CNBC reporter and Trader Talk blogger Bob Pisani says Morningstar predicts that exchange-traded funds (ETFs) may soon see a rich inflow of investor money.
In his regular CNBC 101 investor segment, Pisani explained why.
"I've championed ETFs," he said, as a low-cost way to play the market, with "lots of diversification and lots of products to choose." But there's been a problem keeping the funds from reaching their full potential: they cannot penetrate 401(k)s, thanks to brokerage fees, which obstruct cost-dollar averaging.
He notes that that 401(k)s currently hold some $2.5 trillion; there is only $541 million in ETFs. (yes, that's trillions vs millions.)
But Pisani reports that Morningstar has projected that 10 percent of 401(k)s could be rolled over through the next several years, bring a torrent of cash to largely unexploited ETFs — potentially boosting ETFs by nearly 25 percent.
______________________________
CNBC Slideshows:
______________________________
Key ETFs Now:
Financial Select Sector SPDR
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index
SPDR Gold Shares
iShares FTSE/Xinhua China 25 Index
iShares Russell 2000 Index
______________________________