Opinion: When to Buy, Hold and Sell ETFs | Canstar (2024)

How do you know when to buy, sell and hold ETFs? In this article, we explore the different strategies you can take when adding ETFs to your portfolio.

Do you ever dream of being like Biff in Back to the Future?

Spoiler Alert (for those of you who have been living under a rock since the 1980s!)

In Back to the Future, Biff travels back in time to give his past self a copy of The Sportsman’s Almanac. This book contains details of future sports results before they happen. Biff’s past self then uses this information to get rich by betting on the outcome of every sports event for the next 50 years.

Imagine what you could do with The Australian ETF Almanac!

If you knew when every market high, low and crash was going to happen in the next 50 years, then knowing when to Buy, Sell and Hold Australian ETFs would be a piece of cake!

Luckily, you don’t need The Australian ETF Almanac or knowledge of the future in order to make smart ETF investing decisions today. These simple guidelines on when to Buy, Sell, and Hold ETFs will help you to be well on your way to making your future self financially secure – without help from Biff!

When to Buy ETFs

The best time to buy ETFs is at regular intervals throughout your lifetime.

ETFs are like savings accounts from back when savings accounts actually paid you interest. Think back to a time when you (or your parents!) used to invest in your future by putting money into a savings account. In a low-interest-rate environment savings accounts are no longer an effective way to invest for your future.

But ETFs are!

ETFs are where you should invest your excess income throughout your working life. I don’t mean money that you are saving to buy a house with, or saving for a wedding. I mean money that you are never going to need again.

Well, at least not until your retirement!

One way to think about it is every three months taking whatever excess income you can afford to invest – money that you will never need to touch again – and buy ETFs!

Buy ETFs when the market is up. Buy ETFs when the market is down. Buy ETFs when we get a new Prime Minister. Buy ETFs when you call your mum each month.

The point is to buy ETFs at regular intervals, not just because you think now might be a good time to buy.

Oh and I’ve got you covered if you don’t know how to buy an Australian ETF.

If you regularly invest, and invest only what you can afford to, then over your lifetime the power of compound interest will make you look like you had a visit from Biff from Back to the Future too!

When to Sell ETFs

In an ideal world, we would all have enough invested in ETFs to live off the dividends in retirement. Ideally, you would never have to sell your ETFs! Unfortunately, this will be true for precious few people. Here in the real world, you will more than likely need to sell your ETFs at some stage in your life. But when is the right time?

The best time to sell ETFs is when you need cash to fund your retirement!

We all need cash all the time. To eat. To live. To buy new cars. To go on holidays. But your ETF portfolio should not be raided for life’s essentials. Stay strong, don’t sell those ETFs just yet, you will need those ETFs for retirement!

Here’s a tip, when you approach retirement age and need to live off your investments, don’t get hung up on dividends. Too often I see investors go chasing dividend returns at the expense of capital gains. In the end, money is money, regardless of whether you earned it through dividends or through capital gains. And investing in ETFs will earn you both!

Money earned through dividends will automatically be paid out to you at regular intervals. But money earned through capital gains will require you to sell your ETFs to put that money in your pocket.

This isn’t something to be afraid of!

→Related article: 4 Financial risks that all Investors should be aware of

Every quarter or every 6 months when you receive your dividend payment, just log into your broker account and sell off a small number of shares in your ETFs to access extra cash. That is the right time to sell your ETFs.

Now I can’t talk about when to sell ETFs without briefly mentioning when not to sell ETFs.

When not to sell ETFs – during a market crash!

This might sound obvious, but emotions run high during events like the global financial crisis or during any stock market crash. Years of smart investing can be undone in a single moment if you are financially pressured into selling your ETFs at the absolute worst time to do so during a market crash.

The way to avoid this is to avoid the perceived pressure.

Don’t invest more than you can afford to, don’t use leverage to invest, and maintain an emergency fund of cash to support yourself for a year so in case you lose your job during the next market crash.

When to Hold ETFs

ETFs should be held throughout your working life and into your retirement.

The best time to Hold ETFs is right now. And tomorrow. And the next day. And next month. And next year. And in 10 years’ time.

How do I know this? Well, I am going to let you in on a little stock market investing secret.

