ETFs

Advisors cited better liquidity, lower expenses and higher tax efficiency as among the reasons they like ETFs, the market for which has topped $11 trillion.

The model they want to follow creates an exchange-traded fund as one of the share classes of a mutual fund, a move that ports the famous tax efficiency of the younger structure to the older vehicle.

Regulatory approval would be a big win for asset managers seeking to shrink clients' tax bills and expand into the $12.6 trillion ETF industry.

Two studies from Morningstar dive into the subtleties across the various categories of funds and the sources of the gap between actual and total investment returns.

"It doesn't take but one comment or one market-moving data point to cause ETFs to shift the market pretty considerably," said Ajay Thomas, head of public finance at FHN Financial.

Now in its fourth year, the annual beachside conference is bigger than ever, with satellite events planned throughout the year.

The F/m Compoundr High Yield Bond ETF (CPHY) and the F/m Compoundr U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (CPAG) began trading this week.

In an increasingly choppy sector, experts say investing with caution and an eye on diversification is key.

In a record-setting bull market, the products offer investors a straightforward way to protect against downside risk. But not all financial advisors are convinced of their utility.

Panelists at the Morningstar conference acknowledged the difficulties, even as they pointed out the ongoing opportunities from active management.