Promising Signs Exist As ETFs Expand into 401(k)s
August 20, 2008 – As exchange traded funds (ETFs) expand into the retirement and 401(k) market, promising signs exist despite extreme market volatility. According to the staff at mmexecutive, American investors have held steady when contributing to their 401(k) plans... Continue Reading »

Deadline for Fee Disclosures Needs to Stick to Get ETFs Into 401(k)s
August 5, 2008 – A fee-disclosure rule could lead to more exchange traded funds (ETFs) being incorporated into 401(k) plans. But the retirement industry says it’s taken aback by the deadline for such disclosures, put in place by the Department... Continue Reading »

ETFs Keep Knock, Knock, Knockin’ On 401(k)’s Door
July 30, 2008 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) have long been knocking on the doors of 401(k) providers, so what is taking so long? The total pension plan business is at $4.5 trillion, and ETF providers consider this area to... Continue Reading »

401(k) Fees On A Downward Trend Giving ETFs A Better Place In the Industry
July 28, 2008 – It appears 401(k) plan sponsors are listening, as the fees associated with them are trending on a downward momentum, leaving more opportunity for exchange traded funds (ETFs) to find their niche in this market. A recent... Continue Reading »

One Leap Forward For ETFs Incorporated Into 401(k) Plans
July 24, 2008 – Today, the Department of Labor issued its final regulatory proposal governing 401(k) fee disclosures, taking one giant step toward exchange traded funds (ETFs) becoming incorporated into retirement plans. Under the proposal, the third of three for... Continue Reading »

Predictions: ETFs In 401(k) Plans Is The Next Big Move
July 17, 2008 – State Street Global Advisors conducted a survey in June which determined that financial advisors think the biggest growth area for the exchange traded fund (ETF) industry is within 401(k) plans. Of the 840 respondents, 43% felt... Continue Reading »

401(k)- the Final Frontier for ETFs?
July 8, 2008 – When it comes to social graces and utilizing efficiency, Europe seems to take first place, and now they are leading the incorporation of exchange traded funds (ETFs) into pension plans. European pension funds have... Continue Reading »

Commodity ETFs and ETNs Feel the Rising Demand
July 3, 2008 – Not only have returns in commodity exchange traded funds (ETFs) been taking off this year, so have the number of available funds. They cover every conceivable commodity now, from gold and silver to coffee... Continue Reading »

401(k) Bill Laid to Rest for Now; Wait for ETFs In Plans Continues
June 16, 2008 – The movement to get exchange traded funds (ETFs) into 401(k) plans has hit a stumbling block. House Education and Labor Chairman George Miller, D-Calif., pronounced his bill to increase disclosure of retirement account fees dead... Continue Reading »

Advisors Give ETFs a Big Thumbs-Up
June 13, 2008 – Everything’s more expensive these days and we’re all sick of being nickeled and dimed to death with random, surprise fees. This frustration has led to the success of exchange traded funds (ETFs), and they’ve changed... Continue Reading »

Open-Ended Funds of ETFs Slow to Grab Hold
June 3, 2008 – The concept of an open-ended "fund of exchange traded funds (ETFs)" has yet to gain any momentum. Could it be that the right time has simply not yet arrived? Most of these types of funds... Continue Reading »

PowerShares Launches Line of ETFs of ETFs
May 22, 2008 – PowerShares has broken some new ground in the exchange traded fund (ETF) industry their launch of the first line of ETFs of ETFs in the United States. The new funds are: PowerShares Autonomic Growth NFA Global... Continue Reading »

Planning for Your Golden Years With ETFs
May 21, 2008 – When it comes to individual money management, the first item on your list should be your retirement, and exchange traded funds (ETFs) are just one option to help get you started. Managing your money and saving... Continue Reading »

401(k) Administrator In Talks With ETF Providers to Get the Funds In Plans
May 20, 2008 – Another company is stepping forward to aid in the push to get exchange traded funds (ETFs) into 401(k) retirement plans. Alvin Rapp, CEO of RPG Consultants in New York, tells us the firm is... Continue Reading »

