Everything you wanted to know

A robo-advisor is an automated investment platform that builds and manages a diversified portfolio on your behalf, using algorithms grounded in modern portfolio theory. Unlike traditional wealth managers, robo-advisors operate at far lower cost because the heavy lifting is automated — meaning you keep more of your returns.

You absolutely can buy ETFs through a brokerage yourself — and if you're disciplined about asset allocation, currency hedging, rebalancing, and tax-efficient trading, that's a valid path. Smartly handles all of that automatically: portfolio construction, rebalancing, fractional shares, dividend reinvestment, and reporting. The 0.5%-1% fee buys you the convenience of having that work done correctly, every day, without you lifting a finger.

Yes. Your assets are held in your name with a regulated custodian — a separate legal entity from Smartly. We never have direct access to your funds; we only have authority to manage how they're invested on your behalf. In the unlikely event Smartly ceases operations, your assets remain yours and can be transferred or liquidated through the custodian directly.

Yes. Smartly operates as a licensed financial services provider in Singapore under the framework set by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). We are subject to the same regulatory standards as traditional financial advisors, including capital adequacy, conduct rules, and customer protection obligations.

S$50. There is no minimum balance requirement after that — you can deposit additional funds at any time, in any amount, or set up recurring monthly transfers from as little as S$50 per month.

Our annual management fee is tiered: 1.0% for accounts under S$10,000, 0.7% for accounts between S$10,000 and S$100,000, and 0.5% for accounts over S$100,000. There are no trading commissions, rebalancing fees, withdrawal fees, or hidden charges. See the pricing page for full details.

Most accounts are approved within one business day, using MyInfo for fast identity verification. After approval, you can fund your account immediately via PayNow or FAST transfer, and we begin investing your funds within 1-2 business days.

Yes — there are no lock-in periods or withdrawal fees. You can request a withdrawal anytime through the app, and funds typically arrive in your bank account within 3-5 business days. If you only need part of your balance, you can also withdraw partial amounts.

We use ETFs from leading global issuers — Vanguard, iShares (BlackRock), and SPDR (State Street) — selected for low expense ratios, deep liquidity, and broad market exposure. Specific holdings vary by risk profile but typically include developed-market equity ETFs, emerging-market equity ETFs, government and corporate bond ETFs, and REIT ETFs.

Your portfolio is built with diversification across uncorrelated asset classes precisely to dampen the impact of any single market's downturn. During volatile periods, we continue to rebalance your portfolio according to plan — which often means buying assets that have fallen in price. Our advice during downturns is almost always the same: don't panic, don't sell, stay invested for the long term.

Singapore does not impose capital gains tax or tax on most foreign-sourced ETF dividends for retail investors — which is one reason Singapore is an attractive base for long-term investing. We provide annual tax statements for your records. For specific tax questions, we recommend consulting a qualified tax advisor.

Your assets are held with a separate, regulated custodian and remain in your name at all times. If Smartly were to wind down, your investments could be transferred to another platform or liquidated and returned to you directly — the assets are not part of Smartly's balance sheet.