Personal Finance

Many mutual funds are converting to exchange-traded funds. Here's what investors need to know


A growing number of mutual funds are converting to exchange-traded funds, which is a positive trend for investors, experts say.

Since early 2021, there have been more than 70 mutual fund to ETF conversions, including nearly three dozen in 2023, according to Morningstar Direct, and experts say more conversions are coming.

“It’s steadily increasing year-over-year,” said Daniel Sotiroff, senior manager research analyst for Morningstar Research Services.

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A 2019 change from the Securities and Exchange Commission provided fund managers with more flexibility, which has helped pave the way for mutual fund to ETF conversions, according to Sotiroff.

The conversion itself is tax-free to the investor and switches from actively managed mutual funds, which aim to outperform the market. The primary benefit of the new ETF is more tax efficiency.

“That’s a big selling point,” Sotiroff said.

Year-end mutual fund capital gains distributions can be a pain point for investors with actively managed mutual funds in brokerage accounts. Those payouts can trigger a sizable tax bill, even when the investor hasn’t sold shares.

In 2023, many fund managers realized gains to meet investor redemptions, resulting in double-digit projected payouts for some funds.

The most attractive feature of an ETF is that most don’t distribute capital gains at the end of the year.

Barry Glassman

Founder and president of Glassman Wealth Services

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