A STEP BY STEP GUIDE IN HOW TO BUY US ETFS FROM EUROPE

Adam Fayed
5 min readNov 5, 2019

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he following article will tell you the options in buying ETFs in Europe, including US ETFs.

For details about how to open up accounts, please email advice@adamfayed.com.

What are ETFs

ETFs or ‘Exchange-Traded Funds’ have made their first entry in 1993. An Exchange-Traded Fund is similar to that of stocks and is usually traded in Stock Exchanges.

It generally consists of assets such as Bonds, Stocks, Equities and Commodities which exist in order to keep the trading closer to the Net Asset Value (with a slight chance of causing deviations as well). Each ETF individually consists of more assets. For example, The ETF which follows the index S&P 500 consists of 500 equities. Some of the popular Equity Index following ETFs are ‘NASDAQ 100’ and ‘S&P 500’.

Asset Management Companies like Vanguard or BlackRock issue ETFs and each individual asset management company are able to issue more ETFs. In many ways, ETFs generally track an Index which is Stock Index or Bond Index. It is estimated that between the time period of 1993–2015, an amount of 2 trillion US dollars was invested in ETFs in the United States of America.

The prime features which make ETFs into an attractive investment option are their low costs, tax efficiency, availability of many choices, features similar to that of stocks, etc.

Different types of ETFs

Low Costs: ETFs have low costs when compared to that of other mutual funds. The annual overall costs which can be 0.1% whereas the annual management fees of mutual funds can be around 1–2%.

Tax Efficiency:ETFs have an attractive tax efficiency when compared to mutual funds. There is an exception in the case of ETFs provided by the Vanguard company as there might not be the enjoyable tax advantages.

Many Choices:There is a wide range of options for choosing ETFs from various Regions, Sectors, etc.

Trading of ETFs:Unlike the mutual funds which can be traded only at the end of the day, ETFs can be bought or sold whenever the market is available.

Buying an ETF online:

The common questions people have in mind when they want to buy or invest in an ETF online are: What are the most important aspects one should keep in mind while buying an ETF online? How can one invest in an ETF online? What is the process involved in buying or selling an ETF online?

The steps involved in buying an ETF online are:

  • Get the exact information about the aspects like country, region, or sector in which you are willing to make a trade. ETFs can be used as a tool for your trade on the performance of a country, region, or sector. If you predict a rise in the market of a country, you can buy an ETF which follows an index of that country’s stocks put together. Otherwise, you can buy an ETF of a specific sector that follows the index of the sector’s stocks for a respective country if you predict a rise in a sector and not the whole country’s market. For example: if you think the US market will experience an increase, then you can go ahead and buy an ETF which follows the index composed of US stocks like the S&P 500 Index. If you expect a hike in a sector, Let’s say Technology, Then you can buy an ETF which tracks index containing US technology-related stocks such as ‘NASDAQ 100’.
  • Refine the ETFs based on their size and expense ratio. Always try to prefer choosing an ETF with a bigger size and lower expense ratio. ETFs which are big in size tend to be more liquid than those which are small in size. ETF size is classified based on their ‘Assets under Management’ which is also known as ‘AUM’. The higher the value of ETF would be, the more increase in the liquidity of the ETF. Expense Ratio of an ETF indicates the average annual fee of the ETF. It is highly recommended that you choose ETFs with an expense ratio lower than 0.1%.
  • Select the domicile, stock exchange and currency of the respective ETF you want to trade with. Domicile represents the country where the ETF issued. The Taxation of an ETF varies according to the Domicile. 90% of the ETFs are based in US and EU domicile (70% US domicile and 20% EU domicile). The Stock Exchange is different from the Domicile.

You can trade an ETF on various Stock Exchanges. Although it is advised to choose from the Stock Exchanges with low commission rates. The commission rates actually vary according to the broker you choose. In order to avoid the conversion fees, you should choose the ETF and broker with the same currency as different Stock Exchange results in a different currency.

  • Getting a good broker is also very important. Considering the important aspects such as broker’s fees, easy access, trading platform, and user-friendliness, you can find a suitable broker according to your requirements. It is also important that you choose a safe and reputed broker while you are searching for one in order to avoid risks.
  • Purchase the ETF you are interested in trading. Search for the ETFs you are willing to purchase on an online trading platform. You can buy an ETF through the online trading platform where you can choose from different order types.
  • Always keep track of the details of your ETF regularly without fair. Now, that you have purchased the ETF, it is very important that you monitor the details every once in a while. It is best if you develop a strategy on choosing to keep the ETF for a longer period or a shorter period and manage them properly in order to prevent loss and target profit.

The above-mentioned tips are the basic and necessary techniques for you to trade an ETF. By having a good plan and following these techniques thoroughly, you can be able to reap benefits from the ETFs that you have purchased.

Do it yourself providers (DIY)

Some of the best in market online brokers for investing in ETFs in 2019 are:

  • ‘Charles Schwab’ — considered as the best overall online platform for making an investment in ETFs. It is and has always been the best advocate for people who invest individually. It is also well known for its discounts. It is also considered to be one of the most affordable platforms in the market. The brokerage’s commissions on all ETFs is ‘Zero’ and individual stock trades are free as well.

Pros:

  1. You can build a best and diversified portfolio using the ETF Portfolio Builder.
  2. You can find the best funds for the portfolio using the ETF screeners.
  3. There are no additional or hidden charges to use Schwab’s platforms and mobile apps.

Cons:

  1. Having the overabundance of platforms makes the tools hard to find.
  2. Forcing the investor to hire a financial advisor who belongs to their platform.

To carry on reading please click here — https://adamfayed.com/a-step-by-step-guide-in-how-to-buy-us-etfs-from-europe/

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Adam Fayed

Owner at adamfayed.com. Content should not be considered financial, legal, tax or any other kind of advice, nor a solicitation to invest. Educational purposes.