Ndovu FAQs

Ndovu makes it easy and gives you access to invest in local and global financial markets. Buy a slice of your favourite international companies, right from the comfort of your home. We recognise investing can be daunting so if you don’t know how to get started, we guide you!

Ndovu helps you manage your money through guided investing and by providing financial education. We are fiduciary, which means we act in your best interest. We’ll ask a bit about you when you sign up. Then, we’ll help you set financial goals and set you up with investment portfolios for each goal. For your short to long-term financial needs (ranging from emergencies, retirement, holidays, kids’ education, or down payment), our investment strategy is built on low-cost ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) and a risk profile based on how long you plan to invest.

Our team of investing experts make decisions about our portfolio strategies and fund selection with the help of industry experts. Our team has a breadth of financial and management experience, having worked at companies such as BlackRock, Deloitte, HSBC, Nairobi Securities Exchange, Old Mutual, APA Life Insurance and many more.

Ndovu helps you manage your money through guided investing (we are a roboadvisor) and financial education. We are fiduciary, which means we act in your best interest. We’ll ask a bit about you when you sign up. Then, we’ll help you create financial goals and set you up with personalised investment portfolios. For your short to long-term financial needs (ranging from emergencies, retirement, holidays, kids’ education or down payment on an asset), our investment strategy is built on low-cost ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds) and a risk profile based on how long you plan to invest.

Best execution is a legal mandate that requires investment services firms to provide the most advantageous order execution for their customers given the prevailing market environment.

No. Ndovu doesn’t charge a withdrawal fee at the moment. We, however, reserve the right to levy appropriate charges should the need arise.

Simply log in to your portfolio. Then choose from goal-based investing or general investing. Then select the fund you wish to sell and click ‘withdraw’. You will receive an email confirmation once your withdrawal order is finalized. Please note once you click withdraw, the full investment amount held in that particular fund will be sold. You can’t sell part of your investment.

There are over 8,500 ETFs in the world. The Ndovu Investment Committee has curated a select number of ETFs based on liquidity, diversification, management fees and future prospects.

You can buy funds online through the Ndovu web and mobile apps. Please ensure you read each fund fact sheet, which is available on our platform. Once you are registered for online access, simply log in and select a new investment. Then choose your investing approach: goal-based investing or general investing. Follow the instructions and click the ‘Invest Now’ button. Search for your chosen fund and continue to the confirmation page. All trades will be placed on a best execution basis.

There are no monthly or quarterly contribution requirements. We do encourage you to invest regularly to build up significant value in your portfolio.

The minimum amount of money needed to gain access to a portfolio on the Ndovu platform is Kshs 7,500, that’s it.

ETFs are popular with investors because they offer access to a ready-made investment portfolio run by experts. You can invest from as little as $50 and get instant access to a diversified portfolio for a much lower cost than purchasing the individual investments yourself.

An Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) is a basket of securities that make it easier to invest in a large number of companies with little risk and maximum reward. An ETF can track an index, a commodity or a basket of assets - just like an index fund - but trades like a stock on an exchange.

You can easily transfer from your bank or mobile money account to your Ndovu account. Your money is held in a segregated account (a financial account where your money is kept safely in a trusted bank, separate from our company’s finances). Ndovu optimises your portfolio by instructing our broker to buy and sell securities on your behalf. The securities in your portfolios are kept entirely separate from the bank’s assets.

Ndovu works with regulated banks in Kenya (licensed by the Central Bank of Kenya) and the United States (licensed by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, OCC ). We execute our trades via a major broker-dealer licensed by the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

Your peace of mind is our highest priority. We’re committed to protecting your account with the highest standards of security available. Regulation. Ndovu adheres to high standards of compliance and business conduct in each country of operation. Blockchain. Ndovu’s core is built on blockchain allowing us to accurately record all your transactions. Military-Level Security. We use secure servers and privacy verified by physical security. We adhere to industry standards and have strict internal policies to ensure the highest level of safety. Encryption. We use state-of-the-art data encryption when handling your financial information and two-factor authentication (2FA) protection.

While ETFs are traded on daily basis, some funds (eg. the money market funds) are not. Thus, the valuation may appear to be stagnant. Please reach out to support@ndovu.co to request an emailed statement of such a fund.

Access to the Ndovu platform requires the use of a steady internet connection. At times, clients may be located in places with poor connectivity. This may create challenges in order placement. Should you experience this problem, please email support@ndovu.co.

Once your order has been submitted, the order will be dealt with by the fund manager at the next available valuation point. Most funds will value daily at 6pm Eastern Standard Time, but please note this can vary from fund to fund. Please see the fund Fact Sheet for more information. Once dealt, your order status will update to ‘dealt, awaiting confirmation'. At this point, the order has been dealt with and the price fixed, although the fund manager may take up to five days to confirm the details of your completed deal. Your account will only be updated once confirmation has been received. When we receive confirmation of your deal your account summary and transaction history will be updated and you can access the details from your online account.

