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Investment Risks - Strategy Shares Nasdaq 7 HANDL(TM) Index ETF
Sep. 03, 2025
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

As with any ETF, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its objective. Investment markets are unpredictable and there will be certain market conditions where the Fund will not meet its investment objective and will lose money. The Fund’s net asset value, market price and returns will vary, and you could lose money on your investment in the Fund and those losses could be significant. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency, nor is it a complete investment program.

 

The following summarizes the principal risks of investing in the Fund. These risks could adversely affect the net asset value, market price, total return and the value of the Fund and your investment. These risks affect the Fund directly, as well as through the ETFs in which it invests. For purposes of the discussion below, “Fund” means the Fund and/or one or more of the ETFs in which the Fund invests.

 

Authorized Participant Risk. The Fund has a limited number of financial institutions that may act as Authorized Participants. An “Authorized Participant” is a participant in the Continuous Net Settlement System of the National Securities Clearing Corporation or the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) and that has executed a Participant Agreement with Foreside Fund Services, LLC, the Fund’s distributor (the “Distributor”). To the extent these Authorized Participants exit the business or are unable to process creation and/or redemption orders and no other Authorized Participant is able to step forward to process creation and/or redemption orders, in either of these cases, shares of the Fund may trade like closed-end fund shares at a discount to NAV and possibly face delisting by the Nasdaq Stock Market (the “Exchange”). These risks could cause intra-day bid-ask spreads for the Fund’s shares to widen.

 

Build America Bonds Risk. Build America Bonds involve similar risks as municipal bonds, including credit and market risk. In particular, should a Build America Bond’s issuer fail to continue to meet the applicable requirements imposed on such bonds, it is possible that such issuer may not receive federal cash subsidy payments, impairing the issuer’s ability to make scheduled interest payments. The Build America Bond program expired on December 31, 2010, and no further issuance is permitted unless Congress were to renew the program at a future date. As a result, the number of available Build America Bonds is limited, which may negatively affect the value of the Build America Bonds. In addition, there can be no assurance that Build America Bonds will be actively traded. It is difficult to predict the extent to which a market for such bonds will continue, meaning that Build America Bonds may experience greater illiquidity than other municipal obligations. The Build America Bonds outstanding as of December 31, 2010, will continue to be eligible for the federal interest rate subsidy, which continues for the life of the Build America Bonds; however, no bonds issued following expiration of the Build America Bond program will be eligible for the federal tax subsidy.

 

Cash Transactions Risk. ETFs generally are able to make in-kind redemptions and avoid being taxed on gain on the distributed portfolio securities at the Fund level. Because the Fund may effect redemptions partly or entirely in cash, rather than in-kind, it may be required to sell portfolio securities in order to obtain the cash needed to distribute redemption proceeds. If the Fund recognizes gain on these sales, this generally will cause the Fund to recognize gain it might not otherwise have recognized, or to recognize such gain sooner than would otherwise be required if it were to distribute portfolio securities in-kind. The Fund generally intends to distribute these gains to shareholders to avoid being taxed on this gain at the Fund level and otherwise comply with the special tax rules that apply to it. This strategy may cause shareholders to be subject to tax on gains they would not otherwise be subject to, or at an earlier date than, if they had made an investment in a different ETF. Moreover, cash transactions may have to be carried out over several days if the securities market is relatively illiquid and may involve considerable brokerage fees and taxes. These brokerage fees and taxes, which will be higher than if the Fund sold and redeemed its shares principally in-kind, could be imposed on the Fund and thus decrease the Fund’s NAV to the extent they are not offset by the creation and redemption transaction fees paid by purchasers and redeemers of Creation Units.

 

Changing Fixed Income Market Conditions Risk. The historically low interest rate environment observed over the past couple years was created in part by actions taken by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”) to keep the federal funds rate at a low level, including expanding the scope of its repurchase agreement operations, and purchasing large quantities of securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities on the open market. More recently the Federal Reserve began raising the federal funds rate in an effort to help fight inflation. Increases or decreases in the federal funds and equivalent foreign interest rates or other changes to monetary policy or regulatory actions may expose fixed income markets to heightened volatility and reduced liquidity for certain fixed income investments, particularly those with longer maturities. It is difficult to predict the impact of interest rate changes on various markets. Such policy changes may expose fixed-income and related markets to heightened volatility and may reduce liquidity for certain Fund investments, which could cause the value of the Fund to decrease to the extent that it invests in fixed income securities.

 

Concentration Risk. The Fund will concentrate its investments in securities of a particular industry to the extent the Index does. Economic, legislative or regulatory developments may occur that significantly affect a particular industry. This may cause the Fund’s net asset value or market price to fluctuate more than that of a fund that does not concentrate in a particular industry.

 

Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that an issuer of a security will fail to pay principal and interest in a timely manner, reducing the Fund’s total return. Credit risk may be substantial for the Fund.

 

Derivatives Risk. The use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. These risks include (i) the risk that the counterparty to a derivative transaction may not fulfill its contractual obligations; (ii) risk of mispricing or improper valuation; and (iii) the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying reference asset. Derivatives can also create leverage risk because they do not require payment up front equal to the economic exposure created by holding a position in the derivative. As a result, an adverse change in the value of the underlying asset could result in the Fund sustaining a loss that is substantially greater than the amount invested in the derivative or the anticipated value of the underlying asset, which may make the Fund’s returns more volatile and increase the risk of loss. Derivative instruments may be less liquid than more traditional investments and the Fund may be unable to sell or close out its derivative positions at a desirable time or price. This risk may be more acute under adverse market conditions, during which the Fund may be most in need of liquidating its derivative positions. Derivatives may also be less tax efficient and subject to changing government regulation that could impact the Fund’s ability to use certain derivatives or their cost. When a derivative is used for hedging, the change in value of the derivative may also not correlate specifically with the risk of the underlying asset being hedged. Derivative prices are highly volatile and may fluctuate substantially during a short period of time. Such prices are influenced by numerous factors that affect the markets, including, but not limited to: changing supply and demand relationships; government programs and policies; national and international political and economic events; changes in interest rates; inflation and deflation; and changes in supply and demand relationships. Derivatives strategies may not always be successful, and their successful use will depend on the portfolio managers’ ability to accurately forecast movements in the market relating to the underlying asset.

 

Options Risk. There are risks associated with the Fund’s use of options. As the buyer of a call option, the Fund risks losing the entire premium invested in the option if the underlying reference instrument does not rise above the strike price, which means the option will expire worthless. As the buyer of a put option, the Fund risks losing the entire premium invested in the option if the underlying reference instrument does not fall below the strike price, which means the option will expire worthless. Conversely, as a seller (writer) of a call option or put option, the Fund will lose money if the value of the underlying reference instrument rises above (written call option) or falls below (written put option) the respective option’s strike price. The Fund’s losses are potentially large in a written put transaction and potentially unlimited in an unhedged written call transaction.

 

Additionally, purchased options may decline in value due to changes in price of the underlying reference instrument, passage of time and changes in volatility. Generally, options may not be an effective hedge because they may have imperfect correlation to the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities. Further, the underlying reference instrument on which the option is based may have imperfect correlation to the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities. Option premiums are treated as short-term capital gains and, when distributed to shareholders, are usually taxable as ordinary income, which may have a higher tax rate than long-term capital gains for shareholders holding Fund shares in a taxable account. Options are also subject to leverage and volatility risk, liquidity risk, tracking risk, and sub-strategy risk.

