Drawing on 16 years of experience on the provider side, Alex reveals that even a small reduction in margin can lead to significant savings, emphasizing the power of transparency, benchmarking, and negotiation. By actively tracking FX costs, asking the right questions upfront, and requesting clarity on interbank rates, companies can nudge providers toward more competitive pricing. Importantly, he urges businesses to know their FX products, as not all solutions fit all models, some may benefit more from tools like Tracker Forwards that limit credit risk.

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Beyond pricing, the cheat sheet highlights hidden dynamics that drive FX costs, such as the inflated margins behind structured products or the quiet penalties for enjoying corporate hospitality. Charles warns against over-reliance on a single provider and encourages spreading risk, stress testing FX positions, and reconsidering whether hedging is even necessary if natural hedges exist internally.

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Use Bracket’s Benchmarker tool to evaluate past trades for fairness, no integrations or setup required. It’s a concise but insightful toolkit for finance leaders serious about managing FX exposure with confidence and clarity.