ETF CLONE: PIMCO plans a March 1 launch of an exchange-traded fund version of its Total Return bond mutual fund, run by star manager Bill Gross. PIMCO announced its plans this week, nine months after filing an application with regulators.

FUND GIANT: Total Return is the world's largest mutual fund, with $244 billion in assets.

FUND VS. ETF: For the most part, the ETF and mutual fund will invest in the same diversified portfolio of bonds. But the ETF version will charge individual investors lower fees. There will also be structural differences in how investors buy and sell shares.