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Understanding ETFs & how they work

Learn about investing in ETFs

Understand the basics

What are ETFs?

ETFs are a pool of securities sold in shares that trade throughout the day, like stocks. They are professionally managed, like mutual funds, and can provide portfolio diversification, especially over single stocks. Unlike mutual funds, there are no minimum purchase requirements for ETFs and they are generally more tax-efficient investments than mutual funds.

See what ETFs can do for your portfolio and learn about possible risks.

ETFs Can Offer Investors

  • Targeted market exposures, such as certain asset classes, sectors, or investment themes
  • Potential tax efficiency
  • Potentially lower expense ratios than many mutual funds
  • Tradability throughout the day on an exchange
  • Low minimum purchase amount, which is the cost of one share and could vary

Know the Risks Associated with ETFs

ETFs are exposed to the investment risks associated with the underlying securities of the index
ETF investing involves expenses like fund expense ratios, trading-related costs and potential commissions for purchases and sales in certain account types
The fund's holdings may not exactly duplicate the composition of the index, and therefore performance of the fund may not match the index
ETFs that employ sophisticated trading strategies such as the use of leverage may not be suitable for all investors
Certain ETFs with unique exposures (like foreign indexes and commodities) entail unique risks that investors should review through the Prospectus

Investors Should Consider

  • The underlying index benchmark of the fund and its tracking error
  • Liquidity, average number of traded shares and the assets under management of the fund
  • Manager tenure and track record
  • Costs, especially expense ratio, as described in the prospectus

What are the different types of ETFs I can invest in?

Fixed Income

Fixed income funds are bond funds whose shares are listed on a stock exchange and traded throughout the day. There are funds focusing on corporate, government, municipal, international and global debt. Investors can also purchase bond ETFs that focus on specific ranges of maturity dates.

Commodity

Commodity funds are homogenous goods often traded in bulk on exchanges, such as oil or grain. They are usually sold through futures contracts, which are priced based on supply and demand for that material, or in ETFs, which are more readily available and based on those contracts.

Equity

Equity ETFs are funds that invest in the stocks of U.S. or international companies rather than investing in bonds.

Specialty

Specialty funds, or sector funds, and ETFs that focus on specific industries or markets.

Sustainable

Sustainable funds are funds whose shares use environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) criteria to evaluate investments or assess their social impact.

Common questions about ETFs

If you're looking for more information, check out these responses to some of the common questions investors have about ETFs

Want to learn more about ETFs?

Whether you're looking to understand the basics of ETFs or you're ready to dive into the technicalities, Merrill has the educational resources for you.

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Investing involves risk including the possible loss of principal investment.

Merrill, its affiliates, and financial advisors do not provide legal, tax, or accounting advice. You should consult your legal and/or tax advisors before making any financial decisions.
Diversification and asset allocation do not ensure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets.

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For broker-assisted trades through Merrill Edge, you will be charged a fee equal to the lower of $29.95 or 5.00% of the principal amount of the transaction. Further, there are indirect fees, such as annual management and other similar fees, that are charged by the manager or sponsor of an exchange-traded fund and of a closed-end fund, as disclosed in the product's prospectus.

Investment products offered through Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, and insurance and annuity products offered through Merrill Lynch Life Agency Inc.:
Are Not FDIC Insured Are Not Bank Guaranteed May Lose Value
Are Not Deposits Are Not Insured by Any Federal Government Agency Are Not a Condition to Any Banking Service or Activity

Investing in securities involves risks, and there is always the potential of losing money when you invest in securities.

Asset allocation, diversification, and rebalancing do not ensure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets.
The performance data contained herein represents past performance which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. For performance information current to the most recent month end, please contact us.

Net Asset Value (NAV) returns are based on the prior-day closing NAV value at 4 p.m. ET. NAV returns assume the reinvestment of all dividend and capital gain distributions at NAV when paid.

Market price returns are based on the prior-day closing market price, which is the average of the midpoint bid-ask prices at 4 p.m. ET. Market price returns do not represent the returns an investor would receive if shares were traded at other times.

Returns include fees and applicable loads. Since Inception returns are provided for funds with less than 10 years of history and are as of the fund's inception date. 10 year returns are provided for funds with greater than 10 years of history.

Before investing consider carefully the investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses of the fund, including management fees, other expenses and special risks. This and other information may be found in each fund's prospectus or summary prospectus, if available. Always read the prospectus or summary prospectus carefully before you invest or send money. Prospectuses can be obtained by contacting us.

Mutual Funds and Exchange Traded Funds: Expense Ratio – Gross Expense Ratio is the total annual operating expense (before waivers or reimbursements) from the fund's most recent prospectus. You should also review the fund's detailed annual fund operating expenses which are provided in the fund's prospectus.

Closed End Funds: Expense Ratio – Gross Expense Ratio is the ratio of the fund's total annual operating expense (before waivers or reimbursements) to average net assets as of the date of the fund's most recent annual report. You should also review the fund's detailed annual operating expenses disclosed by the fund in its annual reports, semi-annual reports, and other public filings.

This material is not intended as a recommendation, offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security or investment strategy. Merrill offers a broad range of brokerage, investment advisory and other services. Additional information is available in our Client Relationship Summary (Form CRS) (PDF).

Merrill, its affiliates, and financial advisors do not provide legal, tax, or accounting advice. You should consult your legal and/or tax advisors before making any financial decisions.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (also referred to as "MLPF&S" or "Merrill") makes available certain investment products sponsored, managed, distributed or provided by companies that are affiliates of Bank of America Corporation ("BofA Corp."). MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, Member SIPC popup and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation ("BofA Corp.").
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