The usage gap between the different fund types could potentially grow larger. Over the next two years, 63% of advisors plan on using custom target date funds moderately or significantly. Meanwhile, 76% of advisors plan on increasing their use of ETFs—almost twice the percentage of advisors (44%) who plan on increasing their use of liquid alternatives. Perhaps equally important: No advisors plan on reducing their use of ETFs while 5% plan on decreasing their reliance on liquid alts.
In general, retirement plan specialists were in line with the trends of the broader advisor industry. Yet the specialists were slightly less likely to plan on changing their use of either fund type over the next two years, perhaps indicating that they have already settled on strategies that work for their clients.
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