The market always goes up.

Don’t believe me? Take a look for yourself.

Opinion: When to Buy, Hold and Sell ETFs | Canstar (1)

The simple truth is that when you invest in the stock market over timeframes of 20+, 30+ or 40+ years, the market always goes up. It always has.

And I can already hear you asking “Yeah but, will it always go up?”

Only Biff knows that.

But the past tells us that the longer you hold ETFs for, the better your investment returns will be. If the market always goes up over a long enough time period – as it always has in the past – then the best time to hold ETFs is today.

The Best Time to Buy, Sell & Hold ETFs

Alright let’s break down all that chat into a few simple guidelines on when you should Buy, Sell & Hold ETFs:

  • Buy ETFs at regular intervals
  • Invest excess income that you will not need to touch again
  • Buy the Best ETF’s in Australia
  • Hold ETFs throughout your working life
  • Hold ETFs as long as you can, give compound interest time to work for you
  • Sell ETFs to fund your retirement
  • Don’t sell ETFs during a market crash

Consider this your Australian ETF Almanac in brief. All that’s left is for you to stop making excuses, get amongst it and start investing in Australian ETF’s.

Go on, get cracking!

Your future self will thank you.

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About ETF Bloke
Opinion: When to Buy, Hold and Sell ETFs | Canstar (2)

ETF Bloke is written for Australians who want to learn more about ETF investing, asset allocation and building your own ETF portfolio.

I firmly believe that investing in ETFs is one of the few ways that your average Aussie bloke (or sheila!) can become Financially Independent and Retire Early. I found loads of ETF investing information available online – but most of it was targeted at Americans. So I took it upon myself to provide information specific to ETF investing in Australia.

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Opinion: When to Buy, Hold and Sell ETFs | Canstar (2024)

FAQs

Opinion: When to Buy, Hold and Sell ETFs | Canstar? ›

To get an ETF price that is more likely to represent its underlying value, place your trades at least 30 minutes after the market opens. It's also better to buy or sell ETFs when the market for the underlying asset is open.

How do you know when to buy and sell ETFs? ›

To get an ETF price that is more likely to represent its underlying value, place your trades at least 30 minutes after the market opens. It's also better to buy or sell ETFs when the market for the underlying asset is open.

What does Dave Ramsey say about ETFs? ›

Ramsey suggested that if you do want to engage in passive investing, you're better off doing it with an index mutual fund than with an ETF that tracks a market or financial index. His reasoning: Mutual funds are meant to be invested in over the long term, while ETFs trade daily.

Should you buy and hold ETFs? ›

If you're looking for an easy solution to investing, ETFs can be an excellent choice. ETFs typically offer a diversified allocation to whatever you're investing in (stocks, bonds or both). You want to beat most investors, even the pros, with little effort.

How long should you hold an ETF for? ›

Holding period:

If you hold ETF shares for one year or less, then gain is short-term capital gain. If you hold ETF shares for more than one year, then gain is long-term capital gain.

What time of day is best to sell ETFs? ›

The opening 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Eastern time (ET) period is often one of the best hours of the day for day trading, offering the biggest moves in the shortest amount of time. A lot of professional day traders stop trading around 11:30 a.m. because that is when volatility and volume tend to taper off.

What is the best day and time to buy ETFs? ›

"Middle of the day is generally best, and if there are international (European) securities in the ETF, trading in the morning will ensure you get prices closest to fair value," Nadig explains. Now that you know what time of day is best, let's look at what kind of order you're planning on.

What does Warren Buffett say about ETFs? ›

Buffett has long endorsed the S&P 500 ETF, often recommending it to investors. In 2008, he also famously bet that a Vanguard S&P 500 index fund could beat five actively managed hedge funds.

Can you make a living off ETFs? ›

Some exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, can provide a potential income stream that may offer more diversification than investing in just one stock. Whether you're reorganizing your portfolio for your golden years or just starting to research income-oriented funds, you might want to consider this investment type.

What are the 4 funds Dave Ramsey invests in? ›

Dave divides his mutual fund investments equally between four types of funds: Growth and income, growth, aggressive growth, and international. This lowers your investment risk because now you're invested in hundreds of different companies all over the world in a whole bunch of different industries.

