Frequently Asked Questions

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Bank-issued structured products typically include multiple layers of embedded costs.

First, there are explicit distribution fees, which are disclosed in the prospectus. These include underwriting discounts, dealer concessions, and selling fees. In most cases, these amount to roughly 3-5% of the investment upfront.

Second, there are implicit costs that are not directly disclosed. Banks price the underlying components, such as options and funding, using conservative assumptions that work in their favor. For example, they may use higher implied volatility when selling options to clients than what they expect to hedge at in the market. This creates additional economic margin beyond the stated fees.

As a result, the true cost of a bank-issued structured product is typically higher than the headline 3-5%, even though only part of that is explicitly visible.