SMAs, ETFs, and mutual funds: which one's right for you?

These fund structures vary widely, however, and understanding their key differences is essential for any investor looking to build an effective and diversified portfolio. In this article, we’ll explore the distinct characteristics, benefits, and drawbacks of each and the role they can play in an investor’s portfolio.

Mutual funds

Mutual funds have long been the cornerstone of investment portfolios, offering investors a professionally managed basket of securities at a reasonable fee. They provide several distinct advantages:

• Diversification—Mutual funds pool investments from multiple individuals and institutions to purchase a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, and other assets. This can help spread risk and reduce exposure to individual security fluctuations.
• Professional management—Skilled fund managers make investment decisions on behalf of investors, with the resources available to conduct thorough research and analysis to ensure the underlying public companies align with the fund’s objectives.
• Liquidity—Mutual funds are typically highly liquid, allowing investors to buy or sell shares at the end-of-day net asset value (NAV). This liquidity ensures investors can access their funds relatively quickly should they need to.
• Convenience—Mutual funds are easily accessible and user friendly, making them an attractive option for investors who prefer to leave the hard work to the experts.

However, mutual funds aren’t perfect and come with some potential drawbacks worth noting. These can include:

• Fees—Many mutual funds charge management fees and other expenses, which can eat into returns over time.
• Trading constraints—While most mutual funds are liquid, investors can only buy or sell units in the fund daily after the market closes. While this can be enough for most investors, the lack of intraday trading can limit an investor’s ability to respond quickly to market developments.
• Capital gains—The assets held within mutual funds can generate capital gains, even if the investor doesn’t sell, which can result in unforeseen taxes for investors. 

Overall, mutual funds are well suited to investors who prioritize professional management, diversification, and long-term investment objectives. They're particularly attractive for retirement accounts, where the ease of automatic investing to receive diversified exposure can be beneficial.

ETFs

ETFs became popular in the 1990s by combining the best features of both mutual funds and investing in individual stocks. They offer some unique advantages, including:

• High liquidity—Unlike mutual funds, ETFs can be bought and sold throughout the trading day at market prices. While such high levels of liquidity aren’t necessary for most investors, they can provide valuable for intraday traders.
• Transparency—Most ETFs (passive and strategic beta ETFS) disclose their holdings daily, allowing investors to know exactly what assets they hold. This can be particularly appealing to investors who want to actively manage their portfolios.
• Lower costs—ETFs typically offer lower expense ratios compared against other forms of investment, which can help maximize returns over the long term.
• Tax efficiency—ETFs often offer a tax advantage and can minimize capital gains tax distributions due to the way they’re structured.

While offering many benefits to the average investor, ETFs come with their own set of considerations. These include:

• Brokerage commissions—Frequent trading of ETFs can lead to brokerage commissions, which can offset cost savings compared with mutual funds for some investors.
• Liquidity variability—While most ETFs are highly liquid, some smaller or specialized ETFs may have lower trading volumes, potentially affecting liquidity.
• Degrees of management—While actively managed ETFs are increasingly popular, passive ETFs simply follow the index, which may not be suitable for those who prefer professional management.

Overall, ETFs are a good choice for investors seeking flexibility, transparency, and cost efficiency in their portfolios. They’re well suited for active traders, tactical asset allocation, and those looking to target specific market sectors and asset classes. 

SMAs

SMAs are portfolios of stocks, bonds, and other securities that are designed to meet an investor’s specific objectives and preferences. They’re managed by investment professionals and designed for high-net-worth individuals who have specialized or sophisticated needs and seek tailored investment solutions.

While they’ve been used for many years by institutional investors, SMAs are a relatively recent arrival to the retail investment market but are already proving popular. They offer a customized approach to portfolio management, catering to the specific needs and preferences of individual investors. They offer several distinct advantages:

• Customization—SMAs are designed to align with an investor’s specific objectives, risk tolerance, and preferences.
• Professional management—Although investors in SMAs can dictate what they invest in, the resulting portfolio is managed by skilled fund managers who are able to make decisions on the investor’s behalf.
• Transparency—Investors have full visibility into the assets held in their SMA, providing complete control and understanding of what they’re holding in their portfolio.
• Tax efficiency—The direct ownership structure of SMAs offers several tax advantages for investors. One advantage is that tax-loss selling can be targeted to the individual’s unique situation to help offset capital gains tax and potentially increase after-tax returns.
• Direct ownership—Investors in SMAs own the individual securities in their portfolio, providing the opportunity for enhanced tax planning and customization.
• Fees can be lower—SMAs have a more efficient underlying structure that may be less expensive than mutual funds.

SMAs may not be suitable for everyone, however, and are generally reserved for accredited investors only. They also come with their own set of considerations, including:

• High minimum investments—SMAs typically require higher initial investments than mutual funds or ETFs, which may limit accessibility for some investors. SMAs are intended for high-net-worth, investment savvy individuals and may not be appropriate for all investors.
• Management fees—While SMAs offer greater customization and professional management, that may come at a cost. Management fees can be higher than those found in mutual funds or ETFs, reflecting the personalized nature of the service provided.
• They're not set-and-forget investments—SMAs require more client attention. While investment managers do most of the legwork, financial professionals generally need to discuss investment strategy with clients in greater detail, reexamine their financial goals, and monitor the account’s progress on a regular basis.

Overall, SMAs may be a good choice for high-net-worth investors and those seeking a personalized and tax-efficient investment strategy.

Choosing the right tool for the job

Each investment vehicle comes with its own set of advantages and drawbacks, and deciding which one is right for you will come down to your personal requirements and goals. Mutual funds offer diversified, professionally managed portfolios suitable for long-term investors seeking a hands-off approach. ETFs provide greater liquidity, transparency, and cost efficiency, making them a good choice for investors seeking flexibility. SMAs, on the other hand, offer personalized solutions tailored to individual needs, making them an attractive option for high-net-worth investors with specific requirements.

In practice, many investors choose to combine these investment vehicles within a diversified portfolio to harness the strengths of each. This approach can provide the benefits of diversification, professional management, flexibility, and customization all in one investment strategy.

As always, the key to successful asset management lies in aligning your investment choices with your individual financial objectives, allowing you to build a robust and effective portfolio that stands the test of time.