How much of my portfolio should be in ETFs? ›

ETFs can provide an easy way to be diversified and as such, the investor may want to have 75% or more of the portfolio in ETFs." To that end, Conzo says a more sophisticated investor may have additional needs.

Is it OK to hold ETF long term? ›

In the long term, new risks arise. Because of how leveraged ETFs are constructed, they are only intended for very short holding periods, such as intraday. Over time, their value will tend to decay even if the underlying price movements are favorable.

Is it good to hold ETF for long term? ›

ETFs are very safe and are an excellent option for long-term investments. According to experts, ETFs are not that volatile and show a slight change in their prices compared to stocks and indices because they are diversified and pooled investments of many investors.

Should you sell or hold ETFs? ›

Hold ETFs throughout your working life. Hold ETFs as long as you can, give compound interest time to work for you. Sell ETFs to fund your retirement. Don't sell ETFs during a market crash.

What is the 7 day ETF rule? ›

Availability and Scope of the ETF Rule

maintain their exchange listing may no longer rely on the ETF Rule and must satisfy individual redemption requests within seven days pursuant to Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act or liquidate if not listed on an exchange. See ETF Release at 61.

How long should you hold a 3x ETF? ›

A trader can hold the majority of these ETFs including TQQQ, FAS, TNA, SPXL, ERX, SOXL, TECL, USLV, EDC, and YINN for 150-250 days before suffering a 5% underperformance although a few, like NUGT, JNUG, UGAZ, UWT, and LABU are more volatile and suffer a 5% underperformance in less than 130 days and, in the case of JNUG ...

How often can you buy and sell the same ETF? ›

There are no restrictions on how often you can buy and sell stocks or ETFs. You can invest as little as $1 with fractional shares, there is no minimum investment and you can execute trades throughout the day, rather than waiting for the NAV to be calculated at the end of the trading day.

Do you pay taxes on ETF if you don't sell? ›

Just as with individual securities, when you sell shares of a mutual fund or ETF (exchange-traded fund) for a profit, you'll owe taxes on that "realized gain." But you may also owe taxes if the fund realizes a gain by selling a security for more than the original purchase price—even if you haven't sold any shares.

Do ETFs go up when stocks go down? ›

An inverse ETF is set up so that its price rises (or falls) when the price of its target asset falls (or rises). This means the ETF performs inversely to the asset it's tracking. For example, an inverse ETF may be based on the S&P 500 index. The ETF is designed to rise as the index falls in value.

How many ETFs should you invest in at once? ›

Experts agree that for most personal investors, a portfolio comprising 5 to 10 ETFs is perfect in terms of diversification. But the number of ETFs is not what you should be looking at. Rather, you should consider the number of different sources of risk you are getting with those ETFs.

What is the most profitable ETF? ›

100 Highest 5 Year ETF Returns
SymbolName5-Year Return
XLKTechnology Select Sector SPDR Fund19.52%
QCLNFirst Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund19.08%
TQQQProShares UltraPro QQQ19.03%
VGTVanguard Information Technology ETF18.81%
91 more rows

Has anyone gotten rich from ETFs? ›

In a nutshell: Yes, ETFs alone are enough to make you rich. With just one investment, you can capture the growth of the overall stock market or a certain segment of it. For example, you can find ETFs that focus on pretty much any industry, investment theme, or region of the globe.

What is the best ETF recommended by Warren Buffett? ›

Investors intending to follow Buffett and be part of Apple's growth story, can play ETFs like iShares Dow Jones US Technology ETF IYW, Select Sector SPDR Technology ETF XLK and Vanguard Information Technology ETF VGT.

Can you become a millionaire by investing in ETFs? ›

If you start investing early enough, a couple of ETFs could easily grow into a million-dollar investment portfolio.

What are 3 disadvantages to owning an ETF over a mutual fund? ›

So it's important for any investor to understand the downside of ETFs.
  • Disadvantages of ETFs. ETF trading comes with some drawbacks, which include the following:
  • Trading fees. ...
  • Operating expenses. ...
  • Low trading volume. ...
  • Tracking errors. ...
  • Potentially less diversification. ...
  • Hidden risks. ...
  • Lack of liquidity.

