This edition of the Investments Roundup features Simplify launching two barrier ETFs, CAIS starting a capital markets division, BlackRock projecting a $6 trillion bond ETF market by 2030, Advisors Asset Management naming Cliff Corso as CEO, Edward Jones adding alts for high net worth clients, Ballast Rock launching a private credit fund, CI Global launching a Solana crypto ETF, YCharts adding risk profiles, Venturi partnering with Opto on private investments, Janus Henderson presenting strategies for volatile markets, HFR’s April hedge fund data and new long volatility index and Pacer ETFs adding two Cash Cows funds.
Larry's Take
Publicly available investments continue to increase in complexity, as evidenced by Simplify’s and Pacer’s new ETFs, which feature highly technical strategies such as barriers and rotators. Even people with years of investing experience may not know how these products work, much less the average person on the street with a brokerage account app on their cell phone.
When people understand only what a product is intended to do but lack understanding of its mechanisms, they can’t assess the product’s risks or evaluate whether those risks are suitable for them. Education falls short as a tool to equip the investor.
This underscores the pressing need for financial advice. With the increased complexity of instruments available to the public, the investor needs access to quality advice. The solution lies in leveraging technology to make the provision of financial advice more feasible, even for investors who are just starting out.
If you would like to discuss this Larry’s Take further, including how these trends might impact your business, please contact me at larry.roth@rlrstrategicpartners.com.
Simplify Adds Income- And Options-Focused Barrier ETFs
Simplify Asset Management launches two new barrier ETFs with monthly income: Simplify Barrier Income ETF (SBAR) and Simplify Target 15 Distribution ETF (XV). Both funds sell barrier put options based on the lowest-returning of a reference group of three U.S. equity index ETFs. The premiums from selling the options are distributed as income.
SBAR provides a source of monthly income by selling a laddered portfolio of 30-barrier put options, with a defined downside threshold. The firm says investors can expect higher income than traditional fixed income products offer, in exchange for the risk of a loss defined by the 30-barrier level. Meanwhile, XV is designed to provide a 15% annualized distribution rate, paid monthly, by selling a laddered portfolio of barrier put options, with the barriers adjusting to support the target distribution rate.
“Our investors are continually seeking diversified sources of income,” said David Berns, CIO and Co-Founder of Simplify. “We are very excited to address this need with today’s launch of SBAR and XV as we continue our efforts to offer products designed to address the most pressing concerns in building today’s modern portfolios.”
CAIS Launches Capital Markets Division To Offer Structured Notes, Hedging And Monetization Strategies
Alternative investment platform CAIS launches a division focusing on structured investments, hedging and monetization strategies, trade execution and managed solutions. The new division, CAIS Capital Markets, will provide advisors with access to defined-outcome solutions through the CAIS platform. Meanwhile, CAIS and Focus Financial Partners also announce a broadening relationship in which Focus’s network of advisors and financial services firms will leverage the offerings of CAIS Capital Markets.
“Advisors are increasingly taking advantage of defined-outcome strategies to capitalize on market opportunities, manage risk, and seek to achieve the financial objectives for their end clients,” said Marc Premselaar, Partner and Head of Capital Markets at CAIS. “In today’s market environment, we’re seeing a preference for increased diversification and downside protection. Many advisors are taking a more intentional approach to constructing portfolios—and that includes reevaluating their public allocations."
BlackRock Projects Bond ETFs Could Reach $6 Trillion By 2030
BlackRock projects fixed income ETFs are on pace to hit $6 trillion in assets under management (AUM) by 2030 due to accelerating investor demand and widening adoption, according to “Innovation Meets Opportunity,” featuring BlackRock’s annual outlook on the global fixed income ETF landscape. The report discusses how investors can leverage bond ETF innovation to navigate markets and capture what the firm sees as a “generational opportunity.”
The paper said that, worldwide, bond ETFs had the highest organic asset growth (20%) of any asset class or investment vehicle last year. So far in 2025, it said, client adoption of bond ETFs “continues to accelerate, with assets up 22% on an annualized basis.”
“The methods by which investors access fixed income and integrate this asset class into their portfolios are evolving rapidly,” said Stephen Cohen, Chief Product Officer and Head of Global Product Solutions at BlackRock. “Increasingly, investors of all types are turning to bond ETFs, attracted by the innovation within the wrapper and its benefits of transparency, enhanced liquidity and efficiency.”
