I think we need more cost effective platforms to invest in ETFs to make index investing more prominent

Hoshiyuu do you DCA monthly for VWRA using market order or ad hoc purchase using limit order?

Just an open question, for those opting to buying stocks/ETF via foreign trading platform, what's your plan for estate planning just in case we KO unexpectedly/prematurely? Does your family members/spouse have the capability to manage your portfolio/repatriate your money back to Malaysia by themselves?

This is the only factor that prevent me from investing big amount in foreign trading platform and opt for local robo/local based US trading platform

I think COVID changed the perception that only old fellas die first hence the lack of focus on estate planning. Imagine that you're in your 30s with young family and passed away due to Covid and most of your assets are in oversea with your spouse not familiar with all these financial stuff. Can't really imagine the hardship the young family has to suffer

Why not use FSM for RSP and Rakuten for ad hoc purchase? Win win in terms of cost but need to maintain 2 different trading accounts

For me, estate planning issue. This is especially true if you have fairly large investment sum (at least 6 figures and above). My partner is not competent in financial stuffs. Even with userid and password given to the partner, my partner wont probably know the intricacies on dealing with IBKR and foreign fund transfer. Should i go belly up one day, my partner just bring the LA letter to these local financial firms to claim for my estate.

I suppose transaction cost will probably not coming down to IBKR cost level anytime in the future given the protective nature of our financial market. Otherwise, all local brokers will go broke. So I make do with whatever local options i have despite the inconvenience of maintaining multiple platforms.

This post has been edited by jutamind: Jun 14 2022, 01:05 PM

For local shares, i think u can transfer from one broker to another with minimal cost. I did a transfer many years back i think it only cost RM10 per transfer but that was for direct CDS account.