Core Insights - Aberdeen Investments has expanded its active ETF offerings with two new mutual fund conversions, focusing on municipal bonds and international small-cap equities [1][2][3]. Group 1: abrdn Ultra Short Municipal Income Active ETF (AMUN) - AMUN aims to provide high after-tax income while preserving capital, with a net expense ratio of 25 basis points [1]. - The fund primarily invests in investment-grade fixed income securities and targets an average effective duration of about two years or less [1]. - AMUN is expected to have significant exposure to municipal securities from states such as Pennsylvania, Mississippi, New York, and Texas [1]. Group 2: abrdn International Small Cap Active ETF (ASCI) - ASCI seeks long-term growth by focusing on international small-cap stocks, with a net expense ratio of 0.70% [2]. - The fund's active management approach aims to mitigate risks typically associated with international small-cap investments [3]. - ASCI's portfolio team evaluates companies based on quality, growth, and momentum, targeting high-quality firms with strong performance potential [3]. Group 3: Market Position and Growth - The launch of these fund conversions coincides with Aberdeen's U.S. ETF franchise surpassing $18 billion in assets under management (AUM) for the first time, indicating the strength of its fund lineup [4]. - Jim O'Connor, CEO of Americas at Aberdeen, emphasized that this milestone reflects the firm's commitment to meeting evolving client needs and the trust investors place in their differentiated approach [4].

Core Insights - Active exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have gained significant popularity among investors, indicating a shift in market dynamics [1] Group 1 - The rise of active ETFs suggests they are no longer a niche product but have become mainstream in investment strategies [1] - Investors are increasingly recognizing the potential benefits of active management within the ETF structure [1] - The growth in active ETFs reflects broader trends in the investment landscape, where traditional passive strategies are being complemented by active approaches [1]

Core Insights - Investors have invested over $900 billion into U.S. exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in 2025, with a net inflow of $917 billion through September 29, indicating a potential record year if the trend continues [1][2][8] - The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is expected to approve dual-share class structures, allowing mutual fund investors to convert to ETFs in a tax-efficient manner, which could further boost ETF inflows [3][6][7] Investment Trends - ETFs have gained popularity due to their tax advantages and efficiency compared to mutual funds, with significant inflows driven by bullish investors seeking diverse investment strategies [2][6] - The total assets in U.S. ETFs reached a record $12.19 trillion by the end of August 2025, up from $10.35 trillion at the end of the previous year [8] Notable Funds and Strategies - Vanguard's S&P 500 ETF (VOO) and BlackRock's iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) have seen nearly $140 billion in net inflows this year, averaging close to $1 billion per trading day [9] - BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) has emerged as the fastest-growing ETF, attracting nearly $24 billion in 2025, highlighting the demand for innovative investment products [12] Market Dynamics - The shift towards active ETFs has accelerated, with active funds now comprising close to 10% of the market's assets and capturing 37% of total inflows through July 2025 [17] - Financial advisers are increasingly moving away from traditional investment strategies, opting for alternative strategies that offer customization and risk management [16][18]

ETF Market Overview - The ETF market has seen net inflows of over $855 billion this year and is on pace for another $1 trillion year [1][2] - ETFs are attractive to investors due to their liquidity, cost efficiency, and transparency [2] Emerging Markets Debt (EMD) - EMD ETFs experienced flat flows for the year but have seen a reversal with approximately $20 billion in inflows in the last four and a half months, following over three years of sustained outflows [3] - The macro backdrop for emerging markets is considered benign, supporting potential investment [4] - A weaker USD and the Fed initiating a rate hiking cycle have historically been supportive of EMD [5] Active vs Passive EMD ETFs - Historically, around 70% of actively managed EMD funds have outperformed passive ones over the last 10 years [7] - Newberger Berman has an active ETF hard currency sovereign vehicle [7] EMD Market Dynamics - Approximately $150 billion, representing 15-16% of all assets in dedicated vehicles, had left the EMD asset class until April of this year, indicating substantial capacity for investors to re-enter the space [8] - Emerging markets are growing at stronger rates with better fundamental and fiscal dynamics, including lower public debt to GDP ratios compared to developed markets [9] - Mexico's public debt to GDP is expected to be around 55% in 2026 [9]

Group 1 - Harbor Capital is an asset manager that focuses on curating a select suite of active ETFs [1] - The company believes these ETFs have the potential to produce compelling, risk-adjusted returns within a portfolio [1]

Group 1 - Harbor Capital is an asset manager that focuses on curating a select suite of active ETFs [1] - The company believes these ETFs have the potential to produce compelling, risk-adjusted returns within a portfolio [1]

Group 1 - Harbor Capital is an asset manager that focuses on curating a select suite of active ETFs [1] - The company believes these ETFs have the potential to produce compelling, risk-adjusted returns within a portfolio [1]

Core Insights - Harbor Capital is an asset manager that focuses on a carefully selected suite of active ETFs aimed at generating compelling, risk-adjusted returns within investment portfolios [1] Company Overview - The company specializes in curating active ETFs, indicating a strategic approach to investment management [1] - Harbor Capital emphasizes the potential for their ETFs to deliver attractive returns while managing risk effectively [1] Communication Note - It is noted that the account is not managed or monitored by Harbor Capital, and inquiries should be directed through official channels [1]

And welcome back to halftime with your we have your ETF edge. We're seeing two big pushes in the industry this week getting very different receptions. Let's jump right into it.Joining me now is independent ETF expert Dave Natig. Dave, thanks for joining us. Thanks for having me.All right, let's start off first. I get back to those two big players diving into the active management arena. We got billionaire investor Ron Baron launching his own fund and lowcost king Vanguard filing for a new fundamentals fund ...

Core Insights - J.P. Morgan Asset Management has launched the JPMorgan Equity and Options ETF (JOYT), expanding its Equity Premium Income Suite to meet client needs for total return [1][3] - JOYT aims to integrate dividends, options premium, and capital appreciation to deliver robust returns with lower volatility compared to the U.S. large-cap market [2][4] - The fund is competitively priced at 35 basis points, aligning with the pricing of existing products JEPI and JEPQ [4] Company Overview - J.P. Morgan Asset Management manages $3.8 trillion in assets as of June 30, 2025, serving a diverse clientele including institutions and high net worth individuals globally [5] - JPMorgan Chase & Co. reported $4.6 trillion in assets and $357 billion in stockholders' equity as of June 30, 2025, positioning itself as a leader in various financial services [6]