We all know that exchange traded funds (ETFs) have become extremely popular over the past few years, yet a recent survey of 500 mutual fund investors conducted by Rydex Investments showed that many know little about ETFs.

• More than half, 53%, of individual mutual fund investors surveyed don’t know the difference between a mutual fund and an ETF.
• 38% of individual investors don’t know what an ETF is.
• More than half of individual investors, 55%, don’t know how to buy an ETF.

In response, several firms are creating different ETF education programs for both individual investors and financial advisers. Barclays, for example has done research that indicates most advisers know about ETFs, but with various levels of knowledge and usage, reports Peter Ortiz for Ignites. Rydex is taking a different approach. The firm recently created a guide for investment advisers to share with clients, ETF Essentials. Meanwhile, PowerShares is reaching out to financial advisers through its PowerShares University road show (PSU). Vanguard offers a learning program called the Vanguard ETF education system, and it provides advisers continuing education credits.

Read the disclosure, as Tom Lydon is a board member of Rydex Investments.