 

Options Market Risk. Markets for options and options on futures may not always operate on a fair and orderly basis. At times, prices for options and options on futures may not represent fair market value and prices may be subject to manipulation, which may be extreme under some circumstances. The dysfunction and manipulation of volatility and options markets may make it difficult for the Fund to effectively implement its investment strategy, achieve its objectives and could potentially lead to significant losses.

 

Swaps Risk. Total return swaps are subject to tracking risk because they may not be perfect substitutes for the instruments they are intended to replace. Total return over the counter swaps are subject to counterparty default. Leverage inherent in derivatives will tend to magnify the Fund’s losses. The Fund’s use of swaps involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments and exposes the Fund to the risks associated with derivative instruments described above. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns, differentials in rates of return or some other amount earned or realized on the “notional amount” of predetermined investments or instruments, which may be adjusted for an interest factor. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in securities because swaps may be leveraged and subject to counterparty risk (e.g., the risk of a counterparty’s defaulting on the obligation or bankruptcy), credit risk and pricing risk (i.e., swaps may be difficult to value). Swaps may also be considered illiquid. It may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price, which may result in significant losses.

 

Written Call Option Risk. Selling covered call or stock index options will limit the Fund’s gain, if any, on its underlying securities. Losses on stock index options may only be partially offset by gains in the Fund’s portfolio if the portfolio does not track the call-related stock index. The Fund continues to bear the risk of a decline in the value of its underlying stocks. Option premiums are treated as short-term capital gains and, when distributed to shareholders, are usually taxable as ordinary income, which may have a higher tax rate than long-term capital gains for shareholders holding Fund shares in a taxable account.

 

Distribution Policy Risk. Shareholders receiving periodic payments from the Fund may be under the impression that they are receiving net profits. However, all or a portion of a distribution may consist of a return of capital (i.e., from your original investment). Shareholders should not assume that the source of a distribution from the Fund is net profit. Shareholders should note that return of capital will reduce the tax basis of their shares and potentially increase the taxable gain, if any, upon disposition of their shares.

 

Dividend Yield Risk. While the Fund may hold securities of companies that have historically paid a dividend, those companies may reduce or discontinue their dividends, thus reducing the yield of the Fund. Lower priced securities in the Fund may be more susceptible to these risks. Past dividend payments are not a guarantee of future dividend payments.

 

Duration Risk. Longer-term securities may be more sensitive to interest rate changes, particularly in periods of rising interest rates. Effective duration estimates price changes for relatively small changes in rates. If rates rise significantly, effective duration may tend to understate the drop in a security’s price. If rates drop significantly, effective duration may tend to overstate the rise in a security’s price. For example, a five-year duration means that the fixed income security will decrease in value by 5% if interest rates rise 1% and increase in value by 5% if interest rates fall 1%.

 

Early Close/Trading Halt Risk. An exchange or market may close or issue trading halts on specific securities, or the ability to buy or sell certain securities or financial instruments may be restricted, which may prevent the Fund from buying or selling certain securities or financial instruments. In these circumstances, the Fund may be unable to rebalance its portfolio, may be unable to accurately price its investments and may incur substantial trading losses.

 

Equity Securities Risk. Equity securities are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value. Equity securities may experience sudden, unpredictable drops in value or long periods of decline in value.

 

ETF Risk. Like a mutual fund, the value of an ETF can fluctuate based on the prices of the securities owned by the ETF, and ETFs are also subject to the following additional risks: (i) the ETF’s market price may be less than its net asset value; (ii) an active market for the ETF may not develop or be maintained; and (iii) market trading in the ETF may be halted under certain circumstances. Because the Fund may invest its assets in ETFs that have their own fees and expenses in addition to those charged directly by the Fund, the Fund may bear higher expenses than a fund that invests directly in individual securities.

 

ETF Structure Risks. The Fund is structured as an ETF and, as a result, is subject to special risks, including:

 

Not Individually Redeemable. Shares are not individually redeemable and may be redeemed by the Fund at NAV only in large blocks known as “Creation Units.” You may incur brokerage costs purchasing enough Shares to constitute a Creation Unit. Fund shares are typically bought and sold in the secondary market and investors typically pay brokerage commissions or other charges on these transactions.

 

Trading Issues. Trading in Shares on the Exchange may be halted due to market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in Shares inadvisable, such as extraordinary market volatility. There can be no assurance that Shares will continue to meet the listing requirements of the Exchange. An active trading market for the Fund’s shares may not be developed or maintained. If the Fund’s shares are traded outside a collateralized settlement system, the number of financial institutions that can act as authorized participants that can post collateral on an agency basis is limited, which may limit the market for the Fund’s shares.

 

Market Price Variance Risk. The market prices of Shares will fluctuate in response to changes in NAV and supply and demand for Shares and will include a “bid-ask spread” charged by the exchange specialists, market makers or other participants that trade the particular security. There may be times when the market price and the NAV vary significantly. This means that Shares may trade at a discount to NAV and intra-day bid/ask spreads may widen.

 

In times of market stress, market makers may step away from their role market making in shares of ETFs and in executing trades, which can lead to differences between the market value of Fund shares and the Fund’s net asset value, which could cause the intra-day bid/ask spread of the Fund to widen.

 

The market price for the Fund’s shares may deviate from the Fund’s net asset value, particularly during times of market stress, with the result that investors may pay significantly more or significantly less for Fund shares than the Fund’s net asset value, which is reflected in the bid and ask price for Fund shares or in the closing price.

 

When all or a portion of an ETFs underlying securities trade in a market that is closed when the market for the Fund’s shares is open, there may be changes from the last quote of the closed market and the quote from the Fund’s domestic trading day, which could lead to differences between the market value of the Fund’s shares and the Fund’s net asset value, which could cause the intra-day bid/ask spread of the Fund to widen.

 

In stressed market conditions, the market for the Fund’s shares may become less liquid in response to the deteriorating liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio. This adverse effect on the liquidity of the Fund’s shares may, in turn, lead to differences between the market value of the Fund’s shares and the Fund’s net asset value, which could cause the intra-day bid/ask spread of the Fund to widen.

 

Fixed Income Risk. When the Fund invests in fixed income securities, the value of your investment in the Fund will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. Typically, a rise in interest rates causes a decline in the value of fixed income securities owned by the Fund. In general, the market price of fixed income securities with longer maturities will increase or decrease more in response to changes in interest rates than shorter-term securities. Other risk factors include credit risk (the debtor may default). Lowered credit ratings may cause a drop in a fixed income security’s price and are associated with greater risk of default on interest and principal payments. Certain fixed income securities may be paid off early when the issuer can repay the principal prior to a security’s maturity. If interest rates are falling, the Fund may have to reinvest the unanticipated proceeds at lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in the Fund’s income. If interest rates rise, repayments of principal on certain fixed income securities may occur at a slower rate than expected and the expected maturity of those securities could lengthen as a result, which reduces the Fund’s ability to reinvest at higher rates. These risks could affect the value of a particular investment by the Fund, possibly causing the Fund’s share price and total return to be reduced and fluctuate more than other types of investments.

