Why choose OCBC RoboInvest for Investments?

OCBC RoboInvest brings you the best elements of a high-end investing service, without the lock in of a high investment amount and excessive management fee typically associated with this service.

You will experience:

• Access to local and global products
• Automated Portfolio Management Service
• Bank-grade secure interface
• Online access to your portfolio anytime

How to start investing?

Via OCBC Internet Banking

1. Login to OCBC Internet Banking and select “ETFs and Equities”
2. Get routed to OCBC RoboInvest platform and start your investment journey by creating an account
3. Proceed to perform a funds transfer to fund your investment after selecting a portfolio

Via the OCBC app:

1. Log in to the OCBC app.
2. Tap on More > Investments > RoboInvest
3. Get routed to OCBC RoboInvest platform and start your investment journey by creating an account.
4. Proceed to perform a funds transfer to fund your investment after selecting a portfolio.

What’s the difference between OCBC RoboInvest’s service and an online broker’s service?

OCBC RoboInvest manages the investment portfolios you have invested in with automated periodic rebalancing, while you can sit back and track your accounts 24/7 to watch your investment grow.

Why choose to invest with OCBC RoboInvest instead of keeping money in the bank?

Keeping money in your bank savings account only earns the interest rate on your deposits. With OCBC RoboInvest, your money can be invested in model portfolios according to your risk tolerance, thus possibly having a higher return in the long term.

What’s the eligibility criteria to use this service?

• At least 18 years of age
• Non-US citizen
• Non-UK resident
• Non-EU resident
• People not residing in Russia, Belarus or within the EEA
• Have an existing OCBC Current or Savings account with Digital Banking access

Is this a service provided by OCBC? Why is there a “powered by WeInvest” label on the platform?

OCBC RoboInvest is a collaboration between OCBC and a Fintech firm Planar Investments Pte Ltd (WeInvest). This brand new platform is developed and supported by WeInvest, with customised screens and investment flow for OCBC. And we are bringing this investment service exclusively to OCBC customers!

Who can I contact if I encounter issues with the platform or have queries on my investments?

Please contact the email support ID Support@OCBCRoboInvest.com. Our Fintech partner WeInvest supporting the platform will be able to assist you further. Typically, a response can be expected within the next business day.

What is the difference between OCBC RoboInvest’s service and OCBC Blue Chip Investment Plan (BCIP)?

OCBC’s Blue Chip Investment Plan (“BCIP”) aims to allow users to invest simply and gain exposure to the stock market. BCIP customers can select up to 18 share counters on the Straits Times Index for regular investment from as low as S$100. BCIP adopts the concept of Dollar Cost Averaging and customers can invest a chosen amount into their selected counters comfortably each month without timing the market. OCBC RoboInvest however, aims to provide customers with an easy way to steer their portfolio towards the strategy of their choice by following one of WeInvest’s preformulated strategies. By doing so, customers can gain exposure to Exchange-Traded Funds (“ETF”) in other asset classes such as Equities, Fixed Income and Commodities, as well as Equities in Singapore and overseas markets. Unlike the BCIP, RoboInvest is not a regular savings plan and customers can curate the timing of investing their funds.

Can I open multiple RoboInvest account?

For security reasons, we are only allowing 1 account per person. However, you can have multiple portfolios under your account.

I do not live in Singapore, can I open a RoboInvest account?

Yes, you can as long as you meet the eligibility criteria.

What are these new terms on my new dashboard?

• Net invested: Cost value of your remaining investments including dividend gains after accounting for withdrawals and AUM fees (0.88% p.a.) charged monthly on your portfolio holdings.
• Estimated market value: The estimated market value of your investments as of the date reflected in the dashboard
• Unrealised profit / loss: The potential profit or loss in the value of your investments based on your initial investment value

What kind of products am I investing in? 

ETF-based Portfolios

These portfolios are constructed using listed ETFs representing major asset/sub-asset classes. These ETFs chosen are liquid, well-diversified and have low expense ratios as we strive to maximise your returns and keep expenses low. 

Can I customize the ETFs or equities in a portfolio?

The combination of ETFs or equities in each model portfolios are determined based on market research and insights. This allows us to provide the most optimal diversification personalised to you. It is therefore not possible for a customer to handpick the ETFs or the allocation.

What is the minimum amount I must invest to get started? 

