Without sharing too much personal information: I’m from a developing country with a long history of high inflation and economic instability. Because of this, it’s fairly common here for people to legally open an LLC in the US and keep their funds in reputable US banks, as protection against sudden political or economic changes that can wipe out savings overnight. This kind of thing has happened multiple times in the region over the last decades, so trust in local systems is understandably low.
The issue is that, from my country, it’s not really possible to invest directly in global stock markets as an individual. The usual alternative is using local fintech platforms that offer “brokerage access” through their own US accounts, charging fees and effectively acting as both intermediary and custodian. Personally, I find this risky, since it means trusting a local third-party company to both hold and manage my funds, which in my context feels riskier than the investment itself.
Given that, let’s assume I already have a properly formed US LLC with its own US bank account (for example, at Chase). What would be the correct process for that LLC to open an account with a legitimate US brokerage and start investing in US or global markets?
I’d appreciate an ELI5-style explanation of the steps involved, any common pitfalls, and broker recommendations that work well with foreign-owned US LLCs. I have no issue complying with tax obligations on any gains.
Thanks in advance, and apologies if my English isn’t perfect.