Want to build a portfolio that fuels your dream retirement and diversifies your investments in one go? Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) might be the right financial instrument for you. This ultimate guide covers everything you need to know about what are ETFs, how they work, purchasing ETFs and understanding potential ETF returns.

Table of Contents 

• What Are ETFs?
• How Do ETFs Work?
• Why Are ETFs Popular Among Investors?
• Different Types of ETFs
• Who Should Invest in ETFs?
• ETF Returns: What can you expect?
• Is Investing in ETFs Worth It?
• How to Invest in ETFs in Singapore
• Smart ETF Investment Strategies for Long-Term Growth
• Ready to Buy ETFs?

What Are ETFs?

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are investment funds that track an underlying index, sector, commodity, or other asset. Think of them like a basket of different investments bundled into a single, easily tradable security. 

Instead of buying individual stocks, bonds, or other assets, you can purchase one ETF to gain exposure to a whole range of holdings. Beginners purchasing ETFs can easily diversify their portfolio without needing extensive market knowledge, reducing risk compared to owning just a few individual assets. Even seasoned investors use ETFs to invest efficiently across specific sectors or geographic regions.

How Do ETFs Work?

ETFs might seem complex at first, but they’re actually quite straightforward. Here’s a breakdown of how they work:

Tracking a Benchmark

Each ETF is designed to track the performance of a specific index, sector, commodity, or other asset. The ETF achieves this by holding the same assets in the same proportions as the benchmark it’s tracking.

Ownership

When you buy an ETF, you’re buying a tiny piece of a large basket of different assets. This basket could hold stocks, bonds, or other investments. You don’t own the individual assets directly, but you own a share of the entire fund.

Fees

ETFs typically have lower fees than actively managed mutual funds. These fees are called expense ratios, and they cover the costs of managing the ETF. Lower fees mean more of your money is working for you, which can potentially boost your ETF returns.share of the fund that holds them.

How ETFs are Traded

ETFs are listed on stock exchanges, just like individual company stocks. This means you can buy and sell them throughout the trading day at the current market price through a brokerage account.

Why Are ETFs Popular Among Investors?

ETFs offer a compelling number of benefits that cater to both new and experienced investors. Here’s why many are purchasing ETFs:

• Diversification: With a single ETF purchase, you gain exposure to a whole basket of assets, whether it’s stocks, bonds, or commodities. The diversification helps to reduce risk.
• Low Costs: ETFs typically have lower expense ratios compared to actively managed mutual funds, so more of your money goes towards your investments, rather than management fees.
• Liquidity: ETFs trade on exchanges just like individual stocks, so investors can buy and sell them throughout the trading day, offering greater flexibility than mutual funds, which are typically priced only once per day.
• Transparency: ETFs are generally more transparent than mutual funds. They disclose their holdings daily, so you always know exactly what you’re invested in.
• Flexibility: The range of ETFs available is vast. You can find ETFs that track broad market indexes, specific sectors, thematic trends, bond markets, and much more. This allows investors to tailor their investments to your specific goals and risk tolerance.

Different Types of ETFs

Want to learn where to buy ETFs or how to trade ETFs? You must first understand the different types of ETFs available:

• Index ETFs: These ETFs track major market indices, such as the S&P 500 or the Straits Times Index (STI). They offer broad market exposure and are a popular choice for those looking for a simple and diversified way to invest.
  
• Sector ETFs: If you’re interested in a particular industry or sector, sector ETFs provide targeted exposure. For example, you can invest in tech ETFs, healthcare ETFs, or ETFs focused on other specific sectors. These can be useful for capitalising on growth opportunities in specific areas of the economy.
  
• Bond ETFs: Bond ETFs invest in fixed-income securities, such as government or corporate bonds. They can be a good option for investors seeking a more stable, income-generating component in their portfolio.
  
• Commodity ETFs: Want to invest in gold, oil, or other commodities? Commodity ETFs offer a way to do just that. These ETFs track the performance of specific commodities or a basket of commodities.
  
• Thematic ETFs: Thematic ETFs focus on specific investment trends or themes, such as clean energy, artificial intelligence (AI), or fintech. These ETFs allow you to invest in the future by targeting emerging technologies and trends. 

Who Should Invest in ETFs?

ETFs are ideal for pretty much all investor types. They are a particularly good fit for investors who want diversified exposure to a market or sector without the hassle of picking individual stocks.

Investors with small starting capital will appreciate that they can build a diversified ETF portfolio with relatively low investment amounts. For instance, the SPDR S&P 500 ETF is priced at USD$600.30 at this time of writing, but holds 500 large-cap US stocks. It is significantly more expensive to buy all 500 individual stocks to form your own portfolio, compared to buying just a single ETF.

For investors who are not familiar with the intricacies of the financial markets, ETFs allow them to invest in the broader market. There is no need to spend time and effort studying price charts and market trends – an ETF portfolio makes for a simple set-and-forget portfolio that will grow over time. 

