Investment Product and Service Launches

Equitable Enhances Its Flagship Investment-Only Variable Annuity

Equitable announced enhancements to its Investment Edge investment-only variable annuity that add new options designed to increase growth potential and provide additional flexibility to customize investment options.

Growth Multiplier—a new investment option that adds a set multiple to a positive S&P 500 return—allows individuals who are willing to take on more investment risk by forgoing partial downside protection to take advantage of potentially larger investment gains.

“We know clients are looking for opportunities to continually grow their retirement savings, especially given the lingering higher inflation that we are experiencing,” Steve Scanlon, head of individual retirement at Equitable, said in a statement. “Our new Growth Multiplier investment option is designed to help solve for this and is the latest example of our ongoing commitment to innovate.”

Equitable is also adding its Dual Step-Up segment, an investment option in its Structured Capital Strategies Plus registered index-linked annuity, to Investment Edge. Dual Step-Up provides the potential for a positive return even during flat or down markets by guaranteeing a positive return equal to the performance cap rate if the selected index return is greater than or equal to the chosen buffer at the end of the investment period.

AllianceBernstein Launches 5 Active ETFs

AllianceBernstein LP, a leading global investment management and research firm, announced the launch of five active ETFs on the NASDAQ and New York Stock Exchange Arca: 

• AB Conservative Buffer ETF
• AB Tax-Aware Intermediate Municipal ETF
• AB Tax-Aware Long Municipal ETF
• AB Corporate Bond ETF
• AB Core Plus Bond ETF

“On the heels of crossing the $1 billion threshold in active ETF AUM, these new ETFs will provide clients with a broadened suite of versatile products, built to help investors navigate the evolving market cycles we see coming in 2024 and beyond,” said Noel Archard, AB’s global head of ETFs and portfolio solutions, in a statement.

“Our Fixed Income and ETF teams continually seek to deliver AB’s unique, tech-driven investment process in an active platform to both our clients and the broader ETF community,” said Scott DiMaggio, AB’s co-head of fixed income, in a statement.

Touchstone Investments Launches Dynamic International ETF to Expand Global Exposure

Touchstone Investments, known for its Distinctively Active mutual funds and ETFs, announced the launch of the Touchstone Dynamic International ETF, an actively managed, fully-transparent ETF that invests in equity securities of non-U.S. companies domiciled in both developed and emerging markets. The fund began trading on December 11.

To achieve capital appreciation, the Touchstone Dynamic International ETF is designed to offer investors a comprehensive framework of investments with broad international exposure.

The strategy follows Los Angeles Capital Management’s Dynamic Alpha Stock Selection Model, an adaptive quantitative investment process that considers evolving market conditions, manages investment risk and alpha uncertainty, and weighs factors based on forward-looking expectations.

“We are pleased to launch the Touchstone Dynamic International ETF in partnership with Los Angeles Capital Management, given the team’s unique investment process designed to build equity portfolios that adapt to dynamic market conditions,” said Blake Moore, president and CEO of Touchstone Investments, in a statement. “This strategy is an important addition to Touchstone’s existing suite of active ETFs and a compelling opportunity for investors seeking concentrated exposure in credible markets outside of the U.S.”