IBLLC becoming only IBSJ in Japan

[RetireJapan]

This seems a bit reassuring in that it seems to hint that US citizens will still be able to buy US listed ETFs and stocks through the new IB account: https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanFinance/c ... o_ibsj_us/

[northSaver]

I've decided to hold off contacing IB support until I get the official notification from them. However, I found this list of FAQs while browsing their support pages. Scroll down to the "Migration from IBLLC account to IBSJ account" section for the good stuff:

https://www.interactivebrokers.co.jp/en ... hp?f=50716

The first question links to this list of supported ETFs:
http://www.interactivebrokers.co.jp/dow ... -japan.pdf

It looks like a work in progress to me, but doesn't include a date. Some of it looks incorrect, e.g. ICLN should be priced in USD not MXN. The thing that struck me most is that there aren't any Vanguard funds included, and only two funds are priced in GBP (if that information can be trusted).

I'm now wondering if the list of funds is getting bigger by the week, and they haven't contacted me yet because most of the ETFs I own aren't on the list yet? It's just a theory
I'm also wondering if everyone has to comply to the same deadline (account transfer date) even though some people are being notified earlier than others

[mutedial]

I received the lucky email and my transfer date is 4/17
I'm a bit less annoyed having seen the ETF list although I agree there's some weird stuff with it e.g. the MXN currency.
I'm also curious as to why certain ETFs are listed now (e.g. iShares) but not others (Vanguard).
I currently hold a nicely boring set of Vanguard ETFs that I could replicate with iShares if worse came to worse.

[rasselbiluga]

I'm now wondering if the list of funds is getting bigger by the week, and they haven't contacted me yet because most of the ETFs I own aren't on the list yet? It's just a theory

Thanks for the link to the list. None of the ETFs I own are on it, but I still got the email last week.
I contacted IKBR and they say: "We will soon publish a list of IBSJ supported products on our website. This list will be updated as more products come available. A notification will be sent at a later date which will include access to this list."

[gaijin86]

I didnt yet get an official email from IB yet. I contacted them to confirm things and they said:

"This transition will take place with different phases and your account will not be transferred with the current phase, hence migration deadline of April 17 is not applicable to your account".

Concerning what funds will be available in IBSJ, they said
"Please refer to a notification that we will send to you when your account becomes targeted for the migration."

I asked if an ETF I hold (which is available in Rakuten etc), ARCC (Ares Capital) would be closed since it is not in the list of ETFs. They said

" ARCC is categorized as Common Stock. Common stocks are included in the supported products under IBSJ, therefore you will be able to hold ARCC position as a stock."

So it seems there are ETFs that will be acceptable in IBSJ, but don't appear in the list.

[northSaver]

Thanks for the updates. Still no email for me either. Let's see what happens. I particularly want SGOV (0-3 month treasury bond ETF) as it's similar to holding USD in a savings account in the US. Good yield at the moment! There are several iShares treasury bond ETFs on the list but not that one unfortunately.

By the way, ARCC is a company (Ares Capital Corporation), not an ETF. So that explains why it isn't in the ETF list.

[northSaver]

I've just noticed there's a better list of ETFs now. Go to the IBSJ product page and click on the ETFs link in the ETFs > Global section:
https://www.interactivebrokers.co.jp/en ... hp?f=50710

Most of mine are still not available, but a quick search reveals that similar low-cost ETFs in the same currencies are. So I'll probably have to switch and take a CGT hit unfortunately.

Still not got the email though. I'm hoping the list will be updated with even more ETFs by the time they get to me.

[mutedial]

Yes the updated list is pretty encouraging! I don't have to move anything, but was also looking comparing Vanguard-equivalent ones I hold just in case.

I got the email and just went through the process yesterday. It was pretty short, a few clicks, and then required uploading scans of resident card, etc.

TBH I'm quite happy to see how it plays out... I get paid in ¥ and was always a bit annoyed by money transfer fees & exchange rate etc (I'm sure there's some downside that I haven't considered yet).

(Looking at other offerings --- I don't dabble in but do know the market a bit --- their Singapore stock offerings are also much more comprehensive then Rakuten's & SBIs... )