Investors Nearing Retirement Seek Stable Income with Active ETFs
A growing cohort of investors approaching retirement are turning to actively managed strategies and options overlay strategies to generate stable income while still growing their assets.
As retirement approaches, investors are increasingly focused on finding ways to earn stable income while still growing their assets for the long term. The desire for consistent cash flow to cover monthly bills and maintain a comfortable lifestyle has led to a surge in investor appetite for stable income products. This shift in investment preferences has been fueled by the narrow market leadership and concerns about the sustainability of certain stocks. As a result, experts are recommending actively managed strategies and options overlay strategies as effective ways to achieve stable returns. This article explores the rising demand for stable income products among investors nearing retirement and the potential benefits of active ETFs with an options overlay strategy.
Active ETFs: A Solution for Stable Income
According to data from Strategas, actively managed strategies represent 23.3% of all flows into equity and income products this year. This shift towards active management can be attributed to investors’ desire to have more control over their investments, especially in a market dominated by a few stocks. Todd Sohn, managing director at Strategas, highlights the need for investors to have a hand on the wheel, particularly if they are concerned about the performance of these stocks.
Goldman Sachs Asset Management’s Brendan McCarthy suggests that active ETFs with an options overlay strategy can provide investors with stable returns. By using derivative-type products, such as options, these ETFs can generate additional income while still tracking the performance of broader indices. McCarthy manages Goldman Sachs’ new active funds, the Goldman Sachs S&P 500 Core Premium Income ETF (GPIX) and the Goldman Sachs Nasdaq-100 Core Premium Income ETF (GPIQ). These funds employ an options overwrite strategy, where calls are written on the respective index ETFs to generate income.
The Potential Benefits of Options Overlay Strategies
The options overlay strategy employed by GPIX and GPIQ has shown promising results since their launch on October 26. GPIX has gained 9.46% since inception, while GPIQ is up 10.74%. In comparison, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100, on which the ETFs are based, have returned 9.97% and 11.84% respectively during the same period. This outperformance can be attributed to the additional income generated through the options overwrite strategy.
Conclusion:
As investors near retirement, their focus shifts towards stable income while still growing their assets. The demand for stable income products has surged, driven by concerns about the narrow market leadership and the need for consistent cash flow. Actively managed strategies and options overlay strategies have emerged as potential solutions to meet these requirements. Active ETFs with an options overlay strategy, such as GPIX and GPIQ, offer investors the opportunity to generate stable returns while still participating in the broader market’s growth. As retirement approaches, investors are increasingly looking for innovative strategies that can provide them with the income they need while preserving and growing their wealth.