Alternative ETFs Gaining Traction
Multi-alternatives and merger arbitrage ETFs are gaining adoption as advisors look to limit downside risk and address a challenging fixed-income environment, says IndexIQ's Adam Patti.
Scott Burns
Scott Burns is head of asset management solutions for Morningstar. He leads Morningstar’s global business strategy and solution development for its asset management and buy-side clients.
Burns assumed his current role in 2015. He joined Morningstar in 2004 as a senior equity analyst and served as an associate director of equity research. In 2008, he was tapped to establish Morningstar’s ETF research team, and his management responsibilities grew to include oversight of closed-end and alternative fund research. In 2012, he was promoted to director of fund research for North America and became global director of manager research in 2013.
Before joining Morningstar, Burns held positions at Bank One and Banc of America Securities, as part of the Leveraged Finance group.
Burns holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Latest
Asness: Splitting the Middle on Market Efficiency
Markets are very good with long-term price accuracy, but they are neither perfectly efficient, nor prone to regular bubbles, says the AQR founder.
Asness: Why I'm a Cynic of Active Stock-Picking
Investors need to truly believe in a manager's skill level because as more dollars chase market inefficiencies, it becomes harder to outperform indexes, says AQR founder Cliff Asness.
Is the Role of Fixed Income Changing?
In this yield environment, bonds may be moving from a risk reducer to a risk enhancer, says RiverFront's Michael Jones.
How a Go-Anywhere Manager Gets His Bearings
A 'price matters' discipline combined with a momentum process can help investors avoid catching falling knives in a down market or leaving money on the table in an up market, says RiverFront Investment Group chairman and CIO Michael Jones.
U.S. Budget Woes Not a New Story
BlackRock iShares global head of investment strategy Russ Koesterich sees some parallels between the U.S. and the Roman Empire, but says our problems are fixable.
Three Keys to Deficit Turnaround
Other countries that have stepped back from deficit brinks have faced pressure from the bond market, experienced a change of government, and delivered a mandate to truly deal with fiscal issues, says iShares BlackRock global chief investment strategist Russ Koesterich.
Is the Stock Market Priced for the Fiscal Cliff?
There is a much higher probability of at least temporarily going over the cliff than is appeared to be baked into stock prices, says BlackRock iShares global head of investment strategy Russ Koesterich.
Sonders: Baby Boomers Not the End of the Line for Markets
A closer look at the echo boom and younger generations requires investors to take a more balanced view on the potential future effect of demographics on the markets, says Schwab's Liz Ann Sonders.
The Real Driver of a Housing Recovery
The real mortgage rate--the nominal mortgage rate minus the rate of appreciation or depreciation in homes--is one of the most important housing statistics to watch, and it recently went negative again, says Schwab's Liz Ann Sonders.
Asking the Right Questions About Active ETFs
Everyone wants low-cost, transparent access to the best managers--you just need to ask them
9 Things We Learned About ETFs in 2011
2011 showed unabated ETF adoption, a focus on risk and income, increasing demand for non-U.S. debt, more alternative ETFs, and more, says Morningstar's director of ETF research.
Best Practices for Trading Less-Than-Liquid ETFs
Even small investors should call product providers and ask for help finding liquidity before diving into a thinly traded ETF, says iShares' Leland Clemons.
Clemons: ETFs Not to Blame for Market Volatility
Fears about the strength of the global recovery--not the proliferation of exchange-traded produces--are driving the wild swings in the stock market, says iShares' Leland Clemons.
Arnott: Apple Pretty Darn Expensive
Research Affiliates' Rob Arnott thinks it is unlikely Apple deserves it's place as the largest market-capitalization company in the country and that investors shouldn't expect outsized returns.
Arnott: Look Outside Mainstream Stocks and Bonds
Investors need to broaden their horizons and consider alternatives and tactical bets if they want to achieve respectable returns in the coming years, says Research Affiliates' Rob Arnott.
The 3-D Hurricane Hurtling Toward the Economy
A combination of deficits, debt, and demographics will weigh on the U.S. economy for the next 10-15 years, says Research Affiliates' Rob Arnott.
Fixed-Income ETFs: Fact and Fiction
BlackRock's Matt Tucker discusses notions about fixed-income ETF premiums and discounts, tax efficiency, liquidity, and more.
Wesbury: More Harm Than Good in Fed Action
The Fed's Twist plan could actually hurt the nation's banking system, says First Trust Advisors chief economist Brian Wesbury.
Wesbury: Data Show No Sign of Another Panic
Weak growth by itself is not proof that another recession is coming, says First Trust Advisors chief economist Brian Wesbury.
Wesbury on Today's Economic Hot Zones
First Trust Advisors chief economist Brian Wesbury on the current intensity of the housing downturn, the European sovereign debt crisis, unemployment, and consumer confidence.
Why Individual Investors Should Consider Alternatives
ProShares' Joanne Hill discusses the diversification benefits of owning investments other than stocks and bonds.
