ETF trading best practices

Similar to stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are (as their name suggests) traded on exchanges during market hours, but come with different trading considerations and distinct liquidity characteristics. While trading ETFs isn’t difficult, mistakes can be costly. Consider these best practices to help you along the trading journey.

Avoid trading around market open and close

Timing can play a crucial role in your trading success. Bid-ask spreads are often wider as the market opens and closes, which can subject you to unfavorable execution. To avoid this unnecessary risk, don’t trade ‘market on open’ but rather watch the spreads and give them time to settle before you place your trade. A general rule: Avoid trading ETFs during the first and last half hour of a trading day. This simple guideline may help you achieve a better price and smoother trading experience.

Use limit orders to control your price

Unless you have confidence in various order types, specifically as it relates to ETFs, it is best to use limit orders when buying or selling ETFs. This allows you to set the maximum price you are willing to pay per share, or the minimum price that you are willing to sell for. Think of it like having a safety net that prevents you from paying more (or receiving less) than intended.

Avoid the temptation of market orders

Market orders are often used for stock trading, and the speed of execution makes them tempting for ETFs as well. However, for ETFs, market orders come with the risk of execution at unfavorable prices, especially for those with lower average daily volume. Use limit orders to tap into deeper liquidity and avoid paying more than you should for an ETF.

Use block trades for larger orders

When executing large trades, you may consider using your brokerage's block execution desk. Many brokers provide resources to help you access deep liquidity that may not be visible on electronic platforms. Block trades can also be entered as limit orders, helping you control the maximum price you are willing to pay for each share in a large block you are purchasing or the minimum share price in a large block you are selling. A block trade allows the executing broker desk to seek out the best available price for the trade by requesting competitive quotes from multiple market makers at the same time.

Mark your orders ‘Not Held’ for professional execution

Marking ETF orders as ‘Not Held’ is like requesting a professional trading desk to seek best execution on your behalf. Although typically not necessary for smaller orders, where there is immediate liquidity already available, this tactic can make sense for larger orders.

Raymond James Investment Management is the trade name for Carillon Tower Advisers, Inc., an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Chartwell Investment Partners, ClariVest Asset Management LLC, Eagle Asset Management, Inc. and Scout Investments are registered investment advisers with the SEC. Reams Asset Management is a division of Scout Investments. Cougar Global Investments LLC is registered as a Portfolio Manager with the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) and with the SEC as a Non-Resident Investment Advisor. All six entities are affiliates of Raymond James Investment Management. All third-party marks are the property of their respective owners.

Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible.

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. For a prospectus or summary prospectus with this and other information about the ETFs, please call 1-800-421-4184. Read the prospectus or summary prospectus carefully before investing.

As with all ETFs, Shares may be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices.

Fund holdings are subject to change at any time and should not be considered recommendations to buy or sell any security.

Risks Disclosures

Municipal securities risk is the possibility that a municipal security’s value, interest payments or repayment of principal could be affected by economic, legislative or political changes. Municipal securities are also subject to potential volatility in the municipal market and the fund’s share price, yield and total return may fluctuate in response to municipal security market movements. High-yield security risk results from investments in below investment grade bonds, which have a greater risk of loss, are susceptible to rising interest rates and have greater volatility, especially when the economy is weak or expected to become weak. Investments in high-yield securities (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”) are inherently speculative and carry a greater risk that the issuer will default on the timely payment of principal and interest. These securities may be subject to greater price volatility due to such factors as specific corporate developments, interest rate sensitivity, negative perceptions of the junk bond market generally and less secondary market liquidity. There is no guarantee that the fund’s income will be exempt from U.S. federal income taxes and the federal alternative minimum tax. U.S. Treasury obligations risk is the risk that the market value of U.S. Treasury obligations may vary due to fluctuations in interest rates.

