inc. as an advisory firm — they rebalance automatically based on the theme.
- Global Mutual Funds: Exposure to 50+ countries via funds managed by leading global asset managers — Fidelity, DSP, and BlackRock. Invest in Japanese equities, European funds, or emerging market baskets without separate brokerage accounts in each country.
- Private Market Investments: Vested’s most differentiated product in 2026. Invest in unlisted US companies — SpaceX, OpenAI, Perplexity — before they go public. Opportunities previously reserved for institutions and ultra-HNIs are now accessible to Indian retail investors through Vested’s private market desk. Minimum investment thresholds apply and these are high-risk, illiquid positions.
- Stock SIP (Systematic Investment Plan): Set up automated monthly investments in US stocks or ETFs — similar to a mutual fund SIP but directly into individual US securities. Ideal for rupee-cost averaging into S&P 500 ETFs or individual companies like Nvidia.
- High-Yield Fixed Deposits: A newer addition — Indian alternative asset product for investors who want stable returns alongside their equity portfolio.
- Signals (Premium): 7 daily-updated stock lists generated using fundamental and technical strategies. Basic users get 2 lists. Premium users get all 7 — including momentum, value, and growth signal lists.
Vested Finance Charges — The Complete Breakdown
Vested Finance
Zero brokerage sounds perfect — but the real cost of Vested is elsewhere. Here is the full and honest charge structure:
- Brokerage: Zero — no commission on buying or selling US stocks and ETFs
- Forex markup: 1.5% to 2% on currency conversion (INR to USD and USD to INR) — this is the primary revenue model and the highest among active platforms. On a ₹1 lakh remittance, this costs ₹1,500–₹2,000 in currency conversion alone.
- Withdrawal fee: $11 per withdrawal transaction back to your Indian bank account — an important cost to factor if you plan to withdraw frequently
- Inactivity fee: None — your account stays active without any minimum activity requirement
- Account opening: Free — Vested credits your account with $5 on opening (starter bonus)
- Premium plan (Vested+): ~₹249 per month — adds priority support, enhanced portfolio analytics, all 7 signal lists, and advanced research features
- LRS (Liberalised Remittance Scheme) charges: Per RBI rules, Indians can remit up to $250,000 per year for overseas investments. TCS (Tax Collected at Source) of 20% applies on remittances above ₹7 lakh per year — claimable as a tax credit while filing ITR. Vested helps with this documentation.
- US capital gains tax: Long-term gains on US stocks taxed at 25% in India (as foreign equity); short-term gains at applicable income tax slab. Vested provides tax reporting documents to simplify your ITR filing.
Real cost example — ₹1 lakh investment in Apple via Vested
- Forex markup (1.75% avg): ₹1,750
- Brokerage: ₹0
- Withdrawal (when you sell): $11 ≈ ₹917
- Total round-trip cost: ~₹2,667 or ~2.67% on ₹1 lakh
- Compare: Winvesta forex markup ~0.75–1% → round trip ~₹1,500–₹1,900
Is Vested Finance Safe? — The Full Safety Answer
Vested Finance
This is the most searched question about Vested — and the answer is clearly yes, with important nuances:
- SEC and FINRA registered: Vested’s US partner DriveWealth is registered with the SEC (US Securities and Exchange Commission) and FINRA — the same regulators that govern brokers like Charles Schwab and Fidelity
- SIPC protection: Your US investments are covered by SIPC (Securities Investor Protection Corporation) insurance up to $500,000 — protecting against broker failure (not market losses)
- Legal in India: Vested operates fully within RBI’s Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) framework — all remittances are reported to the RBI and compliant with FEMA regulations
- India entity: Registered as Vested Services Private Ltd. under MCA — a proper Indian legal entity with standard compliance requirements
- Founder transparency: CEO Viram Shah is an MCA-registered director — the company has transparent leadership and VC backing from Valar Ventures
- What SIPC does NOT cover: Market losses. If Apple stock falls 50%, SIPC does not compensate you. It only protects against broker fraud or insolvency — not investment risk.
How to Open a Vested Finance Account — Step by Step
Vested Finance
- Download the Vested app from Google Play Store or Apple App Store — search “Vested US Stocks”
- Register with your mobile number and email — enter basic personal details
- Complete KYC — upload PAN card and Aadhaar card (or Passport for NRIs)
- Sign the W-8BEN form — a US tax form required for non-US investors. Vested auto-generates this — you just e-sign it in the app
- Account approved — typically within 24–48 hours
- Fund your account via LRS remittance — transfer INR from your Indian bank account through the app. The app converts INR to USD at its forex markup rate and credits your Vested account
- Start investing — search Apple (AAPL), Nvidia (NVDA), or browse Vested’s curated portfolios and signal lists
Vested Finance vs INDmoney vs Winvesta — Quick Comparison
| Feature | Vested | INDmoney | Winvesta |
|---|---|---|---|
| US stocks available | 10,000+ | 4,500+ | 4,000+ |
| Brokerage | Zero | Zero | $0–$1 per trade |
| Forex markup | 1.5–2% (highest) | ~1% | 0.75–1% (lowest) |
| Withdrawal fee | $11 | Free | $5 |
| Thematic portfolios | Yes — Vests (best) | Limited | No |
| Private market access | Yes — SpaceX, OpenAI | No | No |
| Global mutual funds | Yes — 50+ countries | No | No |
| India financial super app | No | Yes — MF, FD, loans | No |
| Best for | Thematic + private market | All-in-one India+US app | Lowest cost US trading |
Who Should Use Vested Finance — And Who Should Not
- Best fit for: Indian investors who want a US-stocks-first experience with thematic guided portfolios. Ideal for beginners who want pre-built Vests rather than picking stocks. Best for long-term investors who invest and hold — minimising withdrawal fees. Perfect for those interested in private market investments in companies like OpenAI and SpaceX — a unique Vested advantage.
- Not ideal for: Frequent traders — the 1.5–2% forex markup and $11 withdrawal fee add up quickly. Cost-sensitive investors who want the lowest possible total cost — Winvesta’s lower forex markup makes more sense. Investors who primarily want India-side financial products — INDmoney’s super-app approach is better suited.
The LRS Rule — How Much Can You Send?
Vested Finance
Every Indian investor must understand the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) before investing through Vested. The RBI allows Indian residents to remit up to $250,000 (approximately ₹2.1 crore at current rates) per financial year for overseas investments — no RBI approval needed within this limit. Vested handles all LRS compliance documentation within the app. Key points:
- TCS of 20% applies on overseas remittances above ₹7 lakh per financial year — fully claimable as credit when filing your Income Tax Return (ITR)
- Vested provides Form 15CA/CB documentation to help with compliance
- All transactions reported to RBI under LRS — fully legal and above-board
- NRIs can also use Vested — with NRE/NRO account integration
Vested Finance — Quick Links
- Website: vestedfinance.com/in
- Android app: Google Play Store → search “Vested US Stocks”
- iOS app: Apple App Store → search “Vested US Stocks Investing”
- Pricing page: vestedfinance.com/in/pricing
- Custodian: DriveWealth LLC (SEC + FINRA registered)
- SIPC: sipc.org — up to $500,000 per investor
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only. Investing in US stocks involves currency risk, market risk, and regulatory risk. Always verify the latest charges and features at vestedfinance.com before investing. This does not constitute financial advice. Consult a SEBI-registered advisor before making international investment decisions. Past performance does not guarantee future returns.
