AdvisorShares has launched a new actively managed exchange traded fund that provides exposure to alcohol, cannabis and tobacco stocks. The AdvisorShares Vice ETF (ACT) invests primarily in U.S. equities, although there are some international companies, invested via American depositary receipts. One of the portfolio managers on the fund, Dan Ahrens, is the founder and original portfolio manager of the Vice Fund (VICEX), a mutual fund, up 22.6 percent year-to-date. “We believe cannabis-related equities–which span across multiple industries–maintain an enormous upside as both society and regulations continue to evolve,” Ahrens said in a statement.
The Benefits of Working as a Team
Advisors who work as a team are significantly more successful than those who go at it alone, according to a new study by The Investments & Wealth Institute and Janus Henderson. The study, which polled 2,800 practices across team and solo models, found that 60 percent of advisors work in a team, but only one-third collaborate in their decision-making. Those that do share in the decision-making oversee more assets under management, the study found. Nearly half (48 percent) of top-performing teams also hold quarterly in-person reviews meetings with clients and over half (52 percent) hire specialized staff roles. “Extraordinary teamwork is crucial for delivery of a remarkable client experience and to the success of an advisor practice in today’s dynamic wealth management industry,” says John Evans Jr., the executive director of Janus Henderson Labs. “These research findings reinforce the critical value of advisor teams in driving stronger trust, management responsibility and growth.”
Fi360 Introduces Enhanced Fee Benchmarker
Fi360, provider of fiduciary-related education and technology, has announced the release of an enhanced, updated version of its Fee Benchmarker solution, which will offer increased flexibility and customization. The function will be available with Fi360’s Fiduciary Focus Toolkit. Fee Benchmarker is used “to compare and justify fees and services relative to other advisors based on plan size and services offered, which is a key component of sound fiduciary and business development processes.” The tool provides access to a database of retirement specialist advisors’ fees and services, and advisors can generate a plan sponsor-ready and data-driven report.
