ATR Asset Management (ATRAM), the Philippines’ largest independent wealth manager, is partnering with a leading financial technology giant to open its Nasdaq-linked feeder fund to retail investors, aiming to capitalize on the growing domestic appetite for foreign technology stocks and regular dividend yields.

On the sidelines of the launch, Andrew Caw, ATRAM Managing Director, said the firm is currently integrating the ATRAM Nasdaq Equity Income Feeder Fund into a major digital investment platform.

Caw noted that while the vehicle has already secured ₱3.5 billion from institutional and high-net-worth clients, this digital partnership will lower the entry barrier to ₱1,000 for retail users. The fund is expected to go live on the mobile app by the second half of this year.

The move comes as Philippine investors look for ways to hedge against local market volatility by diversifying into global innovation hubs. The ATRAM fund provides a dual-track strategy: it maintains exposure to the Nasdaq-100 Index while generating a monthly distribution for shareholders.

This is achieved through a “covered call” mechanism, where the fund sells call options on the index to earn premiums. This strategy essentially converts market price swings into immediate cash flow, providing a buffer during periods when technology stocks trade sideways or face downward pressure.

Key Difference: Traditional equity funds typically rely on capital appreciation, which can be elusive during periods of high interest rates or geopolitical tension. By contrast, this ATRAM vehicle seeks to monetize volatility itself.

The master fund for this structure is the JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income Active UCITS ETF. That target fund has historically delivered an annual income yield between 9% and 11%, with distributions paid out on a monthly basis.

Ayaz Ebrahim, Chief Executive Officer for Singapore and Southeast Asia at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, said the partnership addresses a specific demand in the Philippine market for “smoother” equity experiences. He noted that covered call strategies have become a cornerstone of the firm’s global exchange-traded fund suite as investors seek alternatives to pure growth plays.

“Investors today are no longer choosing between growth and income—they want both,” said Miguel Liboro, Head of Products at ATRAM Trust Corp.

Liboro added that by converting volatility into cash, the fund encourages retail participants to remain invested through full market cycles rather than exiting during temporary downturns. However, ATRAM cautioned that while the strategy offers a more stable return profile, upside participation may be capped during exceptionally strong market rallies due to the nature of the option overlays.