Symmetry Partners has officially stepped into the ETF market with the launch of the Symmetry Panoramic Sector Momentum™ ETF (ticker: SMOM). The new fund converts a systematic strategy the firm has run since 2018 into an exchange-traded fund, giving advisors a more accessible way to tap into Symmetry’s momentum-driven approach.
Christopher Codeanne, COO of Symmetry Partners, and Thomas Romano, Vice President of Platform Sales and Advisor Success, joined The Wealth Advisor’s Scott Martin at the 2025 Future Proof Festival—on launch day itself—to talk about how SMOM blends the firm’s established sector rotation process with the flexibility of the ETF wrapper.
“It’s a very big day for us,” Romano says. “We’re very excited about the strategy.”
From SMA Roots to ETF Efficiency
The strategy began as a separately managed account (SMA), but the ETF format opens the door to greater efficiency and smoother execution, while addressing challenges that might limit the SMA format.
“We can do some interesting things within the ETF,” Romano notes. “To get a little bit broader distribution and make the product and the strategy a little bit more accessible, the ETF made a lot of sense.”
One of the most important upgrades is rebalancing frequency. The SMA version rebalances quarterly because of tax considerations. In ETF form, SMOM can rebalance monthly, applying its rules-based process more consistently and responsively.
SMOM uses three staggered rebalancing schedules, each applying the same six- and 12-month momentum screens—ultimately aiming to avoid the pitfalls of rebalancing all at once. “Sometimes, when you’re rebalancing, there’s some idiosyncratic risk associated with that, for better or for worse,” says Romano. “The ETF wrapper should supply a smoother ride within the ETF, and we’re really excited about it.”
Targeting tax efficiency is “something that we can do in an ETF wrapper that was, quite frankly, difficult to do in the SMA format because of taxes,” he explains. In practice, the ETF allows for more active portfolio adjustments without creating the taxable consequences advisors often encounter in separately managed accounts.
How the Dual-Signal Approach Works
At the heart of the sector momentum methodology is a systematic, evidence-based process. Each month, SMOM screens the 11 S&P 500 sectors across two different timeframes: six-month momentum and 12-month momentum. The top three sectors from each signal become the portfolio’s holdings—leading to anywhere from three to six sector allocations at a time.
A key refinement is how the strategy treats data. The ETF construction is designed to capture sector leadership as it emerges, while the tranching method aims to reduce the impact of any single rebalance. “We eliminate the most recent month when we’re looking back six and 12 months because there’s going to be a lot of noise in that previous month,” Romano says. “That’s the way we’ve been running the SMA, and it has worked very well.”
By cutting out short-term volatility, the strategy focuses on more durable price trends—a critical factor in aiming to avoid false signals that can whipsaw performance. The result is a concentrated, momentum-driven portfolio. “The nature of the strategy, you could be in a handful of sectors, it could be somewhat concentrated, but that’s the point of price momentum,” adds Romano.
Role in Portfolios
Symmetry doesn’t position SMOM as a replacement for core equity exposure. Instead, the firm sees it as a satellite allocation that might enhance traditional large-cap holdings.
“Most advisors who are using a factor-based approach or a passive approach, putting a slice of the ETF to complement your S&P 500–type exposure could make a lot of sense,” Romano believes.
The ETF is designed to give investors tactical sector exposure that can respond to evolving market trends. By allocating to SMOM alongside a broad-market core position, advisors may add a dynamic layer to portfolios that has the potential to capture momentum without overhauling the underlying long-term allocation. The addition is about rounding out the portfolio rather than replacing it.
“As a complement to that particular asset class, I think it makes a lot of sense as an allocation to investors’ overall asset allocation,” he adds.
Seven Years of Strategy Experience
Although SMOM is new to the ETF market, the strategy is battle-tested. Since its launch in May 2018, the SMA version has been part of Symmetry’s TAMP platform, used by advisors across different market cycles.
“The track record speaks for itself. It’s generated very positive returns,” Codeanne says of the SMA’s performance through various cycles, including the 2018–2019 expansion period, the pandemic disruption, and the subsequent recovery.
Romano adds that the ETF structure might enable those advisors to implement the same disciplined process with smoother execution across multiple client accounts. “We were able to grow a number of assets, and a number of the advisors that we work with on our TAMP platform have applied the strategy into their model portfolio,” he points out.
Key Takeaways for Advisors
SMOM is designed to provide advisors with a disciplined, systematic tool to complement traditional large-cap allocations. Translating a proven SMA strategy into an ETF, it combines momentum-driven insight with operational efficiency. Central points for advisors:
- Portfolio role: Designed as a complement to U.S. large-cap exposure, the portfolio typically rotates among three to six sectors.
- Rules-based process: Dual momentum signals and monthly rebalancing bring structure and discipline.