 

Index Risk. Unlike many investment companies, the Fund does not utilize an investing strategy that seeks returns in excess of the Index. Therefore, it would not necessarily sell a security unless that security is removed from the Index, even if that security generally is underperforming. Additionally, the Fund rebalances its portfolio in accordance with the Index, and, therefore, any changes to the Index’s rebalance schedule will result in corresponding changes to the Fund’s rebalance schedule.

 

Index-Related Risk. There is no assurance that the Index will be determined, composed or calculated accurately. While the Index Provider provides descriptions of what the Index is designed to achieve, the Index Provider does not guarantee the quality, accuracy or completeness of data in respect of its indices, and does not guarantee that the Index will be in line with the described index methodology. For example, during a period where the Index contains incorrect constituents, the Fund would have market exposure to such constituents and would be underexposed to the Index’s other constituents. As such, errors may result in a negative or positive performance impact to the Fund and its shareholders. Shareholders should understand that losses resulting from errors may be borne by the Fund and its shareholders.

 

Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk that bond prices overall, including the prices of securities held by the Fund, will decline over short or long periods of time due to rising interest rates. Bonds with longer maturities tend to be more sensitive to interest rates than bonds with shorter maturities. The maturity and effective duration of the Fund’s investment portfolio may vary materially, from time to time, and there is no assurance that the Fund will achieve or maintain any particular target maturity or effective duration of its investment portfolio.

 

Issuer Specific Risk. The performance of the Fund depends on the performance of the issuers of the individual securities in which the Fund invests. Poor performance by any issuer may cause the value of its securities, and the value of the Fund’s Shares, to decline. The value of a specific security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the value of the market as a whole.

 

Junk Bond Risk. Lower-quality bonds, known as “high-yield” or “junk” bonds, are considered to be speculative with respect to the issuer’s ability to pay interest and principal when due and present greater risk than bonds of higher quality, including an increased risk of default. An economic downturn or period of rising interest rates could adversely affect the market for these bonds and reduce the Fund’s ability to sell the bonds in its portfolio. The lack of a liquid market for these bonds could decrease the value of the Fund’s portfolio and net asset value per share.

 

Large Capitalization Company Risk. Large-capitalization companies may be less able than smaller capitalization companies to adapt to changing market conditions. Large-capitalization companies may be more mature and subject to more limited growth potential compared with smaller capitalization companies. During different market cycles, the performance of large capitalization companies has trailed the overall performance of the broader securities markets.

 

Leverage Risk. The use of leverage can amplify the effects of market volatility on the Fund’s share price and make the Fund’s returns more volatile. The use of leverage may cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it would not be advantageous to do so in order to satisfy its obligations. The use of leverage may also cause the Fund to have higher expenses than those of funds that do not use such techniques.

 

Management Risk. As the Fund may not fully replicate the Index, it is subject to the risk that its investment management strategy may not produce the intended results.

 

Market Risk. The value of securities in the Fund’s portfolio will fluctuate and, as a result, the Fund’s NAV or market price per share may decline suddenly or over a sustained period of time. Factors such as domestic and foreign economic growth rates and market conditions, interest rate levels, trading and tariff events and political events may adversely affect the securities markets.

 

MBS and CMO Risk. Mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) and collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”) are subject to credit risk because underlying loan borrowers may default. MBS and CMO default rates tend to be sensitive to overall economic conditions and to localized property vacancy rates and prices. Borrower default rates may be significantly higher than estimated. Certain individual securities may be more sensitive to default rates because payments may be subordinated to other securities of the same issuer. The Advisor’s assessment, or a rating agency’s assessment, of borrower credit quality, default rates and loss rates may prove to be overly optimistic. Additionally, MBS and CMOs are subject to prepayment risk because the underlying loans held by the issuers may be paid off prior to maturity at faster or slower rates than expected. The value of these securities may go down as a result of changes in prepayment rates on the underlying mortgages or loans. During periods of declining interest rates, prepayment rates usually increase and the Fund may have to reinvest prepayment proceeds at a lower interest rate. CMOs may be less susceptible to this risk because payment priorities within the CMO may have the effect of a prepayment lock out period.

 

MLP and MLP-Related Securities Risk. Investments in MLPs and MLP-related securities involve risks different from those of investing in common stock, including risks related to limited control and limited rights to vote on matters affecting the MLP or MLP-related security, risks related to potential conflicts of interest between an MLP and the MLP’s general partner, cash flow risks, dilution risks (which could occur if the MLP raises capital and then invests it in projects whose return fails to exceed the cost of capital raised) and risks related to the general partner’s limited call right. MLPs and MLP-related securities are generally considered interest-rate sensitive investments. During periods of interest rate volatility, these investments may not provide attractive returns. Depending on the state of interest rates in general, the use of MLPs or MLP-related securities could enhance or harm the overall performance of the Fund.

 

MLP Tax Risk. MLPs do not pay U.S. federal income tax at the partnership level, subject to the application of certain partnership audit rules. Instead, each partner is allocated a share of the partnership’s income, gains, losses, deductions and expenses. A change in current tax law or in the underlying business mix of a given MLP could result in an MLP being treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which would result in such MLP being required to pay U.S. federal income tax on its taxable income. The classification of an MLP as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes would have the effect of reducing the amount of cash available for distribution by the MLP. Thus, if any of the MLPs owned by the Fund were treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it could result in a reduction of the value of your investment in the Fund and lower income, as compared to an MLP that is not taxed as a corporation.

 

Model and Data Risk. Like all quantitative analysis, the investment models utilized by the Index carry the risk that the ranking system, valuation results and predictions might be based on one or more incorrect assumptions, insufficient historical data, inadequate design, or may not be suitable for the purpose intended. In addition, models may not perform as intended for many reasons, including errors, omissions, imperfections or malfunctions. Because models are usually constructed based on data supplied by third parties, the success of the Index’s use of such models is dependent on the accuracy and reliability of the supplied data. Historical data inputs may be subject to revision or corrections, which may diminish data reliability and quality of predictive results. Changing and unforeseen market dynamics could also lead to a decrease in the short-term or long-term effectiveness of a model. Models may lose their predictive validity and incorrectly forecast future market behavior and asset prices, leading to potential losses. No assurance can be given that a model will be successful under all or any market conditions.

 

Non-Correlation Risk. The Fund’s return may not match the return of the Index for a number of reasons, including the following:

 

The Fund incurs operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities, especially when rebalancing the Fund’s securities holdings to reflect changes in the composition of the Index.

 

The performance of the Fund and the Index may vary due to asset valuation differences: the Fund may fair value certain of the securities it holds and, to the extent it calculates its NAV based on fair value prices, the Fund’s ability to track the Index may be adversely affected.

 

There may be differences between the Fund’s portfolio and the Index as a result of legal restrictions, cost or liquidity constraints. For example, the Index is not subject to the tax diversification requirements to which the Fund must adhere; so the Fund may be required to deviate its investments from the securities and relative weightings of the Index. Similarly, the Fund may not invest in certain securities included in the Index due to liquidity constraints. Liquidity constraints also may delay the Fund’s purchase or sale of securities included in the Index.

