How to buy ETF (Exchange-traded funds) in India

You have seen various aspects of ETFs now; you must focus your attention on how to buy ETF.  

ETFs are intangible and transactions cannot take place in a store or a supermarket. Hence, specialized processes are in place to buy ETFs.

Step by Step guide for how to buy ETF in India  

1: Open a brokerage account

This type of account can be used to buy and sell securities like stocks, ETFs, commodity derivatives, etc. 

The broker acts as a custodian for all securities. He also serves as an intermediary between the stock market and the investor. Hence, having a brokerage account is a prerequisite, resulting in a hassle-free online process. 

There are different types of brokerage accounts, depending on the investor and his goals. Some prominent types are as follows-

Various brokerage services are available like  

• Fidelity 
• Merrill Edge  
• Zacks  
• Trade etc.  

You must select a broker based upon specific parameters- 

• Fees – An investor must look at the fee policy of the broker before opening a brokerage account.  

Look at how the broker charges for administration, maintenance, and stock trading commissions. 

• Minimum deposits – Some brokers have a minimum balance condition for opening the account.  

Though for ETFs, it’s just the cost of one ETF share. Low or no minimums are desirable. 

• Types of securities – Not all brokers will allow all types of securities to be tradeable on their platform. Thus, looking at the types of assets which can be traded becomes vital. 
• Customer service – Responsiveness and grievance redressal mechanisms of the broker should also be studied. 

Now that you have chosen a brokerage account, you must have a clear ETF investment strategy. There are thousands of ETFs available on the market. 

The investor must be clear of his goals and invest in an ETF that fulfills such aspirations.  

• Stock ETFs offer more incredible growth but at the same time have high volatility and risk.  
• Bond ETFs are comparatively less risky and provide fewer returns. 

Thus, the realization of a golden balance based on investors’ needs is necessary.

As per investment management firm T. Rowe Price, the asset allocation for retirement based on the investor’s age should be

Age	Stocks	Bonds	Cash or Cash Equivalents
20s to 30s	90%-100%	0-10%	–
40s	80%-85%	0-20%	–
50s	65%-85%	15%-35%	–
60s	45%-65%	30%-50%	0-10%
70+	30%-50%	40%-60%	0-20%

Once the investor has decided upon his investment strategy, they should focus on the ETFs. And should research the various types of ETFs available in the market. The investor should look into a couple of aspects like 

• Expense ratio – Expenses eat into the investor’s profits: the lower the expense ratio, the better.  

Also, an investor must look at the fees an ETF charges for maintaining the portfolio. In most cases, ETFs have low to nil fees compared to actively managed funds as ETFs generally trace an underlying index.  

However, an investor must be vigilant when buying specialty ETFs. 

• Volume- ETF volume shows the trading ability of the ETF and, thus, the liquidity. Higher the volume, lower the spread, and higher the liquidity. 
• Underlying Holdings- Look at the underlying holdings of the ETF.  
• Performance- Look at the fund’s past performance and compare that to its peers.  
• Market price- Ideally, an ETF should trade near its NAV. Investors should keep in mind the NAV before making any purchases.  

2: Buying the ETF

At the very outset, the investor must transfer funds into the brokerage account with which the purchase takes place. 

After ensuring sufficient funds, the investor must search for the ETF ticker symbol and place the buy order. The investor also needs to mention the number of ETF shares he wishes to purchase.  

Generally, trading ETFs infractions is not possible. 

Confirm the order. Sit back and relax.

Once an investor purchases the shares, they also need to make an exit strategy to minimize losses (if any) or minimize capital gains taxes. 

Getting help from a financial advisor is always a good option in such cases.