In a special roundtable discussion, Rodrigo Gordillo, Corey Hoffstein, Mike Philbrick, and Adam Butler each present their top investment idea for 2026, centered around a specific Return Stacked® ETF. The conversation explores a range of compelling theses, from the role of scarce assets like gold and Bitcoin to the strategic use of alternatives such as trend following and merger arbitrage. This forward-looking analysis delves into the evolving landscape of portfolio construction, the importance of capital efficiency, and the broader implications of ongoing monetary and fiscal debasement.

Topics Discussed

• The investment case for stacking scarce assets like gold and Bitcoin on stocks (RSSX) as a hedge against permanent monetary debasement

• Utilizing bonds as a portfolio ballast and stacking managed futures strategies like trend and carry for diversification (RSBT & RSBY)

• The argument for replacing corporate credit exposure with a combination of Treasuries and merger arbitrage (RSBA) due to tight credit spreads

• Using a global stock and bond fund (RSSB) to create capital efficiency for adding low-volatility alternatives or tactical cash positions

• The increasing institutional adoption of Bitcoin, signaling its potential shift from a fringe asset to a foundational portfolio component

• A defense of holding bond duration for its predictable long-term returns and its role as a diversifier during cyclical recessions

• The complementary nature of trend and carry strategies as different ways to harvest risk premia in managed futures

• Merger arbitrage as a unique and defensible risk premium that is structurally uncorrelated with traditional equity and credit risk

• The paradigm shift in portfolio construction for retail investors enabled by the accessibility of Return Stacking strategies

RSST– https://www.returnstackedetfs.com/rsst-return-stacked-us-stocks-managed-futures/

RSBT– https://www.returnstackedetfs.com/rsbt-return-stacked-bonds-managed-futures/

RSSY– https://www.returnstackedetfs.com/rssy-return-stacked-us-stocks-futures-yield/

RSBY– https://www.returnstackedetfs.com/rsby-return-stacked-bonds-futures-yield/

RSBA– https://www.returnstackedetfs.com/rsba-return-stacked-bonds-merger-arbitrage/

RSSB – https://www.returnstackedetfs.com/rssb-return-stacked-global-stocks-bonds/

RSSX– https://www.returnstackedetfs.com/rssx-return-stacked-us-stocks-gold-bitcoin/

BTGD– https://quantifyfunds.com/stackedbitcoingoldetf/btgd/

The performance data quoted above represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost, and current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted above.

Definitions

Beta: How much an investment moves vs. a benchmark (like the market).

NASDAQ 100: Index of 100 big non-financial companies listed on Nasdaq.

Mag 7: A nickname for seven mega-cap U.S. tech/growth stocks that have dominated index performance in recent years: Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet (Google), Amazon, Nvidia, Meta, Tesla.

AGG (the “Agg”): Broad U.S. investment-grade bond market benchmark/ETF. Duration refers to the average life of a debt instrument and serves as a measure of that instrument’s interest rate risk.

A Basis Point is equal to 0.01% and is commonly used to express changes in interest rates, fees, or investment returns. For example, 50 basis points equals 0.50%.

ICE corporate index: A benchmark that tracks corporate bonds (from ICE).

Sharpe ratio: Return earned per unit of risk.

Coupon: The interest a bond pays each year (based on face value).DisclaimersThe performance data quoted above represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost and current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted above.

Exposures to gold and bitcoin will be done via exchange traded funds and futures contracts, hence the fund does not invest directly in bitcoin or any other digital asset, and does not invest directly in gold or gold bullion.

Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Return Stacked® ETFs. This and other important information about the ETFs is contained in their prospectuses, which can be obtained by calling 1-844-737-3001 or clicking here. The prospectuses should be read carefully before investing. Investments involve risk. Principal loss is possible. Unlike mutual funds, ETFs may trade at a premium or discount to their net asset value. Brokerage commissions may apply and would reduce returns.

Bitcoin Investment Risk: The Fund’s indirect investment in bitcoin, through futures contracts and Underlying Funds, exposes it to the unique risks of this emerging innovation. Bitcoin’s price is highly volatile, and its market is influenced by the changing bitcoin network, fluctuating acceptance levels, and unpredictable usage trends. Not being a legal tender and operating outside central authority systems like banks, bitcoin faces potential government restrictions. The value of bitcoin has historically been subject to significant speculation, making trading and investing in bitcoin reliant on market sentiment rather than traditional fundamental analysis.

