Share Trading: Nominee vs Direct CDS account

Did you ever notice that when you open a share trading account with a broker, they will usually ask you whether you prefers nominee or direct CDS account? For an ordinary investor, we might not really understand what are the differences and benefits that you can enjoy for both types of CDS (Central Depository System) account.

Well, this is the very basic step every share trading investors should find out first, before approaching a share broker. Equipping yourself with the relevant basic knowledge in order to avoid starting at the wrong footstep. Agree?

This article may help you to understand the differences between these two type of account. Please refer to below comparison tables:

Account Opening Stage

How about the Trading Fees?Generally, the charges are the same for both accounts. Whereby, the normal brokerage fee is 0.42% per transaction with minimum RM12 for online transaction or minimum RM40 for offline transaction. Meanwhile, the clearing fee is 0.03% per transaction and stamp duty of RM1 per RM1,000 contract value.

How about Collateral Limit?

For those account which gave you some trading limit based on how much collateral you pledged into your trading account. Collateral such as cash and shares would give you a limit of 2-3 times of the total value pledged. This is good for those traders who want some flexibility, so that he/she still can buy shares although he/she don't has so much cash inside their trading account yet. Of course, investors need to settle the outstanding amount within T+3 trading days.

After Trading Stage

By comparing both account, share investor who owns a Direct Account can enjoy better savings on the "after trading" charges. However ,the main advantage that a Nominees Account holder can enjoy is the service of a share broker. The paperwork of corporate actions sometimes is very hard for investors to understand and make decision. And, many investors might missed out in replying those corporate actions if they were a direct account holder. If you're a nominee account holder, please make full use of your nominee charges. In summary, there is advantages and disadvantages to both accounts.

PS: All Margin/Pledge /Foreign Trading accounts are treated as Nominees CDS account.

This is a guest post contributed by Martin Heng Sin Soon, an Equity Dealer with RHB Investment Bank. You can open both nominee and direct account with him. He can be reached via email heng.sin.soon@rhbgroup.com.my

EPF Rules on Nomination (MUST Read)

There is a chain email spreading about some EPF rules, that makes members worry such as below:

If ONE of your nominees in the EPF nominees list dies, automatically the whole arrangement (EPF Nominees list) is VOID. Meaning if, you only put in ONE name & unfortunately he/she dies before you? Automatically EPF will channel your EPF money to trustee of AMANAH RAYA upon your death.

Upon surrender to trustee of AMANAH RAYA, your children will have to battle the money through 3 channels;

• Majlis Agama
• Pejabat Tanah
• Mahkamah

Is it TRUE ???

According to EPF, if a member has more than one nominee, and one of the nominees dies during the member’s lifetime, ONLY the portion that was bequeathed to the deceased nominee will be invalid.

Should the member later dies without updating his nomination, the other nominees will receive their portion accordingly. Only the portion that was bequeathed to the deceased nominee will be subject to procedures under ‘EPF savings without nomination’ in which the first priority for the right to claim the member's savings goes to the nearest next of kin or the appointed administrator of the deceased member’s estate.

Therefore it is NOT TRUE that if you, as a member, have named more than one nominee, the entire nomination will be void if one of the nominee dies before you. It follows however that if you have named only one nominee and he or she dies before you, the nomination will be void unless a new beneficiary is nominated.

What to do if one of the nominees dies, and I want to change it?

Please note that you DON'T have to produce the death certificate of a deceased nominee to change your nomination. You can change/update your nomination anytime by simply completing a new KWSP 4 (AHL) Form. This will automatically revoke any earlier nomination made.

What if BOTH member and nominee dies together / NO nomination ?

Depending on the amount of savings in the member’s account, if there is NO nomination the procedure will be as follows:

If member’s EPF savings < RM25,000:

• Initial sum of RM2,500 will be paid to the next of kin.
• The balance will be paid after a two-month period from the date of the member’s death.

If member’s EPF savings > RM25,000:

• Initially a sum of RM2,500 will be paid to the next of kin.
• The second payment (not more than RM17,500) will be paid to the next of kin after two months from the date of the member’s death.
• The balance of the savings will be paid upon submitting the Letter of Administration/Letter of Probate/Distribution Order/Faraid Certificate from the party that administers estates such as Amanah Raya Berhad or the Court or the Land Office, respectively. The process to obtain these documents is time consuming and certain fees will also need to be paid. On the other hand, with nomination, no fees need to be paid.

As such, this is precisely why nominating is very important. You should also ensure that you update your beneficiary whenever there are any major life changes such as marriage, additional new members or the death of a nominated beneficiary.

Source: EPF