The minimum amount varies in accordance with the investment portfolio you have selected. It starts from as low as United States Dollars (“USD”) 100.

Is there a minimum amount if I want to invest more into my existing portfolio?

Yes. The minimum amount of any additional investment you make into your existing portfolio(s) will vary depending on the minimum initial investment amount specified for each portfolio. This amount will be displayed after you have selected the "Invest" option for any of your existing portfolio(s).

What is OCBC RoboInvest’s portfolio methodology?

ETF-based Portfolios

We conduct a comprehensive analysis of all ETFs listed in the US. We screen for suitable ETFs using various qualitative and quantitative criteria (assets under management, expense ratio, historical performance, liquidity, underlying instruments etc).

The percentage allocation to each ETF is determined using our proprietary optimization algorithm and ETF-based portfolios are rebalanced semi-annually.

Does the RoboInvest platform allow intra-day buying and selling of the same RoboInvest portfolios?

No. RoboInvest is a portfolio management platform and there will be a lead time before orders are processed, as follows:

Investment:

  - Executed by the next working day

Withdrawal:

  - Executed by the next working day

  - Funds will be credited into your account within 3-5 working days

Can I cancel my investment after I have placed an investment instruction?

No. The processes are automated and your investment will be processed within the next working day. If you no longer wish to hold on to your investment, you may make a withdrawal request after the investment has been processed.

 Why are there fewer constituents in the Hong Kong portfolios?

Unlike many major global exchanges, the minimum lot sizes for various stocks listed on the Hong Kong exchange are not fixed and can vary a lot. Hence, the higher minimum investment amounts and lower number of constituents in the portfolio.

Our strategies consist of buying into ETFs and equities that are based in the respective foreign currencies (listed in foreign markets).

What is rebalancing?

Rebalancing is the process of adjusting the composition of an Investment portfolio. This involves the buying and selling of assets in an investment portfolio to maintain a desired asset allocation according to the market conditions. We will sell more if the stock value rises significantly, or buy more when the stock has declined to take advantage of volatility.

OCBC RoboInvest will periodically (quarterly or half-yearly depending on portfolios) trigger rebalancing. We will only proceed with the rebalancing once you have given your consent within 2 weeks from the date of trigger. You may choose to ignore or skip this rebalance as well.

How often are my portfolios being rebalanced?

It varies from portfolio to portfolio. Typically, rebalancing suggestions are triggered either quarterly or semi-annually.

How do I rebalance my account?

Where rebalancing of your portfolio is available, you may choose to rebalance your portfolio by following these steps:

1. Login to your RoboInvest account
2. Under your dashboard, look for the portfolio which has “rebalance” pending
3. Click on “view details” for that portfolio
4. You will see a rebalance alert. Click on “view details” within that rebalance alert
5. You will be shown a breakdown of what your portfolio will look like before you rebalance it, and after
6. If you wish to proceed with rebalancing, click “next”

How will I be notified of rebalancing opportunities?

If your portfolio is available for rebalancing, an email will be sent to your email address provided by you during the OCBC RoboInvest account opening to inform you of the same.

If I missed the period for rebalancing, what can I do?

You will have to wait for the next round of rebalancing for your portfolio.

Why are my constituents different from the model portfolio shown to me before rebalancing?

The portfolio may differ from the model portfolio displayed on our website due to various factors that affect final execution of trades including, inter alia, investment amounts, prices, foreign exchange rates etc. We will endeavour to maintain the trade executions in your portfolio within a certain tolerance limit(s) for each constituent of the model portfolio. You may refer to our terms and conditions for more details.

What is the minimum amount I need to commit for my monthly investments?

The minimum amount for monthly investments varies across portfolios, starting from as low as US$100.

Can I make monthly investments for all the portfolios?

No, portfolios available for monthly investment are:

• Aggressive
• All Weather
• Balanced
• Cautious
• China Growth
• Defensive
• Future World
• Growth
• Gen Z Winners
• Impact Investing
• Precious Metals

What if I do not have enough money in the debiting account?

We will send you an email notification and will debit from your account again in the subsequent month.

Can I select any day of the month for my monthly investment debit?

You may select any day of the month, with the exception of the 29th, 30th and 31st.

Can my monthly investment start immediately?

The closest date you will be able to select to debit from your account will be T+2 days.

Do I need to maintain my monthly investments for a fixed period of time?