Blockchain Technology Risk: Blockchain technology, which underpins bitcoin and other digital assets, is relatively new, and many of its applications are untested. The adoption of blockchain and the development of competing platforms or technologies could affect its usage. You could lose all or substantially all of your investment in the Fund should the Fund’s trading positions suddenly turn unprofitable. The net asset value of the Fund while employing leverage will be more volatile and sensitive to market movements.

Leverage Risk. As part of the Fund’s principal investment strategy, the Fund will make investments in futures contracts. These derivative instruments provide the economic effect of financial leverage by creating additional investment exposure to the underlying instrument, as well as the potential for greater loss.

Tidal Investments, LLC (“Tidal”) serves as investment adviser to the Funds and the Funds’ Subsidiary. Newfound Research LLC (“Newfound”) serves as investment sub-adviser to the Funds.

ReSolve Asset Management SEZC (Cayman) (“ReSolve”) serves as futures trading advisor to the Return Stacked® Bonds & Managed Futures ETF, the Return Stacked® U.S. Stocks and Managed Futures ETF, the Return Stacked® U.S. Stocks & Futures Yield ETF, the Return Stacked® Bonds & Futures Yield ETF, and their respective Subsidiaries.

Newfound Research LLC (“Newfound”) serves as investment sub-adviser to the Funds.

Quantify Chaos Advisors, LLC (“Quantify”) has entered into a brand licensing agreement with Newfound Research LLC (“Newfound”) and ReSolve Asset Management SEZC (Cayman) (“ReSolve”), granting the Quantify the right to use the “STKd” brand, a derivative of Return Stacked®. Neither the Trust nor the Adviser is a party to this agreement. In exchange for the branding rights, Quantify will pay Newfound and ReSolve a fee based on a percentage of the Fund’s unitary management fee.

The Return Stacked® ETF suite is distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC. Foreside is not related to Tidal , Newfound, or ReSolve.

Rodrigo Gordillo, Corey Hoffstein, and Adam Butler review the Q3 2025 performance of their ETF suite, drawing from the latest Return Stacked® ETFs Quarterly Performance Report. The discussion explores the strategies and use cases for each capital-efficient fund, from the core stock/bond RSSB to the newer gold and Bitcoin-focused RSSX. They delve into the underlying mechanics of the stacked strategies, including trend following replication, merger arbitrage, and the concept of portable alpha. This quarterly analysis provides a detailed look at how each fund has performed and is positioned within the broader framework of Return Stacking.

Topics Discussed

• An overview of the Return Stacking ETF suite's growth to over one billion dollars in assets under management

• The capital efficiency and diverse use cases of the RSSB fund, which provides 100/100 exposure to global stocks and bonds

• A detailed look at the blended replication approach used to track the trend following managed futures category in RSST and RSBT

• The role of the futures yield (carry) strategy as a low-correlation diversifier to trend following

• Positioning the RSBA merger arbitrage fund as an alternative to traditional corporate credit, especially with credit spreads at historic lows

• Managing exposure to gold and Bitcoin in the RSSX fund through an active inverse volatility weighting strategy

• The practical benefits of pre-stacked solutions for advisors, such as simplified implementation and automated rebalancing

• A review of recent performance drivers, including the resurgence in trend following and the lifecycle of merger arbitrage deals

RSST– https://www.returnstackedetfs.com/rsst-return-stacked-us-stocks-managed-futures/

RSBT– https://www.returnstackedetfs.com/rsbt-return-stacked-bonds-managed-futures/

RSSY– https://www.returnstackedetfs.com/rssy-return-stacked-us-stocks-futures-yield/

RSBY– https://www.returnstackedetfs.com/rsby-return-stacked-bonds-futures-yield/

RSBA– https://www.returnstackedetfs.com/rsba-return-stacked-bonds-merger-arbitrage/

RSSB – https://www.returnstackedetfs.com/rssb-return-stacked-global-stocks-bonds/

RSSX– https://www.returnstackedetfs.com/rssx-return-stacked-us-stocks-gold-bitcoin/

BTGD– https://quantifyfunds.com/stackedbitcoingoldetf/btgd/

Definitions

A Basis Point is equal to 0.01% and is commonly used to express changes in interest rates, fees, or investment returns. For example, 50 basis points equals 0.50%.

