The team at a $99.5-billion-AUM, publicly traded asset manager based in New York City is teaming up with a Chicago firm to roll out a new bond fund-of-funds.

Jonathan Laurence "Jono" Steinberg WisdomTree Investments, Inc. CEO

Last Wednesday, Rick Harper, chief investment officer of fixed income at WisdomTree, Inc. [profile], and Jim Bianco, president and macro strategist at Bianco Research LLC, unveiled the launch of the WisdomTree Bianco Total Return Fund (WTBN on the Nasdaq). The new, passively managed ETF is a series of the WisdomTree Trust.

WTBN's inception date was December 20. The new fund comes with an expense ratio of 54 basis points, which bakes in a 3bps fee waiver promised through December 31, 2024.

The new ETF is designed to track the Bianco Research Fixed Income Total Return Index, which mixes a number of fixed income ETFs. Bianco Research Advisors LLC serves as index provider.

WisdomTree Asset Management serves as investment advisor to the new fund, and Mellon Investments Corporation serves as subadvisor. WTBN's PM team includes Marlene Walker-Smith, director of equity index portfolio manager at Mellon, along with four Mellon vice presidents who are also senior PMs: David France, Todd Frysinger, Vlasta Sheremta, and Michael Stoll.

Harper describes the launch of WTBN as expanding WisdomTree's fixed income reach and lauds Bianco's strategies as innovative. Bianco, for his part, likens his eponymous firm and WisdomTree as firms that offer "data-driven analysis on the financial markets and shared commitment of helping clients achieve growth."

"It is a natural progression in our relationship for the WisdomTree Bianco Total Return Fund to track the Bianco Research Fixed Income Total Return Index, which invests in other bond ETFs to help clients diversify their assets," Bianco states. "This is a well-timed strategy, as we have seen tremendous volatility in the bond market in 2023 and prepare to turn the page on 2024."

WTBN's other vendors include: Ernst & Young LLP as independent accounting firm; ACA's Foreside Fund Services LLC as distributor; Jane Street as lead market maker; Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP as counsel; and State Street Bank and Trust Company as administrator, custodian, dividend disbursing agent, securities lending agent, and transfer agent. 

Stay ahead of the news ... Sign up for our email alerts now
CLICK HERE