Things You Oughta Know About ETFs
May 18, 2008 – Are you one of the many investors who each day are discovering exchange traded funds (ETFs)? You might know about their advantages and how they work, but there may still be a lot you... Continue Reading »

Could ETFs Save The Baby Boomers’ Retirement?
May 12, 2008 – A recent study released by Barclay’s Global Investors tells that baby boomers set to retire may not be as well-prepared as they think, possibly causing some to reconsider how they use their exchange traded... Continue Reading »

Why Aren’t ETFs In Your 401(k) Plan? The Answer Is Simple!
May 5, 2008 – The debate over exchange traded funds (ETFs) in 401(k) plans is intensifying. Many people want, even demand, a law that balances the cost and benefits of the transparency of investment and transaction fees. Experts... Continue Reading »

Easter Baskets Of ETFs
March 23, 2008 – While you are egg-hunting today, your mind may not be on your exchange traded funds (ETFs). However, you may want to consider how your nest eggs are doing at his point in time. ETFs... Continue Reading »

iMoney: Profitable Exchange-Traded Fund Strategies for Every Investor
March 21, 2008 – "iMoney: Profitable Exchange-Traded Fund Strategies for Every Investor" by Tom Lydon and John Wasik will be published this summer by Prentice Hall. ETFs are the hottest thing going right now for investors, and we’re living in... Continue Reading »

Investors Growing and Evolving Along With ETF Industry
February 22, 2008 – State Street Global Advisors‘ Tony Rochte is the head of the firm’s exchange traded fund (ETF) distribution. He’s got a few thoughts on the current state of the ETF industry. As ETFs make gains... Continue Reading »

Magellan Fund Keeps Up With ETF Competition
January 17, 2008 – Times are different for Fidelity as exchange traded funds (ETFs) have gained popularity. Fidelity’s performance has lagged, and now the Magellan Fund is re-opening after 10 years of being closed to new investors. Jennifer... Continue Reading »

Yet Another Reason ETFs Should Be In 401(k) Plans
January 7, 2008 – Investors have been pleading for exchange traded funds (ETFs) to be available in 401(k) retirement plans for quite some time now. Some feel like they are getting burned with hidden fees found in many... Continue Reading »

ETFs Becoming a Household Name
December 31, 2007 – Actor Sam Waterston of "Law and Order", the television show on which he plays a district  attorney, is making a case for exchange traded funds (ETFs) on ads for online broker TD Ameritrade. This... Continue Reading »

Our 2007 ETF Predictions: How Did We Do?
December 18, 2007 – Early this year, we boldly stepped forward and made our predictions for what we foresaw as the top exchange traded fund (ETF) trends of 2007. So, how did we do? (more…) Continue Reading »

Congressman Leads Charge to Get ETFs Into 401(k) Plans
December 12, 2007 – A fired-up congressman could be leading the charge to get exchange traded funds (ETFs) and other index funds into all 401(k)s, reports Sara Hansard at InvestmentNews. House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller,... Continue Reading »

401(k) Plans Need Disclosure Standards and ETFs
December 6, 2007 – The reasons for using exchange traded funds (ETFs) in a retirement portfolio go on, and here is another. Passing 401(k)-fee-disclosure legislation should be a top priority for Congress, a New York Times editorial informs,... Continue Reading »

ETFs and Guidance Help Growth in Retirment 401(k) Plans
December 4, 2007 – Saving for retirement is a goal for many investors, whether using exchange traded funds (ETFs), stocks, mutual funds or bonds.  Many companies offer 401(k) plans, where employees can make contributions as well as participate... Continue Reading »

One Small Step for ETFs, One Giant Leap for 401(k) Plans
November 28, 2007 – XShares, perhaps best-known for its line of HealthShares exchange traded funds (ETFs), is now broadening its horizons even further. According to Jesse Emspak at Investor’s Business Daily, the fund provider has joined forces with... Continue Reading »

