For all the recent buzz around fixed-income retirement solutions, bonds themselves are increasingly falling out of favor with some financial advisors. In their place, fixed-income ETFs are emerging as a popular alternative, offering a simple wrapper that sidesteps many of the clunky mechanics of owning individual bonds.
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According to a new report from Cerulli Associates, assets in taxable fixed-income ETFs have nearly doubled since 2020, up to nearly $2 trillion at the end of September. Over the same period, assets in tax-free fixed-income ETFs swelled 159%, totalling $165 billion.
Researchers say that growth is being driven by a convergence of factors, including increased advisor familiarity with these products, a favorable interest rate environment and an ongoing expansion of fixed-income ETF offerings.
More than 300 new fixed-income ETFs have launched in recent years, according to Cerulli. By the end of Q3 2025, there were 867 fixed-income ETFs available to advisors, including 739 taxable and 128 tax-free fixed-income ETFs.
Growing demand among advisors for such products is a major driver behind that growth, according to the report. A majority of ETF issuers, 71%, say that greater advisor familiarity with these products will be the leading factor behind fixed-income flows over the coming years.
Automating fixed-income investing
For many financial advisors, the appeal of fixed-income ETFs comes down to simplicity.
Building and maintaining bond ladders can allow for customization, but it is far more time-intensive than buying a fixed-income ETF, experts say.
“I would argue the only reason to use actual bonds is if you are attempting some sort of liquidity matching for a client’s personal need,” said Alex Caswell, founder of San Francisco-based Wealth Script Advisors. “With bond ETFs, you get the performance and risk exposure of a directly held bond portfolio, but in one simple, elegant solution.”
Fixed-income ETFs can also deliver diversification that is difficult to replicate with individual bonds.
Bond ladders tend to focus on higher-quality securities, which can narrow diversification. Bond funds, by contrast, benefit from scale and professional management, allowing them to invest across a broader range of credit qualities, including higher-yielding bonds. As a result, clients relying on bond ladders may be forgoing some return potential available through bond funds.
Leveraging institutional scale
Another hurdle for advisors looking to buy bonds directly is the “bid-ask spread,” the difference between the buying and selling price of a bond. Because many bonds still trade in traditional, mechanical ways, retail traders often struggle to get the same pricing as large institutions.
“Spreads are a big consideration when trading bonds,” Caswell said. “ETF fund managers have the advantage of a dedicated trading team, which allows them to trade large volumes of bonds and often secure much better bid-ask spreads as part of that deal.”
Vanguard research has found that retail bond trades (defined as transactions of $100,000 or less) experience significantly higher bid-ask spreads than institutional investors, on average.
With fixed-income ETFs, advisors can access the benefits of institutional scale while trading at smaller, retail levels. That structure also makes fixed-income diversification easier, Caswell said.
“You can buy as little or as much of the bond fund as you want,” he said. “This means a client can get a very diversified bond portfolio at small dollar amounts.”
The next 24 months of fixed-income ETF growth
Issuers are showing no signs of slowing down. According to Cerulli’s report, 59% of ETF issuers say U.S. fixed income is a priority for new product development. That focus will likely concentrate on taxable bonds, municipal strategies and defined outcome products that provide more predictable results for retirees.
As more products come onto the market over the next two years, issuers say that advisor education, institutional investment and higher fixed-income yields will be key drivers behind asset flows.
About a third of issuers surveyed by Cerulli said they expect asset flows over the coming years to be driven by advisors’ specific needs, including easing concerns about fixed-income ETF risks, such as liquidity, and rising demand for lower-cost fixed-income investment options.
“As ETF issuers expand their product lineups, they also continue to develop a more robust educational platform, providing advisors with additional resources to better understand how these products operate and behave in various market conditions. This has allowed advisors to become more comfortable and familiar with fixed-income ETFs,” Kevin Lyons, a senior analyst at Cerulli, said in a statement.
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