Timing fund deals to intra-day movements in the markets are notoriously difficult due to their forward pricing nature. One way to smooth entry points and benefit from dollar-cost averaging is to set up a regular investing instruction, whereby you automatically invest a set amount of a particular fund (or funds) each month. Please remember that your long-term investment objectives should always take priority over any short-term price fluctuations.

Pending. Your trade has been received by Ndovu. Your purchase will remain pending until your sale has been confirmed by the Fund Manager. Dealt, awaiting confirmation. Your order has been dealt with. The Fund Manager can take up to five days to confirm the details of your completed deal, although in most cases it takes less than 24 hours. Completed. When we receive confirmation of your deal your account summary and transaction history will be updated and we will send an email confirmation.

All trade instructions & payments received by 12pm (EAT) are placed on the same day. All trade instructions & payments received after 12pm (EAT) will be placed on the following day. Where the following day is not a weekend or public holiday in the US or Kenya. Please note that all trade instructions are placed on a best execution basis.

Yes. An accidental investment/withdrawal order can be reversed within 5 minutes. Please email support@ndovu.co should you require trade cancellations.

As the goal portfolio is made up of different currencies, the proceeds from the sale of the USD fund will be paid separately from the proceeds from the sale of local currency funds.

In compliance with the laid down international standards on the Prevention of Money Laundering, the amount that you withdraw will be paid back to its original source, ie. if you invested via mobile money, the proceeds will be paid back to the same mobile money account. In addition, the withdrawal will be paid back in the original investment currency, ie. if you invested in Kenyan Shillings, the refund will be in Kenyan Shillings.

Yes. Please email support@ndovu.co with your request. Upon verification, your request will be handled subject to the provisions of the Data Protection Act, the Capital Markets Act and the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act.

Ndovu clients enjoy full liquidity. This means that clients can withdraw their funds whenever they like. There is no lock-up period. Note that processing time is up to three business days in line with industry standards.

The vast majority of funds price is set each working day at 6pm Eastern Standard Time. When you place an order, it will be traded at the next available valuation point. This means that you will know the exact price after you place the deal.

We do not offer accounts for minors at the moment. All customers must be at least 18 years of age to consent to all our agreements.

Ndovu currently operates in Kenya and for regulatory reasons cannot accept U.S. citizens. We welcome other nationalities, subject to the provision of acceptable Know Your Customer (KYC) documentation. Here is a breakdown of the nationalities we accept.

At Ndovu, we help you make the most of your money. Ndovu provides easy access to Kenyan Government Bonds, Unit Trusts, Global Equity ETFs, Global Bond ETFs, and Commodity ETFs.

All trade instructions & payments received by 12pm (EAT) are placed on the same day. All trade instructions & payments received after 12pm (EAT) will be placed on the following day. Where the following day is not a weekend or public holiday in the US or Kenya. Please note that all trade instructions are placed on a best execution basis.

Unfortunately not. As per the law, we need to verify the identity of each client before they make an investment in our funds. Any client who deposits funds but does not provide their identification documents will have their cash refunded.

The financial planning sessions are immensely popular and are available on a first-come-first-serve basis. At times, this may entail you joining a wait list until a calendar slot opens up. We are a quality-centred service and thus request for your patience as we go through the booking schedule.

Yes. As the Premium Plan is designed for investment minimums of $1,000. Any client with a balance below this will be entitled to only one financial planning session, upon onboarding. Future sessions will only be accessed by meeting the threshold.

Withdrawing your money from Ndovu is a simple two-step process: 1. Disinvestment: First, you need to disinvest from the funds you are currently invested in. This means selling your investments and converting them back into cash. To disinvest, follow these steps: Log into the Ndovu app. Navigate to your portfolio and select the fund you wish to disinvest from. Click on Disinvest. The proceeds will be settled into your Ndovu Pocket within 1-2 business days (excluding holidays and weekends). 2. Withdrawal: Once the money has been transferred to your Ndovu Pocket, you can withdraw it to your mobile wallet or bank account. This process takes up to 3 business days (excluding holidays and weekends).

Ndovu fee is deducted prior to your money being invested into ETFs. Our fees are clearly stated here.

Ndovu’s offers personalised financial advice, access to low-cost, globally diversified portfolios, dividend reinvestment, and financial education. We have three subscription plans: The Basic Plan charges 4.5% per year on global funds and between 0% – 1% on savings and fixed returns with a KES 7,500 minimum investment amount. The Standard Plan charges 4.0% per year on global funds and between 0% – 1% on savings and fixed returns with a KES 7,500 minimum investment amount. This package grants you access to a personalized portfolio and an investment performance tracker. The Ultimate Plan charges 3.5% per year on global funds and between 0% – 0.75% on savings and fixed returns with a KES 7,500 minimum investment amount. This will give you access to a dedicated relationship manger and personalized portfolio. This subscription fee covers the advice you receive, the transactions, trades, and all other account administration. For further information, please click here.

