Tastylive Viewer to NYSE ETF Founder Has Full Circle Moment With Tony Battista

Why It Matters

It democratizes a sophisticated, compliance‑heavy options‑income strategy, giving retail investors a low‑cost, professionally managed ETF that mirrors the education they received on platforms like tastytrade.

Key Takeaways

• Former tastytrade user launches NYSE‑listed ETF under ticker WHEEL.
• ETF uses option‑wheel strategy on liquid sector ETFs for income.
• Founder emphasizes building a compliant track record before scaling.
• Product targets capital‑preservation investors seeking steady low‑beta returns.
• One‑share price ($20) makes professional strategy accessible to retail.

Summary

The interview spotlights Robert Pascarella, a longtime tastytrade viewer who has come full circle to launch Peerless ETFs’ NYSE‑listed fund, ticker WHEEL, and even ring the exchange bell in May 2024. His journey from retail futures trader to registered investment adviser illustrates how a hobbyist can evolve into a professional fund manager.

Pascarella and his partner Eric built a GIPS‑compliant track record around the option‑wheel strategy—selling out‑of‑the‑money puts, acquiring shares, then writing covered calls. By focusing on liquid, optionable sector ETFs such as GDX, ARC and IWM, they generate income while dampening beta, a design refined through extensive back‑testing and forward‑testing. Compliance hurdles, custodial arrangements, and white‑label partners helped the two‑person firm secure a seat on the exchange and meet 40‑act regulations.

Key moments include ringing the NYSE bell, choosing the ticker WHEEL for branding, and pricing the ETF at a single $20 share to keep it retail‑friendly. Pascarella emphasizes confidence in trades, the importance of owning the strategy, and the need for a disciplined, low‑stress approach—contrasting with the hype‑driven “options for income” narrative.

The fund aims at investors seeking capital preservation and modest, steady returns rather than aggressive growth. By packaging a professional‑grade option‑wheel into an accessible ETF, Peerless ETFs bridges the gap between retail education platforms and institutional‑level products, potentially reshaping how everyday traders earn income from options.

Original Description

Options trading education, the wheel strategy, and the journey from retail trader to fund manager take center stage as tastylive's Trading Trends welcomes Robert Pascarella of Peerless ETFs. Rob was watching Tasty content back in 2012 and built his entire framework from there — back testing, forward testing, and refining until he had something institutional-grade. The result is WEEL, a NYSE-listed ETF that runs a disciplined options wheel strategy across sector ETFs and uncorrelated names to deliver steady, low-beta returns. One share is $20. Rob's own money is in it. And his advice for anyone trying to make the same leap is the most useful thing in this video.

Helpful links:

tastylive: https://www.tastylive.com/

FREE tasytlive Newsletters: https://info.tastylive.com/newsletters

FREE Options Strategy Guide: https://tinyurl.com/bp9ms763

Follow tastylive on X (Twitter): https://x.com/tastyliveshow

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Rob Found Tasty in 2012 as a Retail Trader

00:27 Engineer, Tinkerer, Futures Trader Gets Hooked

02:47 From Retail Viewer to Registered Rep and Business Owner

03:09 Peerless ETFs and the NYSE Bell Ring

04:24 Can You Run Tasty Strategies at Professional Scale?

05:21 How He Met His Business Partner Over Dinner

06:03 He Was Already Doing the Wheel Without Knowing the Name

07:32 Why You Have to Build the Strategy Yourself to Trust It

08:26 Retail vs. Professional: The Real Learning Curve

10:37 Why They Moved Away From Individual Stocks

11:13 Sector ETFs, Uncorrelated Names and Low Beta

13:03 Who Is the Ideal Customer for WEEL?

13:57 Short Timeframes: One to Two Weeks Not 45 Days

16:25 You Overestimate One Year But Underestimate a Decade

17:23 Ticker WEEL: One Share at $20, No Minimum

#tradingtrends #tastylive #optionswheel #weel #etf #peerlessetfs #optionstrading #coveredcall #shortput #retailtrader

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