It was one other file yr for ETFs in 2022, with the variety of launches on tempo to interrupt 2021’s file (as of early December), and belongings persevering with to shift extra in favor of them over mutual funds. Actually, this yr noticed a $1.5 trillion hole within the asset flows from mutual funds into ETFs, up from $950 billion final yr.
Among the many launches this yr was that of a flurry of single-stock ETFs, which tracks the efficiency of a specific inventory versus following an index. Whereas the concept could appear intriguing, monetary advisors have been fairly crucial of them, urging shoppers to remain away—far-off.
“These ought to be averted just like the plague for the households we serve,” mentioned Vance Barse, wealth strategist and founding father of Your Devoted Fiduciary.
“These are typically costly. They are often remarkably risky, lack diversification, and are far outdoors the chance tolerance and funding targets for our shoppers,” he mentioned. “And after I give it some thought, the street to Hades is usually paved with good intentions, and for our shoppers, the most effective factor to do with regards to all these leveraged spinoff merchandise, could merely be to keep away from the warmth.”
Along with single-stock ETFs, there was additionally a whole lot of hype in 2022 round a long-anticipated Bitcoin ETF. Whereas Bitcoin futures ETFs have launched, the SEC repeatedly this yr stalled and denied a number of asset managers’ makes an attempt at launching a spot Bitcoin fund.
Actually, Grayscale Investments grew so annoyed with the SEC that it filed a lawsuit in opposition to the regulator, calling its determination to disclaim its bid to transform its $12 billion spot Bitcoin belief into an ETF “capricious” and “discriminatory.”
“The take a look at the SEC has utilized to Bitcoin-related ETFs, and solely Bitcoin-related ETFs, is flawed and has been inconsistently utilized with a ‘particular harshness’ to identify Bitcoin ETFs,” the agency argued.
There’s extra to come back on each of those fronts, however click on via this slideshow to comply with WealthManagement.com‘s protection of the launch of single-stock ETFs and the battle to get a Bitcoin ETF off the bottom.