About this episode

Jeff and Gavin Filmore discuss the evolving ETF industry, the importance of flexibility, and what it takes to launch and grow an ETF today.

Jeff sits down with Gavin Filmore of Tidal for a deep dive into why, even after three decades, the ETF industry is still, potentially only in the “second or third inning.” Gavin walks through the evolution from simple, passive equity ETFs to today’s surge in active and derivatives-based products, explaining how his experience running an oil ETN through the negative-oil shock convinced him of the importance of flexibility over rigid index rules. They break down how market makers and regulation (like 6c-11 and the derivatives rule) have reshaped the landscape, why semi-transparent ETFs fizzled, and how white-label platforms like Tidal have ridden this innovation wave to roughly $80 billion across hundreds of largely active funds. Jeff and Gavin also get tactical on what it really takes to launch and grow an ETF now, from differentiated “white space” ideas and realistic AUM milestones, to operating capital, distribution strategy, and the contrasting roles of grassroots retail demand versus platform-driven institutional flows, before looking ahead to areas like prediction markets and single-stock futures as the next potential frontiers. Chapters: 00:00-01:12=Intro 01:13-3:51=Early…

People in this episode

Host: Jeff

Guest: Gavin Filmore

Topics covered

• ETF industry evolution
• active ETFs
• derivatives
• market makers
• regulation
• launching ETFs
• investment strategies

Keywords

• ETF
• active ETFs
• derivatives
• market makers
• investment strategies
• Tidal
• flexibility

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Tidal, RCM Alternatives, ETN, ETF, 6c-11, prediction markets, single-stock futures

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