The push is part of an effort by ALPS to position itself as a firm specializing in satellite offerings (FA, 2/4). Tom Carter, managing director at ALPS, said the firm’s wholesalers are focused on educating advisors about how commodities fit into portfolios and that they would push commodities at advisor conferences. ALPS is considering a commodities-based marketing campaign, which could include advertising, but Carter said no time table has been set. “Big institutions are adding more exposure to commodities and only recently has that been available to the retail investor. We are trying to help give them that exposure,” he said.
ALPS is pushing a suite of ETF offerings from Victoria Bay Asset Management for advisors who want exposure to energy—United States Oil Fund, United States 12-Month Oil Fund and United States Natural Gas Fund. For broader commodities exposure, ALPS is pushing the Greenhaven Continuous Commodities Fund from Greenhaven Commodity Services. ALPS handles distribution and marketing for Victoria Bay and Greenhaven.
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