Duration refers to the average life of a debt instrument and serves as a measure of that instrument’s interest rate risk.

Standard Deviation is a statistical measure of how much an investment’s returns vary from its average over time, indicating the degree of volatility or risk

*The performance data quoted above represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost, and current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted above.

** Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Return Stacked® ETFs. This and other important information about the ETFs is contained in their prospectuses, which can be obtained by calling 1-844-737-3001 or clicking here. The prospectuses should be read carefully before investing. Investments involve risk. Principal loss is possible. Unlike mutual funds, ETFs may trade at a premium or discount to their net asset value. Brokerage commissions may apply and would reduce returns.

Tidal Investments, LLC (“Tidal”) serves as investment adviser to the Funds and the Funds’ Subsidiary.

Newfound Research LLC (“Newfound”) serves as investment sub-adviser to the Funds.

ReSolve Asset Management SEZC (Cayman) (“ReSolve”) serves as futures trading advisor to the Return Stacked® Bonds & Managed Futures ETF, the Return Stacked® U.S. Stocks and Managed Futures ETF, the Return Stacked® U.S. Stocks & Futures Yield ETF, the Return Stacked® Bonds & Futures Yield ETF, and their respective Subsidiaries.

Quantify Chaos Advisors, LLC (“Quantify”) has entered into a brand licensing agreement with Newfound Research LLC (“Newfound”) and ReSolve Asset Management SEZC (Cayman) (“ReSolve”), granting the Quantify the right to use the “STKd” brand, a derivative of Return Stacked®. Neither the Trust nor the Adviser is a party to this agreement. In exchange for the branding rights, Quantify will pay Newfound and ReSolve a fee based on a percentage of the Fund’s unitary management fee.

Investments involve risk. Principal loss is possible. Unlike mutual funds, ETFs may trade at a premium or discount to their net asset value. Brokerage commissions may apply and would reduce returns. Bitcoin Investment Risk: The Fund’s indirect investment in bitcoin, through futures contracts and Underlying Funds, exposes it to the unique risks of this emerging innovation. Bitcoin’s price is highly volatile, and its market is influenced by the changing bitcoin network, fluctuating acceptance levels, and unpredictable usage trends. Not being a legal tender and operating outside central authority systems like banks, bitcoin faces potential government restrictions. The value of bitcoin has historically been subject to significant speculation, making trading and investing in bitcoin reliant on market sentiment rather than traditional fundamental analysis. Blockchain Technology Risk: Blockchain technology, which underpins bitcoin and other digital assets, is relatively new, and many of its applications are untested. The adoption of blockchain and the development of competing platforms or technologies could affect its usage. Derivatives Risk: Derivatives are instruments, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other assets, rates, or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered to carry more risk than other types of investments. Digital Asset Risk: Digital assets like bitcoin, designed as mediums of exchange, are still an emerging asset class and are not presently widely used as such. They operate independently of any central authority or government backing and are subject to regulatory changes and extreme price volatility. Gold Investment Risks: The Fund will not invest directly in gold but will gain exposure through gold futures contracts and Underlying Funds. These investments are subject to significant risk due to the inherent volatility and unpredictability of the commodities markets. The value of these investments is typically derived from the price movements of physical gold or related economic variables. Leverage Risk: As part of the Fund’s principal investment strategy, the Fund will make investments in futures contracts to gain long and short exposure across four major asset classes (commodities, currencies, fixed income, and equities). These derivative instruments provide the economic effect of financial leverage by creating additional investment exposure to the underlying instrument, as well as the potential for greater loss. New Fund Risk: The Fund is a recently organized with no operating history. As a result, prospective investors do not have a track record or history on which to base their investment decisions. Non-Diversification Risk: The Fund is non-diversified, meaning that it is permitted to invest a larger percentage of its assets in fewer issuers than diversified funds. Underlying Fund Risk: The Fund’s investment strategy, involving indirect exposure to bitcoin and gold through one or more Underlying Funds, is subject to the risks associated with bitcoin as well as gold. Shareholders in the Fund bear both their proportionate share of expenses in the Fund and, indirectly, the expenses of the Underlying Funds. Bond Risks. The Fund will be subject to bond and fixed income risks through its investments in U.S. Treasury securities, broad-based bond ETFs, and investments in U.S. Treasury and fixed income futures contracts. Changes in interest rates generally will cause the value of fixed-income and bond instruments held by Fund (or underlying ETFs) to vary inversely to such changes. Credit Risk: Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of a security will not be able to make principal and interest payments when due. Changes in an issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness may also affect the value of the Fund’s investment in that issuer.

