Reviews of Stock Brokers
Acumen Capital
When it comes to investing in the stock market, choosing the right stockbroker is of utmost importance. It can significantly impact your trading experience, investment returns, and overall satisfaction. In this article, we will provide an in-depth review of Acumen Capital, one of India's prominent Full Service Broker. We will evaluate various aspects, including brokerage charges, trading platforms, customer support, and more, to help you make an informed decision.
Overview
Acumen Capital founded in 1996 by Akshay Agarwal is a Private company headquartered in Kochi, Kerela India. As a Full Service Broker, Acumen Capital aims to provide cost-effective buy/sell orders, enabling investors to save money compared to Discount Broker. However, it is crucial to note that Acumen Capital operates as a Discount Broker. It offers extensive investment advice and detailed stock analysis for its clients.
| Overview | Acumen Capital |
|---|---|
| Broker Type | Full Service Broker |
| Type of company | Private |
| Headquarter | Kochi, Kerela |
| Founders | Akshay Agarwal |
| Foundation Year | 1996 |
| Supported Exchanges | NA |
| Total branches | Nil |
Acumen Capital Account opening charges
To begin trading with Acumen Capital, you need to open a trading account and a Demat account. Acumen Capital charges Free for opening a trading account. Additionally, there is an annual maintenance charge (AMC) of Rs.200 per Annum for the Demat account. However, it's worth mentioning that trading AMC is free.
| Account Opening and Demat Charges | Acumen Capital |
|---|---|
| Trading Account Opening Charges | Free |
| Demat AMC (Annual Maintenance Charges) | Rs.200 per Annum |
| Trading AMC (Annual Maintenance Charges) | Free |
| Margin Money | Minimum Rs.5,000 |
| Offline to Online Charges | Yes |
| Depository | CDSL & NSDL |
Acumen Capital Brokerage Charges
One of the main factors to consider when choosing a stockbroker is the brokerage charges. Acumen Capital brokerage charges for various segments are as follows:
- Equity delivery: Acumen Capital offers free brokerage for equity delivery trades. This means you can buy and hold stocks without incurring any brokerage charges.
- Equity intraday: For equity intraday trades, Acumen Capital charges a flat rate of 0.020% – 0.040% per order.
- Equity futures: The brokerage charge for equity futures is also 0.020% – 0.040% per order.
- Equity options: Acumen Capital charges Rs.40 – Rs.60 per Lot per order for equity options trading.
- Currency: For currency futures and options trading, Acumen Capital charges 0.020% – 0.040% per order.
- Commodity: The brokerage charge for commodity trading is NA per order.
Equity Brokerage Charges
| Equity Brokerage Charges | Acumen Capital |
|---|---|
| Equity Delivery Brokerage | 0.20% – 0.40% |
| Equity Intraday Brokerage | 0.020% – 0.040% |
| Equity Futures Brokerage | 0.020% – 0.040% |
| Equity Options Brokerage | Rs.40 – Rs.60 per Lot |
Currency Brokerage Charges
| Currency Brokerage Charges | Acumen Capital |
|---|---|
| Currency Futures Brokerage | 0.020% – 0.040% |
| Currency Options Brokerage | Rs.30 – Rs.50 per Lot |
Commodity Brokerage Charges
| Commodity Brokerage Charges | Acumen Capital |
|---|---|
| Commodity Options Brokerage | NA |
Acumen Capital Other Charges
In addition to brokerage charges, there are other charges to consider:
- Minimum brokerage charges: Acumen Capital imposes a minimum brokerage charge of Percentage of Transaction.
- Transaction brokerage charges: A customer incurs transaction brokerage charges, which amount to 0.00285% of the total turnover.
- SEBI turnover charges: Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) levies turnover charges, which are 0.0002% of Total Turnover.
- Stamp duty charges: Stamp duty charges differ based on the state and the specific category of asset.
- GST charges: A GST of 18% of (Brokerage + Transaction Charges) is applied to brokerage and transaction charges.
- STT (Securities transaction tax): Acumen Capital charges 0.0126% of Total Turnover of the total turnover as STT.
