About 10 representatives of First Trust Advisors L.P. were present for the ringing of the NYSE opening bell today. First Trust was invited to celebrate the recent launch of its first actively managed ETF, the First Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund (NYSE Arca: EMLP). James Murchie, CEO and PM of fund sub-advisor Energy Income Partners, LLC, rang the opening bell.

MFWire was one of the few members of the press present for the event from the pre-opening continental breakfast to the post-opening presentation of gifts to First Trust executives by NYSE representatives, who noted that First Trust offers 70 ETFs, 58 of which trade on the NYSE. Both parties spoke highly of their relationship and expressed a desire to continue building upon that relationship in the future.

In between the festivities, MFWire was able to interview Ryan Issakainen, SVP ETF Strategist at First Trust, and James Murchie. Both Issakainen and Murchie emphasized the tax benefits of the North American Energy Infrastructure Fund. As an MLP, it enjoys tax efficiency and benefits that mutual funds and ETNs do not.

Aside from tax considerations, Issakainen explained their decision to use active investing for this fund: "We went the route of active investing, as opposed to tracking an index or other benchmarks, because there are opportunities out there regardless of macro conditions." Murchie added that no index exists that applies to the focus of the fund, as it invests in a variety of different types of U.S. and Canadian companies in the energy infrastructure sector. 

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