Unit Trusts

krikering

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Maybe you do a bit more research about the following: "How often do fund managers beat the market benchmark"

Also for additional context when you do your own research...

1. Why are you writing it as "choose each individual ETF to buy", why aren't you also saying "choose each individual UT to buy"?
2. ETF is mostly associated with tracking an index, i.e., the market benchmark i am referring to above.
3. Essentially, Fund Managers are trying to see if the stocks they pick that goes into the UT, can do any better than this ETF they simply tracks (i.e., just passively follow) all the stocks in the index (i.e., market benchmark)/

See the difference?


i think TS have confirmation bias.

those are just platforms.

but the question is why do you want to split like that? what's the objective/outcome you trying to achieve?
Am just trying to find the most suitable investment strategy for myself.

Hmm, I have a call with Endowus later on. Will see how.

Will also perhaps download IBKR to see if I can set aside $500 to buy 1 ETF Stock e.g VOO (from Seedly recomendations) and track how it goes for the next 6 months or so. If perhaps suitable then I will put more money in future.

Am guess considering between Unit Trusts and ETFs or perhaps a combination of both.

But really thanks a lot for everyone's input thus far. Warm Regards 🙏
 

reddevil0728

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Am just trying to find the most suitable investment strategy for myself.

Hmm, I have a call with Endowus later on. Will see how.

Will also perhaps download IBKR to see if I can set aside $500 to buy 1 ETF Stock e.g VOO (from Seedly recomendations) and track how it goes for the next 6 months or so. If perhaps suitable then I will put more money in future.
somehow i feel that you are selectively reading what you want to read to get confirmation bias rather than trying to appreciate the logic behind certain stuff.
 

krikering

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somehow i feel that you are selectively reading what you want to read to get confirmation bias rather than trying to appreciate the logic behind certain stuff.
Am actually just trying to get some insight on investment, as a first time investor. I am open to any constructive inputs, am trying my best to appreciate the logic too on my end in order to find a suitable investment strategy for myself.
 

reddevil0728

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Am actually just trying to get some insight on investment, as a first time investor. I am open to any constructive inputs, am trying my best to appreciate the logic too on my end in order to find a suitable investment strategy for myself.
I think it's important understand the basics/foundation/building blocks of the different things you are talking about first, before jumbling up with other things, including strategy.

do you know what's the diff between ETF and UT? because your replies keep seem to confuse the 2
 

Mephist0pheLes

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Apart from understanding the product themselves u sld also read to build the right mindset for investment. I recommend psychology of money and boglehead guide to investing
 

JustDoLor

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Here I need to clarify I am talking about UT that benchmarks, & ETF that tracks the MSCI World Index…. So can be bo chap.

——————

But there are UT and ETF that are narrow-focus, theme-based, thematic or disruptive or whatever they like to market it to be….. ARK, EV, solar, battery, Crypto, etc, you name it you have it.. But then I have no clue their success nor survival rate, to me it is sort of speculative and buying into “what is trending now”, so if I buy them I will have to monitor and exit when the time comes. Holding period maybe like a few months to a year depending on when I buy.. And probably only 10-20% of my total portfolio. If I am lucky, I might have a winner with the uptrend intact and so could continue to hold for many years.

——————

As usual, my decision is also based on chart reading. So to finish off, below just random 2 examples (ARK UT and Solar ETF). The message is: I make sure I don’t get myself trapped by the bubble.

 

JustDoLor

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Reliable or not, this will be where I will visit.

Apart from the top performing funds, there exist also the worst performing funds. Just be sure you know what you are going to do with the info, good luck.

https://secure.fundsupermart.com/fsm/tools/best-worst-performer-fund

…


Just to kindly enquire, if you know any reliable portals where we can check the top performing funds (over fixed time frames e.g 1 year / 2 years / 5 years / 10 years)?

Sincerely Regards
 

krikering

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CrashWire

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Yes, am aware of so. Thing is ETFs, I am choosing my one and will have to do the monitoring and the switching of funds, etc. based on market trends.

