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A $500M ETF will be next big launch in tax-busting trend

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A Missouri-based wealth manager is poised to join the small but growing list of firms who have flipped assets into exchange-traded funds to help investors slash their tax bills, prepping one of the largest launches of its kind.

Hill Investment Group is planning a February debut for the Longview Advantage ETF (ticker EBI), which will start trading with an estimated $500 million of assets. Those have been raised mostly from a long list of investors, each of whom is handing securities they already own to the fund in exchange for shares in the new pooled vehicle. 

That mechanism effectively lets them offload appreciated investments without incurring capital-gains tax. It’s a playbook seen a few times in the $10.6 trillion U.S. ETF industry, but EBI is among the first funds open to investors beyond its manager’s existing client base.

The expected size of the launch is a measure of how much demand exists for such an offering, with many American investors itching to rebalance portfolios after years of runaway stock gains.

“Someone who’s had a run-up in some individual security or ETF and they feel trapped — they can’t do anything about it easily without paying a huge tax,” Matt Hall, co-founder of HIG, said from St. Louis, Missouri. “To be able to get diversification and defer the taxes — for us, it’s the best financial planning idea we’re bringing to certain clients in 2025.”

So-called 351 conversions, which are named after the section of the tax code that applies, take advantage of the fact that ETFs can flush out appreciated stocks without triggering a capital gains bill. The process allows an investor to keep cash invested but reorder their portfolio, with a payment to the Internal Revenue Service only due when they finally sell out altogether. 

The tax break bears some resemblance to 1031 exchanges that let investors buy and sell properties without paying taxes, or “exchange funds” that pool together various individuals’ holdings into a partnership. The ETF structure has the benefit of being liquid as soon as it’s listed, though the stocks used to seed it can’t be too concentrated.

HIG, which oversees about $1.1 billion, hails from a cohort of financial advisers that favor investing based on academic research. Under Matt Zenz, a portfolio manager formerly at Dimensional Fund Advisors, EBI will systematically pick stocks with lower valuations and higher profitability — characteristics that have been documented to predict long-term outperformance. 

After a planned February 25 listing, the fund will take about a month to rebalance into its intended portfolio, Hall said. He estimated that HIG clients will account for roughly 40% of the ETF’s seeded assets, with the rest coming from about 15 financial advisors or family offices who are each expected to contribute at least $15 million. 

Cambria Investment Management’s TAX fund is thought to have been the first ETF to execute a 351 conversion for an investor base beyond the manager’s clients. It launched in December with about $27 million. 

While the demand for such conversions is strong, the complexity of the whole process will slow the pipeline, according to Hall. 

“The administrative lift and coordinating the logistics between other firms or even individual investors — that’s going to be the sticking point for other people who go down this path,” he said.

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Accounting

FASB proposes accounting standards codification changes

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The Financial Accounting Standards Board released a proposed accounting standards update containing a set of targeted improvements to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. 

The amendments in the proposed ASU involve incremental changes to the codification and would affect a wide range of topics. They would apply to all reporting entities within the scope of the affected accounting guidance.

The proposed ASU would address 34 issues, including issues related to:

  • Removing the term “amortized cost” from the Master Glossary;
  • Clarifying the calculation of earnings per share when a loss from continuing operations exists;
  • Clarifying the calculation of the reference amount for beneficial interests;
  • Clarifying the guidance for the transfer of receivables from contracts with customers; and,
  • Clarifying the accounting for certain receivables by not-for-profit entities.

FASB is asking for comments by April 22, 2025.

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Accounting

Ramp announces availability of business and investment accounts for users

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Spend management solution provider Ramp announced the release of Ramp Treasury, which can act as a business or investment account for users. 

Specifically, Ramp Treasury lets businesses store cash in a business account that earns 2.5% interest, or in an investment account with the potential for higher yields, all within the same platform they already use to pay their bills. 

Users can create as many business accounts as they need versus having to juggle multiple accounts and passwords. They can also set a target balance for their Ramp Business Account and top up from their checking account. Upon opening a Ramp Business Account, Ramp will pay users a monthly cash reward, calculated as a percentage of their deposited funds. They begin earning on the first dollar they deposit, and there is no cap to how much they can earn. Earnings are disbursed automatically by Ramp each month. Earnings are paid as cash, versus statement credits or rewards requiring redemption. Instead, the customer can transfer earnings from their Ramp Business Account to be used as cash elsewhere.

