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You are here: Home / Archives for ETFs

523: Why Bond Investing Is Easier Than Ever

May 8, 2025 by Camden Stein · Updated May 8, 2025

Discover how bond market ETFs have transformed investing — making bonds easier, cheaper, and more accessible than ever. We also explore how the bond market’s very composition has evolved. Show Notes The total return strategy in bonds is far from dead by James Bianco—The Financial Times What I Learned in My First Year Managing Fixed-Income by Jim Bianco—Bianco Research Advisors ETFs are eating the bond market by Robin Wigglesworth and Will Schmitt—The Financial … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: active bond funds, active ETFs, bond duration, bonds, ETFs, fixed income

467: Unraveling the Truth About ETFs: Benefits, Analysis, and the Indexing Bubble Myth

February 21, 2024 by David Stein · Updated February 29, 2024

How the ETF market is changing, why ETFs should be your preferred investment vehicle, and how to analyze ETFs to generate better investment performance. Topics covered include: How large have fund flows been away from active mutual funds and into ETFs How big are the largest ETF families and how has their market share grown Why the rise of active ETFs blurs the distinction between active and passive investing Why there doesn't appear to be an indexing price bubble, but the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: active ETFs, active management, active vs passive investing, ETF sponsors, ETFs, indexing, passive investing

459 Plus: TIPS Liquidity, a new MBS ETF, Closed-end Fund ETFs, and MLP Data

December 14, 2023 by David Stein · Updated January 18, 2024

In Plus episode 459, we discuss who is on the other side of the TIPS trade. We analyze the Simplify MBS ETF (MTBA) and learn what mortgage-backed TBAs are. We review the performance and risk of ETFs that invest in closed-end funds. Finally, we explain why MLP data is no longer included in the monthly investment conditions and strategy report. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Money Plus Tagged With: CEFS, closed-end funds, ETFs, MLPs, mortgage-backed securities, MTBA, TIPS, Treasury Inflation Protected Securities

426: Which is Best – Active or Passive, ETFs or Funds?

March 30, 2023 by David Stein · Updated May 10, 2023

David has a fascinating discussion with Kristof Gleich about active management, indexing, and how ETFs and mutual funds really work. Topics covered include: Should individual investors even try to select active mutual funds Is there an indexing bubble Why are there so many new ETFs Should we be worried about an ETF flash crash What do ETF market makers and authorized participants do Do SEC yields for international equity mutual funds and ETFs reflect the impact of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: active ETFs, active management, active vs passive investing, authorized participants, ETFs, market makers, mutual funds

398 Plus: Immediate Annuities, Mortality Credits, Leveraged ETFs, and Valuing Pensions

August 20, 2022 by David Stein · Updated September 7, 2022

In Plus episode 398, we analyze how much immediate annuity payments have increased as interest rates have risen. We review why payouts on immediate annuities are higher than on a bond ladder. We consider why some leveraged ETFs and ETNs survive and others don't when markets decline. Finally, we look at whether pensions can be considered part of one's net worth, and how to value them. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: bond ladder, ETFs, immediate annuities, leveraged ETF, mortality credits, pensions, Social Security

387 Plus: BlockFi Trade, I Bonds, College Savings, and Comparing Funds and ETFs

May 21, 2022 by David Stein · Updated May 27, 2022

In Plus episode 387, David explains why he closed his BlockFi Interest Account. We discuss how the level of real rates can help determine whether to buy a Series I Savings bond or a Treasury Inflation Protection Security. We consider how to invest college savings when the student is approaching the time when the funds need to be used. Finally, we look at expenses, tax efficiency, and tracking error to determine which of four S&P 500 ETFs/funds are preferred. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: BlockFi, college savings, ETFs, savings bonds, Series I savings bonds, TIPS

383 Plus: Analyzing ETFs, the Debt Cycle, and Investing When Retiring Outside Your Home Country

April 23, 2022 by David Stein · Updated May 7, 2022

In Plus Episode 383, we review the criteria for selecting and comparing ETFs. We discuss how to invest near-term living expenses when retired outside one's home country, particularly given U.S. tax laws on Passive Foreign Investment Companies. Finally, we analyze the current debt cycle and whether that should change how we invest. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: debt cycle, ETF analysis, ETFs, PFICs, retirement investing

368 Plus: Exchange Traded Commodities, Active ETF Families, and the Comptroller of Currency

December 11, 2021 by David Stein · Updated December 24, 2021

In Plus Episode 368, we explore how exchange-traded commodities compare with commodity exchange-traded funds and commodity exchange-traded notes. We consider less aggressive actively managed exchange-traded funds to complement the more aggressive ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK). Finally, we explore what the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of Currency does. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: ARKK, Comptroller of Currency, ETCs, ETFs, ETNs, exchange traded commodities, OCC

362: Should You Invest in a Bitcoin ETF?

October 20, 2021 by David Stein · Updated October 26, 2021

Why the new U.S.-based Bitcoin ETFs are a bad idea and will underperform Bitcoin. Topics covered include: What fund and ETF options are available for investing in BitcoinWhy the U.S. has only authorized Bitcoin ETFs that invest in Bitcoin futures even though there are closed-end funds that hold Bitcoin directlyWhat is there a regulatory battle surrounding cryptocurrencies?How closed-end funds differ from ETFsHow Bitcoin futures workWhy Bitcoin ETFs that invest in Bitcoin futures will … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: Bitcoin, Bitcoin futures, cryptocurrency, ETFs, futures

334 Plus: A New Inflation ETF, Inverse ETFs, and Excess CAPE Yields

March 13, 2021 by David Stein · Updated October 4, 2021

In Plus Episode 334 for the week of March 13, 2021, we analyze the Horizon Kinetics Inflation Beneficiaries ETF (INFL) and how it seeks to protect against inflation including holding royalty trusts. We look at how inverse ETFs work and under what circumstances might they be used. Finally, we analyze earnings yields relative to bond yields including the Excess CAPE Yield, and what conclusions can we draw when stock earnings yields are higher than bond yields and vice versa. 334 … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: CAPE, ETFs, excess CAPE yield, exchange-traded funds, INFL, inflation, inflation hedge, inverse ETFs, royalty trusts

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