It pays you to be wary of new ETF issues

Article Excerpt

This month we consider two new high-interest savings ETFs, which compete with money market funds. We also offer you a look at a hedge fund ETF from AGF. In our August 2019 issue, we initially analyzed high rate savings ETFs from Purpose Investments. Since then, the Canadian dollar and U.S. dollar Purpose ETFs have attracted assets of $2.4 billion (Canadian) and $181 million U.S., respectively. Unsurprisingly, other managers have now launched similar products. The CI FIRST ASSET HIGH-INTEREST SAVINGS ETF $50.05 (Toronto symbol CSAV) invests in high-interest deposit accounts. The ETF was launched on June 14, 2019, and has already attracted $930.2 million of investor assets. Assets are invested in cash accounts at the major Canadian banks, including Bank of Montreal, Royal Bank and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. The fund charges you a low management fee of 0.14%. It also pays a monthly distribution; the current annual yield is 2.25%. Evolve recently launched its HIGH-INTEREST SAVINGS ACCOUNT ETF $50 (Aequitas NEO symbol HISA). The ETF lets you invest in…