Semmie Review (2025): What You Need to Know as a Belgian Investor

In April 2025, Saxo Bank announced that it would transfer its SaxoWealthCare portfolios to Semmie, a Dutch digital wealth manager. For thousands of investors, this means their portfolios will now be managed by a different party often without them having explicitly chosen so. But what exactly is Semmie? What are the fees, what returns can you expect, and is Semmie actually suitable for you as a Belgian investor? We dove into the details and created this in-depth review for you.

What is Semmie?

Semmie is a Netherlands-based digital wealth manager, founded in 2016. The service was created to make investing simple and accessible to a broad audience. Semmie likes to describe itself as “a smart investor for ordinary people.” The service is fully digital: via the app or online platform, you answer a few questions about your financial situation and risk appetite, after which Semmie suggests a model portfolio. Your money is then automatically invested, monitored, and rebalanced. As of April 2025, Semmie manages approximately €1 billion in client assets, spread across 15,000 investors.

How Does Investing with Semmie Work?

With Semmie, you invest in one of three standard portfolios, each available in four risk profiles:

• Defensive
• Neutral
• Balanced
• Aggressive

The portfolios consist of sustainable ETFs, focusing on companies that meet ESG (environmental, social, governance) criteria. The more aggressive the profile, the higher the equity weight — meaning more potential fluctuations and returns. Rebalancing is done automatically, and there is no option to select individual funds. Everything operates via a hands-off strategy: you invest, Semmie does the rest.

What Are Semmie’s Returns?

Semmie transparently communicates the historical performance of its model portfolios. On average, returns since inception have been approximately:

Risk profile	Avg. annual return (since inception)
Defensive	±2,5%
Neutral	±4,0%
Balanced	±5,5%
Agressive	±7,0%

Note: These figures are historical and not a guarantee of future performance. Your return depends on market conditions and the timing of your entry.

What Does Semmie Cost?

Semmie charges an all-in management fee of 0.75% per year, which includes:

• Portfolio management
• ETF costs
• Transaction fees
• Customer service and digital platform

There are no entry, exit, or hidden fees. For investors, this is transparent and straightforward. However, it’s worth noting that other digital players — such as Easyvest — charge lower fees starting at 0,40%, which can make a significant difference in your net returns over the long term.

omparison: Semmie vs Easyvest

Feature	Semmie	Easyvest
Contry of origin	Netherlands	Belgium
Management fees	From 0,75% per year	From 0,4% per year
Entry/Exit fees	None	None
Taxation for Belgians	Foreign account, manual declaration required	Belgian account, automatically tax-optimized

Taxation explained:

• With Semmie, you invest through a Dutch securities account, which must be declared to the National Bank of Belgium and in your annual tax return. Withholding tax may not be deducted automatically.
• With Easyvest, you invest through a regulated Belgian account. All tax matters (stock exchange transaction tax, withholding tax) are handled automatically.

Is Semmie Safe?

Semmie is registered with the Dutch Financial Markets Authority (AFM) and works with custodians who keep your investments separate from the company’s own assets. Your money is thus legally protected. However, it remains a digital-only player with no physical offices, which may be a drawback for some investors who prefer personal contact.

What Are the Tax Implications for Belgian Clients?

An important point for Belgian investors: since Semmie is a Dutch institution, you automatically open a foreign account, which has tax implications:

1. You must declare this foreign account with the National Bank of Belgium (NBB).
2. You must report it annually in your personal tax return (box XIII of the tax return).
3. You may risk not having withholding tax automatically deducted (depending on the funds), meaning you’ll need to handle some tax obligations yourself.

For investors who want simplicity, including tax simplicity, this can be a stumbling block.

User Experience

Semmie’s platform is sleek, intuitive, and easy to use. Both via desktop and app, you can:

• View your portfolio
• Adjust your risk profile
• Make additional deposits or withdrawals
• Gain insights into performance and allocation

What’s missing is in-depth analysis or personal advice. Semmie intentionally keeps things simple, which is great for beginners, but perhaps less ideal for experienced investors seeking more control or customization.

Is Semmie Right for You?

That depends on your profile. Semmie is particularly suited for:

• Beginners looking for a simple, all-in-one solution
• Investors who want to invest sustainably via ETFs
• People who don’t mind investing through a foreign account

On the other hand, Semmie may be less suitable for:

• Investors looking for customization or tax optimization in Belgium
• Clients wanting personal advice
• Investors who want to minimize fees as much as possible
• Investors with more complex situations requiring a more in-depth analysis

Conclusion

Semmie offers a simple and transparent way to invest, especially appealing to those who don’t want to actively manage their portfolios. The returns are market-aligned, the fees are clear, and the platform is user-friendly. However, Belgian investors should be mindful of the tax obligations and the fact that Semmie is not a Belgian provider. Those seeking a more affordable solution with tax optimization for Belgium and the option of personal advice may be better off considering local alternatives like Easyvest.

Want to know how much you could save with a Belgian alternative? Simulate your portfolio on easyvest.be and discover what lower fees and an optimized approach could mean for your wealth.