New products introduced over the last week include a commission-free ETF platform from Schwab and R shares on two Thornburg funds.
In addition, Vanguard tweaked asset mixes for 20 funds, Fortigent and Central Park Group announced a strategic partnership, ZT Wealth introduced its new Sapphire Group, and BullionVault’s Gold Investor Index dipped in January.
Here are the latest developments of interest to advisors:
1) Schwab Rolls Out ‘Game-Changer’: A Commission-Free ETF Platform
Charles Schwab announced Thursday the launch of an exchange-traded fund platform, Schwab ETF OneSource, that offers advisors and retail investors commission-free access to 105 ETFs from six leading providers.
The new platform spans all 14 Morningstar asset-class categories, with funds from six leading providers, including State Street SPDR ETFs, Guggenheim Investments, PowerShares, ETF Securities, United States Commodity Funds and Charles Schwab Investment Management.
Read the full story at AdvisorOne.
2) Vanguard Tinkers with 20 Funds, Including TDFs
Vanguard said Wednesday it was tweaking the asset mix of 20 funds, including several target-date retirement funds, “to further diversify these broad, balanced portfolios” and to incorporate the new Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund, now in registration with the SEC.
The fund giant is adding the international bond index fund to the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTI, VTSMX), Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund (VXUS, VGTSX) and Vanguard Total Bond Market II Index Fund (VTBIX). In addition, 12 Target Retirement Funds, four LifeStrategy Funds, two Managed Payout Funds and two Variable Insurance Funds will allocate 20% of their fixed-income holdings to the new bond fund.
Read the full story at AdvisorOne.
3) Thornburg Introduces R Shares for Two Funds