How much money do I need to invest to make $1000 a month? ›

If you invest $400,000 into a dividend stock with a 3% yield that pays monthly, you'll get roughly $1,000 per month. If you invest in a high yield stock, you could get to $1,000 per month with much less invested.

Are ETFs safe for retirees? ›

Are ETFs a Good Investment for Retirees? The Pros and Cons. The key benefits of ETFs, such as simplicity, diversification, low expenses and tax efficiency, can make ETFs a sound investment for retirees. Short-term income generation and long-term growth are other potential benefits for retired investors.

What is the 3 fund rule? ›

With the three-fund approach, you allocate a certain percentage of your portfolio to one of three asset types: U.S. stocks, international stocks, and bonds. Older investors, including those near or in retirement, tend to prioritize capital preservation.

What is the most aggressive ETF? ›

Aggressive Growth ETF List
Symbol SymbolETF Name ETF NameESG Score Global Percentile (%) ESG Score Global Percentile (%)
VUGVanguard Growth ETF61.00%
IWFiShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF67.70%
VGTVanguard Information Technology ETF81.59%
XLKTechnology Select Sector SPDR Fund88.41%
4 more rows

What are the big three in investments? ›

Within the world of corporate governance, there has hardly been a more important recent development than the rise of the 'Big Three' asset managers—Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors, and BlackRock.

What is the 10% rule in ETF? ›

Under Rule 12d1-4, acquired funds in Section 12(d)(1)(G) arrangements will no longer be able to acquire up to 25 percent of an ETF's shares under its exemptive order. Rather, all acquired funds will be limited to investing up to 10 percent of their assets in other funds, outside of the Enumerated Exceptions.

How many S&P 500 ETFs should I own? ›

You only need one S&P 500 ETF

You could be tempted to buy all three ETFs, but just one will do the trick.

What is the 75 5 10 diversification rule? ›

A 75-5-10 diversified management investment company will have 75% of its assets in other issuers and cash, no more than 5% of assets in any one company, and no more than 10% ownership of any company's outstanding voting stock.

When should you exit an ETF? ›

The top reasons for closing or liquidating an ETF include a lack of investor interest and a limited amount of assets. An investor may not choose an ETF because it is too narrowly-focused, too complex, or has a poor return on investment.

What is the risk of ETF closing? ›

You're forced to sell or take liquidation proceeds, which can create a tax burden or lock in investment losses. You may incur a capital gains tax on profits if the ETF's in a taxable account, that is, a non-retirement account. If you owned the fund less than a year, the profit will be taxed at your normal tax rate.

Is S&P 500 ETF good for long term? ›

' And academic research tends to agree that the S&P 500 is a good investment in the long term, despite occasional drawdowns.

Which ETF has the highest 10 year return? ›

1. SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF
  • 10-year return: 24.00%
  • Assets under management: $1.11B.
  • Expense ratio: 0.35%
  • As of date: November 29, 2022.

What is the 70 30 rule ETF? ›

A 70/30 portfolio is an investment portfolio where 70% of investment capital is allocated to stocks and 30% to fixed-income securities, primarily bonds.

What is the 5 10 40 rule ETF? ›

No single asset can represent more than 10% of the fund's assets; holdings of more than 5% cannot in aggregate exceed 40% of the fund's assets. This is known as the "5/10/40" rule. There are certain exceptions for government issued securities and for index tracking funds.

What is the ETF 3 5 10 rule? ›

Specifically, a fund is prohibited from: acquiring more than 3% of a registered investment company's shares (the “3% Limit”); investing more than 5% of its assets in a single registered investment company (the “5% Limit”); or. investing more than 10% of its assets in registered investment companies (the “10% Limit”).

Why not buy and hold leveraged ETFs? ›

Because leveraged single-stock ETFs in particular amplify the effect of price movements of the underlying individual stocks, investors holding these funds will experience even greater volatility and risk than investors who hold the underlying stock itself.

How large should an ETF be? ›

Picking the Right ETF

Level of Assets: To be considered a viable investment choice, an ETF should have a minimum level of assets, a common threshold being at least $10 million. An ETF with assets below this threshold is likely to have a limited degree of investor interest.

