On March 26-27 in Miami, the longest-running and best-attended exchange traded fund (ETF) conference will kick off: the U.S World Series of ETFs. The conference is designed to educate financial advisors and planners about ETFs, how they can be used and what they can do for a portfolio.

A wide range of topics will be discussed by some of the biggest names in the ETF industry, including Christian Magoon, president of Claymore, Joseph F. Keenan, managing director of Bank of New York Mellon Corp., and Michael Krause, president of Altavista Independent Research, Inc.

Some of the most timely issues and questions that will be debated over the course of the two-day conference are:

• Revolution in the ETF Marketplace: How have current market conditions affected ETFs and their usage? What lies ahead? Active management is here - what competitive moves will we see in the industry? How would the proposed SEC rule further affect the marketplace?
• Are Commodities the Key to Protecting Your Clients’ Assets?: What are the pros and cons of commodities? Will the bull market continue? Which product structure gives the best exposure?
• The anticipated launch of the first actively managed ETF. Will the Bear Stearns mess impact the acceptance of these funds into the market? Will investors embrace them?