 

The investment activities of one or more of the Advisor’s affiliates for their proprietary accounts and for client accounts may also adversely impact the Fund’s ability to track the Index. For example, in regulated industries, and in corporate and regulatory ownership definitions, there may be limits on the aggregate amount of investment by affiliated investors that may not be exceeded, or that may not be exceeded without the grant of a license or other regulatory or corporate consent or, if exceeded, may cause the Advisor, the Fund or other client accounts to suffer disadvantages or business restrictions. As a result, the Fund may be restricted in its ability to acquire particular securities due to positions held by the Advisor’s affiliates.

 

Passive Investment Risk. The Fund is not actively managed and may be affected by a general decline in market segments related to the Index. The Fund invests in securities included in, or representative of securities included in, the Index, regardless of their investment merits. The Fund does not take defensive positions under any market conditions, including conditions that are adverse to the performance of the Fund, unless such defensive positions are also taken by the Index.

 

Preferred Stock Risk. Typically, a rise in interest rates causes a decline in the value of preferred stocks. Preferred stocks are also subject to credit and default risk, which is the possibility that an issuer of preferred stock will fail to make its dividend payment. Issuers of preferred stocks may redeem their securities prior to maturity at a price below their current market value, which would negatively impact the investment return of such preferred stocks.

 

Prepayment Risk. The Fund may invest in debt securities that may be paid off early when the issuer of a debt security can repay the principal prior to a security’s maturity. If interest rates are falling, the Fund may have to reinvest the unanticipated proceeds at lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in the Fund’s income.

 

Real Estate/REIT Risk. The Fund’s investments in REITs are subject to the same risks as direct investments in real estate, including sensitivity to general economic downturns and the volatility of local real estate markets. REITs may have limited financial resources and their securities may trade infrequently and in limited volume, and thus they may be more volatile than other securities. The liquidity of REITs may change dramatically over time.

 

Sampling Risk. The sampling approach, if used, could result in the Fund holding a smaller number of securities than are in the Index. As a result, an adverse development with an issuer of securities held by the Fund could result in a greater decline in NAV or market price than would be the case if the Fund held all of the securities in the Index. To the extent the assets in the Fund are smaller, these risks will be greater.

 

Tracking Error Risk. Tracking error is the divergence of the Fund’s performance from that of the Index. Tracking error may occur because of imperfect correlation between the Fund’s holdings of portfolio securities and those in the Index, pricing differences, the Fund’s holding of cash, differences on timing of the accrual of dividends, changes to the Index, transaction and financing costs related to the use of derivatives or the need to meet various regulatory requirements. This risk may be heightened during times of increased market volatility or other unusual market conditions. Tracking error also may result because the Fund incurs fees and expenses, while the Index does not.

 

Underlying Fund Risk. Other investment companies, including ETFs (“Underlying Funds”), in which the Fund invests are subject to investment advisory and other expenses, which will be indirectly paid by the Fund. As a result, the cost of investing in the Fund will be higher than the cost of investing directly in the Underlying Funds and may be higher than other funds that invest directly in stocks and bonds. Each of the Underlying Funds is subject to its own specific risks and is also subject to the following additional risks: (i) the ETF’s market price may be less than its net asset value; (ii) an active market for the ETF may not develop or be maintained; and (iii) market trading in the ETF may be illiquid or even halted under certain circumstances. Certain additional risks of investing in ETFs are described below:

 

Net Asset Value and Market Price Risk: The market value of ETF shares may differ from their net asset value. This difference in price may be due to the fact that the supply and demand in the market for fund shares at any point in time is not always identical to the supply and demand in the market for the underlying basket of securities. Accordingly, there may be times when shares trade at a premium or discount to net asset value.

 

Utilities Sector Risk. Companies in the utilities sector are subject to a variety of factors that may adversely affect their business or operations, including high interest costs associated with capital construction and improvement programs; difficulty in raising adequate capital in periods of high inflation and unsettled capital markets; governmental regulation of rates the issuer can charge to customers; costs associated with compliance with environmental and other regulations; effects of economic slowdowns and surplus capacity; increased competition; and potential losses resulting from a developing deregulatory environment.

Authorized Participant Risk [Member]  
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Authorized Participant Risk. The Fund has a limited number of financial institutions that may act as Authorized Participants. An “Authorized Participant” is a participant in the Continuous Net Settlement System of the National Securities Clearing Corporation or the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) and that has executed a Participant Agreement with Foreside Fund Services, LLC, the Fund’s distributor (the “Distributor”). To the extent these Authorized Participants exit the business or are unable to process creation and/or redemption orders and no other Authorized Participant is able to step forward to process creation and/or redemption orders, in either of these cases, shares of the Fund may trade like closed-end fund shares at a discount to NAV and possibly face delisting by the Nasdaq Stock Market (the “Exchange”). These risks could cause intra-day bid-ask spreads for the Fund’s shares to widen.

 

Build America Bonds Risk [Member]  
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Build America Bonds Risk. Build America Bonds involve similar risks as municipal bonds, including credit and market risk. In particular, should a Build America Bond’s issuer fail to continue to meet the applicable requirements imposed on such bonds, it is possible that such issuer may not receive federal cash subsidy payments, impairing the issuer’s ability to make scheduled interest payments. The Build America Bond program expired on December 31, 2010, and no further issuance is permitted unless Congress were to renew the program at a future date. As a result, the number of available Build America Bonds is limited, which may negatively affect the value of the Build America Bonds. In addition, there can be no assurance that Build America Bonds will be actively traded. It is difficult to predict the extent to which a market for such bonds will continue, meaning that Build America Bonds may experience greater illiquidity than other municipal obligations. The Build America Bonds outstanding as of December 31, 2010, will continue to be eligible for the federal interest rate subsidy, which continues for the life of the Build America Bonds; however, no bonds issued following expiration of the Build America Bond program will be eligible for the federal tax subsidy.

 

Cash Transactions Risk [Member]  
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Cash Transactions Risk. ETFs generally are able to make in-kind redemptions and avoid being taxed on gain on the distributed portfolio securities at the Fund level. Because the Fund may effect redemptions partly or entirely in cash, rather than in-kind, it may be required to sell portfolio securities in order to obtain the cash needed to distribute redemption proceeds. If the Fund recognizes gain on these sales, this generally will cause the Fund to recognize gain it might not otherwise have recognized, or to recognize such gain sooner than would otherwise be required if it were to distribute portfolio securities in-kind. The Fund generally intends to distribute these gains to shareholders to avoid being taxed on this gain at the Fund level and otherwise comply with the special tax rules that apply to it. This strategy may cause shareholders to be subject to tax on gains they would not otherwise be subject to, or at an earlier date than, if they had made an investment in a different ETF. Moreover, cash transactions may have to be carried out over several days if the securities market is relatively illiquid and may involve considerable brokerage fees and taxes. These brokerage fees and taxes, which will be higher than if the Fund sold and redeemed its shares principally in-kind, could be imposed on the Fund and thus decrease the Fund’s NAV to the extent they are not offset by the creation and redemption transaction fees paid by purchasers and redeemers of Creation Units.

