Starting an ETF portfolio

Hey guys.
I've been thinking lately about the next step in my investment strategy, and ETF's seem to be looking good at this stage.

I currently am invested only in managed funds, which have declined in value more than 33% since I first invested (almost 1 year ago I think). I have 3 manged funds (1 geared Aus. share fund, 1 Aus. Property fund, and 1 geared global property fund). The original plan was to also add an International share fund, but I've been hesitant to do so due to market conditions and my current track record.

Anyway, I've been considering ETF's as my next step. But I'm not sure what I need to consider in setting up a well balanced portfolio.

What asset classes should I consider?
What sort of split (percentage based) should I be looking at?

Initially I thought that shares and property were my only real options, but I've been hearing more about commodities and resources etc...
I just want to have a plan before I go buying randomly.

I have about $5000 to play with (which was originally going to be used to enter my 4th and final fund).

Thanks guys.

From memory (couple of years ago), I remember Travis Morien's website having lots of good info on asset classes and diversification.

Travis Morien's Investment FAQ - A primer on asset allocation

I've bookmarked this for future reading. Is that the article you were talking about?

Has anyone got any examples or comments in relation to ETF's?

My managed fund plan was to invest equally in four funds (Australian shares/property & International shares/property). I still plan to follow through with that, but I'm going to wait a while before investing in an International Share fund.

In the meantime I was wondering if anyone could give me some examples of a well structured ETF portfolio, and what asset classes I should be considering. I'm planning for a long term investment (10years or more) and hope to make contributions when I can afford to.

Hi Compleks

I've only just started with ETFs. But can try and summarise what i have read and have based my decisions based on the following:
1) diversify across 5-7 funds (maybe your 4 will do? not sure)

2) for an example of ETF-based portfolio, have a look at Glebe's alternative (see dkmc's rejigging portfolio thread). I like the thread coz it has a lot of great discussion building up to the portfolio - so you can discern the reasons and issues to be considered when making up yours. The portfolio that i have built is based on this. I have altered the percent's to match my preference and circumstance.

3) the recent 'dip' in the markets proved to be a dip across the board. ie, don't count on getting negative correlation from international shares or LPTs. I think dkmc had direct residential property in his portfolio and this has been the only asset class to go against the dip... the other could be commodities?!

One thing: have you considered index funds? for regular small purchases, they may be more cost effective.

The other thing: someone else here will probably bring it up if i don't get some pro advice from a fee-based financial planner. I did - and while it didn't add a great deal to my ideas - it helped re-affirmed them. If nothing, an FP will help you consider other issues that you may have missed out - insurance, tax, accounting structures, etc.

One way to do it is to go to ifa.com and complete the risk questionaire to determine your risk . They will then recommend a portfolio based on that with a lot of back data, and volatility data. Then try and replicate that asset allocation in australia.

You really have to think about your current portolio too and whether it meets your goals. Geared property and geared austr funds - your lucky to be only down 33%. How much gearing do those funds have? are you comfortable with it. How big are the fee's. Do you have access to line of credit?

If you havent read Travis' faq and presentations then thats the first spot to go.
Presentations page
spend an hour or 2 reading throught the ppt files

The fee's are too much for 5k of investment. You are better off with vanguard and drip feeding in

Thanks for the help guys. I've been doing a little reading and alot more procrastinating.

"The fee's are too much for 5k of investment. You are better off with vanguard and drip feeding in"
Could you explain what you mean by that?

I completed the risk management survey on the IFA website. They suggested a preliminary portfolio of Sea Green: Index Funds Advisors - Portfolio 50 - Index Returns and Allocations

I know I need to get my ass into gear, but I'm feeling very overwhelmed with information.

Just go buy 5K worth of IOO - nice passive global share ETF.

Well if you buy ETF's It costs around $30 to buy
If you have a diversified portfolio of say 6 ETFs than thats 30*6 just to enter
which is 3.6% - too expensive, remember if you sell its another 3.6% so you need to make 7.2% just to be even

Hence if you have small amount and want to stay diversified then vanguard will allow you to be in at <0.8%, and diversified across markets

Are you going to get rid of your current portfolio and start from scratch?

This is what you could do:

Sign up with Macquarie Prime so it's only $20. The trading platform is linked to a cash account which earns the RBA cash rate - so 7.25% at the moment.

Put your current savings in there and have your wage paid into it - so straight away you're earning 7.25%. If you want to add in say $5000 lots then when you've saved $5020 buy in.

Doing this you've lost $20 of $5020 - which is 0.40% to enter. Because it's an ETF - not a fund you pick the entrance point - you're not a day behind the eightball.

Plus in-action is still earning you 7.25%

Thanks. That gives me something to think about.

dkmc. I plan to hold my current portfolio and let it run it's course. I figured I invested for the long term, so I will leave it and see what happens. I don't think I will be making any contributions anytime soon though.

I would rather put my money somewhere else and learn a different form of investing.

I had a look at the Vanguard site, but couldn't really work out how they operate. Can anyone give me a rough explanation?



- Does Macquarie Prime have any additional charges? This sounds like a pretty good idea.
How much control do I have investing through Vanguard and Macquarie Prime?

I have roughly 8 to 10 thousand I'm willing to invest. I want to invest passively, and don't mind having my money tied up for 10+ years.