Versa Malaysia has been gaining attention as a convenient platform for managing cash and growing investments. 

Designed for Malaysians seeking a balance between accessibility and flexibility, Versa offers two key products: Versa Cash, a low-risk cash management solution, and Versa Growth, an option for those looking to invest in global assets.

In this review, I’ll share my firsthand experience, breaking down what worked, what didn’t, and whether Versa is worth your time and money.

Features and Offerings

Versa Malaysia provides three main products tailored to suit different financial goals, including short-term savings, long-term wealth growth, and retirement planning with various PRS (Private Retirement Scheme) options:

1. Versa Save

• A money market fund designed for cash management.
• Offers competitive returns compared to traditional savings accounts.
• Provides daily returns without locking in your funds, making it ideal for parking emergency savings or short-term goals.
• Low minimum deposit, allowing accessibility for all income levels.

2. Versa Invest

• An investment product focused on growing wealth through diversified portfolios.
• Suitable for individuals looking for long-term investment opportunities.
• Offers automatic reinvestment to optimize growth potential.

3. Versa Retirement

• Tailored for individuals planning for retirement.
• Offers a range of funds to suit different risk appetites and retirement goals.
• Tax relief benefits for contributions up to RM3,000 per year, providing additional savings incentives.
• Ideal for building a retirement nest egg with a disciplined, long-term approach.

Key Features

• Low Barrier to Entry: Start with as little as RM1 for Versa Cash and RM100 for Versa Growth.
• No Lock-in Periods: Withdraw funds anytime without penalties.
• User-Friendly App: Intuitive interface with easy access to portfolio details, returns, and transaction history.
• Diversification: Portfolios designed to balance risk and reward through varied asset allocation.
• Transparent Fee Structure: Versa does not charge direct fees for investing in their funds, but investors should be aware of the fees imposed by the fund managers.
• Fee Calculation and Payment: All fees are calculated daily based on the Net Asset Value (NAV) and automatically accrued. Investors don’t need to take action, as the fees are paid monthly to the fund managers.

Personal Experience

My experience with Versa Malaysia was a mix of promising features and a few frustrating setbacks. 

While the platform offers a user-friendly interface and low barriers to entry, I encountered some challenges that impacted my overall impression.

1. Fund Processing Time

One of the major drawbacks I faced was the time it took for my funds to be invested into Versa Growth, their product focused on U.S. assets. 

The process took nearly a week, which felt unnecessarily long compared to other platforms I’ve used. 

For those eager to see their money put to work immediately, this delay can be discouraging.

2. Over-Diversification

Versa Growth’s portfolio felt overly diversified to me. While diversification is essential for managing risk, I found the allocation to be spread too thin across various funds. 

This approach may dilute growth potential, especially for those looking for higher returns. 

A more targeted portfolio might appeal to users who prioritize growth over broad risk management.

3. Ease of Use

On the positive side, I found the Versa app intuitive and simple to navigate. The dashboard clearly displays returns, portfolio composition, and transaction history, making it easy for users to track their investments. 

Summary of Fees

When investing in the Invest funds through Versa, you will not incur any fees from Versa. However, the fund managers will charge the following fees:

Portfolios	Funds	Annual Management fee	Trustee fee
Core portfolio	Versa Growth	1.50% p.a	0.04% p.a
	Versa Moderate	1.50% p.a	0.04% p.a
	Versa Growth-i	1.50% p.a	0.07% p.a
	Versa Moderate-i	1.50% p.a	0.08% p.a
Thematic Portfolios	Versa REITs	1.80% p.a	0.07% p.a
	Versa Global-i	1.80% p.a	0.05% p.a
	Versa SGD	1.50% p.a	0.08% p.a
	Versa Gold	0.30% p.a	0.03% p.a

 

Read more about Versa’s fees here!