Open an account and get $5 of free stock.

We will add $5 into an ETF when you fund your account with $50. You are required to hold the $5 in your investment portfolio for a minimum of 12 months and can only withdraw it afterwards.

No, each person can only own one Ndovu account.

The ETF allocation is at the discretion of the Ndovu Investment Committee.

This offer is only valid for selected individuals who: have not started or completed their Ndovu application; signed up on the waitlist; have an approved account with zero activity (no trades places, deposited funds, etc.); and don't have a Ndovu account and fulfil the conditions in our promotion. Individuals must sign up through our waitlist promotional page to be eligible. Ndovu reserves the right to change the offer terms or terminate the offer at any time without notice. The offer is limited to one per account, with no more than one account enrolled per customer. The $5 bonus, when combined with the value received from all other offers in the current calendar year, may not exceed $100 per person unless expressly stated in writing from hi@ndovu.co. The offer is not transferable, saleable or valid in conjunction with certain other Ndovu offers. Employees, contractors, or persons similarly associated with Ndovu or a Ndovu affiliate, members of their household, and employees of any securities, regulatory organizations or exchanges are not eligible. Ndovu may decline requests to enrol in the offer at its discretion. Other restrictions may apply. The $5 bonus ETF is selected randomly, when the bonus criteria are met, by Ndovu Investment Committee. We’ll add $5 into an ETF when you deposit $50 into your Ndovu account and fulfil the conditions in your promotion. You are required to hold the $5 or more in your investment portfolio for a minimum of 12 months (365 calendar days) and can withdraw it thereafter if you have funded your account with a minimum of an additional $50. For any inactive account for the first 4 months (120 calendar days) since joining the platform, the company has the right to recall the rewards unless stated otherwise in writing from hi@ndovu.co. Each referral made under your account must invest a minimum of $100 in the first 12 months for you to get your $5 investment. We offer access to investment tools and education to help you make investment decisions, but this information is for informational and educational purposes only. Consult with your tax advisor about the appropriate tax treatment for this offer and any tax implications associated with receipt of a $5 fund bonus before enrolling. Ndovu does not take responsibility for any tax-related to this $5 fund bonus.

KYC stands for “Know Your Customer.” It is a process implemented by businesses and financial institutions to verify the identity of their customers. KYC involves collecting and assessing information about individuals or entities to ensure they meet regulatory requirements and to prevent activities such as fraud, money laundering, and other illicit financial transactions.

KYC helps us comply with regulations and ensures the security and authentication of transactions on our platform.

To complete KYC, investors need to provide their National Identification or Passport, PIN certificate, business registration documents and any other documents upon request which may vary depending on their country, account type and nature of transaction.

All documents are uploaded through a seamless process on our portal. This is accessed through the menu under Manage Account (Personal Information).

Our team will verify your KYC documents in a quick and efficient manner within 48 hours.

Completing full KYC is mandatory for all users before they can commence trading on Ndovu. This is a regulatory requirement.

Yes, Ndovu is fully compliant with the Data Protection Act and the regulations therein and has a robust security system to safeguard our clients data from malware. All your data is protected and will not be shared or sold to any third party.

If your KYC submission is rejected, you will receive detailed instructions on what to address in order to complete your KYC.

Yes, KYC is a mandatory requirement for all users including non-Kenyan residents, to ensure compliance with regulatory standards across all countries of operation.

Yes, you can update your KYC information by accessing the menu under Manage Account (Personal Information) on the Ndovu platform.

The Ndovu Pocket is a feature that allows you to easily perform transactions on the our platform, including disinvestment, investments, and withdrawal of investments, without incurring additional charges by going through your bank accounts or mobile money accounts.

The Ndovu Pocket allows you to: disinvest from active investments and reinvest in new funds on our platform; seamlessly invest your money into the fund of your choice in multiple currencies; easily withdraw your money from our platform to your bank account or mobile money of your choice.

The Ndovu Pocket makes the reinvestment process easier by eliminating the need to move your funds to a bank or mobile money account before reinvesting, making reinvestments faster and more convenient.

No, all disinvestments are settled to your Ndovu Pocket within 1-2 business days. From the Pocket, you can initiate a withdrawal to the account of your choice in your preferred currency. Withdrawal from your Ndovu Pocket to your preferred account takes up to 3 business days.

Ndovu does not levy any fees for the Pocket. At this time, all transaction costs incurred are standard charges from your bank or mobile money accounts.

There is no limit to the funds you can hold.

Withdrawal times from the Ndovu Pocket are typically quick, providing users with efficient access to their funds. Mobile money transactions may take up to 48 hours, while bank transactions may take up to 72 working hours.

Funds held in the Ndovu Pocket are not subject to earnings.

Yes, the Ndovu Pocket allows you to invest in different funds in multiple currencies.

You can easily track their Ndovu Pocket transactions through the platform’s interface, providing transparency and visibility into all Pocket-related activities.