Q&A Interview with Horizons ETFs President Mr. Howard Atkinson
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Tell me about Horizons ETFs.
Horizons ETFs offers a broadly diversified family of over 70 exchange traded funds. Our fund list includes solutions for investors of all experience levels to help them meet their investment objectives in a variety of market conditions.
What is unique about Horizons ETFs?
Horizons ETFs is the sole distributor of leveraged, inverse, inverse leveraged, and volatility ETFs in Canada, providing innovative investment tools that allow investors to profit or protect in bull and bear markets. Horizons ETFs also has the largest family of actively managed ETFs in Canada, with ETFs that offer exposure to equities, fixed income, covered call and alternative strategies.
Horizons ETFs is launching a simulated trading competition on April 13th. Who is eligible to enter and how does it work?
The contest is open to Canadian residents who are 18 years of age and older. It starts at market open on April 13, 2015, and provides an opportunity for investors to open a simulated trading account of $100,000 and invest in any combination of all TSX listed ETFs. The contest runs for six weeks. We have a grand prize of $7,500, a runner-up prize of $2,500, and six weekly prizes of $500. Participants are able to pre-register online now until the contest opens. We’ll be updating all participants regularly on weekly winners, both on the website and our social media platforms.
How can the competition help new, intermediate and experienced investors?
This competition is a great opportunity for investors of all experience levels to try their hand at investing using ETFs. Investors can trade ETFs without putting up any of their own capital, and learn all about various products and investment strategies—from index, commodity, currency and equity ETFs, to actively managed, leveraged, inverse, and inverse leveraged ETFs—and how they can benefit their portfolio.
More and more, we are hearing about Actively Managed ETFs. What exactly is an Actively Managed ETF?
Similar to a traditional mutual fund, an actively-managed exchange traded fund is an ETF with a designated portfolio manager making decisions on the underlying portfolio, with the investment objective of outperforming an index or benchmark. Actively managed ETFs are listed on a stock exchange, trade intra-day, offer better liquidity and can be a tax-efficient investment solution.
How is an ETF different from a traditional Mutual Fund?
An ETF is different from a mutual fund in that ETFs trade on a stock exchange throughout the day, offer greater liquidity, and can be more tax-efficient. They can also help investors save on fees. Lower fees can lead to higher returns, especially over long investment time-horizons.
Describe the Horizons family of ETFs in terms of how long they’ve been around, new ETF launches, etc.
Horizons was the first ETF company in Canada to launch leveraged ETFs. In January 2007, the Horizons S&P/TSX 60 Bull Plus ETF (HXU) and the Horizons S&P/TSX 60 Bear Plus ETF (HXD) were launched. Since then, we have built a reputation as innovators, bringing to market ETF solutions for Canadian self-directed, advisor-led and institutional investors. Our family of Actively Managed ETFs, which includes fixed income, equity income, equity and an alternative category, continue to win industry awards!
The contest includes the universe of ETFs listed on the TSX. What is the best way for investors and participants to learn and understand more about the Horizons ETFs and the others available in this contest?
The best way for investors and participants to learn and understand more about our ETFs is to start with the internet. Horizons ETFs has a vast array of educational tools and resources available on both the website and the contest site, providing ample details on all the different ETF strategies we offer at Horizons ETFs. If you have questions, we welcome inquiries through our website at any time.
What is so special about this contest and why does it excite you?
This contest is special because it allows investors to try ETFs with no capital investment. It excites me because it gives people the opportunity to trade ETFs, execute buy and sell orders, and experiment with different investment strategies. Last year we had over 1,000 people in the contest and winners from across Canada.
What is the greatest risk factor?
The best part of this contest is that there is no risk. You can sign up, and at 9:30am on April 13, 2015 you can make your first trade using virtual dollars. Maybe you’ll be one of our winners!
Is there anything else you would like to say?
In summary, at Horizons ETFs we believe that every investor, regardless of portfolio size, deserves access to the best money managers and the best investment strategies at the best possible price. Our corporate mission is to deliver on this belief each and every day.
For more information about Horizons ETFs, please visitwww.horizonsetfs.com
To register for The Biggest Winner 5, please visitthebiggestwinner.stocktrak.com
Disclosure: Horizons ETFs is a Stockhouse client.