Each segment of the investing business has its own star or stars, and this past week I had the opportunity to work in proximity to two of the major luminaries in the exchange-traded fund world.
So while I’m sure people at the exchanges, ETF sponsors, index firms and consulting firms will be miffed or think I’m a dunce for omitting one or more of the people at their organizations who belong in the ETF firmament, here are my ETF star picks: Tom Lydon, founder and publisher/editor of ETF Trends, and Deborah Fuhr, managing partner at ETFGI, the global ETF consulting firm.
Let me tell you why I picked them.
Tom has been writing about, commenting on and spreading the word about exchange-traded funds since the days most people who even knew what ETFs were thought of the products as weird, convoluted structures concocted to foster trading volume. Yes, to be honest, they were and are that — but they were and are much more. And Tom, who also manages money as head of Global Trends Investments, saw the potential and wanted to spread the word.
Considering the potential for conflict, orthodox journalists would consider Tom’s running businesses that employ ETFs, promote ETF usage and cover the ETF world to be a combination of activities that’s not exactly kosher. But Tom has satisfied, with integrity, an important need for information, data and insights about the ETF business and their use as an investment tool.
To help bring together the myriad of players that make up the ETF ecosystem — investment managers, exchanges, lawyers, data companies, indexers, custodians and advisors — Tom created ETF Boot Camp, a day-and-a-half conference held for the first time this past week, in New York.
Like all successful conferences, the ETF Boot Camp was a mix of interesting speakers, interesting attendees, topical formal sessions and good opportunities to chat informally (plus great food, thanks to the Conrad Hotel venue). That fertile mix often spawns the serendipity of being able to meet someone brilliant from a company you never knew existed, to the benefit of both. It seemed that just such connections were being forged at the conference.
So, Tom, for being a leading force in encouraging growth and innovation, you are an ETF luminary.
Of equal luminance is Deborah Fuhr, who participated in Tom’s conference and was busy introducing attendees — all of whom she seemed to know — to one another throughout the event.
That’s not surprising. Debbie, whom I’m sure you’ve seen in many Asset.tv videos, knows everyone and everything having to do with exchange-traded funds. She is a great resource for every corner of the ETF world. And I mean “world” in both literal and figurative senses.
Want to know how ETFs are doing in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia? Ask Debbie. Want to know who’s who in ETFs, whether they’re retail, institutional or at a service provider? She knows that, too. Want to know who’s doing what and how your idea or product might fit? Debbie can provide direction.
Whether consulting, gathering data or talking about smart “bee-ta” in London or alternative “bay-ta” in New York (she admits that with all her traveling, she sometimes forgets where she is and pronounces things in a way that leads some listeners to assume she’s Canadian), Debbie provides information and insights — and makes connections — that benefit not only “connectees” directly, but everyone involved in ETFs.
So, Debbie, hats off to you.
Because of your efforts and Tom’s, the broad ETF community is brighter.