Not every investor wants the same level of involvement. Some want to research, select, and manage every ETF in their portfolio themselves. Others would rather set a risk level and let a managed portfolio handle the selection, allocation, and rebalancing automatically. Both are legitimate approaches, and neither is inherently better. The difference is in how much time, knowledge, and ongoing attention each one asks for.
Mintos offers both options in a single account: individual ETFs for self-directed investors, and the Core ETFs portfolio for those who prefer a managed approach. This guide explains how each one works, what each one involves in practice, and the trade-offs on both sides, so that by the end, the choice is an informed one. For anyone still building their understanding of the format, the guide to what an ETF is covers the fundamentals.
Questions to ask before choosing individual ETFs vs the Core ETFs portfolio
→ How much time and attention does each option ask for on an ongoing basis?
→ What level of control over individual holdings matters most?
→ What are the cost differences between individual ETFs and the Core ETFs portfolio?
→ Can both be used at the same time in one Mintos account?
Disclaimer
This is a marketing communication and in no way should be viewed as investment research, investment advice, or recommendation to invest. The value of your investment can go up as well as down. Past performance of financial instruments does not guarantee future returns. Investing in financial instruments involves risk; before investing, consider your knowledge, experience, financial situation, and investment objectives.
In this guide
- Why investors take different approaches to ETF investing
- Two ways to invest in ETFs on Mintos with one account
- Core ETFs portfolio: The managed option
- Individual ETFs: The self-directed option
- Side-by-side comparison
- Getting started on Mintos
Why investors take different approaches to ETF investing
Before comparing the two Mintos options, it helps to understand what makes ETFs attractive in the first place, and why the way an investor accesses them matters as much as the ETFs themselves.
Diversification in a single trade
A single ETF can hold hundreds or thousands of securities. That can spread risk more effectively than buying individual stocks or bonds one at a time, and it does so in a single purchase rather than dozens of separate trades. Diversification does not guarantee against loss, but it can reduce the impact of any single holding underperforming.
Low ongoing cost
Most ETFs are passive, meaning they track an index rather than paying a manager to pick stocks. That keeps fees low. The ongoing cost, known as the total expense ratio (TER), covers the ETF provider’s management and operational expenses and is deducted from the fund’s assets.
Transparency
ETF holdings are disclosed regularly, so an investor can see exactly what sits inside the fund before and after buying. That visibility makes it possible to verify that a fund delivers the exposure its name suggests.
Accessibility
Fractional trading and low minimums have removed the old barriers to entry.
- Individual ETFs on Mintos: from €1 per ETF
- Core ETFs portfolio on Mintos: from €50
An investor no longer needs thousands of euros or a relationship with a broker to build a diversified position.
These four qualities explain why ETFs have become one of the most widely used investment vehicles among European investors. What varies is how much of the process the investor wants to handle personally versus how much they want automated, and that is where the two Mintos options diverge.
A quick look at individual ETFs vs Core ETFs portfolio
Mintos gives investors access to over 1,000 ETFs from established providers such as iShares (BlackRock), Vanguard, Amundi, and Xtrackers.¹ These providers are among the largest ETF issuers globally, managing billions in investor assets across equity, bond, commodity, and thematic funds. All ETFs available on Mintos are UCITS-compliant, meaning they meet EU-wide investor protection standards.
The two options differ in who makes the decisions:
- Individual ETFs: The investor browses the full selection, picks each ETF, decides how much to allocate, and manages the portfolio over time. Full control, more decisions.
- Core ETFs portfolio: Mintos builds a diversified portfolio of stock and bond ETFs matched to the investor’s risk level, and handles rebalancing and reinvestment automatically. Less control, less ongoing involvement.
Both routes are commission-free²: €0 Mintos fees to buy, hold, or sell. Some investors use one route exclusively. Others start with the Core ETFs portfolio while building confidence, then add individual ETFs alongside it. Both combinations are possible, and moving between them does not require opening a separate account.
