The ETF wrapper has proved to be a flexible vehicle for outcome delivery. Tax efficiency, portfolio fit, and the ability to retain more of what investors earn have added to adviser conversations. That shift is being reflected in how products are designed and how assets flow, with active strategies now capturing a growing share of overall ETF inflows in what has already been a record-breaking year for the vehicle globally.
Noel Archard, Global Head of ETF Product Solutions and Marketing at AllianceBernstein, describes a clear shift in the conversations the firm is having with advisers and institutional investors – the focus is no longer on the product in isolation, but on how it fits within the broader portfolio. “How does it fit with the rest of my allocation, or from a tax perspective within the portfolio? That is a major conversation,” he says. “How do you retain more of what you earn? That’s really important for the end client.” Since entering the ETF market in 2022, AllianceBernstein has produced a lineup of more than 20 actively managed ETFs spanning equities, fixed income, and alternatives. The firm’s philosophy — captured in its tagline “Fully Invested” — centres on differentiated research insights and diverse perspectives as the drivers of better outcomes for investors.
“We are an active manager with big research capabilities and a global perspective, so our product lineup will complement what we have, plug some gaps, and reach new audiences.”
Noel Archard, Global Head of ETF Product Solutions and Marketing, AllianceBernstein
The ETF wrapper has also unlocked new ways to pursue those outcomes at the portfolio level. Mr. Archard points to the use of an ETF as a liquidity sleeve alongside a longer-term holding: same underlying exposure, but with the trading flexibility and tax efficiency of the ETF structure layered on top. The result is a richer set of tools for advisers building portfolios around what clients actually need to achieve.
About ETF Innovators
ETF Innovators is a short-form video series hosted by Valerie Grimba, Director, Global ETF Strategy, that spotlights how RBC clients are driving innovation in ETFs. The series tracks the evolution of the global ETF landscape and spotlights the leaders, ideas, and strategies powering the next wave of performance.
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