To trade ETFs, you must open an online broker account. But as a novice trader, there are many questions you are likely to ask before you get started. Some will revolve around how to get started, where to buy the ETFs and how to sell them.
A novice trader can still trade the exchange-traded funds (ETFs) if they set their goals right. The best way to go about it is to learn how to invest in ETFs and master the role they will need to play as ETF traders.
Notice that an ETF basket is a low-risk investment that allows a trader to hold stocks and other securities to increase diversification. Thus ETFs could be the correct assets you can use as a novice trader to build your portfolio. They have low expense ratios, are tax-efficient, and allow traders to reinvest their dividends easily. Continue reading the post to see how investing in ETFs works and why ETFs are the best for novice investors.
They Are Low Risk
As a novice, trading ETFs is commendable because they are low-risk assets that provide the cheapest way to diversify a trader’s portfolio. Expenses associated with ETFs are low since a trader can buy them on margins and sell them immediately. Also, you will easily manage the risks because it allows you to trade future options. Technology thus, allows a trader to check the daily price changes and compare them with the indexed sector.
Allow For Diversification
An ETF is like a basket consisting of equities, which can track a wide range of stocks. It offers investors the opportunity to gain exposure to a broad spectrum of assets, including commodities, currencies, bonds, real estate, and more. ETFs can be traded publicly, giving them the advantage of being easy to buy and sell. Investors can also invest in mutual funds, which take a portion of their investment dollars and spread them across multiple securities by buying and selling shares of those securities.
Charges Lower Fees
ETFs can be passively managed and have a reduced expense ratio compared to mutual funds, which include management fees, service fees, accounting shareholder expenses, allowances for the board of directors, and distribution fees. The aggregate of these fees significantly increases the expenses ratio.
Allows For Reinvestment of Dividends
Dividends distributed by companies in open-end ETFs can be reinvested immediately. On the contrary, the timing for such reinvestment may vary in the case of index mutual funds.
Capital Gain Tax Efficient
ETFs are tax-efficient compared to other mutual funds. ETFs, therefore, realize fewer capital gains because they are passively managed. This is not the case for the actively managed mutual funds, which must distribute their capital gains to shareholders when they sell securities at a profit.
Lower Discount
The probability that the share price will be lower or higher than the actual value is reduced since ETFs are traded at a price close to the price of underlying securities throughout the day. Therefore, if the price is lower or higher than the asset’s value, arbitrage brings them back to where it should be. Thus, ETFs are traded based on demand and supply, allowing market players to take home the discrepancy as profit.
How a novice can invest in ETFs
A novice can invest in ETFs through the following simple steps:
Choosing the Right ETF
A trader must decide the fund they want to invest in. It helps them choose a brokerage company that offers a line of ETFs that interests them. Besides, it guides them when selecting a broker to work with. Typically, a trader could choose to invest in an ETF that tracks the performance of commodities such as Bitcoin and cryptos. Also, some ETFs are leveraged, so they are better than those that are not. For a beginner, buying leveraged ETFs may not be the best idea. Thus, you may need to exercise some caution.
Opening an Account
After determining the ETFs to invest in, the next thing to do is open an account with a reliable broker. Finally, link the account to the bank account and deposit funds.
Select the ETF
Once the account is operationalized, the trader may select the ETFs to buy and decide the amount of money they should invest. They will need to state the number of shares they may be interested in and submit the order. The good thing is that a novice that works with a broker can do most of these things online.
Final Thoughts
As a novice in trading ETFs, you will need to come up with a few manageable goals and develop a trading plan. Also, avoid trading with emotions and never be in haste to trade. Lastly, consider trading only when there are realistic opportunities.
