Factors to consider before adding a thematic ETF to your portfolio

In the quest to launch successful products, ETF sponsors have ventured into thematic segments of the financial markets. Think robotics, artificial intelligence, fintech, online retail, cyber security, etc. There has been mixed success among issuers, as some of these products have rapidly grown to $1 billion in AUM such as ETFMG’s Prime Cyber Security ETF (symbol: HACK), while others never gained traction and were closed within a year. Thematic...

SEC Modernizes Regulations of Exchange Traded Funds–Eases Regulatory Burdens, Reduces Cost, Time to Market for New ETFs

On Thursday, September 26th, the SEC passed a long-awaiting ruling that differentiates ETFs from mutual funds from a regulatory perspective. The new regulations will reduce costs and substantially decrease the time in which new ETFs can be approved. The rule is expected to facilitate greater competition and innovation in the ETF marketplace, leading to more choices for investors. Rule 6c-11 will permit ETFs that satisfy certain conditions to operate...

China A Shares weight increases to 15% in MSCI Indexes

MSCI announced today that they have increased the inclusion factor of all China A Large Cap shares from 10% to 15% in the MSCI Indexes notably MSCI Emerging Markets Index and MSCI ACWI Index, coinciding with the recent Quarterly Index Review, effective August 28, 2019. MSCI’s previously announced decision to increase the weight of China A shares in the MSCI Indexes using a 3-step inclusion process beginning with the...

Will U.S. Investors Need to Navigate Negative Interest Rates?

A recent article from Bloomberg highlights the challenges that negative interest rates are having on German savers and bankers alike (see Bloomberg).  While historically unprecedented, the negative rate phenomenon has become a global commonality, with $15 trillion of global debt carry negative yields.  In Switzerland, government bonds across the entire maturity spectrum and there are 18 countries currently with negative bond yields.  Savers apparently still view government bonds as...

Turnkey Asset Management Platforms (TAMPs) Help Advisors With Outsourced Investment Management

Many consumers believe that an advisor’s job is to pick investments and manage portfolios. A recent article by Morey Stettner highlights that outsourcing trends indicate that more advisors are outsourcing their investment management so they can spend more time providing their clients with a broader scope of services, including retirement, taxes, insurance, household finances and life events such as divorce or charitable giving strategies. TAMPs, or turnkey asset management...

ETF Model Solutions’ Robert Riedl Named to Investopedia’s Top 100 Advisor’s list for 2019

Robert Riedl, CPA, CFP, AWMA, Chief Financial Officer of ETF Model Solutions, LLC and President/Director of Wealth Management for Endowment Wealth Management, Inc., has been named to the Investopedia Top 100 list of the most influential advisors for 2019. This is the 3rd year of the awards, which recognizes financial advisors who use their media platforms to promote and amplify financial education and improve the practice of financial planning...

ETF use increasing among insurance companies

A recent Greenwich Associates/Invesco study showed 70% of U.S. insurance companies now use ETFs. The primary reasons for using ETFs were better access to cash/liquidity management, to gain or maintain specific exposures and low cost. ETF holdings are still a small portion of insurance company portfolios. The main reason for increased adoption is the result of a 2017 systematic value accounting ruling by National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The...

Forty five percent of advisors could benefit from embracing model portfolios

Only 12% of advisors currently outsource their investment decisions. A Cerulli study suggests that 150,000 advisors, or 45% should be implementing models in their practices. Link to read more.  

Financial advisors scaling business through model portfolios

A recent study by Broadridge Financial Solutions indicated that that 85% of financial advisers currently use model portfolios and that over half of advised assets (54%) are in model portfolios. More advisers are using model portfolios to become more efficient as the advisory business becomes more complex. Advisors credit the following reasons for using investment models in their practice: Business scalability leveraging investment management experts focusing efforts on client...

80% of the stock market is now on autopilot

Passive investments control about 80% of the equity assets while quantitative funds (trend following models) account for 20% of market share. Passive Funds have attracted $39 billion in inflows during first half of 2019, while active funds have lost $90 billion. (link to article: https://tinyurl.com/y62es57r)