ETFs are investment instruments that are listed on stock exchanges that offer investors to get exposure to a variety of asset classes. ETFs can be of different types tracking a particular asset class like Index, Commodity, and a particular sector. There are some changes in an ETF that include the Expense ratio and some other fixed charges charged by brokers, SEBI, etc.
ETFs or Exchange Traded Funds are funds that can consist of a broad category of asset classes under them. ETFs are primarily a pool of funds that track a particular index, commodity, or specific sector and fluctuates in price with the change in the underlying asset.
ETFs are listed on Stock exchanges (NSE & BSE) from where an individual can buy and sell them at their desired price and quantity. The buying process of an ETF is similar to a Stock, where an individual places an order, and the shares get credited into their Demat accounts, similarly, ETFs also get credited to one Demat account and are stored in the investor's Demat account, unlike Mutual Funds which is held by the Asset Management company.
As ETFs are listed on stock exchanges, the charges to buy and sell them are different than that of Mutual Funds. There are 2 types of charges while buying an ETF.
Let's understand both of them in detail.
1. Internal Charges
In an ETF there is only one charge that an investor has to bear which is the Expense charges which including the managing charges, asset allocation, and buying and selling charges. This is charged in terms of percentage of the amount invested as “Expense Ratio”. This ranges from 0.01% to as high as 2-3% depending on the nature of the ETF. An actively managed ETF will have a higher expense ratio compared to a passively managed fund or a fund that tracks an Index.
2. External charges or Additional charges
Apart from the expense ratio, an investor has to pay some fees while buying and selling the ETF on the stock exchange which is charged by the exchanges, regulators, and the broker's as-
All the above charges are applied while buying an ETF from the Stock exchange. Brokers charge a brokerage for buying & selling securities, some discount brokers don’t charge any brokerage for Delivery based orders but others charge in terms of percentage of the total order value. The additional charges like Stamp duty, Transaction charges & STT (Securities transaction tax) are charged on a fixed percentage basis by every broker.
All these charges are very small in nature but do turn out to be substantial when transacting in huge volume. ETFs are treated as equity or stocks hence all these charges are applied while buying and selling an ETF.
ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) & Mutual Funds are investment avenues that are managed by a Fund manager and allow Retail investors to invest in them. ETFs are listed on Stock Exchanges, and Mutual Funds are not. Usually, ETFs track an Index or sector whereas Mutual Funds offer a much more variety of Funds from which an investor can choose from. Both of these investment vehicles have their own merits and demerits. One should evaluate their risk profile and goals and choose one of them either. Find out which of these is the better option.
ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) and Mutual Funds are similar investment vehicles that provide the investors various features. Both have their benefits and shortcomings. ETFs are a good option for passive investors who want to invest in a particular Index or Sector without much rebalancing. On the other hand, Mutual Funds are a better option for active investors who are more active with their investments. One can switch between funds according to their current strategies.
ETF is an investment instrument that tracks a group of securities from a particular asset class and performs according to it. It is managed by a Fund manager who makes sure that the ETF tracks the underlying asset accurately. ETFs are listed on the Stock Exchanges therefore one can buy & sell them within the market hours at their desired prices.
The expense ratio in the case of mutual funds sector refers to the measure of the amount costs by an investment company for operating a mutual fund.
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