Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Charles Stanley Direct vs FP Markets
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Charles Stanley Direct |  FP Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1 | A$100 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Funds | Forex, CFDs |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority | ASIC, SIPC |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Stock trade fee | £10 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | £60 to £600 | Not confirmed |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 72.5% |
| Platforms | Charles Stanley Direct Trading | Not confirmed |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- FP Markets scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only Charles Stanley Direct offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Regulators: only FP Markets offers ASIC, SIPC.
- FP Markets is licensed in 1 more country.
- Markets: only Charles Stanley Direct offers Stocks, ETFs, Funds.
- Markets: only FP Markets offers Forex, CFDs.
Our verdict on each
Charles Stanley Direct
Charles Stanley Direct suits UK savers who want a pension or ISA wrapper from a long established provider rather than a trading app. Investor protection is stated as FSCS up to GBP 85,000, and a SIPP account fee runs £60 to £600 a year.
FP Markets
FP Markets suits traders who want a regulated broker with a real protection scheme behind the money, not the lowest entry cost. It is regulated in Australia and the US, and the US entity carries SIPC cover of SIPC up to USD 500,000. The catch is the entry hurdle: a minimum deposit of AUD 100.
Score breakdown
| Area | Charles Stanley Direct | FP Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4Ranks 126 of 138 brands on account fee and 159 of 161 on stock trade fee. | 8.6Higher |
| Offer | 8.8Higher | 8.6 |
| Trust | 9.3 | 9.5Higher |
What each covers
| Markets | Charles Stanley Direct | FP Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | No |
Licences and countries
| Country | Charles Stanley Direct | FP Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Not confirmed | |
| United Kingdom | Financial Conduct Authority 124412 | Not confirmed |
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 71021 |
Sources behind this comparison
Charles Stanley Direct
- charles-stanley-direct.co.uk: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- tradingbrokers.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- moneytothemasses.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
FP Markets
- brokerchooser.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- fxscouts.ng: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- leadiq.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Charles Stanley Direct | FP Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Raymond James Wealth Management Limited | RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 1792 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Phone | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Charles Stanley Direct | FP Markets | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | £10highest quarter | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Account fee | £60 to £600highest quarter | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 72.5%above the median | 72.05% |
Median across 47 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Charles Stanley Direct
Pros
- Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, and investor protection is stated as FSCS up to GBP 85,000.
- A minimum deposit of £1 keeps the first contribution small, and it ranks 82 of 213 on our minimum deposit data.
- The group has been running since 1792, so the name sits behind a long investment history.
Cons
- A SIPP account fee of £60 to £600 a year is the heaviest cost here, and the stock trade fee of £10 is higher than the $0 eToro lists.
- Support runs on email and phone only, with no live chat listed.
- The listed account types are isa and sipp, so there is no general investment account or joint option here.
FP Markets
Pros
- Regulated in Australia and the US, with the US entity covered by SIPC up to USD 500,000.
- A single, named legal entity, RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC, holds the SIPC membership, licence SIPC member 71021.
- A focused product: forex and cfds, without a wider asset mix to learn.
Cons
- The minimum deposit of AUD 100 is well above the site median of €4.64.
- A limited market list, forex and cfds, so it does not cover shares, ETFs or crypto.
- The cost score is 3.1, one of the weaker parts of the profile.
Who each suits
Charles Stanley Direct
Who it suits
- SIPP holders who self-invest in funds and shares and want a familiar name with Financial Conduct Authority oversight.
- ISA investors who want to top up an existing holding without a large first payment, given the £1 minimum.
- People who prefer phone and email contact, since support runs on email and phone.
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro, where the stock trade fee is listed as $0, if you trade often rather than hold a pension.
- CFI, whose minimum deposit is listed as $0 in US dollars, if your budget is set in sterling.
- Vantage, whose minimum deposit is $5 in US dollars, if you want to start with a larger first payment.
FP Markets
Who it suits
- Traders who weight regulator and protection scheme above a low starting amount
- Anyone happy to trade a single market pair of products, forex and cfds
- US clients who want the SIPC scheme, SIPC up to USD 500,000, behind the account
Who should look elsewhere
- Small starters, who will find AUD 100 a high way in
- Investors wanting shares, ETFs or crypto, since forex and cfds covers neither
- eToro users who want a much wider asset list, stocks, etfs and forex
Country by country
| Country | Charles Stanley Direct | FP Markets |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Charles Stanley Direct
What does it cost to run a Charles Stanley Direct account?+
A SIPP carries an annual account fee of £60 to £600 and each stock trade costs £10. The account opens from a minimum deposit of £1, so the entry point is small, but the yearly charge is the number that shapes the total cost of holding. Both fees are quoted in pounds.
Is Charles Stanley Direct regulated, and is my money protected?+
The account is run by Raymond James Wealth Management Limited and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under licence 124412. Investor protection is stated as FSCS up to GBP 85,000, which is the scheme limit the provider publishes. That protection sits with the UK regulator, so eligible claims run through the UK compensation system.
FP Markets
What is the minimum deposit at FP Markets?+
The minimum deposit is AUD 100. That is a high way in, and it sits well above the site median of €4.64. Anyone starting with a small amount should look at a broker with a lower entry figure before committing.
Is my money protected at FP Markets?+
The US-facing entity, RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC, is covered by SIPC up to USD 500,000. That protection belongs to the US entity, so clients of other entities in the group should check which scheme applies to them before depositing.
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