Advisers Favor ETFs for Value, Not Just Cost, Amid Expansion Plans

Financial advisers are increasingly scrutinizing the value of active exchange-traded funds (ETFs) beyond their cost, according to MSCI's ETF Intelligence Survey 2026. The survey found 87% of respondents already hold active ETFs and 71% expect to increase exposure over the next two years. Most advisers (58%) would displace an existing mutual fund with a new active ETF allocation from the same manager. However, advisers are getting pickier about the fit of ETFs, with only 16% considering private markets a good structural fit and most citing liquidity mismatch as a primary concern.