iShares Gold Trust

IAU expense ratio is 0.25%, which is the annual cost of holding the ETF relative to its assets. A lower ratio means more of your return stays with you. Another figure you will often see is the ETF's assets under management (AUM), which simply reflects its total size and how much money investors have placed in it.

It depends on the type of ETF. Distributing ETFs pass the dividends from their underlying holdings on to you in cash, usually a few times a year. Accumulating ETFs reinvest those dividends inside the ETF so your position grows automatically. As an investor in Latin America, any cash distributions land in your brokerage account in the ETF's currency, and many platforms let you reinvest them with a single tap.

Investors in Latin America can buy foreign ETFs through international and regional brokerage and investment platforms. You simply need a valid government ID or passport to get started.

Yes. Through fractional investing, you can invest exactly the amount you want, starting with as little as $1 or $5 USD (depending on what investment platform you use), and own a proportional piece of the ETF.

Many investors in Latin America buy international ETFs like IAU to preserve their purchasing power. Because IAU is priced in a foreign currency, the investment is exposed to that currency. If your local currency depreciates against the foreign currency, usually the US dollar or the euro, your portfolio's value in local currency moves with the foreign currency. This may help preserve purchasing power.

No. A common misconception is that you need a foreign bank account or a foreign visa to invest in international ETFs. Today, investment platforms allow you to fund your account with local bank transfers or local payment methods from your home country.