Hi!
What are Japans biggest fund platforms? Open architecture where I can pick and choose what I like basically? I know there is Fidelity, MIzuho etc, but I don't want to be restricted to whose funds I can buy. Or at least one with not too heavy restrictions.
Ideally looking for something that can purchase Structured Products, international mutual funds, ETFs, stocks and Hedge Funds if possible?
In europe there is a lot of platform companies that do this so wondering if Japan has any that are similar?
Fund Platforms
Re: Fund Platforms
I believe SBI and Rakuten are some of the more popular platforms, and SBI for instance has some Vanguard ETFs available.
Although all in Japanese, Kakaku seems to be a good place that pulls together "popular" info on investing, including rankings of securities companies and funds.
Although all in Japanese, Kakaku seems to be a good place that pulls together "popular" info on investing, including rankings of securities companies and funds.
Re: Fund Platforms
Thanks, some one had recommended life assurance companies via Hong Kong, but there really expensive (I guess due to commissions etc) so I will look into these.
Re: Fund Platforms
Maybe it would be a good idea to give us an overview of your situation, your objectives (what you're investing for), how long you're planning to stay in Japan, if you're a US Citizen or not, etc. And we can give you more direction.
From your post, the fact that you're considering hedge funds and foreign insurance providers raised alarm bells and makes me think maybe you should take some time to do some reading before putting your money in other people's hands. Both of those are extremely high cost investments that are probably not useful for most people that don't have their own fiduciary adviser.
From your post, the fact that you're considering hedge funds and foreign insurance providers raised alarm bells and makes me think maybe you should take some time to do some reading before putting your money in other people's hands. Both of those are extremely high cost investments that are probably not useful for most people that don't have their own fiduciary adviser.
Re: Fund Platforms
Hi, thanks for the reply.
From Uk originally but worked in EU for a long time. Im married to a Japanese lady, with a son as well. We came back to Japan a couple of years ago, and I have my retirement kinda already sorted, as being investing for a couple of decades and have a safe portfolio of various assets from that.
This money is just for speculating, but I'm not much of a individual stock picker, and the etfs I did buy just tend to be main index trackers or sector ETFs. although I came out of stocks over 2 years ago basically, as had made good returns after the financial crisis.
I really like to look at macro and pick funds that take advantage of that, so I like hedge funds for that portion. I have been investing in hedge funds for a while now so I understand there expensive. That's my choice to make though, as I can judge the costs etc of the fund, I just don't want to be ripped off by the platform too! I know I can buy the hedge fund direct etc, but platforms do sometimes give advantages from that front in terms of reduced entry amounts and quicker dealing times obviously.
I asked a Japanese friend about it and he said that a lot of overseas funds are hard to buy here, so better to look at overseas companies. He mentioned a few in Hong Kong and Singapore, and they seem to be somewhat open architecture, but they were very expensive in charges (like over 1% per year plus extras. And I really don't want a financial adviser or anything and happy to take my own risks. Just wondering how restrictive the fund platforms are in Japan? If its just a list of etfs and japanese mutual funds....then wont do the trick etc.
Ideally, I want a brokerage or fund account where I can just put in the ISINs and make a purchase. I understand platforms have some restrictions, but I found the ones in Europe very flexible and reasonably priced , around the 0.4% pa mark. Some of them had no problem with me investing in specialised funds I wanted to, as long as I just signed the disclaimers for professional investors etc.
Don't really want to write my whole financial history down, haha, but just wondering if Japan has any low cost fund platforms that suit my needs. And really don't want a adviser based product as their fees make the accounts expensive, and I don't want their advice!
From Uk originally but worked in EU for a long time. Im married to a Japanese lady, with a son as well. We came back to Japan a couple of years ago, and I have my retirement kinda already sorted, as being investing for a couple of decades and have a safe portfolio of various assets from that.
This money is just for speculating, but I'm not much of a individual stock picker, and the etfs I did buy just tend to be main index trackers or sector ETFs. although I came out of stocks over 2 years ago basically, as had made good returns after the financial crisis.
I really like to look at macro and pick funds that take advantage of that, so I like hedge funds for that portion. I have been investing in hedge funds for a while now so I understand there expensive. That's my choice to make though, as I can judge the costs etc of the fund, I just don't want to be ripped off by the platform too! I know I can buy the hedge fund direct etc, but platforms do sometimes give advantages from that front in terms of reduced entry amounts and quicker dealing times obviously.
I asked a Japanese friend about it and he said that a lot of overseas funds are hard to buy here, so better to look at overseas companies. He mentioned a few in Hong Kong and Singapore, and they seem to be somewhat open architecture, but they were very expensive in charges (like over 1% per year plus extras. And I really don't want a financial adviser or anything and happy to take my own risks. Just wondering how restrictive the fund platforms are in Japan? If its just a list of etfs and japanese mutual funds....then wont do the trick etc.
Ideally, I want a brokerage or fund account where I can just put in the ISINs and make a purchase. I understand platforms have some restrictions, but I found the ones in Europe very flexible and reasonably priced , around the 0.4% pa mark. Some of them had no problem with me investing in specialised funds I wanted to, as long as I just signed the disclaimers for professional investors etc.
Don't really want to write my whole financial history down, haha, but just wondering if Japan has any low cost fund platforms that suit my needs. And really don't want a adviser based product as their fees make the accounts expensive, and I don't want their advice!
Re: Fund Platforms
What your Japanese friend said doesn't make sense to me, and I'd dare guess he may not be well informed. There are lots of Japanese domestic funds (like eMaxis Slim) that are very cheap and cover the same things as "overseas" funds. Buying them through a broker in Japan will be less expensive, and easier for your taxes (since it will be basically automated, and you can benefit from NISA as well).Minilla27 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 27, 2020 6:40 am I asked a Japanese friend about it and he said that a lot of overseas funds are hard to buy here, so better to look at overseas companies. He mentioned a few in Hong Kong and Singapore, and they seem to be somewhat open architecture, but they were very expensive in charges (like over 1% per year plus extras. And I really don't want a financial adviser or anything and happy to take my own risks. Just wondering how restrictive the fund platforms are in Japan? If its just a list of etfs and japanese mutual funds....then wont do the trick etc.
If you want to buy foreign ETFs or stocks directly, Rakuten or SBI will let you buy basically all of Vanguard and most US stocks.
"I really don't want a financial adviser" is a sentence that saves you millions over millions of yen.
The site has some guides to help get you started, I suggest looking there. Also look at this very forum, although it can take time. And don't hesitate to ask.