BlueStacks? I can't even do Google 2FA with it - I'm guessing it's missing some device ID crucial to identify it as a unique device

IB, CapTrader, TradeStation all the same. For FAST transfer source from a SG bank you can create a Wire type deposit notification.

interactivebrokers.com -> top right Login -> Web Portal -> Transfer & Pay -> Transfer Funds -> Choose a New Deposit Method -> SGD -> Wire

It will display to you the account number unique to you, also make sure in transfer message to recipient you enter your account and/or your name

This post has been edited by roarus: Jun 18 2019, 09:21 PM

I'm assuming specifically you're referring to S&P Dividend Aristocrats?

Not that I know of, quick search returned one that tracks the exact index by SSGA/SPDRS - which is likely the one you know.

Any reason you're looking for something that holds high yield USA stocks? Even at 15% rate, it's still a huge chunk of return withheld by Uncle Sam.

This post has been edited by roarus: Jun 21 2019, 10:43 PM

That's the SSGA one. Very briefly the list is described as high yield counters that has increasing dividend payouts for the past 25 years.

For one you'll be missing out on:
i. counters that might not give returns in dividend but in capital gains
ii. or counters with relatively good yield but not consistently increasing
ii. young companies

Perhaps consider the fact that there are some regions e.g. Malaysia, Singapore, HK that you should be chasing dividends while for others it's better to go for cap gains? After all, we aren't subject to US cap gains

Looking up UDVD on Yahoo! Finance also suggests VHYD by Vanguard, it's a wider net All World High Yield instead of just US focused. Both UDVD and VHYD have volume, though the spread is subjective to one's acceptance.

Depends on what you do with that dividend money. If in accumulating phase you're pouring it back to the same fund, you'll be equally exposed to drawdowns as a non distributing fund. But if you would like the flexibility to take the money as annual vacation or put it in other investment baskets, you're not wrong too.

My personal preference is having an accumulating fund where available, rebalance semi-annually during my accumulating phase. Once retired I'll just drawdown the same time I've been rebalancing semi-annually.

You may play around with SPY vs SDY at portfoliovisualizer.com. You can compare as far back as 2006 to cover the 2008 crash. However to get actual total returns for us Malaysian tax payer you'll have to manually factor in the WHT from the income returns.

For those hoarding/farming cash to meet minimum opening amount, TradeStation Global initial deposit lowered to $1000

Source: main page latest news carousel, their FAQ still states $5000
https://www.tradestation-international.com/global/

I recall submitting IC as well, mine is the new type with small black white photo if it helps in any way.

Update: Found the image - Submitted black and white version, crossed with "FOR INTERACTIVE BROKERS USE ONLY" on top left corner, front and back in a single image. Perhaps the signature behind is the one they want?

This post has been edited by roarus: Jul 8 2019, 09:44 PM

No pen signatures - only submitted IC and unifi bill. Both IC and unifi address same as current residential address.

Mine's the ketua pengarah pendaftaran's signature. Don't see why they need your handwritten signature, their online forms signature requirement is just you typing your name in a textfield.

The idea behind this is:
Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTSAX) - USA equity (home equity)
America's equity represents roughly 50% of the weighted world market*.

Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund (VTIAX) - Excluding USA equity (outside home equity)
The other half of the equity pie: ex-USA market

Vanguard Total Bond Market Fund (VBTLX) - Bonds/Fixed income (Government security and/or corporate investment grade)
Treasury (US Gov bonds) or corporate bonds

*Based on rough 9:1 ratio of developed:emerging market weightage, with US weighing at 60% of developed market

Based on the basic building block:
1. Equity - Local
For Malaysians, our home equity represents less than 0.01% of the weighted world market*. Holding 0% is a valid possibility.

Choices - note: our local ETFs blow, so alternatively:
i. Stocks
If you have roughly 800k-900k to blow, you can buy all 30 shares from KLSE 30 and mimic their actual index weight
or
You can even buy equally top 4 or 5 of KLSE 30 since they represent 35%-40% weightage of the index

ii. Unit trust (including fixed price Amanah Saham)

I have some of both, and treat Amanah Saham as a separate no withdrawal till retired bucket.

2. Equity - International
The big ocean outside Malaysia. Holding 100% equity weight in world index is a possibility.

Choices:
i. Unit trust
ii. Foreign ETF

I personally went with developed world index, I have enough (or too much I feel) emerging market exposure via my local stocks + PRS (asia pac ex japan).