 

Changing Fixed Income Market Conditions Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Changing Fixed Income Market Conditions Risk. The historically low interest rate environment observed over the past couple years was created in part by actions taken by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”) to keep the federal funds rate at a low level, including expanding the scope of its repurchase agreement operations, and purchasing large quantities of securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities on the open market. More recently the Federal Reserve began raising the federal funds rate in an effort to help fight inflation. Increases or decreases in the federal funds and equivalent foreign interest rates or other changes to monetary policy or regulatory actions may expose fixed income markets to heightened volatility and reduced liquidity for certain fixed income investments, particularly those with longer maturities. It is difficult to predict the impact of interest rate changes on various markets. Such policy changes may expose fixed-income and related markets to heightened volatility and may reduce liquidity for certain Fund investments, which could cause the value of the Fund to decrease to the extent that it invests in fixed income securities.

Concentration Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Concentration Risk. The Fund will concentrate its investments in securities of a particular industry to the extent the Index does. Economic, legislative or regulatory developments may occur that significantly affect a particular industry. This may cause the Fund’s net asset value or market price to fluctuate more than that of a fund that does not concentrate in a particular industry.

 

Credit Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that an issuer of a security will fail to pay principal and interest in a timely manner, reducing the Fund’s total return. Credit risk may be substantial for the Fund.

 

Derivatives Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Derivatives Risk. The use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. These risks include (i) the risk that the counterparty to a derivative transaction may not fulfill its contractual obligations; (ii) risk of mispricing or improper valuation; and (iii) the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying reference asset. Derivatives can also create leverage risk because they do not require payment up front equal to the economic exposure created by holding a position in the derivative. As a result, an adverse change in the value of the underlying asset could result in the Fund sustaining a loss that is substantially greater than the amount invested in the derivative or the anticipated value of the underlying asset, which may make the Fund’s returns more volatile and increase the risk of loss. Derivative instruments may be less liquid than more traditional investments and the Fund may be unable to sell or close out its derivative positions at a desirable time or price. This risk may be more acute under adverse market conditions, during which the Fund may be most in need of liquidating its derivative positions. Derivatives may also be less tax efficient and subject to changing government regulation that could impact the Fund’s ability to use certain derivatives or their cost. When a derivative is used for hedging, the change in value of the derivative may also not correlate specifically with the risk of the underlying asset being hedged. Derivative prices are highly volatile and may fluctuate substantially during a short period of time. Such prices are influenced by numerous factors that affect the markets, including, but not limited to: changing supply and demand relationships; government programs and policies; national and international political and economic events; changes in interest rates; inflation and deflation; and changes in supply and demand relationships. Derivatives strategies may not always be successful, and their successful use will depend on the portfolio managers’ ability to accurately forecast movements in the market relating to the underlying asset.

 

Options Risk. There are risks associated with the Fund’s use of options. As the buyer of a call option, the Fund risks losing the entire premium invested in the option if the underlying reference instrument does not rise above the strike price, which means the option will expire worthless. As the buyer of a put option, the Fund risks losing the entire premium invested in the option if the underlying reference instrument does not fall below the strike price, which means the option will expire worthless. Conversely, as a seller (writer) of a call option or put option, the Fund will lose money if the value of the underlying reference instrument rises above (written call option) or falls below (written put option) the respective option’s strike price. The Fund’s losses are potentially large in a written put transaction and potentially unlimited in an unhedged written call transaction.

 

Additionally, purchased options may decline in value due to changes in price of the underlying reference instrument, passage of time and changes in volatility. Generally, options may not be an effective hedge because they may have imperfect correlation to the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities. Further, the underlying reference instrument on which the option is based may have imperfect correlation to the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities. Option premiums are treated as short-term capital gains and, when distributed to shareholders, are usually taxable as ordinary income, which may have a higher tax rate than long-term capital gains for shareholders holding Fund shares in a taxable account. Options are also subject to leverage and volatility risk, liquidity risk, tracking risk, and sub-strategy risk.

 

Options Market Risk. Markets for options and options on futures may not always operate on a fair and orderly basis. At times, prices for options and options on futures may not represent fair market value and prices may be subject to manipulation, which may be extreme under some circumstances. The dysfunction and manipulation of volatility and options markets may make it difficult for the Fund to effectively implement its investment strategy, achieve its objectives and could potentially lead to significant losses.

 

Swaps Risk. Total return swaps are subject to tracking risk because they may not be perfect substitutes for the instruments they are intended to replace. Total return over the counter swaps are subject to counterparty default. Leverage inherent in derivatives will tend to magnify the Fund’s losses. The Fund’s use of swaps involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments and exposes the Fund to the risks associated with derivative instruments described above. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns, differentials in rates of return or some other amount earned or realized on the “notional amount” of predetermined investments or instruments, which may be adjusted for an interest factor. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in securities because swaps may be leveraged and subject to counterparty risk (e.g., the risk of a counterparty’s defaulting on the obligation or bankruptcy), credit risk and pricing risk (i.e., swaps may be difficult to value). Swaps may also be considered illiquid. It may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price, which may result in significant losses.

 

Written Call Option Risk. Selling covered call or stock index options will limit the Fund’s gain, if any, on its underlying securities. Losses on stock index options may only be partially offset by gains in the Fund’s portfolio if the portfolio does not track the call-related stock index. The Fund continues to bear the risk of a decline in the value of its underlying stocks. Option premiums are treated as short-term capital gains and, when distributed to shareholders, are usually taxable as ordinary income, which may have a higher tax rate than long-term capital gains for shareholders holding Fund shares in a taxable account.

Options Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Options Risk. There are risks associated with the Fund’s use of options. As the buyer of a call option, the Fund risks losing the entire premium invested in the option if the underlying reference instrument does not rise above the strike price, which means the option will expire worthless. As the buyer of a put option, the Fund risks losing the entire premium invested in the option if the underlying reference instrument does not fall below the strike price, which means the option will expire worthless. Conversely, as a seller (writer) of a call option or put option, the Fund will lose money if the value of the underlying reference instrument rises above (written call option) or falls below (written put option) the respective option’s strike price. The Fund’s losses are potentially large in a written put transaction and potentially unlimited in an unhedged written call transaction.

 

Additionally, purchased options may decline in value due to changes in price of the underlying reference instrument, passage of time and changes in volatility. Generally, options may not be an effective hedge because they may have imperfect correlation to the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities. Further, the underlying reference instrument on which the option is based may have imperfect correlation to the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities. Option premiums are treated as short-term capital gains and, when distributed to shareholders, are usually taxable as ordinary income, which may have a higher tax rate than long-term capital gains for shareholders holding Fund shares in a taxable account. Options are also subject to leverage and volatility risk, liquidity risk, tracking risk, and sub-strategy risk.

Options Market Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Options Market Risk. Markets for options and options on futures may not always operate on a fair and orderly basis. At times, prices for options and options on futures may not represent fair market value and prices may be subject to manipulation, which may be extreme under some circumstances. The dysfunction and manipulation of volatility and options markets may make it difficult for the Fund to effectively implement its investment strategy, achieve its objectives and could potentially lead to significant losses.

