Invest in ETFs without fees

ETFs (exchange-traded funds) are financial instruments that can consist of various types of securities, most commonly stocks or bonds. ETFs are traded on an exchange, which typically increases their liquidity. They usually track one of the market indices and are not actively managed. As a result, ETFs are one of the most cost-effective ways of investing for the majority of investors.

Mintos offers a curated selection of ETFs from leading global providers. These include:

• Equity ETFs: Track baskets of company shares from specific regions (e.g. global, Europe, US) or sectors.
• Bond ETFs: Provide exposure to government or corporate bonds, typically offering more stable returns.
• Broad market ETFs: Track widely recognized indices like the MSCI World or S&P 500, offering diversification across many companies and geographies in a single investment.

All ETFs available on Mintos are UCITS-compliant (Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities) – meaning they meet EU-wide investor protection standards – and come from established, regulated providers such as iShares (BlackRock), Amundi, Vanguard, Xtrackers, and others.

Both options let you invest in ETFs on Mintos, but they suit different needs:

• ETFs: You choose which specific ETFs to buy, how much to invest in each, and when to buy or sell. This gives you full control and lets you build your own strategy, but it requires more decision-making and active management on your part.
• Mintos Core ETFs portfolio: Mintos builds and manages a personalized, diversified portfolio of ETFs for you based on your risk tolerance and investment horizon. Rebalancing is handled automatically. This is ideal if you prefer a hands-off approach.

If you're comfortable choosing your own ETFs and managing your exposure, ETFs offer flexibility. If you'd rather leave the decisions to us, the Core ETFs portfolio is the simpler option.

When choosing an ETF, Mintos will consider the following factors:

• Issuer reputation: The ETF must be issued and managed by an internationally recognized company (such as Amundi, iShares, Vanguard, etc.) with a good reputation and long-term experience managing billions in investor assets.
• ETF size and age: The ETF must have sufficient assets under management, and/or have been on the market for a long time. These factors indicate greater liquidity and less price fluctuation.
• Regulation: The ETF must be subject to the EU regulatory framework for managing and selling mutual funds, UCITS (Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities). This framework serves to protect investors by defining minimum standards for funds. These include limiting which assets funds can invest in, holding a diversified portfolio, transparency regarding costs, and safeguarding investor's money. This can give investors additional confidence in ETF management and protection.
• Broad diversification: We favour ETFs that provide meaningful diversification across companies, sectors, and geographies.

All investments carry risk, and ETFs are no exception. Key risks to be aware of include:

• Market risk: The value of your ETF investment can fall as well as rise, depending on the performance of the underlying assets. You could lose some or all of your invested capital.
• Concentration risk: If you invest in a single ETF focused on a specific sector or region, your portfolio may be more exposed to downturns in that area compared to a broadly diversified portfolio.
• Currency risk: If the ETF holds assets denominated in a currency other than euro, exchange rate movements could affect your returns.
• Liquidity risk: In unusual market conditions, it may be harder to buy or sell ETF shares at your expected price.
• Tracking error: An ETF may not perfectly replicate the performance of its benchmark index due to costs, timing differences, or other factors.
• ETFs are regulated financial instruments and provide a level of transparency and investor protection not always available with other investment types. However, they do not eliminate market risk. Always invest in line with your financial goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon, and only invest money you can afford to lose.

See the Risk disclosure for more information.

ETFs on Mintos are completely free to buy and sell. There are no ongoing holding, inactivity or custody charges from Mintos for ETFs or Mintos Core ETFs portfolio. Every ETF has its own annual management fee, called the Total Expense Ratio (TER), which is charged by the ETF provider (such as BlackRock or Amundi). This is built into the ETF's daily price rather than charged separately, so you won't see it as a direct deduction from your account. TERs for the ETFs available on Mintos are typically below 0.25% per year. For example, if you invest €1 000 in an ETF with a TER of 0.20%, you would pay approximately €2 per year in management costs, reflected in the fund's performance. There are no additional platform fees from Mintos on top of this.

You can start investing in ETFs on Mintos with as little as €1, making it easy to begin with a small amount and build up your investment over time. To invest with Mintos Core ETFs portfolio, the minimum investment amount is €50.