David Beren, Author at 24/7 Wall St.

DGP vs. UGL: Which 2x Gold Play Costs You More Than the Leverage?

Investors looking for 2x daily exposure to gold typically land on two tickers: DB Gold Double Long ETN (NYSEARCA:DGP) and ProShares Ultra Gold (NYSEARCA:UGL). On a one-day basis they move almost in lockstep, both…

David Beren · 4 months ago

A panoramic view shows several commercial airplanes parked on a dry, earthy plain under a light sky. In the foreground, a large white and blue passenger jet with visible engines is prominent. Further back, other aircraft, including one with 'Air Caribbean' visible on its fuselage and another with a dark blue tail, are scattered across the dusty ground. Distant, rugged brown mountains rise against the horizon.

JETS vs. ITA: Airlines or Aerospace, Which Aviation ETF Is Actually Flying?

The U.S. Global Jets ETF (NYSEARCA:JETS) and the iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (NYSEARCA:ITA) both carry the word aviation in their pitch, yet they bet on entirely different cash flows. JETS owns passenger…

David Beren · 4 months ago

ETHT vs. ETHA: Should You Use a 2x Ether ETF or Just Own Spot ETH?

Choosing between ProShares Ultra Ether ETF (NYSEARCA:ETHT) and iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (NASDAQ:ETHA) comes down to which product the investor wants, not how much Ether exposure to take. ETHT runs a 2x daily-reset futures…

David Beren · 4 months ago

A close-up, high-angle shot shows a dark green toy military tank sitting on top of a financial candlestick chart, which displays both red and green bars indicating market fluctuations. Underneath and around the tank are several US one-hundred dollar bills, partially obscured. A stack of dollar bills is visible in the blurred background.

SHLD vs. PPA: Which Defense ETF Wins the Global Rearmament Trade?

Defense ETFs have multiplied as the global rearmament cycle has matured, and two of the most-followed products take very different routes to the same theme. The Global X Defense Tech ETF (NASDAQ:SHLD) and the…

David Beren · 4 months ago

A close-up of a businessman's right hand in a dark suit pointing with his index finger towards a glowing blue holographic display. The display features a stylized quantum computing chip with circuit board lines extending from it, and the words 'QUANTUM COMPUTING' are prominently displayed on the chip. The background is a dark, abstract blur with faint glowing lines resembling a circuit board and the indistinct shapes of modern buildings. The overall tone is futuristic and technological.

QTUM vs. QQQ: Does the Quantum-Computing ETF Beat Just Buying the Nasdaq-100?

Both Defiance Quantum ETF (NYSEARCA:QTUM) and Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:QQQ) get pitched as ways to own the future of computing, but they are not interchangeable. QTUM is marketed around quantum, yet its mandate is…

David Beren · 4 months ago

NVDX vs. NVDL: Which 2x Nvidia ETF Is the Better Way to Press the Bet?

The T-Rex 2X Long NVIDIA Daily Target ETF (NASDAQ:NVDX) and the GraniteShares 2x Long NVDA Daily ETF (NASDAQ:NVDL) sell the same product on the label: 2x the daily move in NVIDIA. The choice between…

David Beren · 4 months ago

URA vs. URNM: Which Uranium ETF Best Plays the Nuclear Boom?

The choice between the Global X Uranium ETF (NYSEARCA:URA) and the Sprott Uranium Miners ETF (NYSEARCA:URNM) looks academic until the uranium spot price moves. Both funds promise exposure to the nuclear revival driving 2026’s…

David Beren · 4 months ago

A stylized digital image shows two human hands emerging from a dark background, each holding a glowing animal. The left hand holds a powerful, golden-outlined bull, poised to charge upward. The right hand cradles a strong, blue-outlined bear, seemingly pushing downward. Between and around the hands are numerous vertical candlestick charts in vibrant red and teal, representing market data. A faint figure in a suit is visible in the background. The overall tone is dramatic and focused on financial market concepts.

SMCZ vs. SMCX: Betting Against or All-In on Super Micro?

The choice between Defiance Daily Target 2X Short SMCI ETF (NASDAQ:SMCZ) and Defiance Daily Target 2X Long SMCI ETF (NASDAQ:SMCX) is the cleanest bull-versus-bear mirror trade available in the AI server complex. Both products…

David Beren · 4 months ago

A pensive older man with gray hair and a light blue plaid shirt clasps his hands, looking thoughtfully to his left. Behind him, a white notebook shows the handwritten phrase 'early retirement' underlined in black, set against a blurred background of a wooden surface and a dark book.

The 72(t) Early Retirement Trick That Lets a 53-Year-Old Tap a $1.8 Million IRA Without the 10 Percent Penalty

Retirement accounts are supposed to be untouchable until someone reaches 59.5 years of age, and the 10% early withdrawal penalty exists to enforce exactly that. However, IRC §72(t)(2)(A)(iv) contains a lesser-known exemption that allows…

David Beren · 4 months ago

Three white square blocks spell out 'ETF' in bold red capital letters. Above the blocks, a black graphic shows a bar chart with increasing height from left to right, topped with an upward-pointing arrow indicating growth. The entire setup is on a vibrant yellow background.

MSTX vs. MSTU: Which 2x MicroStrategy ETF Survives the Volatility?

Both Defiance Daily Target 2X Long MSTR ETF (NASDAQ:MSTX) and T-REX 2X Long MSTR Daily Target ETF (NASDAQ:MSTU) promise the same thing: twice the daily move of Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR | MSTR Price Prediction), the…

David Beren · 4 months ago

Close-up view of several gold-colored cryptocurrency coins, with a large Bitcoin symbol clearly visible on the main coin. Three black cube-shaped beads with white letters spelling 'E', 'T', and 'F' are placed on the surface of the top coin. The coins are resting on a dark, reflective surface, showing subtle reflections.

