Deals, Launches, and Risk-Taking | ETF IQ 8/17/2026

Watch on YouTube ↗  |  August 17, 2026 at 20:12  |  43:33  |  Bloomberg Markets
Speakers
Todd Sohn — Chief ETF Strategist, Strategas Securities
Lauren Cassidy — CIO, Founders 100 ETF
Neil Sipes — Analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence
Adam Patti — CEO, VistaShares
James Seyffart — ETF Analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence
Maital Legum — Head of ETF Solutions, Teucrium

Summary

Bloomberg ETF IQ hosts Scarlet Fu and James Seyffart discuss ETF flows, leveraged and thematic tech ETF risks, contrarian crypto, founder-led strategies, Goldman's NEOS acquisition, and a Berkshire-plus-options income ETF. Todd Sohn warns that leveraged AI and hot thematic ETF launches look crowded, while favoring overlooked sectors and crypto as a contrarian bet. Lauren Cassidy makes the case for founder-led companies through FFF, and Adam Patti explains OMAH's targeted Berkshire income strategy.

  • ETF flows show billions going into S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, and TLT while semiconductor funds see outflows.
  • Todd Sohn warns leveraged and thematic AI/semiconductor ETF enthusiasm is crowded and risky.
  • Todd suggests compressed healthcare, financials, and energy can hedge tech concentration.
  • Todd sees crypto ETFs as a contrarian opportunity after neglect and outflows.
  • Lauren Cassidy argues FFF provides strict founder-led exposure with low overlap to S&P and QQQ.
  • Neil Sipes discusses Goldman's $2.3 billion NEOS deal and growth in active and derivative-income ETFs.
  • Adam Patti explains OMAH's Berkshire-plus-options strategy targeting 15% yield.
  • ETF lifecycle and quiz segments cover novel filings, launches, closures, and crypto-theme trivia.
Ideas
Todd Sohn Chief ETF Strategist, Strategas Securities 6:59
Healthcare, financials, energy are cheap hedges
Todd argues that with tech and semiconductor concentration extreme, financials, energy, and especially health care have compressed and are becoming portfolio hedges now that long-duration Treasuries no longer work; he likes health care as a defensive, low-tech balance.
XLV XLF XLE MED
Lauren Cassidy CIO, Founders 100 ETF 12:43
Founder-led companies outperform long term
Bain research and Lauren's own 27-year study show founder-led companies significantly outperform non-founder-led peers; founders have vision, conviction, and grit, and perpetual skepticism creates opportunity. FFF is a strict founder-led portfolio with low overlap to S&P/QQQ, and she expects founder-led names to outperform again as recovery takes hold.
FFF HIGH
Adam Patti CEO, VistaShares 23:13
Berkshire plus options targets fifteen percent yield
Because Berkshire holds private and cash assets, owning Berkshire alone underweights its top public holdings; OMAH directly holds Berkshire plus those top public names and sells call spreads on the portfolio to target about 15% annual yield and 1.25% monthly income, producing a smoother ride than Berkshire and acting as a synthetic dividend or complement for Berkshire and S&P 500 holders.
OMAH HIGH
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This Bloomberg Markets video, published August 17, 2026, features Todd Sohn, Lauren Cassidy, Adam Patti discussing XLV, XLF, XLE, FFF, OMAH. 3 trade ideas extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.

Speakers: Todd Sohn, Lauren Cassidy, Adam Patti  · Tickers: XLV, XLF, XLE, FFF, OMAH