The Latest on ETFs in 401(k) Plans
November 21, 2007 – It looks like target date exchange traded funds (ETFs) could make their way into the market share dominated by traditional mutual funds. Retirement and the $2.5 trillion 401(k) business is the place providers all... Continue Reading »

ETF-Based 401k Provider ShareBuilder Sold To ING
November 7, 2007 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are loved by small business owners and the financial advisors that help them. ShareBuilder 401(k) has sold over 1,250 ETF-based 401(k) retirement plans in only two years. Small business owners... Continue Reading »

Tax Bills? ETFs Can Help
October 30, 2007 – New research is displaying how index fund and exchange traded fund (ETF) investors can maximize their after-tax returns. Some tax experts believe that mutual funds shareholders’ tax bills will be the highest ever since... Continue Reading »

Will Lifecycle ETFs Be the Key to the 401(k) Market?
October 16, 2007 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) have enjoyed success with more than $500 billion in assets, so will lifecycle ETFs be their best ticket into the retirement market dominated by mutual funds? At the end of... Continue Reading »

Variable Annuities Want in on ETF Action
October 9, 2007 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) have become so popular that 401(k) plan providers and variable annuities want to include them. Variable annuities are contracts sold by an insurance company designed to provide payments to the... Continue Reading »

ETF Provider WisdomTree Jumps on the Retirement Plan Bandwagon
October 8, 2007 – WisdomTree Retirement Services, a subsidiary of the exchange traded fund (ETF) provider WisdomTree Investments, announced today the launch of a 401(k) platform. This is one of several ways companies are trying to set up... Continue Reading »

ETFs in 401(k) Plans: The Technology Is Here
October 5, 2007 – We spoke with Darwin Abrahamson, the CEO of Invest n Retire, and asked him about why ETFs should be in 401(k) plans and what his firm is doing to make it happen. Aside from the usual... Continue Reading »

ETFs in 401(k)s - What’s the Hold Up?
October 4, 2007 – Despite the success and increasing popularity of exchange traded funds (ETFs), these versatile funds have had a difficult time getting into many retirement accounts. Why? For one, cost-effective trading software that allows participants to track... Continue Reading »

ETFs and Financial Life
September 29, 2007 – Did you know that small changes in your financial rituals and investing in exchange traded funds (ETFs) can improve your personal finances in three months? Dayana Yochim, co-adviser for "Motley Fool Green Light," says... Continue Reading »

When Will ETFs Hit 401(k) Plans?
September 12, 2007 – Somebody doesn’t want exchange traded funds (ETFs) in their retirement space. Although ETFs’ growth remains rapid, they’ve made little headway into the 401(k) marketplace. This access would give the ETF industry a huge new... Continue Reading »

Barclays’ iShares Managing Director Dishes on ETFs
September 7, 2007 – Michael Latham, the managing director and head of iShares, Americas, for exchange traded fund (ETF) provider Barclays Global Investors, has big plans for the company’s iShares ETFs. In an interview with Brook Southall for... Continue Reading »

New Bill Moves ETFs Closer to Inclusion in 401(k) Plans
September 4, 2007 – The introduction of a new bill moves investors one step closer to having exchange traded fund (ETF) options available in 401(k) plans. In the HR 3185 bill revealed in late July by Rep. George... Continue Reading »

Why ETF Investors Need to Analyze Retirement Pitches
August 31, 2007 – Saving for retirement is one of many financial goals for exchange traded fund (ETF) investors. When doing so, be wary of any "retire early" pitches. The old adage that if something seems to good... Continue Reading »

Barclays Working to Expand ETFs into New Frontiers
August 29, 2007 – In addition to working on the first exchange traded fund (ETF) based on municipal bonds, Barclays Global Investors also has ETFs based on natural gas, private equity and infrastructure in the pipeline. Also, Barclays... Continue Reading »

