UTRADE Robo (UOB)
Best for Beginners and The Risk Averse
UTRADE Robo (UOB)
Annual Management fee
Minimum Investment
Platform Fees
Expected Annual Return
Underlying Investment
Funding Options
UOB Kay Hian Robo selects low-cost ETFs listed globally for each asset class. It invests in stocks, unit trusts, fixed income, bonds, and commodities in globally diversified portfolios.
UTrade Robo uses the Modern Portfolio Theory to allocate each asset class to know the maximum expected returns and the risk level. However, it requires a high minimum investment of $5,000 with minimum top-ups of $500.
All details
Key Features
- UOB selects the best ETFs to invest in among 7,000 ETFs worldwide based on liquidity, fund size, tax efficiency, transaction costs, and expense ratio.
- UOB Trade has the lowest fees among the bank-run advisors.
- Charges a fee of 0.5% to 0.88% per annum based on the amount invested.
- UOB requires a minimum investment amount of S$5,000, and you must maintain a minimum of S$5,000.
- Features an automated fund management service that helps maximize returns for the client’s risk profile.
- It features a globally diversified portfolio across low-cost ETFs, commodities, unit trusts, and fixed incomes. These asset classes are diversified across different industries and geographical regions, including Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Americas.
- Projected returns range from 1.5% for a low-risk portfolio to 7% for a high-risk portfolio per annum. However, projected returns are not guaranteed because your capital is always at risk.
- Delivers automated fund management services to help maximize the investment returns.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- UTrade offers a global ETF portfolio to its clients
- Provides the lowest fees among Robo advisers owned by banks
- Has sophisticated tools and technology that enables their investors to trade across a wide range of securities, including stocks, fixed income, unit trusts, bonds, CFDs, and forex
- They have dedicated researchers and award-winning analysts to offer investment advice
- UOB Kay Hian owns UTrade, so you know your money is safe because the bank has been in operation for a long
- UTrade is open to investors outside Singapore as long as they meet their requirements
- Majors in ETF trading which is one of the cheapest when compared to other investment products
Cons
- UTrade requires a minimum investment amount of S$5,000, which is relatively high for beginner investors
- It also requires you to maintain S$5,000 to keep your account open
General Information
Other Fees and Charges
UTrade charges an annual management fee calculated as a percentage of the assets under UTrade. The annual management fee deduction is made monthly.
Here is the fees table:
Assets Under Management (AUM) | Fees (%) |
AUM ≤ S$50,000 | 0.88 |
S$50,000 < AUM ≤ S$100,000 * | 0.68 |
AUM > S$100,000 * | 0.50 |
The annual fee payable is calculated from 1st dollar. Minimum Initial Investment Amount: S$5,000.00 per portfolio Minimum Subsequent Investment
UTrade fee structure is relatively straightforward. Other benefits of the UTrade Robo account charges include:
- It does not charge an upfront sales or brokerage fee when making your intial investment and any subsequent top-ups.
- It does not charge a platform fee.
- No fee charges for system reviews and rebalancing your portfolio.
- UTrade does not also charge for withdrawals or account closures.
Required Documents
Singaporean & PR
- Identification Card
- Latest Income document (eg, Pay Slip, IR8A)
- Latest 3 Months Bank Statement
- Bank account information if you apply for GIRO/EPS
- CDP account number (for Individuals^)
- CPF Investment Account (optional)
- Taxpayer Identification Number Details
Foreigners
- Valid Passport
- Work Permit / Employment Pass (where applicable)
- Proof of Residential Address (Within the last 3 months)
- Latest Income document (eg, Pay Slip, IR8A)
- Latest 3 Months Bank Statement
- Bank account information if you apply for GIRO/EPS
- CDP account number (for Individuals^)
- CPF Investment Account (optional)
- Taxpayer Identification Number Details
Not Allowed For US Residents
Disclaimer: This information may differ from what you see when you visit other financial service websites or the product’s official site, but Loan Advisor continues to keep every detail updated and accurate. This site may be compensated through third-party advertisers. However, the results of our comparison tools which are not marked as sponsored will always be based on objective analysis.
How Does UTrade Robo (UOB) Compare with Other Robo Advisors in Singapore?
Robo-advisor | Minimum Initial Investment | Platform Fees | Annual Management fees | Funding options | Expected Annual return |
UTrade Robo (UOB) | $85,000 | – | 0.50% to 0.88% | Cash | 36.60% |
StashAway | No minimum investment | – | 0.8% (Up to $25,000) | Cash &SRS | 34.69% |
Smartly | $50 | – | 1% (Up to $10,000)/ 0.7% (more than $10,000) | Cash | Not available |
Endowus | $10,000 | – | 0.60% for first $200,000 0.40% flat fee for any amount for CPF or SRS money | SRS, Cash & CPF | 15.69% |
Auto Wealth | $3,000 | US$18 | 0.50% | cash | 27.2% net of fees |
UTrade Robo (UOB) – Our Verdict
UTrade Robo is run by a bank and is recommended for new users due to its competitive fee structure compared to all bank-run Robo advisers. However, it does have a high initial investment requirement that might put off beginner investors.
It is also important to note that UTrade is not all transparent with the ETFs that they invest in. This is a characteristic shared by most bank-run Robos. Other than that is you are looking for a bank-run Robo advisor, UTrade is the best bet for you.
Final Thoughts
UTrade Robo is the best Robo advisor for beginner investors looking for bank-owned advisors to help them reach their financial goals. It offers the fairest fees in the market, with annual management fees of 0.55 to 0.88%. It also trades in both low-risk and high-risk asset classes that you earn based on your risk appetite.
Key Takeaways
- UTrade Robo is owned by UOB Kay Hain, one of the largest brokerage firms in Asia
- It features sophisticated tools and tech that enable its investors to invest in a wide range of securities
- It has low fees of 0.5% to 0.88%
- UTrade Robo has a globally diversified portfolio
- It invests using the Modern portfolio theory and has financial advisors to impart the deep market knowledge clients’ needs to work through the trading environment
If you would like to start your investment journey with UTrade Robo, contact us at Instant Loan. We can provide you with three free suitable loan quotes from top money lenders in Singapore to get you started.
FAQs
What is UTrade Robo?
It is a digital fund manager owned by UOB Kay Hian. They provide customized portfolios for investors to help them realize their financial goals with enhanced returns from the portfolios.
It has access to a global portfolio that enables them to manage the investment risks well.
How to Apply for UTrade Robo?
- Opening a UTrade Robo account is pretty straightforward. All you need to do is follow this link here and apply.
- If you have a UOB Kay Hian or a UTrade Trading account, you will still need to open a UTrade Robo account.
- The Robo account is eligible for both Singapore residents and foreigners but does not allow US residents.
Why Should I Invest Using UTrade Robo?
Keeping your money idle in a savings account in your bank will make you very little interest. You are likely to lose out if the inflation rate is higher than the bank’s interest rates.
Putting your money in UTrade Robo, you make your money work for you. You will have invested in portfolios that are tailored to be risk-averse while delivering high returns to you in the long run.
Which Robo Investor Has the Best Returns?
StashAway. It has a 34.69% net of fees annualized returns based on its high-risk profile. This is the highest compared to other Robo Advisors in Singapore.
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