Convert Your SMA to an ETF with Tidal

Tax Benefits, Transparency, and Market Access

Voted the Best Capital Markets Team, the Best US White Label Platform, the Best ETF Research Provider, the Best Overall ETF Administrator, the Best ETF Administrator – Equity ETFs, and the Best ETF Administrator – Fixed Income ETFs

2025

Tidal’s use and promotion of the 2025 US Awards received was undertaken in coordination with ETF Express, for which compensation was paid.

Voted Best Service Provider of the Year by ETF.com, recognized for experienced strategy development, operations support, and marketing across the ETF industry.

Research

Research Launching & Operating an ETF

12/11/2025

Why ETF Seed Means Two Very Different Things

Initial inventory created by an LMM is not the same as committed investor seed, yet the overlap in language often confuses new issuers. Clarity on both sides is essential to launching with credibility and sufficient scale.

12/04/2025

The Great Migration: Wall Street’s Wave of Mutual Fund to ETF Conversions

As investor preferences evolve, legacy fund structures can’t keep up. ETFs offer simplicity, flexibility, and tax advantages that resonate with today’s market. The migration has become inevitable.

11/26/2025

The ETF Share Class Era Is About to Begin

Imagine managing a single portfolio that serves both ETF and mutual fund investors. That vision is moving closer to reality as the SEC approved the first modern ETF share class structure. This structural shift could redefine efficiency, scale, and performance across the asset management industry.

11/19/2025

How Implied Volatility Shapes Option Income ETFs

Investors sometimes misinterpret distribution changes as signals of portfolio missteps. In reality, implied volatility is the underlying factor shaping how much income covered call and put strategies can deliver. By understanding IV cycles, investors can set more realistic expectations about option income streams.

11/06/2025

Retail Interest Behind the Monthly Income ETFs

In just three years, assets in income-oriented option strategies have quadrupled to $230B. Retail investors are enjoying distributions and convenience with payouts that align with real-world expenses. The growth highlights just how powerful consistent income can be in today’s markets.

10/22/2025

The Boom in Single-Stock Leveraged ETFs

Single stock leveraged ETFs have become a mainstream tool for traders seeking bigger, faster gains. Issuers are rushing to meet demand with products tied to the market’s most talked-about names. But with greater earning potential comes greater risk, and many investors underestimate how quickly these funds can cut both ways.

10/16/2025

The Adviser vs. Sub-Adviser Dilemma

Many assume that being the “adviser” in an ETF structure guarantees influence over the fund. In practice, the real levers of control are hidden in trust management and governance, legal agreements, and operational frameworks. This article breaks down the three operational paths to launching an ETF and why the adviser vs. sub-adviser debate often misses the bigger picture.

10/07/2025

ETF Market 2025: Key Themes Through September

Since the start of September 2025, the ETF industry reflects a dynamic blend of enduring investor priorities and emerging themes reshaping the landscape. U.S. ETF assets have reached $12.5 trillion, with year-to-date net inflows of $784 billion, already outpacing the $593 billion gathered during the same time span in 2024.

09/16/2025

Why ETF Tax Efficiency Matters

From U.S. equities to complex strategies, ETFs consistently prove more tax efficient than peers. But efficiency depends on smart management, especially for asset classes like bonds, emerging markets, or crypto. With the right execution, ETFs offer the opportunity to transform structural quirks into investor advantages.

08/26/2025

From SMA to ETF with Section 351

A Section 351 conversion aligns investor tax priorities with the ETF’s structural advantages. For managers, it enables scale and speed-to-market across strategies that can’t easily be replicated in SMAs. Understanding the regulatory thresholds and market mechanics is essential before moving forward.