ETFs Now More Important Than Ever for Retirement Plans
August 8, 2007 – As baby boomers and younger generations prepare for retirement, exchange traded funds (ETFs) might be needed now more than ever. ETFs would bring benefits such as transparency and low expenses to retirement plans that... Continue Reading »

ETFs Would Benefit Government Retirement Plans
August 7, 2007 – As exchange traded fund (ETF) providers search for ways to successfully integrate ETFs into retirement plans, the government could take a few notes. Although the government sponsors a decent 401(k) plan called the Thrift... Continue Reading »

ETFs Enter Retirement
August 2, 2007 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) still are not easily accessible in 401(k) plans, but there are firms out there trying to integrate them. Recently, CLS Investment Firm announced it will collaborate with a retirement plan... Continue Reading »

Retire with ETFs
July 28, 2007 – Most of the investor ownership of exchange traded funds (ETFs) has occurred outside of retirement plans. Retirement plan providers continue to seek ways to offer ETFs within retirement plans and 401(k)s. This market area... Continue Reading »

ETFs Grabbing Hold in Retirement Plans
July 20, 2007 – The time has come: Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are making their mark in 401(k) retirement plans. In June, BenefitStreet, a provider of retirement plans, began offering ETFs on their 401(k) platform in conjunction with... Continue Reading »

ETFs: Got Education?
June 27, 2007 – Is the exchange traded fund (ETF) business suffering growing pains right now? ETFs are growing to give investors and advisers more options than actively managed mutual funds; however, some are questioning their rapid proliferation.... Continue Reading »

New ETF 401(k) Education Program
June 16, 2007 – BenefitStreet Inc. launched a new program designed to help advisors introduce exchange traded funds (ETFs) into 401(k) plans. This education program comes soon after Barclays and BenefitStreet joined forces to incorporate ETFs into retirement... Continue Reading »

ETF Providers at Odds Over 401(k) Plans
June 7, 2007 – Barclays Global Investors, the largest exchange traded fund (ETF) provider, has been trying to break into the 401(k) market. Most U.S. retirement plan providers won’t offer ETFs because they are concerned with intraday trading. ... Continue Reading »

ETF Industry Growing Fast Enough?
May 1, 2007 – Morgan Stanley reports inflows for U.S.-listed exchange traded funds (ETFs) topped $11.6 billion during the first 3 months of 2007. This brings total assets to $480 billion - that’s 10% growth annualized. The ETF... Continue Reading »

XTF Putting ETFs in the 401k Plan
April 26, 2007 – XTF Advisors are breaking into the 401(k) market with exchange traded funds (ETFs).  The solution they have found to use ETFs in 401(k) plans is to introduce ETF-based mutual fund portfolios.  The press release... Continue Reading »

The Road Ahead for the ETF Industry
April 24, 2007 – Is the latest proliferation of exchange traded funds (ETFs) a revolution, or is it likened to Wall Street pollution? The recent popularity of ETFs has led to a frenzy of launches, many born in... Continue Reading »

Retirement And ETFs
April 14, 2007 – The one area that has been slow for exchange traded funds (ETFs) is retirement accounts, however, a number of changes in the 401(k) world could boost ETF use. Ideally, what retirement did for the... Continue Reading »

WisdomTree ETFs To Proliferate Into 401(k) Market
April 10, 2007 – WisdomTree Investments announced their creation of a business unit that will allow investors to use exchange traded funds (ETFs) in the 401(k) marketplace. Al Shemtob has been selected as Director of Retirement Services to... Continue Reading »

Retirement Options With ETFs
April 6, 2007 – Retirement plan providers have begun to allow exchange traded funds (ETFs) into a mutual fund-dominated area of investing. While ETFs have lower fees, allow for diversification and can be easily traded, there are other... Continue Reading »

401k Fees Tiresome-ETFs A Solution
March 29, 2007 – Just when the fatigue concerning retirement fees comes into the limelight, exchange traded funds (ETFs) are here for the rescue. Congress is "likely" to pass legislation to expand 401(k) disclosures because many political leaders... Continue Reading »