The Return Stacked® ETF suite is distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC. Foreside is not related to Tidal, Newfound, or ReSolve.

Strategic Diversification with Gold and Bitcoin using Return Stacked U.S. Stocks & Gold/Bitcoin Ticker (RSSX).

00:00 Introduction to Strategic Gold and Bitcoin Stacking

01:32 The Case for Gold and Bitcoin Diversification

02:47 Understanding Return Stacking and Portable Alpha

04:33 Position Sizing for Gold and Bitcoin

05:59 RSSX ETF: Gold and Bitcoin Overlay

08:53 Implementation and Rebalancing Strategies

14:29 Behavioral and Regulatory Perspectives

Description:

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing. For a prospectus or summary prospectus with this and other information about the Fund, please click here (https://www.returnstackedetfs.com/rssx-return-stacked-us-stocks-gold-bitcoin/) Read the prospectus or summary prospectus carefully before investing.

Investments involve risk. Principal loss is possible. Unlike mutual funds, ETFs may trade at a premium or discount to their net asset value. Brokerage commissions may apply and would reduce returns. Toroso Investments, LLC (“Toroso”) serves as investment adviser to the Funds and the Funds’ Subsidiary. Newfound Research LLC (“Newfound”) serves as investment sub-adviser to the Funds. ReSolve Asset Management SEZC (Cayman) (“ReSolve”) serves as futures trading advisor to the Fund and the Funds’ Subsidiary. Foreside Fund Services, LLC is the distributor for the Funds. Foreside is not related to Toroso, Newfound, or ReSolve.

Definitions:

Alpha: refers to returns above that of a passive market benchmark

Tracking error is the variability in the difference between a strategy’s returns and the investor’s benchmark returns.

In this episode, Rodrigo Gordillo, Mike Philbrick, and Adam Butler from ReSolve Asset Management Global explore the timely relevance of managed futures, examining why the current macroeconomic environment may be particularly favorable for these strategies. They discuss recent drawdowns, the uncorrelated nature of trend and carry strategies, and the importance of diversification. The conversation also covers the benefits of strategic overlaying in portfolios, the impact of policy shocks, and the potential for managed futures to add value in various market conditions, including inflationary periods.

In this episode, Rodrigo Gordillo, Mike Philbrick, and Adam Butler from ReSolve Asset Management Global explore the timely relevance of managed futures, examining why the current macroeconomic environment may be particularly favorable for these strategies. They discuss recent drawdowns, the uncorrelated nature of trend and carry strategies, and the importance of diversification. The conversation also covers the benefits of strategic overlaying in portfolios, the impact of policy shocks, and the potential for managed futures to add value in various market conditions, including inflationary periods.

In this episode, Corey Hoffstein and Adam Butler take you inside the latest Q2 commentary on the Return Stacked® ETF suite. They break down key strategies behind ETFs like RSSX, RSSB, RSBT, and RSST—covering everything from performance differentials in trend strategies to the mechanics of trend model replication.

You’ll hear sharp analysis of return stack carry funds, year-to-date performance, and how they behave in multi-asset portfolios. The hosts also explore fixed income sector positioning, the role of energy exposure, and why merger arbitrage deserves a closer look as a diversifier. The episode wraps with the new RSSX ETF, blending U.S. stocks, gold, and Bitcoin to meet evolving market demands.

*The performance data quoted above represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor's shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost, and current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted above.

RSSX does not invest directly in Bitcoin or Gold.

For prospectus, performance and risks visit the fund pages.

