By MoneyBees
Compare what robo-advisor fees cost you over the years. Enter each platform's management fee, any lower rate above a balance tier, and the TER of the funds it holds, and see the dollars each one takes from the same investment plan.
0 for DIY ETFs.
Weighted average of the funds.
0 if one rate applies.
0 for DIY ETFs.
Weighted average of the funds.
0 if one rate applies.
0 for DIY ETFs.
Weighted average of the funds.
0 if one rate applies.
Option A after 20 years
$232,643
fees cost $31,479; 1.00% a year to start
Option B after 20 years
$238,470
fees cost $25,653; 0.85% a year to start
Option C after 20 years
$260,753
fees cost $3,370; 0.10% a year to start
You put in $130,000. With no fees at all, 6% a year would grow it to $264,122.
Option C leaves you $28,109 more than Option A. Fees come out every year, so the cost is the fee itself plus the growth that money would have earned.
Lower fees are one factor. Check each platform is licensed by MAS, what funds it holds, how it rebalances and whether it charges to withdraw.
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| Option | Management fees paid | Fund TER paid | Total cost incl. lost growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option A | $16,423 | $4,106 | $31,479 |
| Option B | $11,299 | $5,207 | $25,653 |
| Option C | $0 | $2,216 | $3,370 |
Fees are charged monthly on the balance. A tiered fee charges the lower rate only on the part of the balance above the tier. If a platform charges one rate on the whole balance once you pass a tier, enter that rate as the management fee.
S$10,000 now and S$500 a month for 20 years at 6% a year before fees. At 0.8% plus 0.2% TER, a 1% total cost, you end with about S$232,643. With DIY ETFs at a 0.1% TER and no management fee you end with about S$260,753. The 0.9% gap costs about S$28,110. With no costs at all you would have S$264,122.
Your investments are held in custody apart from the platform's own assets, but they are not covered by deposit insurance. Your portfolio can fall in value.
Most charge a yearly management fee as a percentage of the money they manage, and the funds they hold charge their own expense ratio (TER) on top. MoneySense says to add the two for your true yearly cost. Check each platform's own fee page for its current rates.
The management fee plus the weighted average TER of the underlying ETFs or funds. A 0.8% fee on funds with a 0.2% TER costs about 1% of your balance a year. Ask about withdrawal fees and lock-ins too.
S$10,000 plus S$500 a month for 20 years at 6% a year grows to about S$264,122 with no costs. At a 1% total cost it ends near S$232,643, about S$31,500 less. Fees come out every year, so you also lose the growth on them.
Some platforms charge a lower rate once your balance passes a level. In this calculator the lower rate applies only to the part above the tier. If a platform charges one rate on the whole balance, enter that rate as the management fee.
Buying ETFs yourself skips the management fee, but you pay brokerage and must rebalance on your own. Enter 0% as the fee and your ETFs' TER as Option C to compare, then add trading costs with the brokerage fee calculator.
Search the platform's name on MAS's Financial Institutions Directory at eservices.mas.gov.sg/fid. Robo-advisers in Singapore must be regulated by MAS. MoneySense says not to invest through one that is not on the list.
MoneySense says the ETFs you own are held in custody apart from the platform's own assets, so the company's creditors cannot take them. They are not covered by deposit insurance, and their value can fall with the market.
Some platforms accept CPFIS or SRS money and others do not. Check each platform's own terms before you sign up.
These calculators provide general estimates for educational purposes only and are not personalised financial advice. Results may rely on rates and rules that change over time, so verify against official sources (IRAS, CPF Board, HDB, MAS) or consult a licensed financial adviser before making decisions.
Junxiong-WFG Organisation is an authorised representative of AIA Financial Advisers Private Limited (Reg. No. 201715016G).