Nebraska-based brokerage firm TD Ameritrade has announced a major increase in the scope of its commission-free ETF trading platform, tripling the number of ETFs available from 100 to 296. The expansion means TD Ameritrade now offers the largest commission-free ETF trading program in the industry.
TD Ameritrade has tripled the number of ETFs available on its commission-free platform from 100 to 296.
Marco De Freitas, head of retail strategy, product and digital for TD Ameritrade, commented: “For more than a decade, we’ve worked to make it easier for clients to execute their investment strategies using non-proprietary ETFs. Now we’re tripling our ETF offerings to deliver one of the most comprehensive selections of commission-free ETFs in the industry. This marks the most significant enhancement of our program since 2010, when we helped level the playing field for the everyday investor with commission-free ETF trading.”
Through the upgraded program, registered investment advisor (RIA) and individual investor clients will have access to non-proprietary, low-cost ETFs from eight leading providers, including AGFiQ QuantShares, First Trust, iShares, JP Morgan, Invesco PowerShares, ProShares, State Street Global Advisors, and WisdomTree.
TD Ameritrade clients will now be able to buy and sell commission-free ETFs across 77 Morningstar categories, including exposure to US, international developed and emerging market equity, broad and sector-specific fixed income, and alternatives such as commodities, real estate or managed futures. The suite includes broad and country-focused ETFs, as well as smart beta, sector and thematic exposures. Included in the line-up is also the recently unveiled SPDR Portfolio ETFs, a suite of “ultra-low-cost” ETFs that aims to assist investors in the construction of a core portfolio strategy (see: “SSGA enters fee war with ultra-low-cost SPDR Portfolio ETFs”).
“Clients asked us for greater choice and a wider variety of high-quality, commission-free ETFs,” said Jim Dario, managing director of product management for TD Ameritrade Institutional. “We’re delivering in a big way: we’ve assembled the largest list of commission-free ETFs in the business, while still retaining our open-architecture approach, with no proprietary ETFs. The new platform will feature some of the biggest names in the ETF industry, with ETFs selected to cover a range of investment strategies and enable investors and advisors to create tailored, diversified portfolios.”
TD Ameritrade launched its commission-free ETF trading program in 2010. Over the subsequent seven years, the firm’s commission-free ETF assets under management has experienced a 31% compound annual growth rate with AUM multiplying nearly seven-fold. The firm attributes this growth to both strong client demand and market appreciation.
A full list of ETFs available on TD Ameritrade’s commission-free platform may be found here.