The $100,000 Question: RIAs and Investors Alike Would Allocate More Than One Third of an Extra $100k to ETFs
Advisors in New Study say ETFs and Mutual Funds Are Equally Important in Helping Their Clients Reach Investment Goals
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INFOGRAPHIC: Millennials and ETFs: A
RIA adoption and understanding of ETFs stands out as notably strong, underscoring the pathfinder role of advisors in incorporating ETFs into their investing strategies for clients. More than nine out of 10 RIAs (92 percent) say ETFs have had a positive impact on the way they invest for the portfolios they manage, with 44 percent indicating the impact has been substantial.
RIAs currently hold an average of 33.9 percent of investments in ETFs, and believe that could increase to an average of 44.4 percent in five years. In the last year alone, more than half (52 percent) of RIAs say they’ve increased investments in ETFs, and 12 percent say those increases were significant. If their client had an extra
In the year ahead, 54 percent of RIAs say they plan to increase their investments in ETFs. Looking even further out, nearly half (48 percent) of RIAs say they see ETFs as being the dominant investment type in the portfolios they manage in the future.
Significantly, while RIAs clearly embrace ETFs, most see the products as just one of many tools necessary for an effective investment strategy:
- 56 percent say mutual funds and ETFs have an equally important role in helping their clients reach investment goals
- Only three in 10 say they would consider using ETFs to replace individual stocks in a portfolio
- Only one in four say they would consider using ETFs to replace individual bonds in a portfolio
“These numbers tell a compelling story,” said
When choosing an ETF, advisors consider the following as most important:
- Low expense ratio (79 percent)
- Total cost (77 percent)
- Liquidity /trading volume (72 percent)
And, when it comes to the ability to trade ETFs commission-free, one in three say that it is important for a brokerage firm to offer commission-free ETFs. Forty-five percent believe it is somewhat important, though not the only factor they consider in their buying decision. When evaluating a brokerage firm’s commission-free ETF offering:
- Nearly three-quarters (72 percent) say the right selection of ETFs is extremely important
- More than half (56 percent) say a broad selection of ETF categories is extremely important
- Fifty-one percent say a broad selection of ETF providers is important
Steady Adoption by Individual Investors Continues
Individual investor adoption of ETFs also continues to steadily rise. Three out of four investors surveyed (76 percent) say that ETFs have had a positive impact on the way they invest their money.
On average, individual investors who use ETFs are now allocating nearly a quarter (22.5 percent) of their total portfolios to the products, compared to just 16 percent in 2012. And by 2021, individual investors expect their allocations will increase to 28.7 percent.
In the last year, 44 percent of investors say they’ve increased investments in ETFs, and 10 percent say those increases were substantial. And in the year ahead, 43 percent of investors say they plan to increase their investments in ETFs, with eight percent saying they expect those increases to be significant. In fact, individual investors say that if they had an extra
“Individual investors, particularly when compared to RIAs, really view ETFs as a product that can solve for some of the challenges they face when investing on their own. Sixty-five percent of those surveyed say they would consider using stock-based ETFs instead of individual securities in their portfolios. And, notably, more than a quarter (28 percent) of investors say they can envision ETFs as the primary investment type in their portfolio in the future,” added Fischer.
Nearly half of individual investors (48 percent) say that the ability to trade the product commission-free is extremely important when evaluating the cost of an ETF. Forty-seven percent say it is important for a brokerage firm to have a commission-free ETF offering, and another 40 percent believe it is somewhat important, though not the only factor they consider in their buying decision. When evaluating a brokerage firm’s commission-free ETF offering, individual investors say the following criteria are extremely important:
- Broad selection of ETF categories (52 percent)
- No additional fees, e.g., short term redemption fees (51 percent)
- Choice of commission-free ETFs within a category (41 percent)
Where Investors and RIAs turn for education
The 2016 ETF Investor Study by Schwab examined where investors and advisors seek out information and education about ETFs, and found a heavy emphasis on the materials and educational resources provided directly by ETF providers.
- 86 percent of advisors turn to ETF providers’ websites when researching ETFs (vs. 45 percent of individual investors)
- 66 percent of advisors say they look to ETF providers for guidance on ETFs. Of that group, 81 percent rate the quality of that guidance as good or excellent
About the Study
The 2016 ETF Investor Study by Schwab is the sixth installment of an annual online survey of more than 1,000 individual investors between the ages of 25-75 with at least
About Schwab
At Schwab, we believe in the power of investing to help individuals create a better tomorrow. We have a history of challenging the status quo in our industry, innovating in ways that benefit investors and the advisors and employers who serve them, and championing our clients’ goals with passion and integrity.
A leader in the retail ETF market, as of
Disclosures
Through its operating subsidiaries,
Brokerage Products: Not FDIC Insured • No Bank Guarantee •
Investors should consider carefully information contained in the prospectus, including investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. You can request a prospectus by calling Schwab at 800-435-4000. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.
Investment returns will fluctuate and are subject to market volatility, so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed or sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Unlike mutual funds, shares of ETFs are not individually redeemable directly with the ETF. Shares are bought and sold at market price, which may be higher or lower than the net asset value (NAV).
© 2016
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Source:
Research Report on Insurance Equities — MGIC Investment, American Intl., Berkshire Hathaway, and Radian
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