The awkward ones, answered first.
If a question is missing here, it is because we could not answer it without giving advice. Ask us directly instead.
Is my money safe with Sterling?
Your money never comes to Sterling. We are licensed as a Category 5 Introducer, which means we are not permitted to hold client assets or manage client funds, and we do not. Your funds sit with the regulated institution you are introduced to, under that institution's own licence and its own client-money rules. If anyone at any firm tells you your funds are protected because they are "regulated in the UAE", ask them which entity actually holds the money.
What do you charge me?
Nothing. You pay the institution's own published costs, exactly as you would if you approached it directly. Our introduction does not add a fee to what you pay.
So how do you make money?
We are compensated by the institution, not by you. We think you should know that before you speak to us rather than after, and we are happy to explain the arrangement on a call.
Are you regulated?
Yes, and it is worth being precise about what that means. Sterling Financial Services LLC is regulated by the Capital Market Authority in the UAE as a Category 5, Introduction licensee, Licence No. 305029. That permits us to introduce clients to regulated financial institutions. It does not permit us to execute trades, provide investment advice, manage funds, or hold assets, and we do none of those things. You can verify our entry on the CMA public register.
Will you tell me what to invest in?
No. We are not licensed to and we will not, however the question is phrased. If someone at any firm offers you a recommendation, a signal, or a "sure thing", ask to see the licence that permits them to give it.
Which institution will you introduce me to?
You will be told before the introduction is made, never after. We publish the institutions we work with on this site, which is unusual in our market. Most firms holding the same licence do not name theirs at all.
Why should I use an introducer at all?
Honestly, you do not have to. You can approach any of these institutions directly and it will cost you the same. What we add is thirty-six years of knowing which institution takes which kind of client, and staying with you through an onboarding process that is often slower and more document-heavy than people expect.
Can I lose money?
Yes. Investing in the financial markets is a high-risk activity, and leveraged products in particular can result in losses. Nothing on this site is a suggestion that you will make money. If you are not comfortable losing what you put in, this is not for you, and we would rather say that now.