It used to be easy to buy Google and Apple stocks through a regular broker, but now it's gotten more complicated. What options are left in 2026? Is it worth taking the risk or should I focus on domestic ones instead?
I used to buy stocks through a regular broker, but then switched to alternative platforms and mutual funds - it's simpler paperwork-wise.
If you specifically want foreign company stocks, there are still depositary receipts, some brokers work through foreign accounts, or you can look into investment funds that hold a portfolio of overseas stocks - the managers there handle all the regulation stuff themselves.
As for risks - it all depends on your investment timeline and how much of your portfolio you're willing to set aside for experimenting. You should definitely diversify with domestic stuff too, but foreign companies are really the whole point.
In practice, foreign securities have become more accessible through structured products and bonds tied to their value! The risk stays pretty much the same, but there's genuinely less red tape than with buying directly through a broker.
If you want actual classic stocks - look for brokers that specialize in that, though the entry price might be higher than it used to be!
Domestic assets are more stable when it comes to procedures, that's true, but I wouldn't completely abandon diversification.
If you don't want to deal with all the restrictions, it might be worth looking into foreign brokers that work with Russian clients through VPNs and special schemes - they're still around, they just keep a lower profile.
But keep in mind: the risk here isn't so much in the stocks themselves, but in the fact that tomorrow the regulations could change and access could be shut down, so it's better not to gamble with your main portfolio.
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