RSST – https://www.returnstackedetfs.com/rsst-return-stacked-us-stocks-managed-futures/

RSBT – https://www.returnstackedetfs.com/rsbt-return-stacked-bonds-managed-futures/

RSSY – https://www.returnstackedetfs.com/rssy-return-stacked-us-stocks-futures-yield/

RSBY – https://www.returnstackedetfs.com/rsby-return-stacked-bonds-futures-yield/

RSBA – https://www.returnstackedetfs.com/rsba-return-stacked-bonds-merger-arbitrage/

RSSX – https://www.returnstackedetfs.com/rssx-return-stacked-us-stocks-gold-bitcoin/

BTGD – https://quantifyfunds.com/stackedbitcoingoldetf/btgd/

Forside Fund Services, LLC Distributor.

(0:00) Introduction to the Get Stacked Investment Podcast and symposium announcement

(5:49) Overview of new ETFs: RSSX, RSSB, RSBT, and RSST

(10:29) Performance differentials in RSSB and trend strategies

(18:00) Performance tracking and replication strategy of trend models

(23:42) Analysis of performance drivers in trend strategy

(29:22) Year-to-date return of the trend model and currency trends

(31:17) Introduction to return stack carry funds and strategy primer

(36:12) Performance and correlation of carry strategy since inception

(39:15) Energy potential in portfolio and fixed income sector analysis

(44:43) Combining trend and carry strategies in portfolio construction

(48:59) Comparison with GSAM cross asset carry index

(52:25) Bonds and merger arbitrage strategy introduction and explanation

(56:37) Merger arbitrage as a diversifier and comparison with corporate bonds

(59:53) Introduction and rationale behind RSSX: US stocks, gold, and Bitcoin ETF

(1:07:37) Closing remarks and symposium reminder

In this episode, Rodrigo Gordillo, President of ReSolve Asset Management Global, and Mike Philbrick, CEO of ReSolve Asset Management Global unpack Ric Edelman’s bold argument for allocating 10–40% of a portfolio to Bitcoin. They explore how Bitcoin is evolving from a fringe asset to a foundational one, discuss its role alongside gold, and examine the structural shifts—from regulatory clarity to ETF innovation—that are driving institutional adoption. If you're rethinking diversification in a changing economic landscape, this conversation delivers the key insights.

(0:00) Introduction to the Get Stacked Investment Podcast

(2:45) Introduction of podcast hosts and disclaimers

(3:33) Bitcoin as a digital hard currency compared to gold

(7:22) Regulatory clarity and adoption of Bitcoin in portfolios

(10:01) Evolving landscape for Bitcoin in traditional finance

(13:11) Risk premium of non-cashflow assets

(20:05) Benefits and methods of return stacking with Bitcoin

(24:34) Behavioral biases in long-term Bitcoin allocation

(26:28) Portfolio construction and the Bitwise paper on Bitcoin

(31:16) Adjusting portfolios for inflation expectations

(33:15) Risk budgeting with alternative assets like gold and Bitcoin

(37:10) Using volatility as a heuristic for allocation

(39:06) Global adoption and diversification with real assets

(41:13) Research resources and concluding remarks

In this special interview, Corey Hoffstein sits down with Advisor Analyst to discuss merger arbitrage and its role in portfolio diversification. Corey breaks down how investors can capture the residual spread in merger deals, comparing the strategy to traditional credit markets, and explaining how return stacking and portable alpha can enhance portfolio efficiency. Originally recorded for Advisor Analyst (advisoranalyst.com), this conversation offers valuable insights for investors exploring alternative risk premia and advanced portfolio construction techniques. (0:00) Introduction and mission statement (2:14) Merger arbitrage: Explanation, diversification benefits, and risk premium (9:44) Merger arbitrage in financial advisory (12:15) The return stacking approach and democratizing institutional strategies (15:34) Call to action and closing remarks

*For the RSSX prospectus and risk disclosures, visit: https://www.returnstackedetfs.com/rssx-return-stacked-us-stocks-gold-bitcoin/

**Exposures to gold and bitcoin will be done via exchange-traded funds and futures contracts, hence the fund does not invest directly in bitcoin or any other digital asset, and does not invest directly in gold or gold bullion.