Read a blog post from betterment recently, explaining why they do NOT use currency-hedged ETFs for stocks, but they do for bonds.
https://www.betterment.com/resources/investment-strategy/why-international-bonds-but-not-currency-risk-belong-in-your-portfolio/
and then some point & counterpoint interview:
http://www.etf.com/sections/features-and-news/currency-hedge-your-etf-or-not/
The gist of their argument comes to expenses. I currently have DXGE (ER = 0.46) and HGEU (ER = 0.29), both of which I can get from Schwab w/o additional trade fees. Over the past 1-2 years, they have done OK certainly better than unhedged counterparts given Euro ~ Dollar moves. I do not have a crystal ball, but with interest rates going up in the US and negative in many parts of Europe, all the uncertainty about the dissolution of the EU, I am a bit antsy about not hedging at least somewhat -- and yes only a little, since I index my entire tax-protected portfolio, which for Europe & developed markets is almost entirely VEA with a sprinkling of VSS and these are NOT currency hedged.
With the ER on my hedged ETFs being not too bad, any thoughts?
https://www.betterment.com/resources/investment-strategy/why-international-bonds-but-not-currency-risk-belong-in-your-portfolio/
and then some point & counterpoint interview:
http://www.etf.com/sections/features-and-news/currency-hedge-your-etf-or-not/
The gist of their argument comes to expenses. I currently have DXGE (ER = 0.46) and HGEU (ER = 0.29), both of which I can get from Schwab w/o additional trade fees. Over the past 1-2 years, they have done OK certainly better than unhedged counterparts given Euro ~ Dollar moves. I do not have a crystal ball, but with interest rates going up in the US and negative in many parts of Europe, all the uncertainty about the dissolution of the EU, I am a bit antsy about not hedging at least somewhat -- and yes only a little, since I index my entire tax-protected portfolio, which for Europe & developed markets is almost entirely VEA with a sprinkling of VSS and these are NOT currency hedged.
With the ER on my hedged ETFs being not too bad, any thoughts?
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