Core ETFs portfolio: the managed option
The Core ETFs portfolio is a diversified ETF portfolio that Mintos manages on the investor’s behalf. It is designed for investors who want broad ETF exposure without picking individual funds, monitoring allocations, or deciding when to rebalance.
How it works
The investor answers a short questionnaire covering risk tolerance and investment horizon. Based on the answers, Mintos builds a portfolio from a mix of stock and bond ETFs, selected based on factors including liquidity, cost, and diversification, and weighted to match the stated risk level. From that point, the portfolio is managed automatically.
The Core ETFs portfolio invests in fractional ETF units, so the investment is spread across multiple ETFs without requiring the investor to buy full shares of each one. This is what makes diversified exposure possible from a low starting amount.
Rebalancing happens with every investment and withdrawal:
- When new money is added, it is allocated to the underweight ETFs first, steering the portfolio back toward its target proportions.
- When money is withdrawn, it is drawn from the overweight ETFs first, achieving the same rebalancing effect.
Reinvestment is automatic:
Dividends from the underlying ETFs are reinvested without the investor needing to act, which allows compounding to work uninterrupted.
Investment plan:
This is available for the Core ETFs portfolio. The investor sets how much and how often, and the platform handles the rest, automating regular contributions on a set schedule.
Cost
Commission-free²: Mintos charges no commission, no management fee, and no custody fee on the Core ETFs portfolio. The only cost is the TER charged by each ETF provider, built into the ETF price. TERs for the ETFs available on Mintos are typically below 0.25% per year.
Minimum investment
€50.
Who it is designed for
Investors who want diversified ETF exposure with minimal ongoing involvement. The portfolio handles selection, allocation, rebalancing, and reinvestment, so the investor’s main role is to contribute regularly and review periodically.
Trade-offs
- The investor does not choose which ETFs go into the portfolio or in what proportions.
- The portfolio is built around a set risk level, and adjusting the risk level requires updating the questionnaire answers and letting the portfolio rebalance accordingly.
- Investors who want to hold a specific ETF or overweight a particular sector or geography may find individual ETFs a better fit for that part of their allocation.
Individual ETFs: the self-directed option
Individual ETF investing on Mintos gives the investor full control over what goes into the portfolio. Every holding, every allocation decision, and every trade is the investor’s own choice.
The “best” ETFs to invest in guide covers typically used strategies that investors use when selecting funds.
How it works
The investor browses over 1,000 ETFs available on Mintos, selects the ones they want, enters the amount, and places the order.¹ ETFs cover global equities, regional markets, sectors, bonds, and commodities, all from established providers. The best ETFs to invest in guide covers what to look for when selecting specific funds.
Order execution:
Orders placed during exchange trading hours execute at the current market price. Orders placed outside trading hours are queued and execute when the market reopens.
Cost
Commission-free²: €0 Mintos fees to buy, hold, or sell individual ETFs. No ongoing holding, inactivity, or custody charges from Mintos. The only cost is the TER charged by each ETF provider, built into the ETF price.
Minimum investment
€1 per ETF.
Who it is designed for
Investors who want to choose exactly which ETFs they hold, decide their own allocation, and manage the portfolio on their own terms. This route is built for investors who are comfortable with the research and decision-making process, or who want to build a portfolio that reflects a specific view on markets, sectors, or geographies.
Trade-offs
- The investor is responsible for all ongoing management: researching, selecting, allocating, and rebalancing.
- No automated rebalancing or reinvestment at this time.
- While individual ETFs on Mintos are commission-free, the time and decision-making involved are real costs of their own.