Personal punt - I also went with a little Singapore index, since I see Malaysia and Singapore as neighbouring residents of the same 'taman' but will always thrive/be the more successful of the two.

3. Fixed income
Now this one where we have advantage, because pension is not mandatory in the US. Malaysians may treat EPF as this pie - conventional accounts have guaranteed 2.5% annual returns and the value does not shrink during downturn.

Based on the above, one can also include Amanah Saham fixed price funds in the same category.

Choices:
i. EPF (self contribution up to 60k per calendar year)
ii. FDs (do try to shoot for promo rates only)
iii. Unit trust (including fixed price Amanah Saham)
iv. Directly held Malaysian Government Security (MGS)
v. Foreign ETF

I hold Islamic bond fund unit trust with a mix of MGS and investment grade corporate bonds. I'll likely glide a chunk of my international equity towards international corporate bonds later nearer to my retirement. I treat EPF as a separate no withdrawal till retired bucket.

tldr: Malaysians can probably just hold 1 world index fund via a foreign ETF like IWDA or VWRD and call it the day

For TradeStation Global the commission for USD denominated ticker is the equivalent of GBP1.50 or 0.12% whichever is higher.

For the past few buys I've been charged USD1.91 to buy an ETF via LSE.

Base currency doesn't affect anything (to us Malaysians at least). It's more to reference your portfolio or report in your 'home currency'. But since MYR is not available, either USD or SGD will still look 'alien' to us anyways. You can change your base currency in account settings.

You're free to fund and convert to other currency outside your selected base currency as well.

This should give you give you the appropriate Citibank NA Singapore to transfer to for SGD:
https://www.interactivebrokers.com.au/sso/Login -> Transfer & Pay -> Transfer Funds -> Choose a New Deposit Method -> SGD -> Bank Wire

I'm not too sure if it applies to Interactive Brokers UK Ltd though: https://ibkr.info/node/2012

In any case I'll err on assuming UK's FSCS with lower limits instead.

This post has been edited by roarus: Aug 24 2019, 09:41 PM

I'm collecting IWDA (USD, LSE). It tracks ~1,600 stocks from developed countries in the world, of which about 60% comprises of S&P 500 companies (followed by Japan & UK).

I benefit less if S&P 500 charges on for the next 3 decades until my retirement, but I'm still covered in the event it loses steam. I also benefit a little if ever an emerging (developing) country like Malaysia decides to finally 'emerge' into developed status.

It's the same underlying fund overall, just fund and buy in whichever currency you have/convenient for you.

I go with USD because:
i. I fund via SG bank and convert
ii. LSE having more volume
iii. Live data from google finance

For Interactive Brokers the $10,000 initial deposit condition has been removed. But there's min commission:
AUM < 2,000: $20 per month
AUM < 100,000: $10 per month

AUM: cash + value of securities
Min commission: Min trade examples:-
i. if you don't do anything, you pay $10
ii. if you only deposit and convert currency @ $2, you pay $10
iii. if you make several currency conversion + trades worth totalling $12.5, you pay $12.5

So it all boils down to how often and how much you plan to invest each time, you can draw up an excel to compare between brokers.

For dividend counters, I assume you know about withholding tax that applies for holding US securities.

When you open an account you'll fill up a form declaring which country tax payer you are and whether you're a considered a US person. Specifically, W8BEN is what you fill in when you declare yourself as a non resident, non US tax paying person residing outside of US.

With that info your broker should withhold the right amount.

It's part of their due diligence/cover-ass. Just say you have done that many trades, they don't ask for proof.

From start to end expect about 3-5 days. Fill up the online form, and wait for them to verify 1 round before enabling document upload (mykad/proof of identity). Then after uploading another 1-2 days, you'll be able to login to customer portal and fund your account in whichever major convertible currency you prefer.

Have a look through this thread https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1440794

Your options:
i. Maybank iSavvy - need to submit at local Maybank branch, comes with no annual fee debit card. Can do initial deposit with SGD bank draft or remittance service like Instarem
ii. Cimb FastSaver - fully online, initial deposit you can bite the bank rate and transfer from CIMB Malaysia account or from your Maybank Singapore account if you plan to have both

^ That.

But in event you run into the nice problem of having a large enough account and transferring to IB LLC - non US domiciled securities are not subject to 60k estate tax. I believe directly held US treasuries are exempted as well