Imagine where our ETFs could take your clients

Our ETFs are built to help you plan today—for possibilities your clients imagine tomorrow.

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How these ETFs fit into our Active-Passive Model Strategies

Russell Investments Active-Passive Model Strategies blend active management with efficient passive exposures shaped by 40 years of model portfolio experience.

Understanding active ETFs

Why investors are putting active ETFs in their portfolios:

Transparency

Active ETFs trade intraday on an exchange providing better liquidity and a clear picture of portfolio holdings.

Tax efficiency

ETFs are widely considered more tax efficient than mutual funds due to their potential to reduce capital gains distributions.

Low cost

Active ETFs generally have lower fees than mutual funds, often allowing investors to keep more of their returns.*

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Keep scrolling for more insights or jump to this article about how actively managed ETFs work.

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* Investors trading ETFs should also consider transaction costs incurred through their brokerage, such as commissions which could reduce returns.
Source: Morningstar (https://www.morningstar.com/funds/active-etfs-vs-mutual-funds-what-know-before-picking-new-fund)

Why our ETFs

We seek to help advisors elevate client outcomes through our unique, time-tested approach.

  • Multi-manager, multi-style investing: We seek to provide exposure to a diversified portfolio of complementary strategies, styles and asset classes.
  • Access to specialty managers: We tap into our expansive research network to uncover specialist money managers to fill specific roles in the portfolio.
  • Professional oversight leveraging over 50 years of rigorous manager research.

Make active ETFs work for you

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Active ETFs infographic

Explore our infographic to help educate your clients on active ETFs.

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Help your clients discover how ETFs have evolved.​

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Ed Rosenberg, Head of ETF Product, Russell Investments

“Our open-architecture approach brings together leading managers and diverse investment strategies in a convenient ETF package.”

FAQs

Active ETFs are traded on major exchanges, just like individual stocks. Investors can buy and sell active ETFs through a financial advisor or directly through brokerage accounts. The process is similar to buying or selling stocks, providing investors with a convenient and accessible way to invest in active strategies.

 

It’s essential to consider your investment goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon before investing in any financial product, including active ETFs.

A multi-manager approach can provide diversification of investment strategies, styles and managers in a single fund, with access to insights from specialist money managers, and ongoing professional oversight.

 

Russell Investments’ approach involves continually researching investment strategies and managers from around the world, seeking to determine the best combination of active managers and investment styles for the portfolio. Each manager strategy is chosen to serve a specific purpose in the portfolio. Over time, adjustments may be made to ensure the portfolio remains aligned with objectives.

Similar to active mutual fund investing, the risks of active ETF investing may include underperformance or loss of invested capital due to market volatility, economic downturns, or manager decisions. Additionally, investors should consider the following risks when trading ETFs on an exchange:

  • Intraday Price Volatility: The market prices of shares are expected to fluctuate, in some cases materially, in response to changes in a fund’s NAV, the intra-day value of a fund’s holdings, and supply and demand for shares. Russell Investments cannot predict whether shares will trade above, below or at their NAV. An investor may pay significantly more or receive significantly less than a fund’s NAV per share during periods when there is a significant premium or discount.
  • Trading Volume/Liquidity: The market price of shares, like the price of any exchange-traded security, includes a “bid-ask spread” charged by the market makers or other participants that trade the particular security. The spread of a fund’s shares varies over time based on the fund’s trading volume and market liquidity and may increase if the fund’s trading volume, the spread of the fund’s underlying securities, or market liquidity decrease.

Active ETFs can offer:

  • Professional management 

  • Transparency of pricing and holdings 

  • Generally lower fees as compared with similar active mutual funds  

  • No minimum investment

An active ETF, or actively managed exchange-traded fund, is a type of investment fund that is managed by a team of professionals who actively select and manage the securities within the fund. Unlike passive ETFs, which track a specific index, active ETFs aim to outperform their benchmarks by making strategic investment decisions based on market conditions and research. 

Effective October 1, 2025, the U.S. Small Cap Equity Active ETF was renamed the Russell Investments U.S. Small Cap Equity ETF; the Global Equity Active ETF was renamed the Russell Investments Global Equity ETF; the International Developed Equity Active ETF was renamed the Russell Investments International Developed Equity ETF; the Emerging Markets Equity Active ETF was renamed the Russell Investments Emerging Markets Equity ETF; and the Global Infrastructure Active ETF was renamed the Russell Investments Global Infrastructure ETF.

IMPORTANT RISK DISCLOSURES

Russell Investments Exchange Traded Fund objectives, risks, charges and expenses should be carefully considered before investing. A summary prospectus, if available, or a prospectus containing this and other important information can be obtained by calling 800-787-7354 or by visiting the prospectus and reports page to download one. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. 

ETF investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. Fund shares are not individually redeemable and are issued and redeemed by the Fund at their net asset value (“NAV”) only in large, specified blocks of shares called creation units. Shares otherwise can be bought and sold only in the secondary market at market price (not NAV). Shares may trade at a premium or discount to their NAV in the secondary market. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns.

Unlike passively managed ETFs, actively managed ETFs do not attempt to track or replicate an index. The Fund’s investment decisions are made at the discretion of its portfolio managers, and there is no guarantee that the strategies used will be successful. The Fund may underperform other funds with similar investment objectives, including those that track an index.

The investment styles employed by a Fund’s money managers may not be complementary. This concentration may be beneficial or detrimental to a Fund’s performance depending upon the performance of those securities and the overall economic environment. The multi-manager approach could increase a Fund’s portfolio turnover rates which may result in higher levels of realized capital gains or losses with respect to a Fund’s portfolio securities, higher brokerage commissions and other transaction costs.

Investments that are allocated across multiple types of securities may be exposed to a variety of risks based on the asset classes, investment styles, market sectors, and size of companies preferred by the investment managers. Investors should consider how the combined risks impact their total investment portfolio and understand that different risks can lead to varying financial consequences, including loss of principal. Please see a prospectus for further details.

Russell Investments Exchange Traded Funds are distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC. 

The information, analyses and opinions set forth herein are intended to serve as general information only and should not be relied upon by any individual or entity as advice or recommendations specific to that individual entity. Anyone using this material should consult with their own attorney, accountant, financial or tax adviser or consultants on whom they rely for investment advice specific to their own circumstances.

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Russell Investments' ownership is composed of a majority stake held by funds managed by TA Associates Management, L.P., with a significant minority stake held by funds managed by Reverence Capital Partners, L.P. Certain of Russell Investments' employees and Hamilton Lane Advisors, LLC also hold minority, non-controlling, ownership stakes.

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