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GWL

The ETF industry has been routinely praised for its innovation over the last several years, which is no doubt a contributing factor to the surge in interest and assets. Generally, reference to such innovation relates to the growth in the product lineup, as issuers of all sizes have launched a number of creative, first-to-market products over the past few years that have dramatically opened up the asset classes and investment strategies available through the exchange-traded structures [see also Free Report: How To Pick The Right ETF Every Time].

But there are other aspects of the industry that deserve credit for exciting new developments as well. While ETFs are still hard to find in most 401(k) account and other retirement plans, they are now readily accessible in a popular college savings account; a program from State Street allows new parents to use ETFs in a college savings plan for children, through an ETF-focused 529 plan. [click to continue…]

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Who Else Wants Ex-U.S. ETFs?

by on July 16, 2009

After decades of flying high and shrugging off crises around the world, U.S. equity markets have fallen on some tough times. The epicenter of the mortgage crisis that evolved into a global recession has scared away many investors away from the U.S. markets, afraid that the worst is yet to come and that the “glory days” of America have passed. Investor reluctance to jump back into the U.S. markets is perhaps best evidenced by the increase in popularity of “ex-U.S.” ETFs, funds that offer exposure to a well-diversified basket of global securities but avoid any investments in the States. Over the last year, many of these funds have experienced strong fund inflows, and have significantly outperformed major U.S. benchmarks. [click to continue…]

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