The ETF industry continues to grow, and financial advisors need specialized training on the subject. In this context, BlackRock, in partnership with the Kaplan Financial Planning School, has launched a portfolio construction and ETF certification program for financial advisors.
The new program is designed to equip advisors with comprehensive resources and tools to have more informed conversations about the opportunities ETFs could bring to their clients’ portfolios, the School—founded in 1972—announced in a statement.
Among other topics, the course covers an understanding of ETF fundamentals, highlights global trends transforming the industry, and explores how ETFs can be used to build a wide range of diversified investment portfolios. The program is available through the university’s state-of-the-art learning platform, and students have up to 120 days to complete it.
“ETFs have revolutionized the way investors build portfolios and have increasingly become the preferred vehicle for many,” said Daniel Prince, Head of iShares Product Consulting at BlackRock in the U.S.
“Product innovation and investor education are the foundation of how we empower investors with choices and easy access to help them achieve financial well-being. We are excited to partner with Kaplan to help financial advisors deepen their knowledge of different investment strategies and how they can be implemented in portfolios,” he added.
In 2024, the U.S. ETF industry experienced unprecedented growth, with more than 650 new ETFs launched by December 2024, surpassing the previous year’s record by over 150. Additionally, in 2024, net inflows reached approximately $1.1 trillion, exceeding the previous record of $901 billion set in 2021.
