State Street Global Advisors Revolutionizes Advisor Education with an ETF Education Solution that Fills Knowledge Gap for Investors

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

State Street Global Advisors (SSgA), the asset management arm of State Street Corporation STT announced today the launch of ETF Ed, an interactive exchange traded fund (ETF) education learning center. ETF Ed is a new curriculum at SPDR University, SSgA's existing educational site for advisors, and helps investment professionals and their clients advance their understanding of ETFs, their benefits and their many roles in portfolios.

“With the ETF universe expanding rapidly, investors have questions about trends and how new products can be applied and implemented in a portfolio,” said Jim Ross, executive vice president and global head of SPDR ETFs at SSgA. “What is revolutionary about ETF Ed is that it evaluates where the knowledge gaps are for the investment professional and creates a very customized syllabus that helps fill those gaps. It is self-paced and designed to guide the user through various lessons to develop and strengthen their ETF expertise. It's a resource that's unlike any other in the industry.”

The program offers a short ETF knowledge assessment that explores an advisor's knowledge of a range of topics including total cost of ownership, index methodology, liquidity, asset allocation and product structure. Following the assessment, users receive a customized learning program that is designed to advance their knowledge of everything from ETF basics and mechanics to portfolio construction. Through a series of self-paced courses, from What is an ETF? and How Does An ETF Work?, to Tactical Uses of ETFs and Optimizing ETF Execution, advisors can challenge themselves, track their progress and then apply their new skills to investment portfolio construction.

In addition to enabling the courses, videos and charts to be shared, ETF Ed offers investment professionals an opportunity to earn Continuing Education (CE) credits. For more information on ETF Ed, visit http://spdru.com/etfed.

SSgA manages more than $413 Billion in SPDR ETF assets worldwide (as of December 31, 2013)* and is one of the largest ETF providers globally.

About SPDR Exchange Traded Funds

SPDR ETFs are a comprehensive family spanning an array of international and domestic asset classes. SPDR ETFs are managed by SSgA Funds Management, Inc., a registered investment adviser and wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Bank and Trust Company. The funds provide professional investors with the flexibility to select investments that are precisely aligned to their investment strategy. Recognized as industry pioneer, State Street created the first US listed ETF in 1993 (SPDR S&P 500® – Ticker SPY). Since then, we've sustained our place as an industry innovator through the introduction of many ground-breaking products, including first-to-market launches with gold, international real estate, international fixed income and sector ETFs. For more information, visit www.spdrs.com.

About State Street Global Advisors

State Street Global Advisors (SSgA) is a global leader in asset management. The firm is relied on by sophisticated investors worldwide for its disciplined investment process, powerful global investment platform and access to every major asset class, capitalization range and style. SSgA is the asset management business of State Street Corporation, one of the world's leading providers of financial services to institutional investors.

About SPDR University

Brought to you by State Street's family of SPDR ETFs, SPDR University ( SPDR U – www.spdru.com ) provides online education built exclusively for investment professionals. State Street created SPDR U to meet the growing demand among investment advisors for quick "anywhere, anytime" access to high-quality educational content. SPDR University provides you with up-to-date market analysis, actionable investment ideas and best practices for managing your business.

*This AUM includes the assets of the SPDR Gold Trust (approx. $30.8 billion as of December 31, 2013), for which State Street Global Markets, LLC, an affiliate of State Street Global Advisors, serves as the marketing agent.

ETFs trade like stocks, are subject to investment risk, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below the ETFs net asset value. Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce returns.

"SPDR" is a registered trademark of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC ("S&P") and has been licensed for use by State Street Corporation. STANDARD & POOR'S, S&P, S&P 500 and S&P MIDCAP 400 are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC No financial product offered by State Street Corporation or its affiliates is sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P or its affiliates, and S&P and its affiliates make no representation, warranty or condition regarding the advisability of buying, selling or holding units/shares in such products. Further limitations and important information that could affect investors' rights are described in the prospectus for the applicable product.

Distributor: State Street Global Markets, LLC, member FINRA, SIPC, a wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation. References to State Street may include State Street Corporation and its affiliates. Certain State Street affiliates provide services and receive fees from the SPDR ETFs. ALPS Distributors, Inc., a registered broker-dealer, is distributor for SPDR S&P 500, SPDR S&P MidCap 400 and SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average, and all unit investment trusts. ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. is distributor for Select Sector SPDRs. ALPS Distributors, Inc. and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. are not affiliated with State Street Global Markets, LLC.

Before investing, consider the funds investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. To obtain a prospectus or summary prospectus which contains this and other information, call 1-866-787-2257 or visit www.spdrs.com. Read it carefully.

Expiration date: 03/31/2015

CORP-0962