MutualFundWire.com: Earnest Powers a $59B-AUM Ally's 4 New ETFs

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Monday, May 12, 2025

Earnest Powers a $59B-AUM Ally's 4 New ETFs

The folks at a $58.79-billion-AUM (as of March 31) fund firm in the Midwest and a familiar, $50-billion-AUM boutique in the Southeast are teaming up to launch a quartet of active ETFs.

Last week, Kristof Gleich, president and chief investment officer of Harbor Capital Advisors, Inc. [profile], and Paul Viera, founder and CEO of Earnest Partners LLC, unveiled the launch of four funds:

the Harbor Mid Cap Core ETF (EPMB on the NYSE Arca, Inc.);

the Harbor Mid Cap Value ETF (EPMV);

the Harbor SMID Cap Core ETF (EPSB); and

the Harbor SMID Cap Value ETF (EPSV).

Chicago-based Harbor serves as investment advisor to all four new ETFs. Atlanta-based Earnest serves as subadvisor, and Viera serves as PM.

The inception date for all four new Harbor Earnest funds was May 1, and they each come with an expense ratio of 88 basis points. As of today (May 12), EPSV has $3.108 million in AUM, EPSB has $3.054 million, EPMV has $3.567 million, and EPMB has $3.548 million.

Gleich lauds Earnest as a manager and highights the employee-owned Georgia firm's longstanding subadvisory relationship with Harbor on the traditional mutual fund side of the business.

"Over more than 20 years, I've observed how they operate across very different market conditions — and their consistency, depth of thinking, and long-term discipline stand out," Gleich states. "We're excited to bring that approach to more investors in a tax-efficient ETF format."

Viera puts the quadruple ETF launch in the context of recent market volatility and Earnest's focus on "traits that drive enduring performance."

"Uncertainty doesn't obscure what matters — it reveals it," Viera states. "At EARNEST Partners, we focus on those keystone traits — resilient business models, strong capital discipline, and long-term decision-making. That focus has made a tremendous difference for our clients and for us."

EPMB, EPMV, EPSB, and EPSV are actively managed series of the Harbor ETF Trust. The new ETFs' other service providers include:

Ernst & Young LLP as independent accounting firm;

ACA's Foreside Fund Services, LLC as distributor; and

State Street Bank and Trust Company as custodian, dividend disbursing agent, and transfer agent.