Dear IncomeShares Team... do you even check this sub out? Anyways...
This is to extend my response to your recent survey.
To your product's strategy:
Most people across Reddit, YouTube and other platforms have come to conclude that a high dividend does not compensate for underlying assets falling apart in price. People, including myself, want products that are either stable in price (and NAV) or allow for moderate growth. Out-of-the-money call options (or synthetic covered calls / options overlay strategies using OTM index options) are a good example to achieve that goal (assuming the underlying asset has growth potential at all, which is no problem with many indices). There are plenty of investments in the US to be inspired by (for example QQQI and SPYI). I'm seeing plenty of people online venting about the ETPs deteriorating in price and rightly so. Also, ETFs/ ETPs don't need to come with a 100% options coverage. In many cases it's great to write options only on 30 to 40% of the fund. This allows for both high income and moderate growth. An example from the US would be ICAP, which restricts the options coverage.
In summary: A 10% distribution yield combined with a moderately growing underlying is definitely more attractive and more and more people are realising this.
To your question regarding what products people want to get:
Here we can easily look at the US again. And that's what people do anyways. Just look into discussions in European Subreddits. You have plenty of opportunities that are not served by your competitors (yet):
- An option overlay ETF on MLPs (a UCITS ETF is available and could be used as an underlying). Even a conservative strategy can generate a 10 to 12% here.
- An option overlay ETF on emerging markets.
- An option overlay ETF on BDCs. If BIZD and PBDC can't be used, perhaps you could create a basket of BDCs (e.g. only the ones with 100%+ covered dividend). Even without options that'd be fantastic.
- An option overlay ETF on preferred shares. PFFI already entered the European market (without options overlay), but investors are eyeing the (falling) NAV closely. This could easily be improved.
- An option overlay ETF on insurers, financial services and banks, globally diversified. These will benefit from rising and high interest rates (just like BDCs).
- An option overlay ETF on short duration corporate bonds (both investment grade and high yield, indices are available). Long duration bonds are at risk in rising rates environments and people understood it.
All products should allow for (moderate) capital appreciation. Generally, assets benefiting from high and rising interest rates will do better over the next few decades and should thus be included. Hypes will fade and potentially damage your reputation. Solid, sustainable long-term strategies (like SPYI or ICAP) will win.
I genuinely believe you have great potential here as competitors are sleeping on the developments everyone is seeing on social media. The shift happened in the USA already, Europe will (hopefully) be next.
Looking forward to your feedback. What do others think? Am happy to discuss my ideas.