Vanguard Launching Seven Bond ETFs

Schwab (SCHW) is also well positioned to be a contender in an arena where cost is king. Earlier this year, Schwab announced its intention to launch its own line of proprietary funds. (Schwab Jumps Into ETF Race) Schwab has shown no fear when it comes to offering cheaper alternatives: in May, Schwab cut the expense ratio of its Schwab S&P 500 Index (SWPIX) to 0.09%, a fee that is less than the Vanguard 500 Index (FVINX) fund.

We are entering an age of mega ETF issuers. Small ETF issuers have always dotted the landscape, grabbing for volume in previously untested territory. The booming popularity of ETFs, however, has large asset managers thinking bigger. BlackRock (BLK) acquired iShares recently, while Schwab and Pimco already offer a variety of securities.

New ETF strategies appear to be aimed at the longer-term investor who is looking for an alternative to mutual funds. This approach will be a double-edged sword for issuers. On the one hand, the low-cost structure of ETFs could draw more long-term investors into these products. On the other hand, long-term investors won't be trading in and out of these strategies, potentially depriving the funds of trading volume.

Low-volume ETFs have withered and died on the vine in the past. The advantage to being a Mega ETF Issuer like Vanguard is that you can afford to cultivate these products until they draw investors. (ETF Investors: Look for Liquidity.)

At the time of publication, Dion was long TIP and SHY.

Don Dion is president and founder of Dion Money Management, a fee-based investment advisory firm to affluent individuals, families and nonprofit organizations, where he is responsible for setting investment policy, creating custom portfolios and overseeing the performance of client accounts. Founded in 1996 and based in Williamstown, Mass., Dion Money Management manages assets for clients in 49 states and 11 countries. Dion is a licensed attorney in Massachusetts and Maine and has more than 25 years' experience working in the financial markets, having founded and run two publicly traded companies before establishing Dion Money Management.

Dion also is publisher of the Fidelity Independent Adviser family of newsletters, which provides to a broad range of investors his commentary on the financial markets, with a specific emphasis on mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. With more than 100,000 subscribers in the U.S. and 29 other countries, Fidelity Independent Adviser publishes six monthly newsletters and three weekly newsletters. Its flagship publication, Fidelity Independent Adviser, has been published monthly for 11 years and reaches 40,000 subscribers.

« First ‹ Previous 1 2