State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT), one of the world’s leading providers of financial services to institutional investors, today released its Vision Focus report on the trends, challenges and best practices in servicing exchange traded funds (ETFs). Entitled “ETF Servicing: Moving Forward in a Market in Motion,” the report notes the need for innovation and efficiency in servicing these rapidly growing investment tools.
ETFs currently account for more than $1 trillion in global assets under management and remain an efficient, low-cost, transparent and tax-friendly investment tool. However, ETF sponsors are facing new challenges as the funds continue to grow rapidly in both size and type.
“The global expansion of ETFs requires broader knowledge about the nuances of different country markets and their regulatory rules,” said Alan Greene, executive vice president of State Street’s US global services business. “A number of servicing challenges come with diversification into fixed income and actively managed products from a base of passively managed domestic equity ETFs.”
The Vision report goes on to cite such best practices as Web-based service platforms, flexibility and highly customized client service provided by staff who share their expertise in numerous areas of fund administration, including legal, tax and treasury services.
State Street has utilized its leading-edge technology, consultative client approach and flexible servicing model to service ETFs since their inception in 1993.
State Street’s Vision Series addresses topics that affect the financial services industry today and tomorrow. Previous reports have focused on pensions, UCITS IV and sovereign wealth funds. To download a copy of this Vision Focus report or others in State Street’s Vision series of reports, please visit State Street’s website