Advisors Asset Management Names President Cliff Corso As CEO
Monument, Colorado-based Advisors Asset Management (AAM) announces that President and Chief Investment Officer Cliff Corso will take on the additional role of CEO, following the retirement of current CEO Scott Colyer. Colyer, who has been CEO since 1998, will remain with AAM as a consultant for 12 months to support the transition, while continuing as a shareholder and member of the firm’s Board of Directors.
Colyer has been the “driving force behind AAM’s growth, expanding on its long heritage in fixed income making it the innovative investment solutions provider with industry leading distribution capabilities financial professionals know it as today,” the company said in a news release.
“It has been an honor to help build and lead AAM for over 27 years, and as I step into retirement, I do so with immense pride in what the firm has achieved,” Colyer said. “Under Cliff’s guidance, AAM is primed for continued growth and long-term success, building on its strong legacy with a clear, forward-looking vision.”
Edward Jones Adds Alternative Investments And Expanded Financial Planning For High Net Worth Clients
Edward Jones launches alternative investments through Edward Jones Generations, its private client service for U.S. high net worth investors. Clients with at least $10 million in investable assets will be able to access private market investments including private equity, private credit and private real estate, delivered through the Edward Jones Solutions Unified Managed Account program.
Edward Jones is partnering with alternative investment platform CAIS to provide alts access to its clients. Advisors working with Edward Jones Generations clients will be able to access education about the alts offerings through CAIS’s on-demand learning platform and in-person events.
“Edward Jones is committed to helping our clients achieve their financial goals, and we are always looking to expand our products, solutions and experiences designed to help make these goals a reality,” said Russ Tipper, Principal and Head of Products at Edward Jones. “We believe alternative investments represent an opportunity for our high net worth clients to diversify their portfolios.”
Ballast Rock Launches Private Credit Fund, Lending To Real Estate And Solar Projects
Charleston, South Carolina-based Ballast Rock announces a new private credit fund that will focus on lending to small- and medium-scale real estate and solar projects from select developers. Ballast Rock Real Estate Private Credit Fund will invest in senior-secured debt instruments with the potential for equity upside.
The fund will be managed by Managing Director and Private Credit Portfolio Manager Max Jackson, and it targets raising a maximum of $50 million. The fund will invest in four main themes: lot banking, Delaware Statutory Trust financing, franchise location development and commercial solar development.
“We believe having a focused approach to our investments, in areas where we have experience, is a differentiator in a private credit market with many new entrants,” Jackson said. “In addition, we plan to target loan sizes of $5 million or less, since we view that market as underserved.”
CI Global Launches Solana ETF On Toronto Stock Exchange
Toronto-based CI Global Asset Management (CI GAM) and Galaxy Asset Management, partner to launch an ETF that invests in Solana tokens, the cryptocurrency behind the Solana blockchain network. The CI Galaxy Solana ETF is managed by CI GAM and sub-advised by Galaxy. The fund trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange as SOLX.U for its U.S. dollar-denominated series and SOLX.B for its Canadian dollar-denominated series. The Solana blockchain network supports applications including payments processing, lending, non-fungible tokens, smart contracts, web3 platforms, decentralized finance models and decentralized physical infrastructure projects, CI GAM said. The firm said it will waive its management fee until July 16.
“As an ETF, SOLX provides a convenient and transparent way to invest in SOL and SOL staking,” said Jennifer Sinopoli, Executive Vice-President and Head of Distribution for CI GAM. “Investors benefit from liquidity, real-time pricing, eligibility for registered plans, and the professional management provided by CI GAM, one of Canada’s largest investment firms, and Galaxy, a global leader in managing digital assets. The ETF’s sub-custodians also store SOL holdings in offline cold storage, providing an additional layer of security.”
YCharts Launches Risk Profiles
Chicago-based YCharts introduces a risk profile tool on its platform that helps advisors to structure the risk levels of model portfolios efficiently and communicate them clearly to clients. The launch of the Risk Profiles feature is a continuation of YCharts’ broader effort to enhance advisors’ proposal process, the company said.
The Risk Profiles feature lets advisors select risk levels for proposed portfolios and generate reports with visuals that show comparisons with risk benchmarks. The visuals allow advisors to more easily and transparently explain the reasons behind their portfolio recommendations to clients.
“Risk Profiles break open the black box of risk scoring,” said Caleb Eplett, Chief Product Officer at YCharts. “Advisors can confidently connect portfolio strategies to client risk preferences — clearly showing the ‘why’ behind every recommendation in a repeatable, scalable way.”