- Call and trade charges: If you place orders through call and trade, Acumen Capital charges NA.
| Other Brokerage Charges | Acumen Capital |
|---|---|
| Minimum Brokerage Charges | Percentage of Transaction | Transaction Brokerage Charges | 0.00285% | SEBI Turnover Charges | 0.0002% of Total Turnover | Stamp Duty Charges | As per the state | GST Charges | 18% of (Brokerage + Transaction Charges) | STT Charges | 0.0126% of Total Turnover | Call and Trade Charges | NA |
Acumen Capital Equity Leverage
Leverage enables traders to amplify their market exposure using a relatively smaller capital amount. Here's the leverage provided by Acumen Capital:
| Equity Leverage | Acumen Capital |
|---|---|
| Equity Delivery | Upto 2x | Equity Intraday | Upto 6x | Equity Futures | Upto 3x | Equity Options | Upto 4x |
Acumen Capital Currency Leverage
| Currency Leverage | Acumen Capital |
|---|---|
| Currency Futures | Upto 2x | Currency Options | Upto 2x |
Acumen Capital Commodity Leverage
| Equity Leverage | Acumen Capital |
|---|---|
| Commodity | Upto 2x |
Acumen Capital Offers
Numerous stockbrokers are enticing customers with attractive offers in order to expand their client base. Some of these enticing offers include:
| Offers | Acumen Capital |
|---|---|
| Free Stock Trading Account | Yes | Free Demat Account | No | Flexible Plans | Yes | Brokerage Discounts | Yes | Happy Hours | No | 1 Month Free Plan | No | Holiday Offers | No | Referral Program | No | Zero Brokerage on Loss Trades | No |
Acumen Capital Features
- Discount Broker:
Acumen Capital is a leading online stock broker in India that offers discount brokerage services to retail investors. It charges a flat rate of Percentage of Transaction per order executed, regardless of the trade size, segment, or exchange.
- Range of Investment Products:
Acumen Capital is a one-stop shop for various financial investment products. It allows investors to trade in equity, commodity, and currency at BSE, NSE, and MCX. Additionally, it offers investment options in mutual funds, gold, peer-to-peer lending, insurance, and US investments.
- Subscription Plans:
Acumen Capital provides three subscription plans: Basic pack, power investor pack, and ultra trader pack. These plans offer different benefits, including reduced brokerage fees, free trades, research advisory, and dedicated customer support.
- Research and Advisory Services:
Acumen Capital stands out by offering exhaustive research and advisory services. It provides short-term and long-term investment ideas, derivative strategies, and portfolio-based investment ideas. The platform also offers a portfolio analyzer tool to analyze the performance of your investments.
- Margin Funding:
Acumen Capital provides margin funding services. These enable you to make partial payments for your purchases in the cash segment. The balance is funded by Acumen Capital at a nominal rate.
- Mobile Trading App and Trading Platforms:
Acumen Capital provides a user-friendly mobile trading app, a web-based trading website, and an installable trading terminal. These platforms are built on the latest technology and offer seamless trading experiences. The mobile app allows trading, robo-advisory, and access to various investment options.
- Demat Account Services:
Acumen Capital offers demat account services through its membership with CDSL. It has been recognized as a premier depository participant by CDSL.
- Low Charges:
Acumen Capital is known for its lowest charges in the industry. It charges a flat fee of 0.020% – 0.040% per order executed, and the platform also offers value-add packs for additional benefits. Additionally, 5Paisa provides free account opening and brokerage-free mutual funds.
- Algo Trading and Robo Advisory:
Acumen Capital provides algo trading services and robo-advisory to its customers. These services help automate trading strategies and offer personalized investment advice based on risk profiles and return expectations.
- Customer Support:
Acumen Capital offers dedicated customer support for its subscribers. The power investor pack and ultra trader pack include free customer support services.
| Features | Acumen Capital |
|---|---|
| Equity Delivery Trading | Yes | Equity Intraday Trading | Yes | Equity Futures Trading | Yes | Equity Options Trading | Yes | Currency Trading | Yes |
| Commodity Trading | Yes | IPO (Initial public offering) | Yes | Stocks Suggestions | No | Robo Advisory | No | PMS (Portfolio Management Services) | No |
| Trading Institution | No | Trading Exposure | Upto 6x | Mutual Funds | Yes | SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) | Yes | Forex Trading | No | Banking | No | Insurance | No |
Acumen Capital Advisory Services
The key distinction between a discount broker and a full-service broker lies in the range of services offered and the rates at which they are provided.
| Services | Acumen Capital |
|---|---|
| Fundamental Reports | No |
| Research Reports | No |
| Company Reports | No |
| Annual Reports | No |
| Company Stock Review | No |
| Free Stock Tips | Yes |
| IPO Reports | Yes |
| Top Picks | Yes |
| Daily Market Review | Yes |
| Monthly Reports | Yes |
| Weekly reports | Yes |
| Offline Advisory | Yes |
| Relationship Manager | Yes |
Acumen Capital Trading Platforms
The Acumen Capital trading software comprises various trading platforms suitable for the diverse needs of the customers. It is built on IIFL's trading platform. It has been trusted by customers for the past two decades. The trading platform is available in three different forms. Namely: a mobile app, a web browser-based platform, and an installable desktop trading application.