 

Swaps Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Swaps Risk. Total return swaps are subject to tracking risk because they may not be perfect substitutes for the instruments they are intended to replace. Total return over the counter swaps are subject to counterparty default. Leverage inherent in derivatives will tend to magnify the Fund’s losses. The Fund’s use of swaps involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments and exposes the Fund to the risks associated with derivative instruments described above. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns, differentials in rates of return or some other amount earned or realized on the “notional amount” of predetermined investments or instruments, which may be adjusted for an interest factor. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in securities because swaps may be leveraged and subject to counterparty risk (e.g., the risk of a counterparty’s defaulting on the obligation or bankruptcy), credit risk and pricing risk (i.e., swaps may be difficult to value). Swaps may also be considered illiquid. It may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price, which may result in significant losses.

 

Written Call Option Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Written Call Option Risk. Selling covered call or stock index options will limit the Fund’s gain, if any, on its underlying securities. Losses on stock index options may only be partially offset by gains in the Fund’s portfolio if the portfolio does not track the call-related stock index. The Fund continues to bear the risk of a decline in the value of its underlying stocks. Option premiums are treated as short-term capital gains and, when distributed to shareholders, are usually taxable as ordinary income, which may have a higher tax rate than long-term capital gains for shareholders holding Fund shares in a taxable account.

 

Distribution Policy Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Distribution Policy Risk. Shareholders receiving periodic payments from the Fund may be under the impression that they are receiving net profits. However, all or a portion of a distribution may consist of a return of capital (i.e., from your original investment). Shareholders should not assume that the source of a distribution from the Fund is net profit. Shareholders should note that return of capital will reduce the tax basis of their shares and potentially increase the taxable gain, if any, upon disposition of their shares.

 

Dividend Yield Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Dividend Yield Risk. While the Fund may hold securities of companies that have historically paid a dividend, those companies may reduce or discontinue their dividends, thus reducing the yield of the Fund. Lower priced securities in the Fund may be more susceptible to these risks. Past dividend payments are not a guarantee of future dividend payments.

 

Duration Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Duration Risk. Longer-term securities may be more sensitive to interest rate changes, particularly in periods of rising interest rates. Effective duration estimates price changes for relatively small changes in rates. If rates rise significantly, effective duration may tend to understate the drop in a security’s price. If rates drop significantly, effective duration may tend to overstate the rise in a security’s price. For example, a five-year duration means that the fixed income security will decrease in value by 5% if interest rates rise 1% and increase in value by 5% if interest rates fall 1%.

 

Early Close/Trading Halt Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Early Close/Trading Halt Risk. An exchange or market may close or issue trading halts on specific securities, or the ability to buy or sell certain securities or financial instruments may be restricted, which may prevent the Fund from buying or selling certain securities or financial instruments. In these circumstances, the Fund may be unable to rebalance its portfolio, may be unable to accurately price its investments and may incur substantial trading losses.

Equity Securities Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Equity Securities Risk. Equity securities are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value. Equity securities may experience sudden, unpredictable drops in value or long periods of decline in value.

 

ETF Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

ETF Risk. Like a mutual fund, the value of an ETF can fluctuate based on the prices of the securities owned by the ETF, and ETFs are also subject to the following additional risks: (i) the ETF’s market price may be less than its net asset value; (ii) an active market for the ETF may not develop or be maintained; and (iii) market trading in the ETF may be halted under certain circumstances. Because the Fund may invest its assets in ETFs that have their own fees and expenses in addition to those charged directly by the Fund, the Fund may bear higher expenses than a fund that invests directly in individual securities.

 

ETF Structure Risks [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

ETF Structure Risks. The Fund is structured as an ETF and, as a result, is subject to special risks, including:

 

Not Individually Redeemable. Shares are not individually redeemable and may be redeemed by the Fund at NAV only in large blocks known as “Creation Units.” You may incur brokerage costs purchasing enough Shares to constitute a Creation Unit. Fund shares are typically bought and sold in the secondary market and investors typically pay brokerage commissions or other charges on these transactions.

 

Trading Issues. Trading in Shares on the Exchange may be halted due to market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in Shares inadvisable, such as extraordinary market volatility. There can be no assurance that Shares will continue to meet the listing requirements of the Exchange. An active trading market for the Fund’s shares may not be developed or maintained. If the Fund’s shares are traded outside a collateralized settlement system, the number of financial institutions that can act as authorized participants that can post collateral on an agency basis is limited, which may limit the market for the Fund’s shares.

 

Market Price Variance Risk. The market prices of Shares will fluctuate in response to changes in NAV and supply and demand for Shares and will include a “bid-ask spread” charged by the exchange specialists, market makers or other participants that trade the particular security. There may be times when the market price and the NAV vary significantly. This means that Shares may trade at a discount to NAV and intra-day bid/ask spreads may widen.

 

In times of market stress, market makers may step away from their role market making in shares of ETFs and in executing trades, which can lead to differences between the market value of Fund shares and the Fund’s net asset value, which could cause the intra-day bid/ask spread of the Fund to widen.

 

The market price for the Fund’s shares may deviate from the Fund’s net asset value, particularly during times of market stress, with the result that investors may pay significantly more or significantly less for Fund shares than the Fund’s net asset value, which is reflected in the bid and ask price for Fund shares or in the closing price.

 

When all or a portion of an ETFs underlying securities trade in a market that is closed when the market for the Fund’s shares is open, there may be changes from the last quote of the closed market and the quote from the Fund’s domestic trading day, which could lead to differences between the market value of the Fund’s shares and the Fund’s net asset value, which could cause the intra-day bid/ask spread of the Fund to widen.

 

In stressed market conditions, the market for the Fund’s shares may become less liquid in response to the deteriorating liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio. This adverse effect on the liquidity of the Fund’s shares may, in turn, lead to differences between the market value of the Fund’s shares and the Fund’s net asset value, which could cause the intra-day bid/ask spread of the Fund to widen.
Not Individually Redeemable [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]
Not Individually Redeemable. Shares are not individually redeemable and may be redeemed by the Fund at NAV only in large blocks known as “Creation Units.” You may incur brokerage costs purchasing enough Shares to constitute a Creation Unit. Fund shares are typically bought and sold in the secondary market and investors typically pay brokerage commissions or other charges on these transactions.

 

Trading Issues [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]
Trading Issues. Trading in Shares on the Exchange may be halted due to market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in Shares inadvisable, such as extraordinary market volatility. There can be no assurance that Shares will continue to meet the listing requirements of the Exchange. An active trading market for the Fund’s shares may not be developed or maintained. If the Fund’s shares are traded outside a collateralized settlement system, the number of financial institutions that can act as authorized participants that can post collateral on an agency basis is limited, which may limit the market for the Fund’s shares.

 

Market Price Variance Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]
Market Price Variance Risk. The market prices of Shares will fluctuate in response to changes in NAV and supply and demand for Shares and will include a “bid-ask spread” charged by the exchange specialists, market makers or other participants that trade the particular security. There may be times when the market price and the NAV vary significantly. This means that Shares may trade at a discount to NAV and intra-day bid/ask spreads may widen.

 

In times of market stress, market makers may step away from their role market making in shares of ETFs and in executing trades, which can lead to differences between the market value of Fund shares and the Fund’s net asset value, which could cause the intra-day bid/ask spread of the Fund to widen.

