Fund groups join forces to improve understanding of ETFs

A number of the UK’s leading exchange traded product providers today announce the launch of the ETF Forum, an independent partnership designed to help improve the adviser community’s collective understanding of ETFs.
Founded by exchange traded product (ETP) issuers BMO Global Asset Management, ETF Securities, Source (in association with Legal & General Investment Management) and WisdomTree Europe, the ETF Forum is committed to promoting awareness of ETFs and educating the adviser and wealth management market on how to better use ETFs.
Covering the entire ETP market, the ETF Forum’s main goal is to educate intermediaries on how the products can be used as effective investment tools to build or enhance well-diversified portfolios.
As part of this education programme, the ETF Forum is hosting a series of free CPD-accredited workshops across the UK over the course of the year.
These events will feature leading speakers from the ETF industry discussing a wide variety of topics including the key characteristics of ETPs, why and how ETFs are traded, and how best to access them.
The ETF Forum’s launch event is in London on 20^th June at BMO’s offices, followed by ten further workshops held in cities across the UK including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol.
Nizam Hamid, head of ETF Strategy at WisdomTree Europe, said the collaboration of so many ETF providers was an industry first. “This coming together of some of the UK’s leading ETP providers is a milestone for the industry,” he said.
“ETFs are becoming increasingly popular but given the huge variety of products available, it is imperative advisers and wealth managers know how they can best use them. The ETF Forum will help ensure they have the most up-to-date information about ETFs when deciding where and how to allocate clients’ assets.”
Rob Thorpe, head of UK intermediary at BMO Global Asset Management, added: “ETFs are seeing increasing inflows, however there remains a knowledge gap amongst UK advisers and wealth managers. The ETF Forum has been set up to fill that gap and drive an increase in ETP adoption amongst the UK adviser community’.
Discussing the future for ETFs, Frank Spiteri, managing director and head of distribution at ETF Securities, said: “The ETF landscape is ever-changing, with product innovation coming through constantly.”
Dominic Clabby, director and head of UK retail at Source added: “In this environment it can be hard for professional investors to stay at the forefront of developments within the industry, but via the ETF Forum we can help them get the most out of these products.”
As well as the series of roadshows, the ETF Forum has also launched a dedicated website to provide ongoing information to advisers, which can be found at www.theetfforum.com