Top ETF Stories of 2025: A Mid-Year Recap with VettaFi’s Todd Rosenbluth

·58 min·5 clips

Vanguard's VU ETF dethroned SPY as the largest ETF and is on pace to break its own record for net inflows.

The episode begins with host Nate Geraci introducing the topic of 351 exchanges, a tax strategy gaining momentum. He then welcomes Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi, for a mid-year recap of top ETF stories. Rosenbluth lists his top three stories: VU surpassing SPY as the largest ETF with $83 billion in inflows, active ETFs accounting for close to 40% of flows, and fixed income ETFs on pace to break last year's record. Geraci adds his top stories, including overall ETF inflows reaching $525 billion year-to-date and crypto ETFs like IBIT seeing $12 billion inflows, with spot Solana and XRP ETFs likely coming. They discuss under-the-radar stories, such as tax innovation in ETFs and the retirement of Bob Pisani. The second half features Bruce Levine, COO and Head of ETFs at Astoria Portfolio Advisors, who details the 351 exchange process. Levine explains how investors can contribute a portfolio of individual securities into an ETF like Astoria's L-COR without triggering taxes, allowing for tax-free diversification. He outlines the diversification rules, account type limitations, and compares 351 exchanges to other tax strategies like direct indexing. Levine notes the ETF targets an October 2 launch and has seen strong interest from advisors and investors. The episode concludes with a preview of next week's guest, Lance Humphrey of Victory Capital.

As heard by us

A grounded mid-year ETF check-in on leveraged funds, active ETFs, and smart beta's pull.

ETF Prime's mid-year discussion takes a clear look at 2025's ETF landscape, moving through leveraged funds, active ETFs, and smart beta with a steady hand.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want a first-half 2025 ETF reset with SPMO, leveraged funds, and smart beta in view.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from ETF Prime