Example of Fees

Here’s a fee structure example based on investments of RM100, RM1,000, and RM10,000, highlighting the annual management fee and trustee fee for each portfolio:

Portfolio	Investment Amount (RM)	Annual Management Fee	Trustee Fee	Total Annual Fee (RM)	Monthly Fee (RM)
Versa Growth	100	1.50% (RM1.50)	0.04% (RM0.04)	RM1.54	RM0.13
	1,000	1.50% (RM15.00)	0.04% (RM0.40)	RM15.40	RM1.28
	10,000	1.50% (RM150.00)	0.04% (RM4.00)	RM154.00	RM12.83
Versa Moderate	100	1.50% (RM1.50)	0.04% (RM0.04)	RM1.54	RM0.13
	1,000	1.50% (RM15.00)	0.04% (RM0.40)	RM15.40	RM1.28
	10,000	1.50% (RM150.00)	0.04% (RM4.00)	RM154.00	RM12.83
Versa REITs	100	1.80% (RM1.80)	0.07% (RM0.07)	RM1.87	RM0.16
	1,000	1.80% (RM18.00)	0.07% (RM0.70)	RM18.70	RM1.56
	10,000	1.80% (RM180.00)	0.07% (RM7.00)	RM187.00	RM15.58
Versa Gold	100	0.30% (RM0.30)	0.03% (RM0.03)	RM0.33	RM0.03
	1,000	0.30% (RM3.00)	0.03% (RM0.30)	RM3.30	RM0.28
	10,000	0.30% (RM30.00)	0.03% (RM3.00)	RM33.00	RM2.75

How the Fees Work:

• Annual Management Fee: Calculated as a percentage of the investment amount per year.
• Trustee Fee: Also calculated annually as a smaller percentage.
• Total Annual Fee: The sum of the management and trustee fees.
• Monthly Fee: The total annual fee divided by 12 for an approximate monthly cost.

Pros and Cons of Versa Malaysia

Pros

1. Low Barrier to Entry: Versa Cash requires only RM1 to start, and Versa Growth begins at RM100, making it accessible to most Malaysians.
2. No Lock-In Period: Funds can be withdrawn anytime without penalties, offering flexibility for users.
3. Competitive Returns for Versa Cash: Provides better returns compared to traditional savings accounts, making it ideal for short-term cash management.
4. User-Friendly Interface: The app is intuitive and provides clear insights into your portfolio and transaction history.
5. Global Investment Exposure: Versa Growth offers exposure to U.S. assets, allowing users to diversify beyond Malaysian markets.
6. No Direct Fees from Versa: Users benefit from zero platform fees when investing, keeping the process straightforward.
7. Transparent Fund Manager Fees: The clear breakdown of management and trustee fees allows users to understand the cost structure upfront.
8. Daily Fee Calculation: Ensures precise charges based on the current NAV, with no hidden or unexpected costs.
9. Retirement Planning with PRS: Versa’s PRS funds help individuals save for retirement while offering up to RM3,000 in annual tax relief, making it an attractive option for retirement planning.

Cons

1. Lengthy Processing Times: Investments into Versa Growth can take up to a week to process, which might frustrate users expecting quicker turnaround times.
2. Over-Diversification: The Versa Growth portfolio feels overly spread out, which can dilute returns for users looking for higher growth potential.
3. Limited Customization: Users cannot tailor their investment portfolios, restricting flexibility for those with specific investment strategies.
4. Competition Offers Faster Processing: Other platforms like StashAway and Wahed Invest process funds faster, which may make Versa less appealing to some.
5. High Fees for Some Portfolios: Thematic portfolios like Versa REITs and Versa Global-i come with higher fees (1.80% annual management), which may eat into returns over time.
6. Passive Fee Deduction: While convenient, the automatic deduction process may feel too detached for users who prefer greater control over their expenses.

To check out other alternative platforms on growing your cash with roboadvisors, check out my article on:

• StashAway Malaysia
• Wahed Malaysia
• StashAway vs Wahed

Conclusion

Versa Malaysia is a solid option for Malaysians seeking a straightforward platform to manage cash and invest with minimal effort. 

With its low entry requirements, no lock-in periods, and user-friendly app, it caters well to beginners or those looking for a hands-off approach to personal finance.

If you’re looking for a simple and flexible way to grow your savings without committing to high-risk investments, Versa Malaysia is worth trying. 

Have you tried Versa? Or are you thinking about starting? I’d love to hear about your experiences and any questions you may have! 

Drop a comment below to share your thoughts, or feel free to reach out directly to me via email [email protected] 

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