Polen Capital Aims to Boost Advisor Choice with Active Growth Equity ETFs

Why It Matters

The new ETFs give financial advisors a broader, tax‑efficient toolkit for delivering differentiated growth exposure, while reinforcing the rapid expansion of the active ETF market.

Key Takeaways

• Polen launches two active growth ETFs targeting large and small‑mid caps
• ETFs focus on electrification, AI, genomics, aerospace themes
• Active ETF assets topped $1.8 trillion globally, inflows doubled since 2022
• 2025 saw nearly 1,000 active ETF launches, up from 584 in 2024
• Advisors gain tax‑efficient access to differentiated active strategies

Pulse Analysis

Active exchange‑traded funds have entered a period of accelerated growth, with assets now exceeding $1.8 trillion worldwide. Data from Goldman Sachs shows inflows have doubled since 2022, while Cerulli Associates reports a jump from $71 billion in 2018 to $1.17 trillion in Q2 2025. This surge reflects investors’ appetite for active management that can navigate thematic trends and deliver tax‑efficient returns, prompting a wave of new product launches—nearly 1,000 in 2025 alone.

Polen Capital’s latest offerings, the Polen 5Perspectives Large Growth ETF (PCLC) and Small‑Mid Growth ETF (PCSG), embody this momentum. Managed by Drew Cupps, the funds target companies driving electrification, artificial intelligence, genomics and aerospace innovation. The large‑cap vehicle seeks established innovators, while the small‑mid‑cap fund focuses on emerging growth firms poised for earnings inflection. By packaging these themes within actively managed structures, Polen aims to provide advisors with differentiated exposure that can be tailored to client risk profiles and tax considerations.

For advisors, the significance lies in expanded choice and efficiency. Actively managed ETFs like Polen’s allow for real‑time portfolio adjustments, potentially capturing upside in fast‑evolving sectors without the higher fees of traditional mutual funds. The tax‑efficient design also aligns with increasing client demand for after‑tax performance. As the active ETF market continues to mature, firms that combine deep thematic expertise with flexible, advisor‑friendly products are likely to capture a larger share of discretionary assets, shaping the next phase of growth in the industry.