How do you tell if an ETF is doing well? ›

Since the job of most ETFs is to track an index, we can assess an ETF's efficiency by weighing the fee rate the fund charges against how well it “tracks”—or replicates the performance of—its index. ETFs that charge low fees and track their indexes tightly are highly efficient and do their job well.

How do you make money from ETF? ›

Their prices will fluctuate throughout the day, like stocks do. You can make money from ETFs by trading them. And some ETFs pay out the money the ETF makes to investors. These payments are called distributions.

Does ETF go up and when people buy it? ›

Because ETFs trade like shares of stocks listed on exchanges, the market price will fluctuate throughout the day as buyers and sellers interact with one another and execute trades.

Should you buy ETFs when the market is closed? ›

You can trade ETFs in the after-hours market, since ETFs are traded on an exchange and therefore behave like stocks. However, trading ETFs in the after-hours market carries additional risks. Before you begin trading, it is important to acquaint yourself with these risks.

What is the optimal number of ETFs? ›

Experts agree that for most personal investors, a portfolio comprising 5 to 10 ETFs is perfect in terms of diversification. But the number of ETFs is not what you should be looking at. Rather, you should consider the number of different sources of risk you are getting with those ETFs.

How much of your money should be in ETFs? ›

ETFs can provide an easy way to be diversified and as such, the investor may want to have 75% or more of the portfolio in ETFs." To that end, Conzo says a more sophisticated investor may have additional needs.

Does it matter what time you buy an ETF? ›

If you wait to buy an ETF until you are sure it will pay off for you, you'll probably pay a higher price. You are better off to buy sooner—when you are “pretty sure,” rather than “certain.” By the time you're sure an ETF is a good buy, many other investors may have come to share that opinion.

Can you make a living with ETF? ›

Some exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, can provide a potential income stream that may offer more diversification than investing in just one stock. Whether you're reorganizing your portfolio for your golden years or just starting to research income-oriented funds, you might want to consider this investment type.

How much tax do you pay on ETF gains? ›

ETFs held for more than a year are taxed at the long-term capital gains rates—up to 23.8%, once you include the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) on high earners. * Equity and bond ETFs you hold for less than a year are taxed at the ordinary income rates, which top out at 40.8%.

How do you successfully invest in ETFs? ›

How to buy an ETF
  1. Open a brokerage account. You'll need a brokerage account to buy and sell securities like ETFs. ...
  2. Find and compare ETFs with screening tools. Now that you have your brokerage account, it's time to decide what ETFs to buy. ...
  3. Place the trade. ...
  4. Sit back and relax.
Apr 4, 2023

Are ETFs a good investment for retirees? ›

Bottom Line. ETF benefits, including simplicity, low expenses and tax efficiency, make ETFs a worthwhile investment for retirement. Popular types of ETFs for retirement include dividend ETFs, fixed-income ETFs and real estate ETFs.

What happens when ETF price gets too high? ›

When an ETF's market price is higher than its NAV, it's trading at a premium; when it's lower, it's trading at a discount. Typically, premiums and discounts arise between an ETF's NAV and its market price as a result of late market activity and will narrow on the following open.

Which ETF goes up when market goes down? ›

An inverse ETF is set up so that its price rises (or falls) when the price of its target asset falls (or rises). This means the ETF performs inversely to the asset it's tracking. For example, an inverse ETF may be based on the S&P 500 index. The ETF is designed to rise as the index falls in value.

Are ETFs safe if the stock market crashes? ›

Investors looking to weather a recession can use exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as one way to reduce risk through diversification. ETFs that specialize in consumer staples and non-cyclicals outperformed the broader market during the Great Recession and are likely to persevere in future downturns.

Should you hold ETFs long term? ›

ETFs are very safe and are an excellent option for long-term investments. According to experts, ETFs are not that volatile and show a slight change in their prices compared to stocks and indices because they are diversified and pooled investments of many investors.

Is it better to hold mutual funds or ETFs? ›

ETFs can be more tax-efficient than actively managed funds due to lower turnover and fewer capital gains. ETFs are bought and sold on an exchange at different prices throughout the day while mutual funds can be bought or sold only once a day at one price.

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