Avoid Hidden Fees with ETFs
March 23, 2007 – Long-term investors have an option to cut their costs - exchange traded funds (ETFs). Back in time, mutual funds were the best option for diversifying long-term holdings - the predominance of mutual funds in... Continue Reading »

401(k)’s and ETFs- Serving You
March 19, 2007 – Invest N Retire, provider of exchange traded fund (ETF) based 401(k)’s, is on target to finish this year with $500 million to $1 billion in assets. This is in comparison to $50 million at... Continue Reading »

ETF-Based Retirement Plan Launched
February 13, 2007 – A recent press release reported that National Planning Corporation (NPC) is launching a 401(k) retirement plan program with exchange traded funds (ETFs).  Designed for small and mid-sized companies the plan gives all participants access... Continue Reading »

10 New ETF Trends for 2007
January 5, 2007 – As the champagne corks ushered in 2007, investors celebrated more next generation exchange traded funds (ETFs) that promise an exciting variety of targeted new offerings. All grown-up, with everywhere to go, new ETFs continue to... Continue Reading »

New ETF 401(k)Plan
September 11, 2006 – Bonnie Bauman of Ignites reports on a new offering of 401(k) plans using exchange traded funds.  401K Retirement Solutions now offers Select Sector SPDRS to 401(k) plan participants. One of the challenges facing an ETF... Continue Reading »

ETFs in Retirement Accounts
August 17, 2006 – ShareBuilder is an online brokerage firm and that offers 401(k) plans to self-employed workers and employees of small businesses.  Their plans are built exclusively around exchange traded funds.  On July 1st, ShareBuilder launched the... Continue Reading »

ETFs in 401(k) Plans - Threaten Mutual Funds
June 16, 2006 – InvestmentNews looked into the changes taking place in 401(k) plans.  Exchange traded funds have lower expense ratios than mutual funds.  Not all index mutual funds perform as well as the index.  Why then should... Continue Reading »

ETFs, Lifecycle Funds and 401(k)’s
May 14, 2006 – Bonnie Bauman of Ignites wrote a story about lifecycle and lifestyle funds.  Lifecycle funds are age-based and look at a set schedule for an investor’s age.  Lifestyle funds combine assets to fit objectives and... Continue Reading »

ETFs in 401(k) Plans Can’t Happen Soon Enough
May 4, 2006 – Exchange traded funds are a natural fit for 401(k) plans. So why aren’t more plan providers incorporating ETFs into their company plan choices? I spoke to Tom Leswing of Ignites and outlined why this... Continue Reading »

ETFs In Your 401(k) Plan
January 12, 2006 – No doubt exchange traded funds are growing, yet ETFs face challenges, which they are overcoming, to enter the 401(k) marketplace.  Because contributions in 401(k) plans are frequent and small, the commission on the buys... Continue Reading »

2006 ETF Outlook
December 30, 2005 – 2006 is going to be another newsworthy year for exchange traded funds.  Top happenings to look out for in the New Year include: 32% asset growth in the ETF industry is expected each year for... Continue Reading »

Expect Strong ETF Growth in 2006
December 23, 2005 – Tom Leswing of Ignites writes about exchange traded fund popularity in 2005, and we should be on the look out for more in 2006.  With anticipation of leveraged index funds, actively managed funds and... Continue Reading »

Vanguard Study Makes Case For ETFs and Active Management of 401k Plans
December 2, 2005 – The mutual fund heavyweight Vanguard recently released a study verifying that most investors pay very little attention to their retirement plans and are under-diversified. As Americans are living longer and must have less dependency on... Continue Reading »

ETFs Giving Conventional Mutual Funds a Run For Their Money
November 9, 2005 – ETFs now account for a third of all index fund assets, up from 9% in 2000. The Wall Street Journal reports that "in less than three years, the total number of ETFs has jumped nearly 70 percent, to... Continue Reading »