Envestnet launches ETFs blending active and passive strategies

Envestnet’s portfolio consulting group, Envestnet PMC, launched a series of exchange-traded funds that combine the benefits of active investments with the cost efficiency of passive investments.

The four products in the ActivePassive ETFs series — the ActivePassive U.S. Equity ETF (APUE), ActivePassive International Equity ETF (APIE), ActivePassive Core Bond ETF (APCB) and ActivePassive Intermediate Municipal Bond ETF (APMU) — consist of passive and factor-based exposures managed by Envestnet, as well as active exposures managed by third-party investment managers.

Envestnet PMC research found factor-based strategies and traditional active strategies combined with passive investment vehicles can be more a more cost-effective way to generate returns, said Dana D’Auria, co-chief investment officer and group president of Envestnet Solutions.

"As pioneers bringing together active and passive investment styles, our mission has always been to provide investors with a single portfolio that marries the best attributes of both active and passive investing at a low cost,” D’Auria said in a statement. “"ETFs are inherently tax-efficient and liquid structures, and help make it easier for advisors to build portfolios aligned with client needs.”

The products offer financial advisors a way to implement the views of the models’ portfolios managers in a tax-efficient way and with no additional management fee. The ETFs are available in Envestnet PMC’s ActivePassive multi-asset model portfolios.

 "The launch of the ActivePassive ETFs gives us the opportunity to harness all of our best asset management and research resources within PMC and across the Envestnet ecosystem for the benefit of advisors and their clients," said Brooks Friederich, principal director of research strategy at Envestnet PMC.

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