Customers can transfer funds in and out of a Ramp Business Account via externally linked commercial or business bank accounts. Funds that are moved may settle as quickly as the same day, but could take as long as five business days. Funds in a Ramp Business Account can be used to pay Ramp statements, Ramp Bill Pay and employee reimbursements. Payments to Ramp statements settle instantly. At this time, the Business Account cannot be used to deposit checks, receive external payments, receive transfers from bank accounts that are not linked to Ramp, or make payments outside of the Ramp platform.

The Ramp Investment Account, meanwhile, allows businesses to invest cash in the Invesco Premier U.S. Government Money Portfolio (FUGXX), a money market fund. Securities products and brokerage services are provided by Apex Clearing Corporation, an SEC-registered broker-dealer. The Investment Account is not a deposit product, not insured by the FDIC, and may lose value.

The launch is part of Ramp’s ambitions to automate more areas of the financial tech stack beyond payments.

“The old treasury playbook meant either constant micromanaging of cash positions and payment dates … or just accepting you’ll lose out on interest. The new playbook is refreshingly simple: let technology do the heavy lifting, so you don’t have to,” said Ramp CEO Eric Glyman. “This is why we created Ramp in the first place. We find every cent you deserve so you can focus on moving your business forward. It’s all about the timeless principle of making every dollar and hour work harder, and go farther.”

While the service acts a lot like a bank account, Ramp is not a bank and therefore is not subject to all the same rules and regulations of a bank (though the accounts are FDIC insured, according to the website). The Business Account is a deposit account offered through First Internet Bank of Indiana, which is the one who provides the bank services. There are no account opening or management fees, no deposit minimums, and no withdrawal restrictions. 

Ramp Treasury allows for unlimited same-day ACH, international wires and domestic wires. It also offers alerts before funds are low or if cash is available to invest. The solution provides support for fully integrated workflows from beginning to end, meaning that cash transfers and earnings automatically sync with a connected ERP system and get categorized in the correct general ledger accounts. The security features allow only authorized people to transfer or release money, and the software provides a comprehensive audit trail. Ramp also makes Ramp for Accounting Firms.

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Accounting

FinQuery announces new CEO, COO, executive chairman

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Accounting and contract management solutions provider FinQuery announced a major reshuffle of its executive team, including a new CEO, COO and executive chairman. Joe Schab—the president and chief operating officer—has been appointed to the role of chief executive officer, effective immediately. 

“It’s an honor to be appointed CEO of FinQuery,” said Schab. “I’m incredibly proud of the positive impact we’ve made on our customers, helping them simplify complex accounting processes and gain unparalleled visibility into their committed spend. I’m eager to continue building on this success and deliver even more impactful solutions that meet their evolving needs.”

Meanwhile, George Azih, founder and now-former CEO, will transition to the role of founder and executive chairman, where he will continue to provide strategic guidance and support the company’s growth.

“Joe has been an invaluable partner in building FinQuery into the successful company it is today,” said Azih. “A deep understanding of the technology industry coupled with his strategic vision and operational expertise make him the ideal leader to guide FinQuery through its next phase of growth. I am confident that under Joe’s leadership, FinQuery will continue to innovate and deliver exceptional value to our customers.”

In addition to Schab’s promotion, FinQuery also announced the promotion of Justin Smith from chief financial officer to both CFO and COO. Smith will assume responsibility for overseeing the company’s financial and operational performance. It is unknown who the replacement CEO will be. 

Overall, according to Azih, these changeups in the leadership reflect a natural evolution in people’s roles through the years. 

“This transition is about aligning titles with the roles that have already been shaping FinQuery’s success,” he said. “Joe has been serving as president and COO for several years, playing a pivotal role in driving our strategy and operations. His promotion to CEO is a natural evolution, recognizing his outstanding leadership and vision. Similarly, Justin’s move into the dual roles of CFO and COO reflects how closely these two functions have become aligned in recent years, as we prioritize both financial strategy and operational excellence to deliver greater value to our customers. As I step into the role of executive chairman, my focus will remain on guiding FinQuery’s strategic vision while empowering this exceptional team to continue simplifying complex accounting processes for our customers.” 

FinQuery, formerly LeaseQuery, has spent the last few years growing well beyond its original focus on lease accounting, prompting a rebrand early last year. The transition to FinQuery mirrors the company’s expanded vision toward providing comprehensive financial solutions. While lease accounting software remains a core part of its offering, FinQuery represents a more holistic approach to financial management. To this end, the company recently released a prepaid and accrual accounting solution as well as a contract management solution.

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