More advisers using smart beta: VanEck

According to VanEck's second annual smart beta survey, 91 per cent of financial advisers and brokers believe smart beta strategies will outperform or perform in line with active strategies, while just 9 per cent think smart beta would underperform.

Smart beta is being used as a replacement for actively managed funds by 64 per cent of financial advisers and brokers, and an almost equal proportion are using smart beta to replace market capitalisation based index managed funds, the research showed.

Managing director at VanEck Australia Arian Neiron said, "The survey reveals smart beta strategies are quickly gaining traction among investment professionals.

"We are nearing a tipping point where smart beta ETFs will become as prevalent as market cap weighted ETFs given their strong performance and cost advantages compared to active funds."

Smart beta ETFs combine aspects of active and passive management by tracking indices that deliver a targeted investment outcome. Yet they retain the transparency, liquidity, ease and rules-based approach of market capitalisation based ETFs, VanEck said.

"A clear sign that smart beta is winning backers is that 73 per cent of financial professionals using smart beta are 'very or extremely satisfied' and only 1 per cent are unsatisfied,” Mr Neiron said.

"Another sign that smart beta is gaining traction is its broader use by all investment professionals, including advisers working with the big banks. While IFAs were the early adopters of smart beta, aligned advisers are now the fastest growing users.

"Investors are now realising that active funds do not always achieve higher returns than the benchmark and are seeking more cost effective and transparent options to achieve investment objectives."

The VanEck survey results were based on the responses of over 150 Australian-based financial professionals working in an advisory capacity in Australia.