Your unit trust is paying someone else. Build your own ETF portfolio instead.
A step-by-step video course that shows Malaysians how to invest in global ETFs directly. No stock picking. No middleman fees. A portfolio you only need to check once or twice a year.
US$100 off with code EC2610, applied automatically at checkout.Ends 15 Oct 2026 (11:59 PM Malaysia Time).
John HuoSIDC-certified trainer. Has taught 8,000+ Malaysians to invest since 2017.
8,000+ Malaysians trainedCertified trainer under SIDCSpoken at Astro Awani, Bursa Malaysia & NSTInvesting internationally since 2014
A personal message from John
Dear future ETF investor,
Let me tell you about one of our clients. Over the years he had put hundreds of thousands of ringgit into unit trusts. When we sat down and reviewed his returns, he nearly fainted.
His portfolio didn't even beat fixed deposit rates. The person who did well was the salesperson, thanks to fat commissions and annual fees.
My partner Kevin and I have managed millions in client money, and yes, we charge for that. But we keep meeting people who don't want high risk, aren't into stock picking, and don't want to pay recurring fees. They want something simple, stable and proven.
Our answer to them is always the same: look into ETFs.
If you've lost money in unit trusts
If you withdrew your EPF to invest and it underperformed EPF's own dividend
If picking stocks feels overwhelming or downright stressful
If you want your money to grow quietly, checking in once a year
then this is for you. It isn't flashy and it isn't complicated. It's backed by data, and it's what Warren Buffett says most people should do. I'll walk you through it step by step, even if you've never invested before, or you've been burned and feel hesitant to try again.
John HuoFounder, VUCA Insights
Sound familiar?
Most investing strategies don't work for the average Malaysian.
Follow them and you might end up losing money. Many people try one or two, watch their hard-earned savings go up in smoke, and quietly decide:
"Maybe investing just isn't for me."
There's a simpler way. It works if you have no experience, no time to research, or only a few hours a year to look at your portfolio. And no, it's not a get-rich-quick scheme.
Buying stocks on tips or newsBurned
Options or copy tradingBurned
Chart analysisBurned
Swing or momentum tradingBurned
Owning low-cost index ETFs, held long termWorks
The method Buffett recommends for most people
By periodically investing in an index fund, the know-nothing investor can actually out-perform most investment professionals. Paradoxically, when 'dumb' money acknowledges its limitations, it ceases to be dumb.
Warren Buffett
Bought like a stock
An ETF trades on an exchange just like a normal share, through any brokerage account.
Owns a whole basket
Instead of one company, you own an index that tracks hundreds of them, like the S&P 500.
No fund manager to pay
The index follows set rules, so costs are a fraction of a percent a year, versus 1.8% for a typical unit trust.
RM10,000 in an S&P 500 ETF, Jan 2013 to Dec 2025
RM10,000 became RM53,045. Fees took only RM1,510.
An S&P 500 ETF owns America's 500 leading companies in one purchase. Hold it for 13 years, pay a conservative 0.44% a year in ETF costs, and your money grows more than fivefold, about 13.7% a year in ringgit, without picking a single stock.
RM10,000 after fees: ETF vs robo-advisor vs unit trust
Value at the end of each year. 2023 to 2025 use actual returns in ringgit. Hover or tap a year to compare.
ETF direct RM53,045
Robo-advisor RM32,724
Unit trust RM28,126
RM10,000 invested
Fees you pay each year
0.44% a year. Grows with your balance, from RM50 to RM234.
Total fees over 13 years on RM10,000
ETF directRM1,510
Robo-advisorRM2,545
Unit trustRM4,736
See the numbers, year by year (values after fees)
Year
S&P 500 that year
ETF fees that year
ETF direct
Robo-advisor
Unit trust
Model by VUCA Insights, updated to Dec 2025. 2013 to 2022 grow at the S&P 500's 10-year average of 12.6% a year including dividends. 2023 to 2025 use the S&P 500's actual total return converted to ringgit (+31.7%, +21.7% and +7.0%; the ringgit's 9% rebound in 2025 trimmed that year). Less 0.44% a year in estimated ETF costs. Real markets don't rise in a straight line (see the year-by-year record further down). Past performance does not guarantee future returns.
The 13-year race
Same money, same 13 years. Very different endings.
Now compare the alternatives. VUCA Insights modelled the same RM10,000 over the same 13 years (2013 to 2025) in three ways, after all fees. Move the slider to see it with your own amount.
Drag to change the starting amount (RM5,000 to RM300,000).
Unit trust5.5% sales charge + 1.8% a year
RM28,126
Robo-advisor0.8% platform fee + 0.2% ETF fees a year
RM32,724
ETF, held directly~0.44% a year. What this course teaches.