Replicating Hedge Fund Returns With ETFs
By breaking down hedge fund returns into various factors, new ETFs can replicate returns at a lower cost and with greater liquidity, says ProShares' Joanne Hill.
What New ETFs Are Catching Investors' Eyes?
In the first half of the year, ETF investors have been looking to find income, diversify away from the dollar, and protect themselves from inflation, says Morningstar's Scott Burns.
Low-Volatility Investing with ETFs
The top 20% of low-volatility stocks have done about as well as the broad market, but with about a third of the volatility, says Morningstar ETF analyst Sam Lee.
Sizing Up the First Bank Loan ETF
Morningstar ETF analyst Tim Strauts explains the strategy behind the PowerShares Senior Loan Portfolio ETF and what potential bank-loan investors should consider before jumping aboard.
Behind the Growth in ETFs
An uptick in demand from the institutional community has had a lot to do with increased trading volume and assets in ETFs, says State Street's Tony Rochte.
ETF Investors Seeking Income, Inflation Protection
Morningstar's Scott Burns discusses investor demand for dividends, international TIPS, and deeper exposure to emerging-market consumers with State Street's Tony Rochte.
Riding the Oil Wave With Commodities-Based ETFs
Morningstar's Scott Burns and Abraham Bailin discuss how to use a new generation of exchange-traded products to bet on rising oil prices.
Think Oil Prices Are Going to Skyrocket? Try This ETF
An equity-linked ETF, versus products that hold futures contracts, will give investors more bang for their buck in a rising oil-price environment, say Morningstar's Scott Burns and Abraham Bailin.
Gain Muni Bond Liquidity With ETFs
Morningstar's Scott Burns and Tim Strauts explore how ETFs can provide individual investors with greater liquidity than owning individual bonds.
What Large-Cap Emerging Markets ETFs Don't Give You
Some emerging-markets ETFs may not afford exposure to the more granular emerging growth stories in these regions, says Van Eck's David Semple.
Getting Active in Emerging Markets
Van Eck's David Semple describes how the firm's active and passive strategies work together in the emerging markets space.
PIMCO's Money Market Killer?
PIMCO director of ETF product management Don Suskind on how to use the shop's new MINT ETF, plus insights into the firm's strategies in active and index offerings.
Expanding on Modern Portfolio Theory
SSgA head of investments Dan Farley says traditional portfolio management should be expanded to also account for crisis situations, currency issues, as well as liquidity risks.
Due Diligence on Model Portfolios
Schwab's Michael Iachini offers tips on assessing and benchmarking model portfolio strategies.
Sizing Up Liquidity in ETFs
Schwab's Michael Iachini says investors should dig deeper to truly understand a fund's liquidity, plus offers tips for investing in commodity and China ETFs.
Newer Choices for Yield-Seekers
Scott Burns digs into PowerShares' yield-focused ETFs--including the Build America Bond and Fundamental High Yield funds--with firm senior vice president Ed McRedmond.
The ETF Edge in an Uncertain Tax Climate
Planner Mark Balasa estimates that ETFs contributed to saving his clients up to one-third on their tax bills from 2007 to 2009.
Semple: Constructive on Emerging Markets
Though they've traditionally traded at a discount to developed markets, emerging markets will command a growth premium going forward, says David Semple, Van Eck's director of international investment.
The Power of Passive Investing
Rick Ferri's forthcoming book argue that the more actively managed funds you put in a portfolio, the lower the probability that the portfolio will outperform a portfolio of index funds.
Where to Invest in a Muted Recovery
SSgA head of investments Dan Farley says his team is looking for stability of income and returns in areas such as large-cap dividend stocks.
Sizing Up a Tactical Strategy
There are market inefficiencies that you can capture with a good disciplined process, says SSgA head of investments Dan Farley.
What Impact Will ETFs Have on Future Activity?
With an onslaught of new assets chasing returns through ETFs, it's been almost impossible to predict the effect that these funds will have on the market.
Five Overlooked 5-Star ETFs
Morningstar's Scott Burns and Paul Justice examine five standout large-cap ETFs.
Active ETFs Take on International Investing
In WCM's new active ETF, portfolio managers Kurt Winrich and Mike Trigg look for firms with economic tailwinds, moats and great cultures.
Burns: Junk Rally Unwinding
Director of ETF research Scott Burns recaps another ugly day in the market, year-to-date performance trends, and how quality names are holding up.
ETF Trading Best Practices
ETFs have advantages, but investors must consider trading strategies before jumping in, say Morningstar's Scott Burns and Paul Justice.
Closed-End Fund Valuations Get More Appealing
During last week's turmoil, some closed-end funds popped up as being statistically undervalued, reversing a trend toward overvaluation.
Two High-Yield Ideas in Closed-End Funds
These higher-risk satellite holdings could give your overall portfolio a boost, says Morningstar's Mike Taggart.