Whereas for Unit Trusts, if e.g via Endowus then an Endowus fund manager will do this instead. Offside is, I have to pay additional platform fees.

I can get anxious easily and would hope for a peace of mind, if possible thus am considering Unit Trusts, etc.
You realise that the more people are involved in "monitoring", the more the fund needs to charge in fees?

Most people who buy index ETFs don't "switch funds based on market trends". They just hold until they retire.

Your mentality needs to shift from what "financial advisors" and wealth/relationship managers have gaslighted you all these years.

Will also perhaps download IBKR to see if I can set aside $500 to buy 1 ETF Stock e.g VOO (from Seedly recomendations) and track how it goes for the next 6 months or so. If perhaps suitable then I will put more money in future.
Track what? Performance? And if that single unit of VOO underperforms compared to a unit trust because of Trump or sheer dumb luck, you'll keep putting your money into unit trusts instead of bothering to read up on how unit trusts and index ETFs work in the first place?

I don't even know why you're considering VOO instead of CSPX or VWRA. You're reading bad recommendations from everywhere, and most of us have only so much patience to spoonfeed you.
 

krikering

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You realise that the more people are involved in "monitoring", the more the fund needs to charge in fees?

Most people who buy index ETFs don't "switch funds based on market trends". They just hold until they retire.

Your mentality needs to shift from what "financial advisors" and wealth/relationship managers have gaslighted you all these years.


Track what? Performance? And if that single unit of VOO underperforms compared to a unit trust because of Trump or sheer dumb luck, you'll keep putting your money into unit trusts instead of bothering to read up on how unit trusts and index ETFs work in the first place?

I don't even know why you're considering VOO instead of CSPX or VWRA. You're reading bad recommendations from everywhere, and most of us have only so much patience to spoonfeed you.
ps if any misunderstandings, in first place was only thinking of exchanging opinions on Unit Trusts/ETFs.

As for why am considering VOO, is via the following link from Seedly below:

https://seedly.sg/opinions/the-best-s-p-500-etf-for-singaporeans/

VOO has the lowest expense ratio (at 0.03%) thus thought of considering it as the first option if am going to buy ETFs. Thanks for your input btw.
 

reddevil0728

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ps if any misunderstandings, in first place was only thinking of exchanging opinions on Unit Trusts/ETFs.

As for why am considering VOO, is via the following link from Seedly below:

https://seedly.sg/opinions/the-best-s-p-500-etf-for-singaporeans/

VOO has the lowest expense ratio (at 0.03%) thus thought of considering it as the first option if am going to buy ETFs. Thanks for your input btw.
expense ratio should not be the main reason for choosing which ETF to buy.

it doesn't make any sense to simply just buy an ETF just because of expense ratio. Is like if say a "high performing etf" with expense ratio of 0.2% vs a chronically "poor performing etf" with 0% expense ratio, you will go for the latter?

it should be more of a tie breaker if there are multiple ETF of the same strategy then u go for the lowest expense ratio.

you should decide on what you are looking to bet on first then choose the etf that does that with the lowest expense ratio
 

limster

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I usually recommend poems because they can go down to a physical branch in their neighbourhood to open an account. on the other hand, if they want to use whatever they are familiar with, thats fine, its more important to start investing in low cost funds than to let your cash in bank decay in value.
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Important update for those on poems platform, you now have access to Amundi MSCI World S$ denominated, 0.1% expense ratio.

S$ denominated and lower expense ratio than many ETF. Win liao.

https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/threads/poems-offering-amundi-ut.7085655/
 

krikering

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Hi all thanks for your input in this thread, deeply appreciate for the discussion over past weekends.

To avoid contemplating and perhaps dwelling too much, have done some basic research.

Have invested in $1000 via Endowus to purchase the Amundi Prime USA Fund to gauge it over next few months to see how, am planning to hold it around a time horizon of 5 years or so.

