Global ETF Advisors is an independent advisory firm specializing in exchange traded funds (ETFs), indexing, and Blue Economy initiatives. Drawing on decades of experience across financial markets and innovation ecosystems, we work closely with leadership teams to define strategy, accelerate growth, and navigate change.

Our mission is to bring people, knowledge, and capital together across disciplines to help turn meaningful ideas into real opportunities that benefit investors, communities, and future generations.

Richard Keary is the Founder of Global ETF Advisors, an independent advisory firm focused on ETFs, indexing, and Blue Economy initiatives. He advises financial institutions, asset managers, and innovators on strategy, product development, and growth in an evolving capital markets landscape.

Over a career spanning more than three decades, Richard has been deeply involved in the development and expansion of ETFs and index-based investing, bringing a combination of institutional knowledge and forward-looking insight. His work today centers on helping leadership teams navigate complex strategic decisions, position investment strategies for differentiation, and accelerate the path from innovation to market.

A key area of focus is the intersection of capital markets and the Blue Economy. Richard works to bridge the gap between emerging ocean-related opportunities and scalable investment solutions, helping bring greater credibility and clarity to this evolving space.

Richard is engaged in the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Wilmington, NC focusing on connecting ideas, capital, and execution. He volunteers at University of North Carolina , Wilmington as  the Entrepreneur-in Residence, Blue Finance for the Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE). 
He helped create the UNCW Blue Economy Index (Bloomberg: Blueeco). The index is designed to measure the size and scope of the global Blue Economy.
He serves in the  CIE’s  Mentor Group and in their Alliance for All Blue, an organization dedicated to establishing Wilmington and SE North Carolina as a leader in sustainable ocean-based economic growth.

Richard is a Co-Founder of The ETF BILD Project (Business Insights and Leadership Discussion) an organization designed to be a catalyst for discussions on the pressing issues facing business leaders in the ETF and Indexing industry. www.etfbild.com

Currently, Richard is a Founding Advisor Board Member for Carry Venture Capital and is an Independent Trustee for NEOS ETF Trust and TEMA ETF Trust.

Previously he served as Managing Director, Capital Markets and Head of the ETF Listing Business at the Nasdaq Stock Exchange. I held various other leadership roles on the trading desks including Shearson/Lehman Brothers and CITI, and was SVP, Head of Trading at Ladenberg Thalmann. 

​Global ETF Advisors
​strategic advisory for etfs, indexing, and the blue economy

   Richard Keary

     Principal/Founder

        Principal/Founder