RM53,045
RM24,918more than the unit trust
RM20,321more than the robo-advisor
Modelled by VUCA Insights on a RM10,000 lump sum held Jan 2013 to Dec 2025. 2013 to 2022 use 10-year average returns: S&P 500 12.6% including dividends; StashAway General Investing at 30% risk 9.64%; Public Mutual Global Select Fund 10.4%. 2023 to 2025 use each one's actual returns in ringgit: S&P 500 total return converted at year-end exchange rates; StashAway's published 30%-risk returns; and the fund's published 10-year average of 9.89% a year, net of fees. Costs: ETF 0.44% a year; robo 0.8% management + 0.2% ETF fees + 0.1% currency conversion; unit trust 5.5% sales charge + 1.8% a year. Excludes taxes. Past performance does not guarantee future returns.
Why unit trusts lag
RM550 gone on day one from a 5.5% sales charge on RM10,000
Another 1.8% management fee every year, win or lose
Even a strong fund (about 10% a year) costs you RM4,736 in fees over 13 years on RM10,000
Why robo-advisors lag
Convenient, but they add a ~0.8% middleman fee on top of the ETF's own fee
Historically they've underperformed the S&P 500 (9.64% a year vs 12.6%)
You're paying yearly for something you can learn to do once
Why ETFs held directly win
No sales charge, no platform fee. About 0.44% a year
Instant diversification across hundreds of companies
The savings stay invested and compound every year
See the S&P 500's year-by-year record, 2013 to 2025
Year
Total return (USD, with dividends)
2025
+17.88%
2024
+25.02%
2023
+26.29%
2022
−18.11%
2021
+28.71%
2020
+18.40%
2019
+31.49%
2018
−4.38%
2017
+21.83%
2016
+11.96%
2015
+1.38%
2014
+13.69%
2013
+32.39%
Source: S&P Dow Jones Indices total return series. Two down years out of thirteen, and a patient holder still came out far ahead. In ringgit, 2023 to 2025 were +31.7%, +21.7% and +7.0%.
So why isn't everyone doing this?
Because buying a global ETF from Malaysia feels intimidating.
If you've never even bought a Bursa stock, the questions pile up fast:
Where do I even start?
Which ETFs should I buy, and which should I avoid?
What strategy do I follow once I'm in?
Won't I lose out on currency conversion?
Isn't the US market more volatile?
Is my money actually safe with a foreign broker?
ETF Compounders answers every one of these, in order.
Introducing ETF Compounders
A complete system to invest in ETFs yourself, and keep the fees.
By the end you'll own a globally diversified portfolio that needs very little management and works toward your long-term goals.
Bite-sized video lessons
Short, easy-to-watch lessons at your own pace. Complete beginners get the basics fast and feel confident enough to act.
Your brokerage account, set up with you
Click-by-click guidance to open an international brokerage account and fund it, so you can buy global ETFs like the S&P 500 within hours.
A strategy built for the long run
Grounded in long-term growth, not hype or speculation. Maximise returns while spending minimal time on your portfolio.
Course curriculum
From "what is an ETF?" to your first purchase.
11 chapters38 lessons3 hours of videoQuizzes to check yourself
ETF buying approach, part 1: valuation range & DCA
ETF buying approach, part 2: valuation range & DCA
Combining ETFs with active investing
…and more
Included bonus
Your Starter ETF Portfolio
Worth RM1,299. Yours free with the course.
Investing in your first ETF can feel scary, even with all the guidance. So John hands you a curated starter portfolio of timeless, sustainable ETFs that anyone in the program can use as their base.
It's built to keep volatility down, spread your coverage, and hedge against currency swings. And it doesn't need constant "rebalancing" the way robo-advisors push. Less is more.
You'll learn exactly how to build it, step by step, with real case studies.
Fund names revealed inside the course. Average 10-year CAGR of the five ETFs: 14.78%.
What makes it different
Built by a Malaysian, for Malaysians.
Most ETF guides online are written for Americans. This one is about investing globally from Malaysia, with no jargon and no irrelevant advice.
The right broker
Which platforms Malaysians can actually use, how they compare, and how to open and fund your account safely.
Tax & currency, explained
How foreign taxes and withholding work for you, and how to move ringgit abroad without losing out on conversion.
Shariah-compliant option
A dedicated chapter and guide for investors who want a Shariah-compliant ETF portfolio.
Your instructor
Learn from someone who walks the talk.
Since 2017, John Huo has trained over 8,000 Malaysians to invest smarter in the stock market. He's a certified trainer under SIDC, the education arm of the Securities Commission Malaysia, and has spoken on Astro Awani, at Bursa Malaysia and in The New Straits Times.
8,000+Malaysians trained since 2017
15%+a year, his family portfolio in USD over 11 years
2014investing internationally since
Since 2014 he's managed his own family's portfolio internationally, earning over 15% a year in US dollar terms. Not just riding a weakening ringgit. It's the same approach he teaches in ETF Compounders.
