First, it is important to understand about processing time, also known as settlement time - which is the time it takes for assets or a cash balance to reach their new destination after executing a transaction (be it withdrawal, deposits, or buy and sell orders). This time varies, but generally, it takes 2 business days for a transaction to be settled - that is, for the money to be credited to the account. But that doesn't mean you can't use your money during that period (see below).
In this sense, buying power is the amount of money you have available to buy assets (shares, share of shares, or ETFs) in your Vest app, regardless of the settlement time for your money. This money can be an amount that you transfer via Pix (for transactions within Brazil) or the result of asset trading (sell orders).
In other words:
Pix deposit (in Brazil): Since your investment account within the Vest app is 100% U.S.-based, this means that a transfer made from your account here in Brazil to your app account (and vice versa) is a coordinated international transfer with our partner FacilitaPay, and may take at least 2 business days to be effectively carried out.
Asset trading (sell orders): If you sell a share today, you can use the funds immediately, rather than waiting the typical 2 business days of settlement to gain access to that money.
So you don't have to wait all the settlement time in the two cases above, we advance the money in your Vest account and it appears as "Available to invest" on the Portfolio tab (and as "Buying Power" when you tap on "Account Value.") 🙌
"Buying Power" acts as a credit (at no cost to you) while the outstanding transaction amounts are processing. That way, with an amount starting at one dollar, you can already make your first investment. 🌱
But remember that purchasing power is different from the balance available for withdrawal. After the settlement time of the outstanding amounts, you can check the total balance available for withdrawal by clicking on "Account value" at the top of the Portfolio tab.
Securities trading is offered through Northbound Securities LLC, an affiliate of Vest