--- title: "All you need to know to start investing with StashAway Malaysia" description: "Discover how StashAway simplifies investing in Malaysia with low fees, personalized portfolios, and robo-advisor technology. Perfect for beginners and experienced investors alike. Start building your wealth today!" url: "https://www.mrmoneytv.com/articles/all-you-need-to-know-to-start-investing-with-stashaway-malaysia/" category: "Personal Finance" author: "Finlit" published: 2025-01-07 updated: 2025-10-07 source: "Mr Money TV" --- # All you need to know to start investing with StashAway Malaysia Discover how StashAway simplifies investing in Malaysia with low fees, personalized portfolios, and robo-advisor technology. Perfect for beginners and experienced investors alike. Start building your wealth today! ## Key takeaways - StashAway fees range from 0.2% to 0.8% per year, far below the typical unit trust charge of 5% upfront plus a 2% annual management fee. - StashAway is an algorithm-based robo-advisor that builds a low-cost ETF portfolio matched to your risk profile and rebalances it (buying and selling) automatically, so you never pick individual securities. - It is licensed by the Securities Commission Malaysia, and investors' money is held by custodian banks Citibank and HSBC, kept separate from StashAway's operating funds. - On top of the management fee, expect ETF costs averaging 0.15% to 0.25% and a 0.29% currency conversion fee, well below the 1% to 3% that retail banks charge to convert currency. - StashAway charges nothing to open, close, or withdraw from an account, and rebalancing and re-optimisation costs are already built into the stated fees. - Portfolio options include General Investing, Thematic and Flexible Portfolios, Shariah-compliant funds, and StashAway Simple for growing cash. [![A StashAway Banner](../../assets/articles/all-you-need-to-know-to-start-investing-with-stashaway-malaysia/img-1.png)](https://finlit.my/MMTVSA) Speaking of financial literacy, we all have probably heard the old adage of “*In the long run, it’s not just how much money you make that will determine your future prosperity. It’s how much of that money you put to work by saving it and investing it*.” But, the real question is how exactly do we do it? ### UPDATED (8 Oct 2025): #### Guess what? We launched our own budgeting app. #### Even better, a personal assistant on all your money matters, right inside your WhatsApp. #### It’s FREE - register [here](https://moneymama.co/). One of the ways is to build wealth, and more often than not, the first thing that comes to mind is to start an investment. However, to some newbies or even experienced investors, it could sometimes get quite overwhelming. But wait, what if there is actually a way to invest in an easy, simple and most importantly, effective way? The answer could be [**StashAway**](https://finlit.my/MMTVSA) - a digital wealth management platform that allows you to build an investment portfolio that is tailored to you and your financial goals. It uses an algorithm based robo-advisor that will monitor your investments and do the necessary rebalancing in your account (*selling and buying*) to suit your investment goals. Read on as we share more in this [StashAway](https://finlit.my/MMTVSA) review: ## How does StashAway work? The aptly named [StashAway](https://finlit.my/MMTVSA) provides a simple investing solution - you stash your money away and invest in a low-cost, risk-managed portfolio of Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF).  ETF allows for an investment in a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, or other assets without the need to pick individual securities. Instead of having to worry about which stock will perform best, an ETF gives you exposure to a broad range of companies or industries, and spreads out your risk. Investing in an ETF also allows for a more passive investment that does not require us to constantly monitor our portfolios. With the robo-advisor technology, [StashAway](https://finlit.my/MMTVSA) automates the investment and builds a portfolio that is customized to the investor’s risk profile and subsequently monitors the investment. The platform also allows recurring transfers and keeps investors informed by sending regular updates from its CIO. With its low and transparent fee structure, it's pretty much a comfortable place for anyone to start investing. ## Who is StashAway suitable for? [StashAway](https://finlit.my/MMTVSA) is great for beginners, because it takes out the guesswork and reduces the anxiety that comes with investing for the first time. Nevertheless, it is also still a smart and reliable investment option for anyone with any investment experience level, because it builds a diversified portfolio and manages risk effectively. Nobody needs to be a market expert to get started investing in [StashAway](https://finlit.my/MMTVSA).  ## How about StashAway fees? Compared to unit trust funds that typically come with a 5% upfront sales charge and a 2% annual management fee, [StashAway](https://finlit.my/MMTVSA) fees only range from 0.2% to 0.8% per year. The annual management fee in [StashAway](https://finlit.my/MMTVSA) is calculated as a percentage of the total assets under management and is charged monthly on a pro-rated basis. The other fee included is the low fee associated with the ETFs, averaging 0.15% - 0.25%. Other than that, a currency conversion fee is charged at 0.29% of the transaction amount, which is the fees charged by [StashAway](https://finlit.my/MMTVSA) vendors, but is a lot better against the higher currency conversion fees charged by commercial/retail banks (1-3% depending on transaction size). [StashAway](https://finlit.my/MMTVSA) does not charge for: - Withdrawals - Opening an account - Closing an account They also provide unlimited and free: - Withdrawals - Switching or transfers between portfolios Whatever costs related to rebalancing, and re-optimisation are already included in the said fees percentage above. ## Is StashAway safe? [StashAway](https://finlit.my/MMTVSA) is licensed by the Securities Commission Malaysia, and all investors' money are held safely by custodian banks, namely Citibank and HSBC.  They don’t mix up their operation funds with investor’s money, by using an SC licensed trustee, so that also makes it secure. The system adopts a strict withdrawal verification, with a 2-factor identification in place for login. ## What type of investments are offered by StashAway? [StashAway](https://finlit.my/MMTVSA) provides a few ways to start investment. Depending on what your goals are, you can select from: 1. General investing for the long run 2. Thematic portfolios if you wish to invest in certain technologies 3. Flexible Portfolios where you can pick the asset classes you want, decide their exact allocations, and change them any time 4. Grow cash with [StashAway Simple](https://finlit.my/MMTVSA) 5. Projected 3.6% return per annum 6. Shariah compliant funds 7. Perfect for saving for retirement, education, or something on your wishlist ## Start investing with StashAway So there it is, we have covered all the essentials that you need to know before starting to invest with StashAway. It could be the best solution if you are looking for a simplified, stress-free and low-risk platform to invest in. It could also be a great place for you to start growing cash for your travel or wishlist sinking fund through [StashAway Simple](https://finlit.my/MMTVSA). Whatever it is, we hope it will help you reach your financial goals in time. Visit [StashAway's website](https://finlit.my/MMTVSA) or download the [StashAway](https://finlit.my/MMTVSA) app from Google Play Store or Apple Appstore to get started with your investment! ## How to to sign up and set up a portfolio on StashAway: Getting started with [StashAway](https://finlit.my/MMTVSA) is easy! All you need to do is download the app from Google Play Store or Apple App Store, and just follow the steps outlined below: Click on the Sign Up button to begin: ![Creating a new account](../../assets/articles/all-you-need-to-know-to-start-investing-with-stashaway-malaysia/img-2.png) Select “Create a New Account” : ![Login Preferences](../../assets/articles/all-you-need-to-know-to-start-investing-with-stashaway-malaysia/img-3.png) Choose your authentication method, whether to use Face ID or PIN: ![Entering details for account creation](../../assets/articles/all-you-need-to-know-to-start-investing-with-stashaway-malaysia/img-4.png) Enter your details into the form: ![Checking your eligibility](../../assets/articles/all-you-need-to-know-to-start-investing-with-stashaway-malaysia/img-5.png) Answer questions related to your eligibility: ![A financial assessment for StashAway](../../assets/articles/all-you-need-to-know-to-start-investing-with-stashaway-malaysia/img-6.png) StashAway will begin a financial assessment to customise your portfolio: Once done, you can start setting-up your investment portfolio. For this guide, let’s go for General Investing. ![An investment guide for StashAway](../../assets/articles/all-you-need-to-know-to-start-investing-with-stashaway-malaysia/img-7.png) Select the “Invest for long-term wealth” option: ![A choice for manual or auto investing](../../assets/articles/all-you-need-to-know-to-start-investing-with-stashaway-malaysia/img-8.png) Choose the “Hands-off” option to let StashAway manage the investment for you: ![A page for managing your investment portfolio](../../assets/articles/all-you-need-to-know-to-start-investing-with-stashaway-malaysia/img-9.png) Select “General Investing” and then tap on “Explore”: ![A general investing guide by StashAway](../../assets/articles/all-you-need-to-know-to-start-investing-with-stashaway-malaysia/img-10.png) Here, it'll show you the details for your portfolio depending on your risk appetite: ![A risk level for StashAway's general investing](../../assets/articles/all-you-need-to-know-to-start-investing-with-stashaway-malaysia/img-11.png) You will be asked to select your risk appetite by sliding the button up and down the range: ![Setting up your investment portfolio](../../assets/articles/all-you-need-to-know-to-start-investing-with-stashaway-malaysia/img-12.png) Name your investment portfolio accordingly so that you