Side-by-side comparison
ETFs | Core ETFs portfolio | |
Investment approach | Self-managed | Managed by Mintos |
Who selects the ETFs | The investor | Mintos |
Who rebalances | The investor | Automatic with every investment and withdrawal |
Portfolio composition | Full control over every holding and allocation | Automated construction based on risk level and investment horizon |
Minimum investment | From €1 | From €50 |
Mintos fees | Commission-free²: €0 to buy or sell | Commission-free²: €0 commission, management, or custody fees |
ETF costs (TER) | Varies by ETF, typically below 0.25% p.a. | Varies by ETF, typically below 0.25% p.a. |
Number of ETFs | 1,000+¹ | Curated selection of stock and bond ETFs |
Fractional trading | Yes | Yes |
Automated rebalancing | No | Yes |
Automated reinvestment | No | Yes |
Investment plan | Coming soon | Available |
Ownership | Direct ownership of ETF shares, held in the investor’s name in a segregated custody account | Fractional ETF units co-owned with other Mintos investors, held via custodians, with Mintos tracking ownership of each fraction |
Level of involvement | Hands-on | Hands-off |
Designed for | Investors who want full control | Investors who want managed diversification |
Choosing between individual ETFs and the Core ETFs portfolio
The choice comes down to how the investor prefers to invest, such as how much time they want to spend, how much control they want over individual holdings, and how comfortable they are making ongoing portfolio decisions independently.
Self-directed investors may lean toward individual ETFs when:
- They enjoy researching funds and have a view on which markets or sectors to hold.
- Full control over every holding and allocation decision is a priority.
- They are comfortable rebalancing and monitoring independently.
- The €1 minimum makes it possible to build a position gradually.
Hands-off investors may lean toward the Core ETFs portfolio when:
- They want diversified ETF exposure without the ongoing management.
- Setting a risk level and letting the platform handle the rest is the preferred approach.
- Automated rebalancing, reinvestment, and Investment plan remove the need for manual upkeep.
- The €50 minimum makes it accessible without a large upfront commitment.
Neither requires a permanent commitment. Many investors start with one and add the other as their confidence or financial goals evolve. Both sit in the same account, and both are commission-free.²
For anyone still weighing the broader question of how and where to begin, the step-by-step guide to how to invest in ETFs covers the full process, and the investing in ETFs on Mintos page walks through the platform mechanics.
Commission-free ETF investing on Mintos
Entry points that once sat in the thousands, provider access that once required institutional relationships, and fee layers that once ate into returns have all been reduced. Investment platforms now offer ETF investing on terms that were not available to retail investors a decade ago.
Mintos (AS Mintos Marketplace) is an investment platform licensed by Latvijas Banka that lets you invest in ETFs popular with European investors³, your way. Commission-free ETF investing means €0 Mintos fees to buy, hold, or sell, whether investing in individual ETFs or through the Core ETFs portfolio.²
Individual ETFs
Take full control and select your own ETFs from €1. With over 1,000 ETFs from recognized providers such as iShares, Vanguard, Amundi, and Xtrackers, you can build the ETF portfolio that fits your goals.¹
✔️Popular ETFs from recognized providers¹
✔️Automated regular investing with Investment plan (coming soon)
✔️Commission-free: €0 to buy or sell²
¹ ETF providers shown for illustrative purposes only. This does not constitute a recommendation or investment advice.
² Based on frequently searched ETFs among European investors on justETF.com
Core ETFs portfolio
An automated ETF portfolio matched to your risk level, from €50. The Core ETFs portfolio builds a globally diversified mix of stock and bond ETFs, automatically rebalanced and reinvested so you do not need to manage it yourself.
✔️Globally diversified portfolio of ETFs, equities, and bonds
✔️Automatically rebalanced and reinvested
✔️Commission-free: €0 to buy or sell²
As with any investment, the value of ETFs can go down as well as up, and you may receive back less than you invested.
¹ ETF providers shown for illustrative purposes only. This does not constitute a recommendation or investment advice. Based on frequently searched ETFs among European investors on justETF.com.
² Each ETF carries its own annual fee (Total Expense Ratio) charged by the ETF provider, built into the ETF price.
Developed by the Mintos Content Team, making investment knowledge accessible for everyday investors across Europe.