- ETF benefits: Tax efficiency and tranching provide smoother execution than is possible in an SMA format.
- Track record: SMA performance since 2018 offers meaningful data to inform the ETF’s new launch.
- Concentration risk: Sector allocations may be narrow, reflecting momentum-driven conviction.
SMOM gains exposure through ETFs representing the 11 S&P 500 sectors, classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). Trading on NASDAQ, it is immediately accessible to advisors and investors through standard brokerage platforms.
For those evaluating the strategy, Codeanne emphasizes Symmetry’s willingness to provide context. “We’re happy to talk to advisors and show them the history of the SMA, just to get them acclimated to what we’re doing and as a start, so they can understand the strategy,” he offers.
Looking Ahead
Symmetry Partners’ move into ETFs reflects a broader industry shift toward developing efficient, transparent, and flexible tools for advisors. SMOM blends a tested systematic approach with accessibility—seeking to help advisors enhance portfolios while clearly communicating sector positioning. And while SMOM is Symmetry Partners’ first ETF, it likely won’t be the last. “We have a robust pipeline that we are very happy about and we’re exploring,” reports Codeanne. “We think there’ll be additional innovative products that we’ll be launching in the future.”
With a proven SMA track record and the operational advantages of the ETF wrapper, SMOM sets the stage for future launches that may bring more of Symmetry’s systematic strategies into the ETF world.
For advisors seeking a disciplined, momentum-based tool to complement traditional large-cap exposure, SMOM offers a potentially compelling way to access sector rotation—launched and celebrated on the very day it debuted at Future Proof.
“As Tom pointed out, we’re really excited,” Codeanne says.
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Additional Resources
- Contact Symmetry Partners
- Symmetry Partners Advisor Resources
- SMOM Strategy Sheet
- SMOM Summary Prospectus
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Disclosures
Symmetry Partners, LLC, is an investment advisory firm registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm only transacts business in states where it is properly registered, excluded or exempted from registration requirements. Diversification seeks to reduce volatility by spreading your investment dollars into various asset classes to add balance to your portfolio. Using this methodology, however, does not guarantee a profit or protection from loss in a declining market. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product, or any noninvestment related content, made reference to directly or indirectly in this material will be profitable, or prove successful. As with any investment strategy, there is the possibility of profitability as well as loss.
The ETF’s investment adviser is Symmetry Partners, and the ETF is distributed by SEI Investment Distribution Company (SIDCO). SIDCO is not affiliated with Symmetry Partners, LLC.
CONSIDER THE ETFS’ INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE, RISK FACTORS, AND CHARGES AND EXPENSES BEFORE INVESTING. THIS AND OTHER INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND IN THE FUNDS’ PROSPECTUS AND SUMMARY PROSPECTUS, WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED BY VISITING WWW.PANORAMICFUNDS.COM OR BY CALLING 1-844-SYM-FUND (844-796-3863). PLEASE READ THE PROSPECTUS CAREFULLY BEFORE INVESTING.
There are risks involved in investing, including loss of principal. Asset allocation may not protect against market risk. Investment in the fund(s) is subject to the risks of the underlying funds. Please read important disclosures on the following page for additional risks and information regarding Symmetry Partners, LLC and the Panoramic Funds.
ETF Risks – The Fund is an ETF and, as a result of this structure, it is exposed to the following risks: Trading Risk - Shares of the Fund may trade on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (the “Exchange”) above or below their NAV. The NAV of shares of the Fund will fluctuate with changes in the market value of the Fund’s holdings. In addition, although the Fund’s shares are currently listed on the Exchange, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for shares will develop or be maintained.
Momentum Style Risk – Investing in or having exposure to securities with positive momentum entails investing in securities that have had above-average recent returns. These securities may be more volatile than a broad cross-section of securities. In addition, there may be periods when the momentum style is out of favor, and during which the investment performance of the Fund using a momentum strategy may suffer.
Quantitative Investing Risk – The risk that the value of securities or other investments selected using quantitative analysis can perform differently from the market as a whole or from their expected performance. This may be as a result of the momentum metrics used in building the quantitative model, the accuracy of historical data supplied by third parties, and changing sources of market returns.
Sector Risk – From time to time, the Fund may focus its investments in one or more particular sectors. Sector risk is the risk that if the Fund invests a significant portion of its total assets in certain issuers within the same economic sector, an adverse economic, business or political development affecting that sector may affect the value of the Fund’s investments more than if the Fund’s investments were not so focused.
Non-Diversified Risk – The Fund is non-diversified, which means that it may invest in the securities of relatively few issuers. As a result, the Fund may be more susceptible to a single adverse economic or political occurrence affecting one or more of these issuers and may experience increased volatility due to its investments in those securities.
