Smartly Robo Advisor Review: Is It a Good Fit for Your Investing Goals?
Smartly Robo Advisor Review: Is It a Good Fit for Your Investing Goals?
ValueChampion Rating 
Pros
- Investors seeking a competitively priced robo advisor for large investments
Cons
- Individuals seeking the cheapest possible robo advisor
Please note that Smartly is no longer available. Check out our top picks for the best robo-advisor platforms currently on the market.
Smartly is one of Singapore's most well-known robo advisors for good reason. The platform offers a highly customised portfolio for each investor and its fees tend to be competitive. Smartly is also partnered with retail licensed fund management company, VCG Partners, which may be attractive to some investors. With that said, it is important to note that Smartly is not the cheapest robo advisor available to individuals in Singapore.
| Summary of Smartly's Robo Advisor Platform |
|---|
| Highly customised robo portfolios |
| Low minimum investment requirement: S$50 |
| Cheaper than average for investments of at least S$100,000 |
Table of Contents
- What Makes Smartly Stand Out to Investors
- Investment Opportunities at Smartly
- Smartly's Investor Eligibility Requirements
What Makes Smartly Stand Out to Investors
Smartly is an attractive robo advisor for a number of reasons. First, it offers highly personalised portfolios. When users sign up, they are required to complete a personlised risk analysis that allows Smartly to build a portfolio based on the investor's: primary investment objectives, initial investment, preferred investing strategy, current and future income and desired investment horizon.
Additionally, Smartly is partnered with VCG Partners, which may provide a level of comfort for those nervous about investing with a robo advisor in the first place. The platform also offers great flexibility to users. For instance, it allows for unlimited deposits and withdrawals and does not charge fees for either action. Smartly also has a low minimum required investment of just S$50.
Summary of Smartly's Management Fees
| Account Balance | Annual Fee Rate |
|---|---|
| Less than S$10,000 | 1.0% |
| S$10,000 - S$100,000 | 0.70% |
| More than S$100,000 | 0.50% |
Additionally, Smartly charges lower fees than most robo advisors, specifically for accounts with at least S$100,000. However, it is important to note that Smartly is not the cheapest robo advisor in Singapore. Therefore, for those that are hoping to limit their total cost of investing, it would be prudent to choose another platform. For example, Kristal.AI does not charge management fees to those with less than $50,000 (approximately S$70,000) invested, and Stashaway charges the lowest fees for very large investments.
Investment Opportunities at Smartly
Smartly invests in about 20 low-cost ETFs. While Smartly's platform is generally focused on a passive investment strategy, it does have feature fully automated rebalancing to ensure that portfolios are appropriately diversified based on the individual investor's goals and risk appetite.
Smartly's Investor Eligibility Requirements
- Minimum Investment
- S$50
- MAS Licence
- Capital Markets Services License - VCG
In order to be eligible for Smartly, or any robo advisor investing platform, individuals must be at least 18 years old. It also requires that users are located in Singapore. In order to sign up for Smartly, users must submit a scanned copy of their identification card. For Singaporeans and permanent residents, NRIC, 11B (SAF Card) and passports are sufficient. Foreigners can submit their employment pass (EP) or passport. Smartly does not accept driver's licenses or student IDs. Users must also have a local bank account. Smartly typically processes applications within one business day and does not charge account opening fees.
Examples of Identification Documents for Smartly's Robo Advisor Platform
- Photocopy of NRIC
- 11B (SAF Card)
- Passports
- Employment Pass (EP) (foreigners residing in Singapore)
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Stephen Lee is a Senior Research Analyst at ValueChampion, specializing in insurance. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies from the University of Washington, and his prior work experience include risk management and underwriting for professional liability and specialty insurance at Victor Insurance. Additionally, Stephen is a former US Peace Corps Volunteer in Myanmar (serving between 2018-2020), where he continues to provide business development consulting services to HR companies in Asia Pacific.