Foreign securities risks, which are potential risks not associated with U.S. investments, include, but are not limited to: (1) currency exchange rate fluctuations; (2) political and financial instability; (3) less liquidity; (4) lack of uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards; (5) increased volatility; (6) less government regulation and supervision of foreign stock exchanges, brokers and listed companies; (7) significant limitations on investor rights and recourse; (8) use of unfamiliar corporate organizational structures; (9) unavailable or unreliable public information regarding issuers; and (10) delays in transaction settlement in some foreign markets. Master limited partnership risk involves certain risks related to investing in the underlying assets of the MLPs and risks associated with pooled investment vehicles. Investments held by MLPs may be relatively illiquid, limiting the MLPs’ ability to change their portfolios promptly in response to changes in economic or other conditions. Non-diversification risk. The fund is non-diversified, which means it may focus its investments in the securities of a comparatively small number of issuers. Investments in securities of a limited number of issuers exposes the fund to greater market risk, price volatility and potential losses than if assets were diversified among the securities of a greater number of issuers. Small-cap company risk arises because small-cap companies involve greater risks than investing in large- capitalization companies. Small-cap companies generally have lower volume of shares traded daily, less liquid stock, a more volatile share price, a limited product or service base, narrower commercial markets and more limited access to capital, compared to larger, more established companies. Value stock risk arises from the possibility that a stock’s intrinsic value may not be fully realized by the market or that its price may decline. If a value investment style shifts out of favor based on market conditions and investor sentiment, the fund could underperform funds that use a non-value approach to investing or have a broader investment style; and YieldCo risk. Investments in securities of YieldCos involve risks that differ from investments in traditional operating companies, including risks related to the relationship between the YieldCo and the company responsible for the formation of the YieldCo (the “YieldCo Sponsor”).

High-yield security risk results from investments in below investment grade bonds, which have a greater risk of loss, are susceptible to rising interest rates and have greater volatility, especially when the economy is weak or expected to become weak. Quantitative strategy risk is therisk that the success of the fund’s investment strategy may depend in part on the effectiveness of the subadviser’s quantitative tools for screening securities. Restricted securities risk is the risk that securities not registered in the U.S. under the 1933 Act, or in non-U.S. markets pursuant to similar regulations, including “Section 4(a)(2)” securities and “Rule 144A” securities, are restricted as to their resale. Such securities may not be listed on an exchange and may have no active trading market. Small-cap company risk arises because small-cap companies involve greater risks than investing in large-capitalization companies. Small-cap companies generally have lower volume of shares traded daily, less liquid stock, a more volatile share price, a limited product or service base, narrower commercial markets and more limited access to capital, compared to larger, more established companies.

ETFs are subject to additional risks that do not apply to conventional mutual funds, including the risks that the market price of an ETF's shares may trade at a premium or discount to its net asset value, an active secondary trading market may not develop or be maintained, or trading may be halted by the exchange in which they trade, which may impact an ETF's ability to sell its shares. Shares of any ETF are bought and sold at market price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the ETF. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns.

The ETFs are distributed by Quasar Distributors, LLC.

Raymond James Investment Management is the Investment Adviser for the ETFs.

Indicies

The Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index measures the performance of the Bloomberg U.S. Municipal bond market, which covers the USD-denominated Long-Term tax-exempt bond market with four main sectors: state and local general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, insured bonds, and pre-refunded bonds.

The S&P 500^® Index is an unmanaged index of 500 U.S. stocks and gives a broad look at how stock prices have performed. The index includes 500 leading companies and captures approximately 80% coverage of available market capitalization. Its returns do not include the effect of any sales charges. That means that actual returns would be lower if they included the effect of sales charges.

The Bloomberg U.S. Corporate Index measures the investment grade, fixed-rate, taxable corporate bond market. It includes USD denominated securities publicly issued by US and non-US industrial, utility, and financial issuers. The index is a component of the US Credit and US Aggregate Indices, and provided the necessary inclusion rules are met, US Corporate Index securities also contribute to the multi-currency Global Aggregate Index. The index includes securities with remaining maturity of at least one year.