BMO ETFs: Views from the Desk

E324 – The Plumbing Behind the ETF Ecosystem

BMO ETFs: Views from the Desk

Show Notes

Behind every ETF trade is a market structure that most investors never see. In this episode, special guest Roy Dimitrov takes hosts Hilly Cutler and Zayla Saunders into the engine room to explain what market makers really do, bust some of the biggest myths around ETF trading, and unpack why active ETFs may be the industry's next big growth story. Zayla Saunders is Vice President of ETF Online Distribution at BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM), Hilly Cutler is Director of Portfolio Consulting and Senior Portfolio Consultant at BMO GAM and Roy Dimitriv is Vice President, ETF Sales and Trading at BMO GAM. Recorded live on Monday, July 27, 2026.

ETFs mentioned: · BMO Gold Bullion ETF (ZGLD) · BMO Broad Commodity ETF (ZCOM) · BMO S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF (ZCN) · BMO MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF (ZEM) · BMO Asset Allocation ETFs

Sources: Morningstar Direct, BMO Global Asset Management as at July 24, 2026 S&P 500 Earnings Season Update, Factset Insight, July 24, 2026

NAV: Net Asset Value AUM: Assets Under Management EAFE: Developed markets in Europe, Australasia, and the Far East. Emerging markets: Major economies and many smaller countries such as China, India, Brazil, South Korea, Taiwan, and South Africa. Liquidity: The degree to which an asset or security can be quickly bought or sold in the market without affecting the asset’s price. Cash is considered to be the most liquid asset, while things like fine art or rare books would be relatively illiquid.

Disclaimers: Please visit for full disclaimers This podcast is for information purposes. The viewpoints expressed by the speakers represent their assessment of the markets at the time of publication. Those views are subject to change without notice at any time. The information contained herein is not, and should not be construed as, investment, tax or legal advice to any party. Investments should be evaluated relative to the individual’s investment objectives and professional advice should be obtained with respect to any circumstance. Any statement that necessarily depends on future events may be a forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although such statements are based on assumptions that are believed to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from expectations. Investors are cautioned not to rely unduly on any forward-looking statements. In connection with any forward-looking statements, investors should carefully consider the areas of risk described in the most recent prospectus. Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investments in exchange-traded funds. Please read the ETF Facts or prospectus of the BMO ETFs before investing. Exchange-traded funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. For a summary of the risks of an investment in the BMO ETFs, please see the specific risks set out in the BMO ETF’s prospectus. BMO ETFs trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at a discount to their net asset value, which may increase the risk of loss. Distributions are not guaranteed and are subject to change and/or elimination. This communication may contain links to other sites that BMO Global Asset Management does not own or operate. Any content from or links to a third-party website are not reviewed or endorsed by us. You use any external websites or third-party content at your own risk. Accordingly, we disclaim any responsibility for them. BMO ETFs are managed by BMO Asset Management Inc., an investment fund manager, a portfolio manager, and a separate legal entity from Bank of Montreal. BMO Global Asset Management is a brand name under which BMO Asset Management Inc. and BMO Investments Inc. operate. “BMO (M-bar roundel symbol)” is a registered trademark of Bank of Montreal, used under licence.

More from BMO ETFs: Views from the Desk

Oct 20, 2026

When one sector dominates the market, diversification isn’t as simple as owning the index—so how do you build a more balanced portfolio? In this episode, special guest Nick Koutsoftas joins host Zayla Saunders to break down how sector ETFs work, how they can be used to reduce concentration risk, and which sectors stand out as the most undervalued opportunities in today’s market. Zayla Saunders is Vice President of ETF Online Distribution at BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM) and Nick Koutsoftas is Vice President, Sector ETF Specialist at State Street Investment Management. This episode was recordedlive on Monday, October 19, 2026.

Oct 13, 2026

From sticky inflation and rising bond yields to growing questions around AI, the macro backdrop is getting more complex. In this episode, special guest Bipan Rai joins host Zayla Saunders to unpack his Q4 portfolio strategy and what it means to stay invested—and protected—this quarter. Zayla Saunders is Vice President of ETF Online Distribution at BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM) and Bipan Rai is Head of ETF & Structured Solutions Strategy at BMO GAM. This episode was recorded live on October 9, 2026.

Oct 6, 2026

Investing has never been more accessible, yet money anxiety keeps growing. Hosts Zayla Saunders and Hilly Cutler talk with Rob Carrick about how Canadians’ attitudes toward money have changed, the rise of ETFs, rising bond yields and mortgage rates, and what keeps his readers up at night. Zayla Saunders is Vice President of ETF Online Distribution at BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM) and Hilly Cutler is Director of Portfolio Consulting and Senior Portfolio Consultant at BMO GAM. They are joined by Rob Carrick, personal finance expert and former columnist at The Globe and Mail. This episode was recorded live on Monday, October 5, 2026.

Sep 28, 2026

High inflation continues to weigh on Canadian portfolios. In this encore episode, Brock Smusiak joins hosts Zayla Saunders and Hilly Cutler to discuss how ETFs across commodities, gold and inflation-linked bonds can help investors build resilience beyond traditional diversification. Zayla Saunders is Vice President of ETF Online Distribution at BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM) and Hilly Cutler is Director of Portfolio Consulting and Senior Portfolio Consultant at BMO GAM. They are joined by Brock Smusiak, Director, ETF Consultant at BMO GAM. This episode was recorded live on June 22, 2026.

Sep 22, 2026

Tech is leading the market—but what if the biggest opportunity is the sector nobody’s talking about? In this episode, host Zayla Saunders and special guest Jeff Elliott unpack why Healthcare could be one of the most undervalued opportunities in today’s market, how it can complement an AI-heavy portfolio, and what names and subsectors deserve a closer look right now. Zayla Saunders is Vice President of ETF Online Distribution at BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM) and Jeff Elliott is Head of Global Equity & Portfolio Manager (Healthcare) at BMO GAM. This episode was recorded live on Monday, September 21, 2026.

See all episodes →