can easily manage it later, and select “Create Portfolio”: Once your portfolio is set up, you'll be taken to the deposit page. Here, you can choose from three options: direct debit (quick and easy from your bank account), manual deposit (online transfer), or asset transfer (move investments from another portfolio). ![Choices to fund your investment portfolio](../../assets/articles/all-you-need-to-know-to-start-investing-with-stashaway-malaysia/img-13.png) Do note that first time deposits will take up to 6 business days to process, according to [StashAway’s](https://finlit.my/MMTVSA) e-mandate with banks that ensure security. ![A note that processing might take up to 6 days](../../assets/articles/all-you-need-to-know-to-start-investing-with-stashaway-malaysia/img-14.png) You will be asked to fill in your personal and account details for deposits. ![Setting up your account details](../../assets/articles/all-you-need-to-know-to-start-investing-with-stashaway-malaysia/img-15.png) Then you are given a choice of a one-time deposit or a recurring deposit. ![A choice of scheduling or one-time deposits](../../assets/articles/all-you-need-to-know-to-start-investing-with-stashaway-malaysia/img-16.png) After choosing which type of deposit you want, you can enter the amount to deposit. ![Reviewing your bank details](../../assets/articles/all-you-need-to-know-to-start-investing-with-stashaway-malaysia/img-17.png) Then review your details & deposit, and you’re done! ![Review of your banking details](../../assets/articles/all-you-need-to-know-to-start-investing-with-stashaway-malaysia/img-18.png) That’s it! Once everything is completed, you will get a confirmation for your registration and  your account will be up and running within 1-3 business days. After you’ve deposited, you can look at the performance details of your investment in the ‘General Investing’ tab. Here, it will show you the current value of your investments, and the total returns that you’ve had overtime. ![The general investing tab to keep track of your investments](../../assets/articles/all-you-need-to-know-to-start-investing-with-stashaway-malaysia/img-19.png) Under the assets tab in ‘General Investing’, you can also browse through the different investments that StashAway has made. ![Assets under general investments](../../assets/articles/all-you-need-to-know-to-start-investing-with-stashaway-malaysia/img-20.png) After you’ve completed all the steps, this is what your page will look like. Here you will be able to browse through performance graphs, and the different investments you’ve made! ![The performance page of your investments](../../assets/articles/all-you-need-to-know-to-start-investing-with-stashaway-malaysia/img-21.png) It’s 2025, a new year for new opportunities! Click the button below if you’re interested in getting started on your investment journey. 👇🏼 [Sign Up Here!](https://finlit.my/MMTVSA) And don't forget to tune into our video where we dive into [StashAway's](https://finlit.my/MMTVSA) performance over the years! You'll be interested to hear what we found 👀 ## Frequently asked questions ### How much does StashAway charge in fees? StashAway's annual management fee ranges from 0.2% to 0.8%, charged monthly on a pro-rated basis on your total assets under management. On top of that, the ETFs carry an average cost of 0.15% to 0.25%, and currency conversion is charged at 0.29% of the transaction amount. There is no charge to open, close, or withdraw, and rebalancing and re-optimisation are already covered in those fees. ### Is StashAway safe in Malaysia? Yes. StashAway is licensed by the Securities Commission Malaysia, and investors' money is held by custodian banks Citibank and HSBC. Operating funds are kept separate from investors' money through an SC-licensed trustee, which adds security. The system also uses strict withdrawal verification and 2-factor identification for login. ### How does StashAway work? StashAway invests your money in a low-cost, risk-managed portfolio of Exchange-Traded Funds. Its algorithm-based robo-advisor builds a portfolio customised to your risk profile, then monitors it and rebalances by buying and selling to match your goals. Because an ETF spreads your risk across many companies or industries, you do not have to pick individual securities or watch your portfolio constantly. ### How long does a StashAway deposit take to process? First-time deposits take up to 6 business days to process, under StashAway's e-mandate with banks that ensures security. Your account itself is up and running within 1 to 3 business days once registration is confirmed. You can fund the portfolio by direct debit from your bank account, manual online transfer, or by transferring assets from another portfolio. ### Is StashAway good for beginners? Yes. StashAway is built for beginners because it takes out the guesswork and reduces the anxiety of investing for the first time, building a diversified portfolio and managing risk for you. You do not need to be a market expert to start. It also remains a smart, reliable option for investors with any level of experience who want a passive, hands-off approach.