Acumen Capital Trading Platforms
| Desktop Trading Platforms | Acumen Capital |
|---|---|
| Windows | Yes |
| Mac | Yes |
| Desktop Browser | No |
Acumen Capital Mobile App
The Acumen Capital mobile app allows users to trade on the go and provides access to trading at BSE/NSE and robo advisory services. Customers can download the app for free from either the google app store or the apple app Store. The app is designed to be simple and intuitive, enabling users to buy stocks, trade in stock and currency futures & options, and invest in mutual funds, ETFs, bonds, and more.
| Mobile App | Acumen Capital |
|---|---|
| Mobile Browser | No |
| Android App | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes |
| Windows App | No |
| Other mobile os | No |
Acumen Capital Web Trading
For web-based trading, Acumen Capital offers a powerful trading website known as Acumen Capital trader station. This website can be accessed through any web browser on computers, laptops, mobile devices, or tablets. It provides a wide range of trading and investment options within a single domain. The web platform is seamlessly integrated with payment gateways and banks, enabling instant fund transfers.
Acumen Capital Trade Terminal
Acumen Capital offers a trade terminal, which is a downloadable trading terminal specifically developed for active traders seeking advanced trading features. This desktop application offers real-time data and advanced charts for monitoring intraday and historic stock prices. It also offers a variety of keyboard shortcuts to facilitate real-time market monitoring and faster order placement.
Acumen Capital Customer Support
- Relationship manager: Acumen Capital does not offer a dedicated relationship manager for customers. However, they provide other channels for support.
- Offline trading support: Yes, Acumen Capital does offer offline trading support. All trading activities are conducted online.
- Online trading support: Acumen Capital provides online trading support to customers. Their trading platform is accessible via mobile app, web browser, and desktop application, allowing customers to trade conveniently.
- 24*7 support: Acumen Capital provides extensive customer support to assist customers during regular business hours. You can easily connect with their dedicated support team for any assistance you may need.
- Email support: Customers can contact Acumen Capital’s customer support team via email for assistance. They provide an email address where customers can send their queries and concerns.
- Chat support: Acumen Capital does not currently offer chat support as a customer service channel. However, customers can reach out through other available channels.
- Toll-free number: Acumen Capital does not provide a toll-free number for customer support. However, they may have a regular helpline number that customers can use to seek assistance.
- Support branches: Yes, Acumen Capital has physical support branches where customers can visit for assistance. In addition, customer support is also provided through remote channels.
| Customer Support | Acumen Capital |
|---|---|
| Relationship Manager | No |
| Offline Trading | Yes |
| Online Trading | Yes |
| 24 * 7 Support | No |
| Email Support | Yes |
| Chat Support | No |
| Toll free number | No |
| Support Branches | 11 |
Acumen Capital Complaints
Understanding the number of customer complaints received by a brokerage firm can provide insights into the quality and reliability of their services. The following table shows the information regarding the complaints received by Acumen Capital.
| BSE Complaints | Acumen Capital |
|---|---|
| BSE Complaints | 106 |
| BSE Resolved Complaints | 104 |
| Percentage of resolved BSE complaints | 98.11 % |
| NSE Complaints | 151 |
| NSE Resolved Complaints | 149 |
| Percentage of resolved NSE complaints | 98.68 % |
| BSE/NSE Complaint vs. Resolved Percentage | 98.39 % |
Conclusion
In conclusion, Acumen Capital offers a range of trading and investment options through its user-friendly platforms. With competitive pricing and several investment choices, it is one of the best options for investors. However, the lack of comprehensive customer support and the number of customer complaints are areas of concern. Considering all the features and user experience, Acumen Capital can be considered a decent stock broker, but you must examine the pros and cons carefully before making a decision.