IBIT vs. FBTC: Which Spot Bitcoin ETF Should Actually Hold Your Coins?

Spot bitcoin ETFs settled into a two-horse race almost immediately after the January 2024 SEC approval, and the top two contenders are iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (NASDAQ:IBIT) and Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (NYSEARCA:FBTC).…

David Beren · 4 months ago

A top-down view of an open notebook with "529 College Savings Plan" handwritten in black ink on its grid-lined page, next to a drawn graduation cap. A black and gold fountain pen lies to the left of the notebook. In the background, stacks of hundred-dollar bills and a dark grey calculator are visible on a dark wooden surface.

The 529 Superfunding Strategy a Grandparent Is Using to Drop $95,000 Into a Grandchild’s Account in One Year Without Triggering Gift Tax

Most grandparents who want to contribute to a grandchild’s education move money into a 529 account in small annual increments, staying under the gift tax exclusion each year and hoping time does the rest.…

David Beren · 4 months ago

A diverse older couple sits at a table, focused on financial planning. The man, with a grey beard and glasses, wears a grey sweater and points to a paper he holds. The woman, with short grey hair and a blue shirt, points to documents on the table while looking at a laptop screen. A white mug is visible next to the laptop, suggesting a home office or personal finance setting.

Medicare’s IRMAA Brackets Changed for 2026: Here’s the New Income Cliff

Medicare's Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) for 2026 keys off the income you reported on your 2024 tax return, under the standard two-year lookback. CMS released the 2026 brackets and surcharges on November 14,…

David Beren · 4 months ago

Close-up of a person's hands holding a clipboard with a light green sheet of paper displaying the bold black text 'MEDICARE Part B'. One hand holds a red and silver pen over the document. In the blurred background, a laptop, a stethoscope, and two books are visible on a wooden desk.

Medicare Brokers Are Steering Retirees Into Worse Plans for Bigger Commissions

Medicare broker compensation varies sharply across plan types, and that gap shapes which plans retirees most often hear about during open enrollment. A typical free Medicare review ends with a recommendation for a Medicare…

David Beren · 4 months ago

A close-up shot of a small, clear glass globe on a silver stand, placed on dark brown soil. To the right of the globe, the letters 'ETF' are spelled out using individual light-colored wooden blocks, also partially embedded in the soil. The background is softly blurred, showing more dark earth.

Forget SCHD: This Monthly Dividend Grower Out-Returned It by 38% Over the Last Decade

The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (NYSEARCA:SCHD) has become the default holding for income-minded investors who want a low-cost basket of U.S. dividend payers. It charges a 0.06% expense ratio, holds roughly $95.1 billion…

David Beren · 4 months ago

Three green wooden blocks are stacked in a staircase formation on a light brown wooden surface. The topmost block displays a white 'E' and the yellow word 'EXCHANGE'. The middle block has a white 'T' and the yellow word 'TRADED'. The bottom block shows a white 'F' and the yellow word 'FUNDS'. The background is a soft, light, out-of-focus wall.

Forget ARKK: This Buffett-Style ETF Beat It Over 5 Years With Half the Volatility

Investors buy the ARK Innovation ETF (NYSEARCA:ARKK) when they want concentrated exposure to disruptive innovation: electric vehicles, genomics, fintech, autonomy, and AI. Cathie Wood’s flagship has headlined the active-growth category for a decade, and it still…

David Beren · 4 months ago

David Beren

DGP vs. UGL: Which 2x Gold Play Costs You More Than the Leverage?

JETS vs. ITA: Airlines or Aerospace, Which Aviation ETF Is Actually Flying?

ETHT vs. ETHA: Should You Use a 2x Ether ETF or Just Own Spot ETH?

SHLD vs. PPA: Which Defense ETF Wins the Global Rearmament Trade?

QTUM vs. QQQ: Does the Quantum-Computing ETF Beat Just Buying the Nasdaq-100?

NVDX vs. NVDL: Which 2x Nvidia ETF Is the Better Way to Press the Bet?

URA vs. URNM: Which Uranium ETF Best Plays the Nuclear Boom?

SMCZ vs. SMCX: Betting Against or All-In on Super Micro?

The 72(t) Early Retirement Trick That Lets a 53-Year-Old Tap a $1.8 Million IRA Without the 10 Percent Penalty

MSTX vs. MSTU: Which 2x MicroStrategy ETF Survives the Volatility?

IBIT vs. FBTC: Which Spot Bitcoin ETF Should Actually Hold Your Coins?

The 529 Superfunding Strategy a Grandparent Is Using to Drop $95,000 Into a Grandchild’s Account in One Year Without Triggering Gift Tax

Medicare’s IRMAA Brackets Changed for 2026: Here’s the New Income Cliff

Medicare Brokers Are Steering Retirees Into Worse Plans for Bigger Commissions

Forget SCHD: This Monthly Dividend Grower Out-Returned It by 38% Over the Last Decade

Forget ARKK: This Buffett-Style ETF Beat It Over 5 Years With Half the Volatility

Forget Bitcoin ETFs: This Crypto Stock Fund Is Up 11% YTD While Bitcoin Drops 29%

What Stripping the Weakest Stocks From the S&P 500 Actually Does for Your Portfolio

Want $15,000 a Year on $100K? This Nasdaq Income ETF Out-Pays JEPQ

Forget the Dividend Aristocrats, Vanguard Beats Them With One-Eighth the Fee