Debunking Myths About ETF Liquidity

We took a look at three common misconceptions that can contribute to increased costs. Explore each of them to find out how to avoid these costly mistakes.

Myth: ETFs with the Lowest Expense Ratios Have the Lowest Total Costs

Fact: Look beyond the expense ratio. An ETF's expense ratio and trading costs are not correlated — so a low-fee fund may not have the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO).

To calculate an ETF's cost, a combination of technical and strategy-specific factors come into play:

• Bid-ask spreads
• Rebalance frequency
• Rebalance size

Discover how to analyze the true costs of owning an ETF before you make your next trading decision.

Myth: A Single Metric Is All You Need to Guage an ETF’s Liquidity

Fact: Get the complete liquidity picture. Investors often use point-in-time statistics like 30 or 90-day average trading volume to analyze an ETF's liquidity.

But a fund's liquidity profile can change in different markets. Your ETF due diligence should:

• Look beyond on-screen liquidity
• Analyze bid-ask spreads over various time periods, times of day and market environments
• Evaluate the fund's profile, from daily trading volume to assets under management

Navigate the twists and turns of an ETF's liquidity dynamics by identifying the most liquid and cost-effective ETFs.

Myth: All ETF Trade Execution is the Same

Fact: Choose the right execution strategy. In fact, ETF investors can choose from a variety of execution strategies to control costs.

Because ETFs trade on an exchange with primary and secondary market liquidity, you have the flexibility to choose:

• Order type, such as market or limit
• Order execution, with help from institutional trading desks or authorized participants

Master the mechanics of ETF trading so you can execute your trades with more confidence.