For many investors the term ETF is synonymous with index-tracking, or so-called “passive” investments, and the concept of an actively-managed ETF therefore represents a contradiction in terms. But the term “active management” does not necessarily mean lots of activity or significant tracking differences to the reference index, and it offers opportunities to manage index-referenced investments more efficiently.

FNB recently listed three new offshore ETFs, but the underlyings are very familiar to us – MSCI World, MSCI Emerging Markets and S&P 500. How do you choose between multiple ETF options when they offer the same – or very similar – underlying investment exposure?

Financial advisors play an important and valuable role in the wealth creation and preservation journey. But can you DIY at least some of it, and if so, where and how? The ETFSA Investor Hub is the perfect combination of digital-when-you-want-it, and human-when-you-need-it.

Factor- and style-based investment strategies continue to evolve and attract the attention of portfolio managers and analysts alike. But when an ETF Manco proposes the amalgamation of two of their factor-based ETFs into a vanilla, size-based ETF, the inevitable question arises about the future of factor investing.

There is so much more to investment on the stock exchange than buying shares in local companies, and the strong growth in bond ETFs are testimony to the attraction of a whole new world for investors. Whether you think “bonds are boring”, or “the bond market is the smartest in the world”, this discussion on actively-managed bond ETFs is bound to expand your horizons.

As central banks continue with the interest rate mantra of “higher-for-longer”, the uncertainty of the timing and speed of expected rate cuts present specific challenges for investors looking for stable and inflation-beating income. An active strategy through this period of volatility and uncertainty can offer specific benefits, but do you understand the additional risks this may bring?

There has been a sudden surge in interest in precious metal ETFs in recent months, especially in platinum. What is driving this demand? Why can only some banks, and no asset managers, be issuers of commodity ETPs? In addition to platinum, we cover gold, silver, palladium and rhodium in this podcast.

The options for income and yield in an investment portfolio continues to expand, and in this episode we feature two new ETFs available to investors for consideration. The JSE is also getting its first actively-managed ETF, decisively crossing the divide between index tracking and active management in exchange-traded products. There is no such thing as “passive” in investments.

The appeal of dividends in an investment strategy is well-known, and arguably timeless, but supplementing this strategy with share buybacks is perhaps less well-known, and certainly not one that has been easily accessible for retail investors. The range of investment strategies available through the Actively-Managed Certificate (AMC) wrapper, listed on the JSE, continues to expand, and now also allows for easy access to an enhanced yield strategy, combining dividends and share buybacks in one portfolio.

Liquid Private Credit in the US market is an investment opportunity not readily available to South African investors in any form other than an actively-managed certificate (AMC). Prior to the global financial crisis in 2008, most companies raised capital and financing by traditional means such as either banks or via public debt, but subsequent regulatory changes restricted the amount of bank lending to smaller and riskier businesses. In simple terms, that’s where private credit stepped in to fill the gap thus created in the market.