Sylvia Jablonski - Defiance ETFs

09/21/24 • 28 min

In a recent episode of “Behind the Ticker,” Sylvia Jablonski, CEO & CIO of Defiance ETFs, shared her background in finance and the innovative strategies driving the firm’s success. Jablonski, who has a rich history in sales & trading and a decade of experience with ETFs, decided to join Matt Bielski to help launch Defiance, a company that aims to create ETFs targeting cutting-edge themes. Over the last four and a half years, Defiance has grown significantly, expanding its product lineup to include thematic, income, and leveraged ETFs.
Jablonski discusses the firm’s thematic approach, with a special focus on their quantum computing ETF, QTUM. Launched in 2018, QTUM was ahead of the curve in recognizing the potential of quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. Jablonski explains that Defiance worked with Bluestar to construct an index that includes the top companies in quantum computing and AI, from major players like IBM and Hewlett-Packard to smaller, pure-play names like IonQ and D-Wave. The fund offers investors diversified exposure to the key sectors driving these transformative technologies.
The QTUM ETF targets companies that derive at least 50% of their revenue from supercomputing, machine learning, and AI. The fund holds around 70 equally weighted names and is rebalanced semi-annually, providing exposure to both large and small-cap companies. This includes established tech giants like Nvidia and Google, which act as a ballast for the fund, while also capturing the potential high growth of emerging players in quantum computing. Jablonski highlights that quantum computing’s ability to process data exponentially faster than traditional computers can revolutionize industries such as biotech, aerospace, and defense, making QTUM a powerful thematic play for long-term growth.
In addition to discussing QTUM, Jablonski touches on the overall strategy at Defiance, emphasizing the importance of speed, adaptability, and listening to market demands. She explains that Defiance’s ability to be nimble and respond quickly to trends has been key to their success. The firm has also built an in-house marketing and distribution platform, leveraging AI and digital marketing to efficiently promote its ETFs. This unique approach has allowed Defiance to punch above its weight, attracting attention in a competitive market without the extensive budgets of larger issuers.

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James St. Aubin - Ocean Park Asset Management

In a recent episode of “Behind the Ticker,” James St. Aubin, Chief Investment Officer of Ocean Park Asset Management, shared insights into his firm’s approach to managing risk and growing client assets. With over two years at Ocean Park and a background that includes stints at Smith Barney, Wilshire, and Ibbotson Associates, St. Aubin has extensive experience in asset allocation and portfolio construction. He explains that Ocean Park’s core philosophy, dating back to its founding in the mid-1980s, is focused on downside protection and mitigating exposure to left-tail risk, particularly for retirees or those nearing retirement.
Ocean Park offers a range of solutions, including four ETFs, eight mutual funds under the Sierra brand, and packaged fund strategist portfolios for advisors. The firm’s investment strategy revolves around quantitative trend-following techniques, using banded moving averages to identify buy and sell signals in its target markets. This methodology, which emphasizes capital preservation by limiting exposure to market downturns, is particularly important for investors seeking to avoid large losses during volatile periods.
The discussion also centered on Ocean Park’s recently launched ETF, DUKQ, which focuses on U.S. domestic equities. St. Aubin explains that DUKQ applies the same quantitative, trend-based approach as the firm’s other strategies, investing in ETFs that cover a broad range of market exposures, including small cap, mid cap, and factor-based strategies. DUKQ holds around 10 to 12 ETFs when fully invested and has the ability to move entirely to cash during market sell-offs if all assets signal a downturn.
One of the key advantages of DUKQ, according to St. Aubin, is its ability to protect against extreme market events while still participating in market gains. The ETF can redeploy capital to other sectors if certain segments trigger a sell signal, rather than immediately moving all assets into cash. This flexibility ensures that the fund remains actively managed, with turnover averaging around two trades per year.
As ETFs become a more critical part of Ocean Park’s overall offering, St. Aubin emphasizes the importance of meeting advisor demand for these products. The firm’s decision to launch ETFs, including DUKQ, was driven by the growing preference for ETFs among advisors due to their tax efficiency and ease of use. St. Aubin believes that ETFs, along with the firm’s mutual funds and managed portfolios, provide advisors with flexible, tactical tools to manage client risk and return.

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Mike Venuto - Tidal: The ETF Masters

In a recent episode of “Behind the Ticker,” Mike Venuto, co-founder and CIO of Tidal Financial Group, shared insights into the company’s approach to launching, growing, and operating ETFs. Tidal, a firm that has grown significantly over the years, now manages and supports over 160 funds with more than $19 billion in assets under management. Venuto, who has a background in ETFs dating back to his time at WisdomTree and Global X, highlighted Tidal’s unique platform that helps clients from initial idea generation to full-scale ETF operations.
Venuto discussed his hands-on role at Tidal, which involves structuring ETFs, managing active funds, and collaborating closely with clients to develop innovative products. A key focus of the conversation was on the breadth of Tidal’s capabilities, from handling compliance and legal matters to marketing and product development. The company prides itself on offering a comprehensive service, allowing ETF issuers to focus on managing their portfolios while Tidal handles the operational complexities.
One of Tidal’s standout achievements is its ability to launch ETFs quickly and affordably, compared to the traditional process. Venuto explained that while starting an ETF independently can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and take up to nine months, Tidal can often bring funds to market in under four months at a fraction of the cost. This efficient process, combined with the firm’s expertise in complex strategies such as options, derivatives, and leverage, has allowed Tidal to grow rapidly, especially in the active ETF space, which has seen significant demand.
Venuto also touched on trends in the ETF market, including the growing interest in active strategies, single stock ETFs, and the potential for mutual fund-to-ETF conversions. He noted that while mutual fund conversions have been slow, the demand for more tax-efficient ETF structures continues to rise. Additionally, Venuto emphasized that Tidal only partners with clients who have strong, viable product ideas, ensuring that the firm maintains a low fund closure rate and helps clients succeed in a competitive market.