Defiance ETFs Launches First U.S. Hydrogen ETF
Defiance ETFs has launched the United States’ first hydrogen exchange-traded fund. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange as the Next Gen Hydrogen ETF (HDRO), the fund gives investors exposure to companies involved in the development of hydrogen-based energy sources and fuel technologies. Hydrogen applications are being developed in areas ranging from power generation and industrial fuel to aerospace and shipping.

The fund tracks the BlueStar Hydrogen and NextGen Fuel Cell Index, which consists of companies that earn at least 50% of their revenue or operating activity from hydrogen energy or fuel cell projects. Companies are weighted on a float-adjusted market capitalization basis and can have a maximum weight of 10% at each quarterly index reconstitution.

This is the fifth product offering from Defiance ETFs, which was founded in 2018. The ETF sponsor is a registered investment advisor headquartered in New York City.

AssetMark Introduces New Channel To Help Scale RIA Business
AssetMark, a Concord, Calif.-based financial technology company, has launched AssetMark Institutional, a holistic service for RIAs.

AssetMark Institutional supports the daily business needs of RIAs by providing personalized service and support with ready-to-use, integrated technology that includes portfolio management, reporting, proposal systems and billing.

The new channel gives advisors a curated suite of investment solutions, financial planning and client experience and engagement resources, as well as a supportive community of peers.

AssetMark Institutional launches with more than 350 RIAs and more than $7 billion in assets already working with AssetMark.

Riskalyze Unveils ‘Build My Tech Stack’ Tool
Riskalyze, a financial technology company based in Auburn, Calif., has launched a new solution that helps financial advisors assemble and optimize their technology stack within Riskalyze.

Build My Tech Stack allows advisors to custom-design their technology stacks for their business needs. Users will be able to pre-select various integrations, whether or not they are current customers. The tool will generate a personalized report showing step-by-step instructions, including an overview of what the integration does and the necessary steps to connect each piece of software to Riskalyze.

All Riskalyze technology partners are available to choose from in a simple, clean menu. The advisor selects their existing or desired tech from a list of key categories: custodians, CRM, document management, financial planning, portfolio management, and research and data.

The Build My Tech Stack tool is available at riskalyze.com/tech-stack.

Transamerica To Offer Annuity Rider Protection From Market Losses
Transamerica, a diversified financial services corporation headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is now offering an optional variable annuity rider to investors seeking protection from market downturns, as well as the opportunity to grow assets and build wealth.

For an additional fee, the Transamerica Principal Optimizer protects policyholders from market losses on principal and earnings while allowing them to invest 70% of premiums into any investment option available within the annuity. The remaining 30% will be allocated to the annuity’s stable value account, which offers a guaranteed interest rate. An optional annual reset feature will lock in gains according to their guaranteed future value.

In the event that the policy value falls because of down markets, investors receive a guaranteed 100% of their initial premium back as long as they elect and complete the 10-year waiting period option. If an investor chooses the seven-year waiting period, it is guaranteed they will receive 90% of their initial premium at the end of that waiting period.

If an investor desires to lock in gains to their policy value, they can reset the guaranteed future value and waiting period on the annual rider anniversary. If the option is selected, Transamerica would reset the rider’s waiting period, reset the principal protection with locked-in investment gains and reset the rider with a different set of potential guarantees at that time.

Cowen Adds ESG Scores To All Equity Research Reports
Cowen Inc., a diversified financial services company headquartered in New York City, will now feature an ESG score in all its equity research reports to help investors quantify differences between corporations in areas of environmental, social and governance focus.

Cowen’s ESG scores evaluate companies’ performance on a 0 to 100 scale. A score of 50 represents a neutral impact. Scores above 50 are positive, while scores below that are negative.

The scores are powered by technology and data from Truvalue Labs, a FactSet company. Truvalue uses artificial intelligence to capture stakeholders’ view of how companies are performing on ESG metrics, using the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) materiality framework.

Cowen has 55 analysts who cover more than 800 securities.