Simulator Parameters
Annual Fee Structures
Avg. Endowus / Syfe / StashAway advisory + fund fee
Broad world index ETF (e.g., VWRA, CSPX on IBKR)
DIY Low-Cost ETFs
$266,850
Net Annual Yield: 6.85%
Robo-Advisor Route
$235,412
Net Annual Yield: 6.15%
Fee Drag Difference
$31,438
Lost to convenience fee
Portfolio Compounding & Fee Erosion Over Time
0 to 20 Years
Optimal Pathway
DIY Core Index with Robo On-Ramp for first $10k
With a $5,000 start and $500 monthly additions over 20 years, DIY index investing saves you $31,438 in recurring platform fees. Start on a robo-advisor if automated deposits keep you consistent, then pivot to DIY global ETFs via Interactive Brokers once your portfolio crosses $10,000.
Beginner Friction & Operational Trade-offs
🤖 The Robo Pathway
Effort Score: 1.5 / 5
- ✅ Instant risk profiling questionnaire
- ✅ Automated dividend reinvestment
- ✅ Automated quarterly rebalancing
- ❌ High cumulative fee drag over decades (~0.85%/yr)
- ❌ Less flexibility over bespoke ETF selections
🛠️ The DIY Brokerage Pathway
Effort Score: 3.8 / 5
- ✅ Ultra-low ongoing fee drag (~0.07% to 0.20%)
- ✅ Full autonomy over Irish-domiciled UCITS ETFs
- ✅ Keeps all compounding upside for yourself
- ❌ Requires monthly discipline to place trades
- ❌ Manual portfolio rebalancing needed annually
Named Platform Matrix (Deddy Tandean Framework)
| Platform | Type | Fee Model | Minimums | Best Suited For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endowus | Robo / Advisory | 0.05% - 0.60% + fund fees (~0.80% total) | $1,000 (CPF/SRS/Cash) | CPF & SRS investing, dimensional/cash funds |
| Syfe | Robo / Broker | 0.35% - 0.65% platform fee | $0 minimum | Micro-investing, automatic US equity recurring buys |
| StashAway | Robo Advisor | 0.20% - 0.80% based on AUM | $0 minimum | Macro-regime allocation, hands-off automation |
| Interactive Brokers (IBKR) | DIY Brokerage | Tiered commission (~$1.50/trade), zero custody | $0 minimum | Global UCITS ETFs (VWRA, CSPX), lowest long-term drag |
| Tiger Brokers | DIY Brokerage | Low comms + platform fee | $0 minimum | Active app users, US/HK single shares and ETFs |
| FSMOne | DIY Brokerage | Flat ETF fees or % RSP fees | $50/mo RSP | Regular savings plan on SGX and HK stocks |
| DBS Vickers | Bank Broker | $10-$25 min commission + custodian fees | $0 minimum | Local CDP custody integration, conservative bank-backed |
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