Displaying items by tag: direct indexing

Altruist is launching a new direct indexing product at a low $2000 minimum coming at the end of May. Altruist is using fractional shares in order to be at the lower bound of direct indexing minimums. With direct indexing investors own the underlying asset, which comes with tax alpha but usually at a very high minimum footprint. The index will track a cap-weighted 500 stocks similar to the S&P. However, the penalty for this ultra-low minimum is that investors won’t have the ability to customize their final product, which greatly affects the value of the DI offers. They will allow value-based screens later thin the year according to management.

Finsum: Direct indexing without dropping for tax alpha is a bit of a puzzle because it’s hard to see the advantage over ETFs.

Direct Indexing is being heralded as the next big wave of investment products, as it gives investors the power to take advantage of tax-loss harvesting and customize it to their interests. However, the dual objectives that they propose could come to compete with each other and undermine investor interests. If investors maximize the tax-alpha they aren’t really aligned with their interests which younger investors are holding as a high priority. Riding a portfolio of all ‘greenwashers’ gives investors few options for tax purposes and deviates too far from the underlying index. The most effective solution might be for financial advisors to develop a better understanding of client interests rather than leaning on a magical new product.

Finsum: Some are calling direct indexing active management in disguise, but investors trying to capitalize on either customization or tax loss might still find it an attractive option.

Direct indexing seems targeted at high-net-worth individuals. They have huge tax incentives, a decent fee structure, and usually high minimums, but there is just one problem: they don’t know about them. According to a survey by Parametric Portfolio Associates over half of high-net-worth are unfamiliar with direct indexing. This is odd because it's one of the fastest-growing market segments expected to grow at 12% each year over the next half-decade. The survey also finds that advisors that do recommend direct indexing, lean mostly on the tax structure and benefits that they can capitalize on.

Finsum: Investors need to be aware of the benefits of custom indexing, the tax benefits tend to outperform fees, so they can edge out traditional ETFs. 

The biggest hang up for most investors when it comes to direct indexing is the heavy minimum investment fees that usually accompany them. Fidelity shocked markets with their $5,000 minimum, but Altruist just lowballed them with a $2,000 product. This strategy used to be exclusively available to wealthy individuals but is now more accessible. Investors hold the underlying stocks that make up the indexing product which gives nice advantages when it comes to tax loss harvesting and green investing. The product will give investors exposure to global stock and bond markets as well as acap weighted 500 largest US stocks, and be available at a variety of risk levels.

Finsum: With the huge tax savings and lower investment minimums, direct indexing is more competitive with ETFs than it was even a year ago. 

Acquisitions and launches are running hot in direct indexing and in an attempt to match rival Fidelity, Charles Schwab announced the launch of their new direct indexing products. The funds will be available starting on April 30th, but unlike Fidelity’s ultra-low initial investment of $5k, Schwab will require a $100,000 minimum. They want their direct index investors to have a better conceptualization of the market and think the minimum will attract this. The launch comes fresh off of tax season and will hopefully drive interest as tax is an advantage of DI. Schwab will concentrate on the tax advantages of their custom offerings as opposed to ESG or other flavors popular with these funds.

Finsum: The timing of this launch could put investors over the hump when it comes to taking advantage of tax-loss harvesting with their DI products.