The RIGS ETF is an actively managed bond ETF that uses the Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index as its benchmark. It invests across a range of global fixed income sectors and seeks total return centered on interest income, combining bonds with different maturities, credit qualities and currencies.

It is suited to investors who value monthly distributions and the income stream from bond assets, and who can tolerate volatility driven by interest rate and credit conditions.

This is an ETF run by ALPS using an active management approach.

The fund holds global fixed income securities across a variety of maturities, credit qualities and currencies. Rather than relying on a single bond sector, it looks across a broad range of bond areas depending on market conditions, aiming to balance income and total return.

• A diversified approach that looks across global bond sectors
• Income-focused active portfolio adjustments

Assets under management (AUM) stand at $55.0M, and the expense ratio is 0.45% per year.

Trading liquidity should be checked separately through actual trading volume and bid-ask spreads, and the fee level is best compared alongside the management approaches of similar bond ETFs.

The returns of the RIGS ETF are shaped by the direction of interest rates, credit spreads, and conditions in overseas bond markets and currencies. In a falling rate environment, bond prices may rise, but when rates are climbing, price volatility in the bonds it holds can increase.

Fund flows into bond ETFs can vary with the appeal of cash-like assets, the economic outlook and expectations for the rate path. Even when demand for income is rising, it is necessary to check credit risk and liquidity conditions as well.

The fund is characterized by global bond diversification and a monthly distribution structure, but investors must also accept the possibility of losses from changes in interest rates, credit and currencies.

The BNDX ETF and IUSB ETF shown in the table serve as comparison benchmarks, covering international bonds and the broad US dollar bond market, respectively. The BINC ETF, PYLD ETF and JCPB ETF can be used as references for comparing active or core-plus style bond management. When comparing the RIGS ETF with these products, it is necessary to check differences in country allocation, credit risk, maturity sensitivity, distribution policy and fee level.

Before investing, confirm that monthly distributions do not mean principal protection or stable returns. Because this product invests across multiple bond sectors, it is necessary to look not only at interest rate changes but also at credit quality, currency exposure and actual trading conditions.

Rising interest rates can generally weigh on the value of fixed income securities, and wider credit spreads and overseas currency swings can also affect returns. Even with monthly distributions, the risk of losses from declines in underlying asset prices does not disappear.

The ALPS Strategic Income Fund (ALPS) is an active ETF for investors who prioritize income and want diversified access to global bond sectors. Investors should compare its holdings structure, costs, interest rate sensitivity and the source of its monthly distributions with similar bond ETFs, then decide whether it fits their investment goals.