71% of Advisers Plan to Buy More Active ETFs Within 2 Years, MSCI Survey Finds

Active exchange-traded funds are set to take a further share of adviser portfolios. MSCI surveyed 450 advisers, and 71% plan to increase their use within 2 years.

The ETF Intelligence Survey 2026 covered advisers across the United States and Europe. It found that 87% already invest in active ETFs, while 62% plan to raise their passive allocation.

Active ETFs Are Eating Mutual Fund Shelf Space

The MSCI survey points to substitution as much as new money. Overall, 58% said a new active ETF from a manager they already use would most likely displace an existing mutual fund or a UCITS holding.

The manager often stays the same. Half of the respondents would switch to an active ETF version of a strategy they already hold. Among fund selectors, 85% are open to an ETF share class of that same strategy.

Regulators cleared the path earlier this year. In March, the SEC granted the last piece of relief, letting broker-dealers trade ETF shares of multi-class funds. Asset managers can now run mutual fund and ETF share classes inside one portfolio.

Follow us on X to get the latest news as it happens

Private Markets Fail the Fit Test

Advisers drew a firmer line on structure. Nearly half (49%) would access private or less liquid assets through an ETF. However, only 16% consider private markets a good fit for the wrapper.

Liquidity explains most of that doubt. A mismatch between the ETF and its underlying assets worried 62% of respondents. Valuation transparency followed at 50%, and a lack of track record at 44%.

Pricing power has shifted as well. In contrast to core beta, which only 12% would pay up for, difficult-to-access strategies drew a fee premium from 58%. Meanwhile, 68% rank liquidity and trading efficiency among their top priorities.

Jana Haines, global head of index at MSCI, framed the change as a question of where the structure works.

“Passive ETFs remain the foundation of most adviser portfolios, but active ETFs are increasingly becoming mainstream. What we are seeing is a shift from whether advisers will use active ETFs to where the structure delivers the most value,” Haines said.

Demand is also moving beyond home markets. Some 45% expect to broaden equity allocations, and among them, 39% favor emerging markets against 24% for developed ones. MSCI did not disclose how the 450 responses were split between the two regions.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch leaders and journalists provide expert insights

The post 71% of Advisers Plan to Buy More Active ETFs Within 2 Years, MSCI Survey Finds appeared first on BeInCrypto.