Convert Your SMA to an ETF with Tidal

Tax Benefits, Transparency, and Market Access

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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.

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351 Conversions
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Research

Research

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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.
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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.
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Using Derivative ETFs to Hedge Downside Risk

In today’s uncertain markets, investors are no longer content with riding out volatility unhedged. Whether seeking to protect against drawdowns, smooth income, or build more outcome-focused portfolios, derivative-based ETFs are emerging as essential tools. From buffer strategies to income overlays, these vehicles allow investors to stay exposed to markets without giving up control over risk.
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Private Credit ETFs Are Rising, But Risks Remain

As demand for yield climbs and fixed income regains its footing, investors are increasingly turning to private credit. Once the domain of institutions and hedge funds, this trillion-dollar asset class is rapidly becoming more accessible through exchange-traded funds (ETFs). But as private credit enters the ETF mainstream, some industry insiders are raising a cautionary flag: just because it can be wrapped in an ETF does not mean it should be.
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Record Expense Ratio Revenue

Thematic ETFs Are Evolving, Not Disappearing

Thematic ETFs took center stage in the U.S. ETF market over the past few years, but 2024 was a stark reminder that not all themes have staying power. As investors recalibrated amid interest rate uncertainty, macroeconomic resets, and headline fatigue, some of the buzziest ideas of the past cycle saw significant outflows. Meanwhile, a more selective class of strategies emerged as winners, revealing an important shift in how U.S. investors are approaching thematic exposure.
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Hierarchy in ’40 Act Space – Debunked

For many asset managers entering the ETF world for the first time, the question of control is front and center. Who actually owns the fund? Can I be replaced? What decisions can I make? What am I liable for? These concerns often arise from a lack of clarity around how ETFs are structured under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (‘40 Act).
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The Fixed Income ETF Renaissance Has Arrived

With interest rates at their highest levels in over a decade, inflation reshaping market behavior, and equity volatility shaking traditional asset allocation models, asset managers are rediscovering bonds, and the ETF wrapper is proving to be a powerful tool for delivering them. There’s finally room to get creative again. Duration, credit quality, curve positioning, and risk hedging are back in play.
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Record $17 Billion in Expense Ratio Revenue Amid Derivative ETF Boom

ETF issuers are shattering records. According to the Tidal ETF Industry KPI Report March 3, 2025, issuers are raking in an estimated $17.4 billion in expense ratio revenue over the past year, a testament to the explosive growth in rising AUM and the boom in Active and Derivative ETFs. Read More:
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Record Expense Ratio Revenue

Active ETFs Hit $1 Trillion

What does it mean now that active ETFs have crossed the $1 trillion mark? Discover how this milestone is reshaping the ETF landscape, and why Tidal is at the forefront of the movement.
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Active ETF Boom: Why Specialized Trading Teams Are the Future

While passive index ETFs have long dominated the market, the rise of active ETFs is changing the landscape. Investors are pleading for more than just broad-market exposure; they want strategic, risk-managed portfolios that can adapt to changing market conditions or provide the perfect final piece to complete their portfolio. Read on to know more
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