Hot or not: why do ETFs split opinion?

Exchange traded funds (ETFs) offer both good and bad news for advisers grappling with the challenge of how to offer value after the Retail Distribution Review (RDR) watershed. The good news is that, because ETFs tend to be low-cost and commission-free, they are a viable option in an investment world which is increasingly price-sensitive and rejects or prohibits commission. I cannot think of an occasion where anyone has ever paid a penny to an adviser in commission on an ETF, so they are therefore RDR-ready. The bad news is that many advisers are confused, indifferent or even slightly ...