7/18/25 - Private Assets in 401(k) Plans; Ether ETFs; Powell Rumors

This week on Exchange Traded Fridays, etf.com Senior Analyst Sumit Roy sits down with the etf.com team to unpack a whirlwind of market action.  From crypto ETFs going mainstream and a surge in leveraged fund launches to the market views of investing legends Ray Dalio and Warren Buffett and a jaw-dropping collapse in copper prices, you don’t want to miss this exciting episode!   Stories Referenced Crypto ETFs’ Unstoppable Move Into the Mainstream by Ron Day Leveraged ETF Launches Leap as Investors Embrace Risk by Ron Day GLD, IBIT in Focus as Dalio Ups Gold, Bitcoin Exposure by Kent Thune, CFP OMAH Trends as ‘Buffett Indicator’ Flashes Warning Signs by Kent Thune, CFP Copper ETF Plunges After Trump's 50% Tariff Executive Order by DJ Shaw

This week, the gang at etf.com dives into earnings from Tesla Inc. (TSLA) and Alphabet Inc. (GOOG), reflects on how the Mag 7 stocks have pushed the rest of the S&P 500 to second-class status and discusses a bold statement from Ric Edelman, who says the 60/40 portfolio strategy is dead. Finally, we take note of the giddiness around Ethereum and climb the wall of worry as stocks reach record highs.

This week, President Donald Trump floated the idea of allowing private assets to U.S. retirement accounts and once again threatened to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Meanwhile, cryptocurrencies are on a roll, as large Ether ETF inflows coincide with "Crypto Week."  The etf.com editorial team parses what all this means for ETF investors and plays a round of "Flirt, Marry or Kill" in the latest edition of Exchange Traded Fridays. Stories Referenced ETFs to Play Big Role as Private Equity Arrives in 401(k)s by Ron Day Nvidia Breaks Out, but Leveraged ETF NVDL Lags Behind by Sumit Roy

The editorial team takes a closer look at this week's top stories, starting with the continued rise of Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) and related ETFs, and a surprising analysis of the Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF (MAGS). We also delve into which ETFs to avoid during the second half of 2025 and why you won't see a Vanguard crypto ETF anytime soon. Plus, don't miss a great interview with Alex Morris, CEO of F/m Investments. Stories Referenced MAGS: Mag 7 ETF Lags as Market Hits New Record Highs by Sumit Roy 5 Sector ETFs to Avoid for H2 2025 by Kent Thune, CFP Vanguard CEO Throws Cold Water on Crypto ETF Speculation By Ron Day Nvidia ETFs Rally as Chip Giant Hits Record Valuation by DJ Shaw

This week, the editorial team examines oil's surprising resilience to higher prices amid the conflict in the Middle East, and we look at the growing risks associated with certain types of new ETFs. Plus, stick around for an interview with Scott Davis, head of ETFs at Capital Group. We're off Friday, July 4th, but we'll return the following Friday with a fresh episode.  Stories Referenced Oil ETFs Down Despite Surging Middle East Tensions by Sumit Roy Crude Oil Price Volatility Offers a Lesson for ETF Investors by Kent Thune, CFP New ETFs Arrive With Fewer Stocks, More Risk By Ron Day

This week, the etf.com team published a special series of articles focused on fixed income—specifically, fixed-income ETFs. And in today's podcast, each member of the team discusses what they learned while writing their story. Every story examines a different area of the bond market, such as international bond ETFs or active bond ETFs, and we talk about the most interesting findings from each. Plus, stick around for an interview with Matt Brill, senior portfolio manager and head of North American investment grade credit at Invesco.  Stories Referenced Active Bond ETF Assets Surge Amid Market Volatility by DJ Shaw Seeking Safety: Ultra-Short-Term Bond ETFs Quietly Surge by Sumit Roy 5 Best International Bond ETFs for 2025  by Kent Thune, CFP How Are the 5 Biggest Fixed-Income ETFs Performing in 2025? By Ron Day

This week, the etf.com editorial team has an open discussion about the future of exchange-traded funds. To put it in perspective, there are more than 4,000 ETFs already in existence, with more being launched weekly at a record pace.  In the United States, ETF assets recently topped $11 trillion, but we've noticed a trend. Many new issues are single-stock, leveraged or inverse ETFs. Meanwhile, many other thematic ETF feel very close to what's already out there. With that in mind, we discuss whether the ETF industry is at an inflection point and where it might go from here. Plus, stick around for an interview with Troy Cates, co-founder and managing partner at NEOS Investments.

This week, the etf.com editorial team takes a positive view of the upcoming summer months, strikes a motherlode with miner ETFs and praises the biggest and best ETFs. As a bonus, we play a round of "Flirt, Marry or Kill" with a couple of ETFs that are "bromantically" linked. Stories Referenced ETF Spotlight: AGQ Surges as Silver Hits 13-Year High by Kent Thune, CFP ELON: Tesla vs. Ford ETF Leads May Performance Rankings by DJ Shaw QDWN, VIXY Among ETFs Posting Biggest Declines in May 2025 by DJ Shaw May's Strong $88B ETF Inflows Led by VOO, QQQ, IBIT by Sumit Roy Weekly ETF Flows: Tech, Bitcoin & Gold Lead in $17B Surge by Sumit Roy Uranium ETFs Surge on New Meta, Constellation AI Deal by Ron Day

This week, the etf.com editorial team hashes out the tradeability of President Donald Trump's global tariff strategy, known by some as TACO, and which ETFs are best suited to ride the market roller coaster or chill on the merry-go-round. And Kent Thune interviews Graham Day, CIO of Innovator ETFs, about its latest buffer ETFs.

This week, the etf.com editorial team explores the implications of rising bond yields and falling stock prices, the growing popularity of defense sector ETFs and a new darling of the quantum computing realm. We also present a special segment with Roundhill Investments CEO Dave Mazza, who talks about his firm's innovative 0DTE ETFs. Stories Referenced Is TLT’s Multi-Year Price Low a Buying Opportunity? by Kent Thune, CFP D-Wave Stock Surge Boosts QTUM, Quantum Computing ETFs by DJ Shaw Defense ETFs Are Soaring and SHLD Is Leading the Charge by Sumit Roy