In addition, the iShares US Index Fund (IE) S&P 500 also seems bit interesting with a Expense ratio of 0.08%.

https://endowus.com/investment-fund...MI5uG0q_aUigMVIKRmAh2mNwy5EAAYAyAAEgKR6PD_BwE.

May perhaps considering investing a few hundreds dollars on it soon to hold it over a few years.

Simultaneously, am looking into possibly starting an IBKR account to maybe purchase ETFs (or even shares, etc.) soon in the coming future.

Will be prepared to learn the hard way with a few thousand dollars (or potentially even more) to learn some lessons along the way. Hopefully, will learn via experience and be more savvy with a good investment strategy in future.

May be starting it slow first for now.

Thanks everybody 👍 , Warm Regards
 
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krikering

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Important update for those on poems platform, you now have access to Amundi MSCI World S$ denominated, 0.1% expense ratio.

S$ denominated and lower expense ratio than many ETF. Win liao.

https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/threads/poems-offering-amundi-ut.7085655/
Wow that is great, seems like perhaps more institutions in Singapore are getting access to the Amundi Funds (previously only Endowus if not wrong).

Seems unable to find the Amundi Prime USA Fund, guess for now is only on Endowus. Perhaps can consider the other Amundi Funds available on POEM platform.
 
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twinbaby

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When I was reading at your post and your discussion/argument with other poster. I feel that I was in your shoe once. I feel that a lot of people really are not mature enough to make their own decision to buy, and a lot of people to hand hold them. This is the reason why RM from UOB/DBS and insurance agent 賺了盆滿滿, and this includes the asset manager as well, like BlackRock, JP Morgan, pimco etc who charge huge annual management fees.

@krikering
 

krikering

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When I was reading at your post and your discussion/argument with other poster. I feel that I was in your shoe once. I feel that a lot of people really are not mature enough to make their own decision to buy, and a lot of people to hand hold them. This is the reason why RM from UOB/DBS and insurance agent 賺了盆滿滿, and this includes the asset manager as well, like BlackRock, JP Morgan, pimco etc who charge huge annual management fees.

@krikering
No worries, thanks a lot for your input too. Right now, I am investing in Unit Trusts with low expense ratios.

Invested $1000 Cash + $1000 CPF OA with Endowus for Amundi Prime USA Fund (Expense + Platform Fee = 0.35%)

Invested $800 Cash + $1000 CPF OA with POEMS for Amundi MSCI World A12 (Expenses Fee = 0.1%)

Have to say that Endowus has the more smoother app by far, plus customer service is top-notch compared to POEMs overall.

Looking at potentially the iShares US Index Fund (IE) S&P 500 (Expense + Platform Fee = 0.38%) with Endowus soon.

Suprisingly, the Fundhouse for above Unit Trust is Blackrock.

Contemplated ETFs, but then there is the factor of conversion into UDS/SGD whenever there is currency fluctuations.

Since the above Unit Trusts are relative lower expenses ratios similiar to alot ETFs, thus decided to choose them.

Never say never though, depend on how it goes perhaps in future will look at ETFs or even shares, etc. soon.
Afterall, generally they are lower expense ratios than most UTs.
 
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ahnyaahnya

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Yup am aware, ILPs has quite a few middleman in between thus higher charges.

Apologies, as I am quite new to investing do correct me if I am wrong. I have done some research on my end too.

Not saying that UT don't, but there is a fund manager handling on behalf. Downside, is also higher charges compared to ETFs where you Monitor on your own and choose each individual ETF to buy.



Thanks for info. Another fund which I am considering is Amundi Prime USA Fund (also by Endowus).

Just to kindly enquire, if you know any reliable portals where we can check the top performing funds (over fixed time frames e.g 1 year / 2 years / 5 years / 10 years)?

Sincerely Regards
Until recently used to be able to compare charts of performance of different UTs over different time periods on FS. But I can't find that feature now
 

ahnyaahnya

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When you buy or sell UT, you don’t even know what's the price you are are paying/ receiving until one or two days later.
And the price ie based on closing price. If there is sudden drastic drop during the day, you cannot run away
 
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