 

The market price for the Fund’s shares may deviate from the Fund’s net asset value, particularly during times of market stress, with the result that investors may pay significantly more or significantly less for Fund shares than the Fund’s net asset value, which is reflected in the bid and ask price for Fund shares or in the closing price.

 

When all or a portion of an ETFs underlying securities trade in a market that is closed when the market for the Fund’s shares is open, there may be changes from the last quote of the closed market and the quote from the Fund’s domestic trading day, which could lead to differences between the market value of the Fund’s shares and the Fund’s net asset value, which could cause the intra-day bid/ask spread of the Fund to widen.

 

In stressed market conditions, the market for the Fund’s shares may become less liquid in response to the deteriorating liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio. This adverse effect on the liquidity of the Fund’s shares may, in turn, lead to differences between the market value of the Fund’s shares and the Fund’s net asset value, which could cause the intra-day bid/ask spread of the Fund to widen.
Fixed Income Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Fixed Income Risk. When the Fund invests in fixed income securities, the value of your investment in the Fund will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. Typically, a rise in interest rates causes a decline in the value of fixed income securities owned by the Fund. In general, the market price of fixed income securities with longer maturities will increase or decrease more in response to changes in interest rates than shorter-term securities. Other risk factors include credit risk (the debtor may default). Lowered credit ratings may cause a drop in a fixed income security’s price and are associated with greater risk of default on interest and principal payments. Certain fixed income securities may be paid off early when the issuer can repay the principal prior to a security’s maturity. If interest rates are falling, the Fund may have to reinvest the unanticipated proceeds at lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in the Fund’s income. If interest rates rise, repayments of principal on certain fixed income securities may occur at a slower rate than expected and the expected maturity of those securities could lengthen as a result, which reduces the Fund’s ability to reinvest at higher rates. These risks could affect the value of a particular investment by the Fund, possibly causing the Fund’s share price and total return to be reduced and fluctuate more than other types of investments.

 

Index Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Index Risk. Unlike many investment companies, the Fund does not utilize an investing strategy that seeks returns in excess of the Index. Therefore, it would not necessarily sell a security unless that security is removed from the Index, even if that security generally is underperforming. Additionally, the Fund rebalances its portfolio in accordance with the Index, and, therefore, any changes to the Index’s rebalance schedule will result in corresponding changes to the Fund’s rebalance schedule.

 

Index-Related Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Index-Related Risk. There is no assurance that the Index will be determined, composed or calculated accurately. While the Index Provider provides descriptions of what the Index is designed to achieve, the Index Provider does not guarantee the quality, accuracy or completeness of data in respect of its indices, and does not guarantee that the Index will be in line with the described index methodology. For example, during a period where the Index contains incorrect constituents, the Fund would have market exposure to such constituents and would be underexposed to the Index’s other constituents. As such, errors may result in a negative or positive performance impact to the Fund and its shareholders. Shareholders should understand that losses resulting from errors may be borne by the Fund and its shareholders.

 

Interest Rate Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk that bond prices overall, including the prices of securities held by the Fund, will decline over short or long periods of time due to rising interest rates. Bonds with longer maturities tend to be more sensitive to interest rates than bonds with shorter maturities. The maturity and effective duration of the Fund’s investment portfolio may vary materially, from time to time, and there is no assurance that the Fund will achieve or maintain any particular target maturity or effective duration of its investment portfolio.

 

Issuer Specific Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Issuer Specific Risk. The performance of the Fund depends on the performance of the issuers of the individual securities in which the Fund invests. Poor performance by any issuer may cause the value of its securities, and the value of the Fund’s Shares, to decline. The value of a specific security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the value of the market as a whole.

 

Junk Bond Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Junk Bond Risk. Lower-quality bonds, known as “high-yield” or “junk” bonds, are considered to be speculative with respect to the issuer’s ability to pay interest and principal when due and present greater risk than bonds of higher quality, including an increased risk of default. An economic downturn or period of rising interest rates could adversely affect the market for these bonds and reduce the Fund’s ability to sell the bonds in its portfolio. The lack of a liquid market for these bonds could decrease the value of the Fund’s portfolio and net asset value per share.

 

Large Capitalization Company Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Large Capitalization Company Risk. Large-capitalization companies may be less able than smaller capitalization companies to adapt to changing market conditions. Large-capitalization companies may be more mature and subject to more limited growth potential compared with smaller capitalization companies. During different market cycles, the performance of large capitalization companies has trailed the overall performance of the broader securities markets.

Leverage Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Leverage Risk. The use of leverage can amplify the effects of market volatility on the Fund’s share price and make the Fund’s returns more volatile. The use of leverage may cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it would not be advantageous to do so in order to satisfy its obligations. The use of leverage may also cause the Fund to have higher expenses than those of funds that do not use such techniques.

 

Management Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Management Risk. As the Fund may not fully replicate the Index, it is subject to the risk that its investment management strategy may not produce the intended results.

 

Market Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Market Risk. The value of securities in the Fund’s portfolio will fluctuate and, as a result, the Fund’s NAV or market price per share may decline suddenly or over a sustained period of time. Factors such as domestic and foreign economic growth rates and market conditions, interest rate levels, trading and tariff events and political events may adversely affect the securities markets.

 

MBS and CMO Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

MBS and CMO Risk. Mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) and collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”) are subject to credit risk because underlying loan borrowers may default. MBS and CMO default rates tend to be sensitive to overall economic conditions and to localized property vacancy rates and prices. Borrower default rates may be significantly higher than estimated. Certain individual securities may be more sensitive to default rates because payments may be subordinated to other securities of the same issuer. The Advisor’s assessment, or a rating agency’s assessment, of borrower credit quality, default rates and loss rates may prove to be overly optimistic. Additionally, MBS and CMOs are subject to prepayment risk because the underlying loans held by the issuers may be paid off prior to maturity at faster or slower rates than expected. The value of these securities may go down as a result of changes in prepayment rates on the underlying mortgages or loans. During periods of declining interest rates, prepayment rates usually increase and the Fund may have to reinvest prepayment proceeds at a lower interest rate. CMOs may be less susceptible to this risk because payment priorities within the CMO may have the effect of a prepayment lock out period.

 

MLP and MLP-Related Securities Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

MLP and MLP-Related Securities Risk. Investments in MLPs and MLP-related securities involve risks different from those of investing in common stock, including risks related to limited control and limited rights to vote on matters affecting the MLP or MLP-related security, risks related to potential conflicts of interest between an MLP and the MLP’s general partner, cash flow risks, dilution risks (which could occur if the MLP raises capital and then invests it in projects whose return fails to exceed the cost of capital raised) and risks related to the general partner’s limited call right. MLPs and MLP-related securities are generally considered interest-rate sensitive investments. During periods of interest rate volatility, these investments may not provide attractive returns. Depending on the state of interest rates in general, the use of MLPs or MLP-related securities could enhance or harm the overall performance of the Fund.