More advanced investors might be well-served by the innovation that ETFs offer. An ETF can fill almost every investment niche. Apart from ETFs that replicate an index like the S&P 500, there are ETFs that track a certain asset class or market sector.

ETF Returns: What can you expect?

Understanding potential ETF returns is a key part of learning how ETFs work and how they can fit into your investment strategy. Like stocks and other investments, the return on an ETF depends on capital gain. You profit when the share price of your ETF rises above its purchase price. Some ETFs also provide dividend income.

ETFs track a particular index and their aim is to generate a return that closely reflects the performance of that specific index. As such, ETFs are ideal for investors who wish to match the market’s returns over time. By capturing the market’s return at low cost, numerous studies have shown that passive funds like ETFs manage to outperform most active funds over the long term.

Here’s a comparison of historical returns for different ETF types:

Type of ETF	ETF Name	Average Annual Return (10 years)
Broad Market Equity ETF	SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)	12.41%
Sector ETF	Technology Select Sector SPDR® Fund (XLK)	18.84%
Bond ETF	iShares Core U.S. Aggregate (AGG)	1.42%
Commodity ETF	SPDR Gold Shares (GLD)	9.68%
Thematic ETF	ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK)	9.70%

*Data retrieved on 11 Apr from respective ETF websites

Is Investing in ETFs Worth It?

Now that you understand how ETFs work and their returns. Is purchasing ETFs worth it? For most investors, the answer is potentially yes. ETFs offer a compelling mix of diversification and low costs, making them suitable for building a core portfolio or targeting specific sectors. 

How to Invest in ETFs in Singapore

So, how do you invest in ETFs or trade ETFs in Singapore? The conventional way to buy ETFs is through a brokerage platform. When purchasing ETFs through a broker, take note that commission fees apply each time you buy or sell an ETF. You also incur more commission fees the more transactions you make. So if you’re building a diversified portfolio of several ETFs, you may end up paying a considerable amount in commission charges.

The alternative is to invest in ETFs via a digital wealth advisor like Syfe. For one, there are no investment minimums. You may choose to invest a lump sum or dollar cost average depending on your preference. 

Moreover, there are no brokerage fees or transaction costs. This lowers your investment costs even further, which leaves you with higher returns. 

Smart ETF Investment Strategies for Long-Term Growth

Want to learn how to invest in ETFs for the long term? Here are some strategies to consider:

Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA) for Reducing Risk

Dollar-cost averaging (DCA) is a popular ETF investment strategy that involves investing a fixed amount of money at regular intervals (e.g., monthly or quarterly), regardless of market fluctuations, reducing risk by averaging out the purchase price of your ETF shares over time. When the market is down, you buy more ETF shares, and when the market is up, you buy fewer shares. 

Perhaps the biggest benefit of DCA is that it takes the emotion out of investing. By investing consistently, you avoid the temptation to time the market, which is notoriously difficult even for experienced investors. This can help to avoid buying high and selling low, which is a common mistake for beginner investors. DCA is a particularly good strategy for long-term investors who are looking to build a diversified portfolio over time.

Core-Satellite Investing: A Balanced Approach

Another effective way to invest in ETFs is the core-satellite approach. This involves dividing your portfolio into two parts:

• Core Portfolio (80%): This portion of your portfolio is invested in broad market ETFs, such as those tracking the S&P 500 or a global market index. The core provides stability and diversification.
• Satellite Portfolio (20%): This smaller portion is invested in more targeted or higher-risk ETFs, such as sector-specific ETFs (e.g., technology, healthcare) or thematic ETFs (e.g., clean energy, AI). This could potentially supplement your core with higher returns if your chosen sector outperforms the market.

With Syfe, implementing such a strategy and investing in Singapore is simple. You can consider Syfe’s Core Equity100 portfolio as your core and add REIT+ (100% REITs) as your satellite.

Ready to Buy ETFs?

ETFs offer a powerful way to build a diversified portfolio, achieve your financial goals, and participate in the market’s growth potential. With their low costs, flexibility, and access to a wide range of assets, ETFs are a valuable tool for investors of all levels. That said, not all ETFs are equal. Investors need to analyse the underlying portfolio, expense ratio, tracking error, and liquidity to ensure alignment with their goals.

Syfe simplifies this process by offering expertly curated ETF portfolios, taking the burden of individual analysis and selection off your shoulders. 

Investors seeking potential higher long-term returns and comfortable with higher risk can consider our Core Equity100 portfolio. The portfolio uses Smart Beta to optimise equity allocations for long-term success. With no minimum investment amounts, transparent fees and no lock-in periods, it’s an excellent way to start investing in ETFs.

Want to find out more? Explore the portfolios here or speak with our wealth experts to understand which portfolios are most suited for you. 

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