UK-headquartered AES International says it is the first financial advisory company to offer a direct investment approach for expatriates.

AES International, a financial services company serving the international, cross-border and multi-jurisdictional marketplace, is offering British expatriates a “direct” approach to investing.

The company's clients will now be able to choose to invest using either a “guided” or “do-it-yourself” approach, a move it says will significantly cut the costs otherwise experienced by investors overseas. Both options will carry a flat annual fee.

“The proposition is based on an offshore banking platform, a model which has consistently been proven to be best for expatriate clients because of the low costs, flexibility and wide banking and investment options available,” the company said.

The proposition is in the process of being refined and should offer investors a more technology-driven experience, the company's chief executive, Sam Instone, said. He added that the new DIY option represents a “big push forward for an advice ‘industry’ that is still largely stuck in the dark ages.”

“We believe in adding value and that means only charging clients for what they actually need. Many clients are only interested in building an investment portfolio and so do not need full financial advice and the costs associated with it,” Instone said.

“A similar, platform-based model has worked very successfully in the UK for a number of years now. The only reason it hasn’t been adopted by those serving British expatriates in other markets is because most offshore advisors are only interested in chasing large commission payments from international life companies.”

AES International provides advice in 36 countries across Europe and the Middle East with a team 150 financial professionals. It managed £500 million in assets as of the end of the year.