Venturi Private Wealth And Opto Investments Partner On Private Markets
Venturi Private Wealth partners with Opto Investments to expand private market offerings for ultra-high net worth clients. Venturi will leverage Opto’s technology platform to provide qualified clients with access to private investments including private credit, private equity and real estate. Venturi will also use the Opto platform’s administrative and operational capabilities for private investments.
Venturi is an RIA serving ultra-high net worth clients. It oversees $3 billion in client assets. Opto is a private investment platform for advisors. Founded by venture capitalist Joe Lonsdale, with backing from 8VC and DFO Management, Opto provides technology that supports advisors and private bankers in creating and managing private markets programs, the firm said.
“Venturi is committed to seamlessly integrating technology to enhance efficiency, transparency and the overall client experience,” said Russ Norwood, Co-Founder and CEO at Venturi. “Our partnership with Opto is a key part of our technology transformation, streamlining access to private investments through a fully integrated platform. Scale will no longer be a limiting factor for us to deliver private investments across our client base.”
Janus Henderson Offers 5 Strategies To Discuss With Clients In Down Markets
Advisors can use market volatility as an opportunity to start strategy discussions with their clients about how to position their portfolios for future growth or tax savings — and doing so may help calm investors’ anxieties in a turbulent market, Janus Henderson reports. Five discussion topics worth broaching are: tax harvesting, rebalancing and diversifying, Roth conversions, dollar-cost averaging and bucketing.
For example, advisors can explain that down markets can be the right time for tax reduction strategies like tax-loss harvesting. “Given the recent volatility, many investors currently have holdings that have decreased in value. Selling specific lots of a holding to realize a gain or loss may help offset previously realized capital gains,” said Ben Rizzuto, Wealth Strategist at Janus Henderson. Similarly, conversations about investing in short-, medium- and long-term buckets, with appropriate risk levels, may “help relieve clients’ anxiety and reduce the chances that they ‘catastrophize’ the situation and make irrational decisions,” he said.
“Periods of market volatility are very common. For financial advisors, navigating volatility means having to manage clients’ finances as well as their psyches,” wrote Rizzuto. “The strategies outlined above leverage tried-and-true financial concepts and behavioral coaching techniques.”
HFR Finds Equity Hedge Gains And Macro Falls During April Volatility, Launches Long Volatility Index
Hedge fund performances were mixed during April’s market volatility, with the HFRI Equity Hedge (Total) Index eking out a 0.7% gain after a turbulent month, HFR reports. The hedge fund research firm also launches a new benchmark, the HFR Long Volatility Index, to track funds that are designed to benefit from high market volatility. In its first month, the volatility index increases 1.6%. Meanwhile, the HFRI Macro (Total) Index declines -2.7%.
The HFR Cryptocurrency Index recovers, rising 6.3% for the month compared to a -6.3% loss in March. The recently introduced HFR Cryptocurrency-Quantitative Index posts a 9.8% gain in April.
“Hedge funds again navigated historic and violent equity market volatility driven by trade, tariff and economic uncertainty in April, but unlike the March volatility, April also included a stunning and extreme intra-month reversal of investor risk sentiment contributing to unprecedented dislocations across equity and fixed income markets and extreme levels of realized volatility,” stated Ken Heinz, President of HFR.
Pacer ETFs Adds Two Funds To Cash Cows Lineup
Pacer ETFs launches two ETFs in its Cash Cows ETF Series, offering advisors new strategies for uncertain markets. The Pacer Cash COWZ 100-Nasdaq Rotator ETF offers “passive, rules-based access to high-growth equities or high-quality companies with strong free cash flow yield,” according to the firm. The fund rotates between exposure to the Nasdaq 100 Index and to the Pacer US Cash Cows 100 Index, based on their relative performance.
Meanwhile, the Pacer S&P 500 Quality FCF Aristocrat ETF seeks long-term appreciation through exposure to large-cap stocks. It tracks 100 S&P 500 companies “with at least 10 consecutive years of positive free cash flow and the highest combination of [free cash flow] margin and [free cash flow] return on invested capital,” the firm said.
“Dramatic market swings require more than traditional approaches. Advisors need a resilient toolkit to help clients navigate uncertainty with confidence,” said Sean O’Hara, President of Pacer ETF Distributors. “With the launch of QQWZ and LCOW, we are offering two distinct strategies that apply the strength of free cash flow in different ways.”
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