A note from KC Lau
Why I'm putting my name next to John's.
I've known John for years. We're both authors with AcePremier, and I've watched him help thousands of Malaysians invest without the hype. A few reasons I trust him:
I never miss his sessions. When I'm too busy to attend live, I watch the replay.
He sees what others miss. John has introduced me to many companies that were completely off my radar.
I trust him with my own money. I've handed John and Kevin hundreds of thousands to invest on my behalf.
ETF Compounders is the simplest thing John teaches, and for most people it's the right place to start. That's why I asked to share it with you.
KC LauAuthor, investor & founder of kclau.com
Fellow authors Ian Tai, John Huo and I, with our publisher John Lim of AcePremier.John, me and Kevin, John's investment partner and a full-time fund manager.When John visited me in Taipei.
Why it pays for itself
One avoided sales charge covers the course.
Here's the payback on a RM25,000 unit trust investment, the kind of amount many people move in a single top-up.
RM1,375Lost on day one to a 5.5% unit trust sales charge
+
RM450Lost every year to a 1.8% management fee
vs
≈ RM850≈ RM1,270ETF Compounders, once (US$199 with code EC2610US$299). Yours for life.
Skip just one sales charge and the course has paid for itself before your first year is out. Over 13 years, the race above shows what's really at stake: about RM25,000 extra for every RM10,000 you invest. That could mean working a year less, funding a child's university, or simply sleeping better.
What happens after you enroll
You could own your first ETF this week.
Enroll and get instant access
Checkout takes a minute on VUCA Insights' secure course platform. All 38 lessons, the Starter ETF Portfolio and the Shariah guide unlock right away.
Learn at your own pace
Work through the short videos in a weekend or over a few weeks. Quizzes help you check your understanding as you go.
Open your account and buy
Follow the click-by-click broker setup, fund it, and buy your first ETF. Then check in once or twice a year.
Secure checkout on academy.vucainsights.com. Price in US dollars; your card converts at its own rate.
Try it for 10 days. Love it or get every cent back.
Join, explore the lessons, start building your portfolio. If it isn't right for you, for any reason, tell the VUCA Insights team at hello@vucainsights.com within 10 days and you'll get a full refund. No hoops, no hard feelings.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
I have zero investing experience. Is this for me?
Absolutely. ETF Compounders is designed for beginners. You get step-by-step guidance in plain English, explained in a Malaysian context. If you can follow simple instructions, you can do this.
How much money can I make investing in ETFs?
It depends on how much you invest and how long you stay invested. Historically, broad-market ETFs like the S&P 500 have delivered around 10 to 12% a year, though returns are never guaranteed. What matters most is avoiding high fees and poor-performing funds that eat into your gains.
How often do I need to manage my portfolio?
Once it's set up, you can check it once or twice a year. No daily tracking, no constant adjustments. It's a long-term, low-maintenance strategy that runs in the background while you live your life.
The price is in US dollars. What will I pay in ringgit?
Until 15 Oct 2026 (11:59 PM Malaysia Time) the course is US$199 with code EC2610, roughly RM850, paid once.US$299 is roughly RM1,270, paid once. Your card or bank converts it at its own exchange rate on the day. There are no recurring charges.
What if it's not right for me?
You're covered by a 10-day money-back guarantee. Email hello@vucainsights.com within 10 days of enrolling and you'll get a full refund.
Can you just invest in ETFs for me?
This course doesn't manage money for you. It gives you everything you need to manage your own portfolio confidently, so you stay in control, save the fees, and learn a skill for life.
I already use a robo-advisor. Why switch?
Robo-advisors are convenient but add an extra fee on top of the ETFs they hold, and have typically underperformed DIY ETF investing. You'll learn to cut out the middleman and keep more of your returns.
I'm already investing in unit trusts. Is this still useful?
Very. You'll see clearly how your funds are performing, where the fees are hiding, and whether you're getting your money's worth. Then you can compare and decide for yourself.
Is there a Shariah-compliant option?
Yes. Chapter 9 covers Shariah-compliant ETF investing, and you get the ETF Compounders Shariah ETF guide.
Is this only for Malaysians?
No. The strategy works anywhere you can access a global brokerage. The Malaysian-specific guidance (brokers, tax, currency conversion) is a bonus if you're here.
How is this different from free YouTube videos?
YouTube is scattered, often outdated, and rarely tailored to Malaysian investors. ETF Compounders is one structured path that cuts through the noise and gets you from zero to your first ETF.
What happens after I sign up?
You get instant access to all the video lessons, worksheets and the bonus Starter ETF Portfolio. Start right away and go at your own pace. You'll also join a private community where you can ask questions and learn alongside others.
Stop paying middlemen. Start compounding.
Build your ETF portfolio with confidence, even if you're starting from scratch. Set it up once, check in once a year, and be smarter with money.
