Demystifying Thematic ETFs: Positioning the Story Behind Them – ProShares – 2.22.21

Summary:

Thematic ETFs—funds investing in a selection of stocks poised to benefit from the growth of a specific idea—are capturing a lot of attention, perhaps for good reason. In 2020, 75% of thematic ETFs outperformed the S&P 500, according to data from Bloomberg. But how do thematic ETFs fit into a balanced portfolio and how should they be assessed? Join ProShares, a leader in thematic ETFs, for an exclusive webcast to demystify thematic ETF investing and equip advisors to answers the questions their clients are asking. In this webcast, we will discuss:

• How to consider thematic ETF strategies—could they be the new sector investing?
• What are the potential benefits of capturing burgeoning trends and news-grabbing companies in a thematic ETF?
• Rerating, revaluing and reopening—a framework for assessing the near- and long-term growth potential of specific themes.

Speakers:

Troy Goldstein oversees the National Accounts Group for ProShares ETFs and ProFunds mutual funds. Before joining ProShares in 2011, he was Executive Director, Head of Portfolio Distribution Europe with UBS AG. Mr. Goldstein managed nearly 40 sales specialists across Europe focused on discretionary and non-discretionary fee-based portfolio solutions including mutual funds, ETFs and structured products. Before that, Mr. Goldstein was Executive Director, Head of the Investment Solution Sales Team, responsible for ETFs, ETF solutions, Funds, Separately Managed Accounts and UITs in UBS’s U.S. headquarters in Weehawken, NJ. Prior to that, Mr. Goldstein held two positions with UBS in Zurich, Switzerland. He served as Global Products & Marketing’s Head of Marketing & Communications managing new offerings and sales campaigns. Previously in Zurich, Mr. Goldstein was Head of Business Development for UBS International locations driving business growth across Asia, Europe and the U.S. Mr. Goldstein began his career in financial services as a Financial Advisor with PaineWebber, which later became UBS. Mr. Goldstein holds a Juris Doctor from Kensington University Law School and Bachelor’s Degree in business administration–financial management from California State University, Long Beach. Additionally, he has received his certificate of completion from the Securities Industry Institute at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.

Simeon Hyman joined ProShares in 2013 as Head of Investment Strategy. He leads ProShares’ team of investment professionals engaged in portfolio analysis, product research and development, education and the delivery of investment strategies using the company’s ETFs. He and his team are also responsible for the development and publication of research, white papers and other content to present ProShares as a leader in the ETF industry. Prior to ProShares, Mr. Hyman spent several years at Bloomberg where he was Chief Investment Officer for Bloomberg’s technology-driven wealth management business, Bloomberg Black. He also served as Chairman of the Investment Committee and led the team of investment professionals tasked with the continuous delivery of investment advice, research content, and strategic and tactical asset allocation guidance. Before joining Bloomberg, Mr. Hyman was Head of Investment Strategy and Due Diligence for UBS. There, he established asset allocation and investment strategies for the $300 billion UBS U.S. Wealth Management business and directed due diligence for the $50 billion separately managed account business. Prior to UBS, Mr. Hyman served as the Chief Investment Officer of Lehman Brothers Trust Company. Simeon earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics from the University of Connecticut and an MBA from Columbia Business School. He holds Series 7, 24, 63 and 66 FINRA registrations and the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Scott Helfstein, PhD, joined ProShares and ProFunds as Executive Director, Thematic Investing in 2020. He is responsible for product development, investment research, business strategy, and external engagement for the company’s expanding lineup of thematic ETFs. His work focuses on innovation and the evolving trends at the intersection of technological, economic and social disruption. Prior to joining ProShares, Scott was Head of Thematic Portfolios and Co-Head of Market Research and Strategy at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, launching the firm’s thematic research and portfolios and managing a team that provided global multi-asset investment advice. Scott earlier served as Senior Investment Strategist and Deputy to the Chief Market Strategist at BNY Mellon Investment Management, responsible for global macro, relative value, and political analysis. He also worked at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and was an investment banker at Credit Suisse First Boston. A leader outside of the financial industry as well, Scott is associated with the Business and National Security Program at Fordham’s Center for National Security, a Senior Fellow at the Center for Cyber and Homeland Security at Auburn University, and was Adjunct Scholar at the Modern War Institute at West Point. He served as the Director of Research at West Point’s Combating Terrorism Center and as Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Science at the United States Military Academy from 2008 to 2014. He has taught at numerous institutions, including Harvard, Yale, and National Defense University, and published in venues such as Harvard Business Review, Foreign Affairs, Bloomberg, and International Finance. Scott holds a joint doctorate in public policy and political science from the University of Michigan, a master’s degree in war studies from King’s College, London, and a bachelor’s degree in finance from The George Washington University. He is a member of the Economic Club of New York and was a term/corporate member in the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) .