ETF usage in model portfolios shoots up


Exchange-traded fund (ETF) usage in model portfolios is exploding, with OneVue noticing that ETF investment on its unified managed account platform has more than tripled over the last nine months.
More than half of all of OneVue's ETFs are now being held in separately managed account (SMA) portfolios, according to chief executive of strategic relationships Brett Marsh.
Investors are allocating more funds to growth assets over defensive assets, and a portion of that money is going into the ETF space, Marsh said.
"The growth that we have experienced at OneVue since July last year has largely been on the back of the increase in ETFs that are taken up in SMAs," Marsh said.
Marsh said ETF growth within SMAs would increase as multi-asset class SMA models increase in popularity. They provide more choice and flexibility, he added.
However, there was still also ETF growth in OneVue's managed funds wrap, Marsh said. ETF volumes have recently surpassed volumes on OneVue's managed funds wrap.
OneVue will continue to add ETFs on to its unified managed account (UMA) as they grow in the market, Marsh said.
There are approximately 70 ETFs available on the OneVue UMA.
Recommended for you
Clime Investment Management has welcomed an independent director to its board, which follows a series of recent appointments at the company.
Ethical investment manager Australian Ethical has cited the ongoing challenging market environment for its modest decrease in assets over the latest quarter.
Commentators have said Australian fund managers are less knowledgeable compared with overseas peers when it comes to expanding their range with ETFs and underestimating the competition from passive strategies.
VanEck is to list two ETFs on the ASX next week, one investing in residential mortgage-backed securities and the other in Indian companies.