In the last chapter, we focused on the regulatory side of global investing. We understood how the Liberalised Remittance Scheme works, what the annual limit is, how purpose codes and TCS apply, and what needs to be reported in your tax return each year.

At this stage, one thing should feel clear. 

Investing abroad is completely legal, well-defined, and operationally manageable for an Indian resident.

But understanding the rules is only half the journey.

The more practical question begins after that. Once you decide to invest internationally, where exactly do you go from here? What are the actual options available to you? How do they differ? And how do you decide which one fits your situation?

This is where many investors may feel uncertain.

If you look up global investing, you will find multiple routes being discussed. 

Some suggest investing through international mutual funds available in India. Others recommend opening a direct US brokerage account. You may also come across references to GIFT City and wonder whether that is relevant for you.

But before we get into the specifics, one thing is worth stating clearly. There is no single best way to invest globally.

The right route depends on practical factors such as how much you are investing, how involved you want to be in managing your portfolio, your tax bracket, and how comfortable you are with operational complexity.

Some investors prefer the simplicity of international mutual funds. Others prefer opening a direct US brokerage account because they want more control and enjoy researching companies.

Both approaches can work well. They simply suit different types of investors.

The objective of this chapter is not to tell you which route is “best”. It is to help you understand the available options so you can choose the one that fits you