The ETF industry has rapidly evolved over the past nine years. There were roughly 750 ETFs in 2008; currently, there are nearly 2,000 ETFs competing for more than $2 trillion in assets under management in the U.S. In terms of size and growth, very few asset classes compare to exchange-traded funds. In the span of about 12 years, the ETF industry has grown from a paltry $417 billion to $4.4 trillion . Inherent advantages such as flexibility, portfolio diversification and lower costs have made ETFs a modern-day staple of investors’ portfolios. Projections of assets under management show the ETF industry isn’t finished growing just yet. According to Ernst & Young, more than $7.6 trillion will be held in ETFs by 2020. We have gained valuable insights on the evolution of the industry during our time at the 2018 Inside ETFs Conference. From the perspective of investors, five core themes stood out as particularly relevant given the current economic and financial climate. Read Insights from the Inside ETFs Conference: Advisor Edition to find out more.