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Investors can now access an investment vehicle that aims to support US veterans’ housing, business, and employment endeavors
NEW YORK, November 11, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Academy Asset Management, a veteran-owned institutional asset manager, today announced the addition of the Academy Veteran Impact ETF (NYSE: VETZ) to Betterment’s Social Impact portfolio. This is the first time VETZ has been made available in a model portfolio, representing a new opportunity for investors to support U.S. military veterans and their families as part of a diversified, managed portfolio.
VETZ is the first publicly traded ETF to primarily invest in loans to U.S. service members, military veterans and their survivors, and veteran-owned businesses. Access to capital is a top challenge faced by veteran entrepreneurs according to the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families, underscoring the need for financial support within the veteran community—a gap the Academy Veteran Impact ETF seeks to address.
"Academy saw an opportunity to design an ETF that mixes capital preservation and yield with the objective to positively impact those who served," said Seth Rosenthal, Chief Investment Officer at Academy Asset Management. "We are happy that Betterment will bring greater access to this innovative investment vehicle."
"At Betterment, we are committed to expanding the range of investment choices our customers have," said Boris Khentov, SVP of Product Strategy at Betterment. "The VETZ ETF fits our criteria of diversification, return profile and social impact, and we are excited to bring it to our customers."
VETZ ETF’s underlying assets consist of mortgage loans for U.S. service members, military veterans, and their families, alongside small business loans for veteran-owned businesses. To further extend the fund’s impact, Academy Asset Management will donate a portion of VETZ’s management fees to 501(c)(3) organizations that support veteran-focused initiatives.
For more information about the VETZ ETF, please visit Academy ETFs.
About Academy Asset Management
Academy Asset Management is a preeminent disabled veteran-owned SEC registered investment adviser focused on fixed-income funds and separately managed accounts. Leadership and staff have had intensive military training prior to entering and gaining in-depth financial services experience in global capital markets. We are mission driven with a high ethical code, a solid sense of accountability and strive for excellence in the pursuit of our clients’ success. Academy Asset Management is our nation’s first post-9/11 disabled veteran owned institutional asset manager. The firm has offices in New York, Chicago, and San Diego. Information about Academy Asset Management is available at www.academyassetmanagement.com.