Has ETFs' time come in 401(k) plans?
It may have, despite the fact that investors might not be all that knowledgeable about exchange-traded funds, according to a John Hancock Investments survey–and advisors don't necessarily bring them up in client conversations.
In a survey of affluent investors, 71 percent of respondents indicated that they would consider adding ETFs to their portfolios, while 51 percent said they were either very interested or somewhat interested in talking with a financial advisor about them.
And among those who are already investing in ETFs, 63 percent say they've incorporated them into their retirement planning; 91 percent of all respondents said their most important goal was ensuring a comfortable retirement.
A Charles Schwab study indicated similar interest among investors who are increasingly replacing stocks and bonds with ETFs.
The 2015 ETF Investor Study by Schwab found that close to a third of those who invest in ETFs say they'll be adding more to their ETF stable in the coming year, and nearly two thirds say they'd consider stock-based ETFs instead of individual stocks in their portfolios.
More than half said they'd actually consider replacing bonds with fixed-income ETFs.
