In this podcast, the hosts discuss the surprising fact that Invesco's QQQ does not generate revenue for the company. They explore the structure of the QQQ ETF and its high expense ratio. The podcast also delves into the decline of unit investment trusts (UITs) and Invesco's unique situation with QQQ. The possibility of a shareholder vote and the history of QQQ are also discussed. Additionally, the hosts compare QQQ and QQQM ETFs, highlighting liquidity and the top stocks in the Qs.

It sounds too good to be true. An exchange-traded fund that is 100% protected from any losses but still gets to participate in stock market gains? While there is a catch and a trade-off involved, that is pretty much what the Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF—2 Yr to July 2025 (TJUL) sets out to do in a strategy using options. On this episode of Trillions we speak to the masterminds behind this new ETF, Innovator Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Bruce Bond and Chief Investment Officer Graham Day. We talk about how the ETF works, what the trade-offs are, who it’s targeted at and the coming competition in the “buffer” ETF category.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the third quarter and exchange-traded fund investors have finally gotten their FOMO bug back. While they’re currently plowing money into equities, how long can the good times last? This is just one of many trends to watch in the second half.  On this episode of Trillions, Eric Balchunas and Joel Weber speak with Athanasios Psarofagis, a Bloomberg Intelligence ETF analyst, about five big stories to watch in the third and fourth quarters of 2023. These include the Bitcoin ETF race, the dethroning of cash, the new “share class” to know about and how active’s rise is upended ETF issuers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the past decade, about 30 spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund applications have been swatted aside by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The outlook appeared dire. And then a surprise filing by BlackRock Inc. in mid-June seemed to change the mood. A rush of new applications and amendments to existing proposals soon followed. And Ophelia Snyder—co-founder and president of 21Shares, who had re-filed a spot Bitcoin ETF application with ARK Invest in April—was in the mix again. On this episode of Trillions, Eric Balchunas and Joel Weber dive into the never-ending race for a Bitcoin ETF, joined by Snyder and James Seyffart, an ETF analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence. The group discusses the new attention on market surveillance, what Coinbase’s involvement means, the odds of any of these applications actually getting approved—and the size of the potential market. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dalia Blass has a rare perspective on the exchange-traded fund industry. Now a lawyer at Sullivan & Cromwell, she recently left BlackRock, where she was head of external affairs. Before that, Blass did multiple tours of duty with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, most recently as the director of investment management.  On this episode of Trillions, Blass joins Eric Balchunas and Joel Weber to discuss the regulator’s role in innovation, funds and regulation; the politicization of environmental, social and governance investing; and what’s next for crypto, artificial intelligence and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dave Mazza, chief strategy officer for Roundhill, and Rebecca Sin, an ETF analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence, discuss the hype versus reality of AI in the ETF industry, exploring approaches and challenges faced by AI-powered funds. They also explore the impact of AI on ETFs, identifying companies with unique AI exposure, discussing the potential of AI in interviews and its influence in the tech sector, and sharing their favorite ETF tickers.

The S&P 500 Index is up 9%, the Nasdaq 100 has jumped 25% and Bitcoin-mining stocks are up more than 100%—and yet no one seems to care. At least that’s the case among exchange-traded fund investors who have put virtually no money into US equities. It’s what we’re calling the FOMO drought. What’s behind this odd phenomenon, and what can end it? Joel and Eric sit down with Bloomberg Intelligence ETF analyst Athanasios Psarofagis to discuss several spots in the flows, such as international, thematic, leveraged ETFs and money market funds, that can help offer some clues as to why we are seeing such a flow-less rally in US stocks. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Exchange-traded funds could go from $9 trillion in global assets today to $30 trillion in the next decade as investors far and wide continue to migrate from mutual funds. This is the prediction that Brown Brothers Harriman reached in their 10th Annual ETF Survey last month.   On this episode, Joel and Eric speak with Shawn McNinch, Global ETF Head at BBH, to pore over the survey, including questions on how ETFs are selected, what areas investors want to see more products covering and the differences between the US and other regions.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The hottest new trade is the most boring asset class: money market mutual funds. Once regarded as a no-yield option investors would only use to park cash in a crisis, they now yield more than 4.5%. In the first quarter alone, investors flocked to them to the tune of half a trillion dollars. But how do they work? What do they invest in? And why do investors use them instead of similar-yielding, cheaper Treasury exchange-traded funds? We answer all these questions and more on the latest episode of Trillions, which features Nafis Smith, principal and head of Vanguard’s taxable money markets, as well as Bloomberg Senior Editor Mike Regan and reporter Katie Greifeld. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first exchange-traded fund television show ever created, Bloomberg’s ETF IQ, just finished its first year on the air. On this episode, we talk to its anchors, Matt Miller and Katie Greifeld, about what goes into making the program, some of its highlights and recurring themes. These include the resurgence of active management, ESG’s struggles, investing amid rising interest rates and the wild world of indie issuers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.