 

MLP Tax Risk. MLPs do not pay U.S. federal income tax at the partnership level, subject to the application of certain partnership audit rules. Instead, each partner is allocated a share of the partnership’s income, gains, losses, deductions and expenses. A change in current tax law or in the underlying business mix of a given MLP could result in an MLP being treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which would result in such MLP being required to pay U.S. federal income tax on its taxable income. The classification of an MLP as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes would have the effect of reducing the amount of cash available for distribution by the MLP. Thus, if any of the MLPs owned by the Fund were treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it could result in a reduction of the value of your investment in the Fund and lower income, as compared to an MLP that is not taxed as a corporation.
MLP Tax Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]
MLP Tax Risk. MLPs do not pay U.S. federal income tax at the partnership level, subject to the application of certain partnership audit rules. Instead, each partner is allocated a share of the partnership’s income, gains, losses, deductions and expenses. A change in current tax law or in the underlying business mix of a given MLP could result in an MLP being treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which would result in such MLP being required to pay U.S. federal income tax on its taxable income. The classification of an MLP as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes would have the effect of reducing the amount of cash available for distribution by the MLP. Thus, if any of the MLPs owned by the Fund were treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it could result in a reduction of the value of your investment in the Fund and lower income, as compared to an MLP that is not taxed as a corporation.
Model and Data Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Model and Data Risk. Like all quantitative analysis, the investment models utilized by the Index carry the risk that the ranking system, valuation results and predictions might be based on one or more incorrect assumptions, insufficient historical data, inadequate design, or may not be suitable for the purpose intended. In addition, models may not perform as intended for many reasons, including errors, omissions, imperfections or malfunctions. Because models are usually constructed based on data supplied by third parties, the success of the Index’s use of such models is dependent on the accuracy and reliability of the supplied data. Historical data inputs may be subject to revision or corrections, which may diminish data reliability and quality of predictive results. Changing and unforeseen market dynamics could also lead to a decrease in the short-term or long-term effectiveness of a model. Models may lose their predictive validity and incorrectly forecast future market behavior and asset prices, leading to potential losses. No assurance can be given that a model will be successful under all or any market conditions.

 

Non-Correlation Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Non-Correlation Risk. The Fund’s return may not match the return of the Index for a number of reasons, including the following:

 

The Fund incurs operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities, especially when rebalancing the Fund’s securities holdings to reflect changes in the composition of the Index.

 

The performance of the Fund and the Index may vary due to asset valuation differences: the Fund may fair value certain of the securities it holds and, to the extent it calculates its NAV based on fair value prices, the Fund’s ability to track the Index may be adversely affected.

 

There may be differences between the Fund’s portfolio and the Index as a result of legal restrictions, cost or liquidity constraints. For example, the Index is not subject to the tax diversification requirements to which the Fund must adhere; so the Fund may be required to deviate its investments from the securities and relative weightings of the Index. Similarly, the Fund may not invest in certain securities included in the Index due to liquidity constraints. Liquidity constraints also may delay the Fund’s purchase or sale of securities included in the Index.

 

The investment activities of one or more of the Advisor’s affiliates for their proprietary accounts and for client accounts may also adversely impact the Fund’s ability to track the Index. For example, in regulated industries, and in corporate and regulatory ownership definitions, there may be limits on the aggregate amount of investment by affiliated investors that may not be exceeded, or that may not be exceeded without the grant of a license or other regulatory or corporate consent or, if exceeded, may cause the Advisor, the Fund or other client accounts to suffer disadvantages or business restrictions. As a result, the Fund may be restricted in its ability to acquire particular securities due to positions held by the Advisor’s affiliates.

 

Passive Investment Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Passive Investment Risk. The Fund is not actively managed and may be affected by a general decline in market segments related to the Index. The Fund invests in securities included in, or representative of securities included in, the Index, regardless of their investment merits. The Fund does not take defensive positions under any market conditions, including conditions that are adverse to the performance of the Fund, unless such defensive positions are also taken by the Index.

 

Preferred Stock Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Preferred Stock Risk. Typically, a rise in interest rates causes a decline in the value of preferred stocks. Preferred stocks are also subject to credit and default risk, which is the possibility that an issuer of preferred stock will fail to make its dividend payment. Issuers of preferred stocks may redeem their securities prior to maturity at a price below their current market value, which would negatively impact the investment return of such preferred stocks.

 

Prepayment Risks [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Prepayment Risk. The Fund may invest in debt securities that may be paid off early when the issuer of a debt security can repay the principal prior to a security’s maturity. If interest rates are falling, the Fund may have to reinvest the unanticipated proceeds at lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in the Fund’s income.

Real Estate/REIT Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Real Estate/REIT Risk. The Fund’s investments in REITs are subject to the same risks as direct investments in real estate, including sensitivity to general economic downturns and the volatility of local real estate markets. REITs may have limited financial resources and their securities may trade infrequently and in limited volume, and thus they may be more volatile than other securities. The liquidity of REITs may change dramatically over time.

 

Sampling Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Sampling Risk. The sampling approach, if used, could result in the Fund holding a smaller number of securities than are in the Index. As a result, an adverse development with an issuer of securities held by the Fund could result in a greater decline in NAV or market price than would be the case if the Fund held all of the securities in the Index. To the extent the assets in the Fund are smaller, these risks will be greater.

 

Tracking Error Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Tracking Error Risk. Tracking error is the divergence of the Fund’s performance from that of the Index. Tracking error may occur because of imperfect correlation between the Fund’s holdings of portfolio securities and those in the Index, pricing differences, the Fund’s holding of cash, differences on timing of the accrual of dividends, changes to the Index, transaction and financing costs related to the use of derivatives or the need to meet various regulatory requirements. This risk may be heightened during times of increased market volatility or other unusual market conditions. Tracking error also may result because the Fund incurs fees and expenses, while the Index does not.

 

Underlying Fund Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Underlying Fund Risk. Other investment companies, including ETFs (“Underlying Funds”), in which the Fund invests are subject to investment advisory and other expenses, which will be indirectly paid by the Fund. As a result, the cost of investing in the Fund will be higher than the cost of investing directly in the Underlying Funds and may be higher than other funds that invest directly in stocks and bonds. Each of the Underlying Funds is subject to its own specific risks and is also subject to the following additional risks: (i) the ETF’s market price may be less than its net asset value; (ii) an active market for the ETF may not develop or be maintained; and (iii) market trading in the ETF may be illiquid or even halted under certain circumstances. Certain additional risks of investing in ETFs are described below:

 

Net Asset Value and Market Price Risk: The market value of ETF shares may differ from their net asset value. This difference in price may be due to the fact that the supply and demand in the market for fund shares at any point in time is not always identical to the supply and demand in the market for the underlying basket of securities. Accordingly, there may be times when shares trade at a premium or discount to net asset value.
Net Asset Value and Market Price Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]
Net Asset Value and Market Price Risk: The market value of ETF shares may differ from their net asset value. This difference in price may be due to the fact that the supply and demand in the market for fund shares at any point in time is not always identical to the supply and demand in the market for the underlying basket of securities. Accordingly, there may be times when shares trade at a premium or discount to net asset value.

 

Utilities Sector Risk [Member]  
Prospectus [Line Items]  
Risk [Text Block]

Utilities Sector Risk. Companies in the utilities sector are subject to a variety of factors that may adversely affect their business or operations, including high interest costs associated with capital construction and improvement programs; difficulty in raising adequate capital in periods of high inflation and unsettled capital markets; governmental regulation of rates the issuer can charge to customers; costs associated with compliance with environmental and other regulations; effects of economic slowdowns and surplus capacity; increased competition; and potential losses resulting from a developing deregulatory environment.