No, you don’t need to. You may cancel your monthly investment at any point of time.

Are there any additional fees to the monthly investments?

No, there are not.

How do I transfer money to fund the investment?

After you have selected your investment portfolio and indicated the amount to invest, you can simply select to fund your investments from your eligible OCBC deposit account without any deposit or withdrawal fees.

Why transfer my money to Saxo Capital Markets?

Saxo Capital Markets is our appointed custody and trades execution agent for all the investments through OCBC RoboInvest. Your assets will be held with Saxo Capital Markets, an online trading and investment specialist which is a trusted custodian and a licensed subsidiary of Saxo Bank A/S.

After the monies for the funding of my investment are debited from my OCBC deposit account, how long will it take for the funds to be reflected in my RoboInvest account as cash?

It takes about 1 hour for the amount to be reflected in your RoboInvest account as cash. This will be invested when the markets open during the execution window.

How long does it take for the cash amount in my RoboInvest account to be invested once RoboInvest has received the cash?

Typically, the investment will be executed within 1 business day, with settlement taking place on T+2.

Can I invest using my Supplementary Retirement Scheme (SRS) or Central Provident Fund (CPF) accounts?

No, currently you are not able to do so.

What currency can I use to fund my portfolios? Can I fund them using foreign currency?

Currently you may only transfer funds in Singapore Dollars (“SGD”). For investments in portfolios with different foreign base currency, the equivalent amount transferred in SGD will be converted according to the foreign exchange rate from Saxo Capital Markets before investing.

When can I withdraw from my investments? 

You are free to withdraw anytime you want! Furthermore, you may choose to perform a partial or full withdrawal. The withdrawal amount can only be credited to your OCBC Current or Savings account which you have recorded in OCBC RoboInvest when performing the withdrawal. Once you have submitted your withdrawal instruction, we will then proceed to sell the relevant shares and transfer the proceeds of sale in cash to your OCBC account.

What currency can I withdraw from my investments?

Currently, the currency of the amount credited to your OCBC account can only be SGD. The investments sold will be converted from the portfolio base currency at prevailing market rates to SGD before crediting to your OCBC account.

Will I be receiving dividends for the investments made on OCBC RoboInvest?

Yes. The amount will automatically be reinvested in the respective portfolios.

How long does it take for the withdrawal proceeds to be credited to my account?

The withdrawal proceeds would take 3-5 working days to be credited to your account, depending on the time you placed your withdrawal.

Why is there a difference between the amount shown when placing withdrawal and the actual amount received in my account?

The amount shown when placing withdrawal is only an indicative value of your portfolio which is based on previous working day’s closing price and FX rate. The actual amount received in your account would be determined by the portfolio value and Foreign Exchange rate at the point of sale and the applicable AUM charges.

What are the applicable fees and charges for investing through OCBC RoboInvest?

We will charge you an annual fee of 0.88% based on your Assets Under Management (AUM), meaning the total value of your investments held with OCBC RoboInvest. The fee will be computed and charged to you monthly based on number of calendar days in each month.

In addition to this AUM fee, other Exchange Fees & Charges apply, which varies depending on the different markets and trading channels used to execute the orders.

How do I pay for the fees and charges?

You do not need to do anything. Whenever you fund a portfolio, we will set aside an amount as a cash component for your portfolio. All the relevant fees and charges will be deducted from this cash component of your portfolio.

What is the exchange rate that will be imposed if the currency of the portfolio is not in SGD?

The base currency of all client accounts is in SGD. FX conversion is only done at the point when the trade is executed. The time of trade execution is determined by the RoboInvest platform (based on historical analysis of the time windows where market volatility is lower). Based on the time of the trade execution, the FX rate will be determined by our execution platform partners (Saxo Capital Markets) and it’s not visible for the client on a pre-trade basis.

Is withholding tax applicable to my portfolio?

Distributions from the Singapore Stable REITs portfolio may be subject to withholding tax. Please visit this link: https://www.iras.gov.sg/irashome/Other-Taxes/Withholding-tax/Non-resident-companies/Payments-That-Are-Subject-to-Withholding-Tax/ for more information.

Dividends from all US-listed securities will be subject to 30% withholding tax. This tax will be withheld before the dividends are credited to you. You may view the withholding tax amount, along with the dividend payment amount, in the “Transactions” tab of your portfolio.