The main differences between regular funds and ETFs

Both mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are investment vehicles used to pool investors' funds and invest them in a basket of different assets. So what are the two key differences between regular funds and ETFs? For general investors, the two biggest differences lie in rates and fund management.

Rate is key.

The rate is one of the most significant differences between regular funds and ETFs, so don't be fooled by thinking that buying a fund is just paying a small handling fee. In fact, the various expenses may be far less than you imagine.

The fees for general funds vary, including subscription fees, management fees, custody fees, redemption fees, etc. The subscription fee is the fee that investors need to pay when purchasing; the management fee is the fee charged by the fund manager to manage the fund; the custody fee is the fee for storing the fund assets in the custody bank; and the redemption fee is the fee that needs to be paid when selling. 

Management fees are usually measured on an annual basis, usually around 1.5%, but may also be higher. The management fee also includes various other expenses, such as the 12B1 fee. The custody fee is usually 0.25% of the fund size. Taking these costs into account, the total cost may approach 2%. This is equivalent to paying approximately 2% of the fee annually, regardless of the performance of the fund manager.

In addition to these annual expenses, there are also some transaction-related expenses, such as transaction fees or stamp duty incurred during the purchase and sale. Due to the desire of many funds for investors to hold for a long time, frequent buying and selling may result in penalties for transaction fees, such as the need to pay a transaction fee of 1.5% when buying and selling certain funds in the short term. It is important to understand that regular funds are suitable for long-term investments and not for frequent trading.

Unlike this, the cost of ETFs is usually much lower. The management fee for ETFs is generally between 1% and 0.6%, or even lower. For example, the management fee for some large ETFs is only 0.03%. Similar to purchasing stocks, the trading costs of ETFs are relatively low because they are listed on the exchange. That is to say, the lower fees of ETFs make them a choice for many investors.

fund management

In addition to fees, the two key differences between regular funds and ETFs are also the way funds are managed. In general, fund managers are responsible for selecting and managing investment portfolios. This means that the decisions of fund managers directly affect the returns of investors. However, fund managers are not free to choose stocks; they usually limit their investment scope, and this information is usually clearly marked in the fund name.

On the contrary, ETFs are usually passively managed with the goal of tracking a specific index. The operation of ETFs is relatively mechanical and does not require proactive investment decisions; therefore, their management costs are lower.

There has always been academic controversy about which is better, active management or passive management. The efficient market hypothesis holds that if the market is efficient, stock prices will fully reflect all information in the market, and there will be no unreasonable pricing or arbitrage opportunities. But the actual market is rarely completely effective, so there is an opportunity to outperform the market through information gaps and professional knowledge.

However, this conclusion does not apply to all markets, as in mature markets such as the US stock market, there is less opportunity for active management. On the contrary, in emerging markets or markets with incomplete information transparency, proactive management may perform better.

Active management and passive management have their own advantages and disadvantages. In mature markets, passive management is usually more attractive because of its lower costs. But in some cases, choosing an excellent active fund manager may create higher returns for you. Remember, finding a suitable active fund may not be easy, and the cost may be high.

The above is the relevant content of the two key differences between ordinary funds and ETFs. Investors should choose the investment method that suits them based on their own needs, risk tolerance, and market conditions. Regardless of which fund to choose, it is necessary to have a thorough understanding of investment products, make cautious decisions, and not covet high returns while ignoring risks. Only by making decisions based on rationality can long-term investment success be achieved.

Disclaimer: This material is for general information purposes only and is not intended as (and should not be considered to be) financial, investment or other advice on which reliance should be placed. No opinion given in the material constitutes a recommendation by EBC or the author that any particular investment, security, transaction or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person.