Trillions

The idea of using leverage to layer one investment return, say equities, on top of another, say a managed futures strategy, is something institutional investors have been doing for decades under the term “portable alpha.” Now a suite of young, fast-growing exchange-traded funds have come along—they’re called “return stacking” ETFs—and they’re offering such layering to the masses. On this episode, Joel and Eric speak with Corey Hoffstein, chief executive and chief information officer of Newfound Research and one of the masterminds behind the Return Stacked ETF suite. They discuss how these ETFs work, where they fit in a portfolio and why this is a more responsible use of leverage than the kind that blew up the market in 2008. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The discussion delves into common ETF questions from listeners, shedding light on trading mechanics and the potential for ETFs in retirement plans. It highlights cost-effective innovations and emerging strategies like return stacking and buffer ETFs. The podcast also touches on the cultural trend of 'VTI and chill,' revealing how younger investors approach ETFs casually. Additionally, it emphasizes the shift from traditional mutual funds to ETFs, inviting ongoing audience interaction and engagement with financial topics.

Bitcoin exchange-traded funds, which were finally introduced earlier this year after intense regulatory scrutiny, have already become some of the most successful ETF launches ever. For months it seemed that spot ETFs for Ether, the second-largest cryptocurrency, might linger in a similar purgatory — and then, after some back and forth with issuers, regulators finally blessed them. About 10 products began trading in mid-July; they've seen healthy inflows, though Bitcoin ETFs were in a different league. On this episode of Trillions, Eric Balchunas and Joel Weber welcome stacy-marie ishmael, an executive editor at Bloomberg News who oversees crypto, digital payments and cross-asset coverage, to the podcast. They discuss the differences between Bitcoin and Ether, what happened during the approval process, how the various Ether ETFs compare, what we've learned since their launch, and what this might mean for future crypto ETFs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nvidia's ascent into one of the world's biggest companies was as fast as it was dramatic. The company's startling rise has sparked new ETFs to launch and propelled others to record heights. Nvidia's dominance is also changing indexes and weightings, which can have a dramatic impact on investors—especially when a rebalance gets a little wild. On this episode of Trillions, Eric Balchunas and Joel Weber speak with Athanasios Psarofagis of Bloomberg Intelligence and Emily Graffeo of Bloomberg News about the myriad ways Nvidia is impacting the ETF universe. They also reveal which ETFs have outperformed without a boost from Nvidia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn about the rise of single-stock ETFs like the 2X Nvidia ETF, gaining popularity for speculating and fun. Explore the concept, leveraging in finance, diverse user base, trading volume, income strategies, regulatory limitations, and ETF innovation in this engaging podcast.

So far, this has been a banner year for exchange-traded funds. The S&P 500 is at record highs, inflows keep soaring and investors are taking more risk. BlackRock’s Bitcoin offering even became the most successful ETF launch ever. On this episode, Eric Balchunas and Joel Weber discuss the most noteworthy themes and trends of the past six months with Todd Rosenbluth and Cinthia Murphy of VettaFi. They review what the inflows reveal, how various sectors are performing and which products and issuers have been the biggest winners and losers. They also talk about what to watch for in the second half of the year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the first time in its 49-year history, Vanguard has chosen a chief executive from outside the company. His name is Salim Ramji, who previously served as head of BlackRock’s global exchange-traded fund business. The move comes as Vanguard continues to lead the industry in flows, but the giant has other challenges—such as customer service. How much should we expect Ramji to change, or leave the the same, in the House that Bogle Built? On this episode of Trillions, Joel Weber and Eric Balchunas are joined by reporter Silla Brush to answer all of these questions and look at the broader topics surrounding the constantly changing landscape of asset management. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robert Mitchnick, Head of digital assets for BlackRock, discusses the success of the iShares Bitcoin Trust launch, reaching $20 billion in assets. The podcast explores BlackRock's journey into Bitcoin, addressing client frustration, and filing for a Bitcoin ETF. They also delve into Bitcoin's role as a store of value asset, rebalancing investments, and the potential benefits of tokenization in revolutionizing investment assets.

While most of the money flowing into exchange-traded funds goes into the cheaper ones, investors are willing to pay up for certain things. And after all, ETF issuers have to pay the bills somehow. Figuring out how to price an ETF so it’s both appealing to investors and generates revenue is one of the more unsung arts of the industry.   On this episode, Joel and Eric speak with Athanasios Psarofagis, an ETF analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, and Bloomberg reporter Katie Greifeld about BI’s recent ETF revenue study, which includes a breakdown of fee income generated by issuers and individual products. The conversation also touches on whether the rise of passive investing has impacted markets in the way some observers say. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Exploring the ETF industry awards, winners include Fidelity and Vantis. Categories range from Best New US Equity ETF to Lifetime Achievement Award. Dive into Round Hill Magnificent Seven ETF strategy and C.L.F success in small caps. Hosts share favorite ETF tickers like hack and Vanik HODL.