Tom Lydon, founder of ETF Trends and a leading voice who witnessed the transformation of ETFs into essential allocation tools for financial advisors and investors, will attend INDEX 2026 as a participant and panelist. DEX’s annual gathering takes place on November 12 at Casa Traffô in São Paulo.
Lydon’s presence brings the Brazilian audience closer to a career spanning asset management, financial communications, education, and industry business development. Founder of Global Trends Investments and former Vice Chairman of VettaFi, he played a central role in building platforms that connected investment professionals with research, data, products, and discussions surrounding ETF portfolio integration.
This combination gives his participation in Brazil significant relevance. Scaling an ETF industry requires innovative products, but also the ability to explain strategies, educate distributors, and help investors evaluate distinct market exposures—activities present across various stages of Lydon’s career.
From Portfolio Management to Creating ETF Trends
Lydon began his career at Fidelity Investments Institutional before founding Global Trends Investments. The asset management and advisory firm highlights his three decades of market experience and the integration of ETFs into its investment strategies.
His relationship with exchange-traded vehicles took on an editorial dimension in 2005 when Lydon launched ETF Trends. Founded on research examining ETF usage in client portfolios, the platform began delivering news and analysis to financial advisors and self-directed investors. In 2026, this initiative celebrates its 21st anniversary.
His work extended beyond covering new product launches. ETF messaging tracked the expansion of investment possibilities, differentiation among benchmark indices, and the need to understand how each exposure fits into a broader portfolio. Lydon’s experience thus bridges the perspective of an asset manager using the products and a communicator helping shape the audience that distributes and buys them.
A Career Path That Passed Through VettaFi
In 2019, ETF Trends merged with ETF Database, expanding its presence across digital content and specialized market tools. This growth expanded into webcasts, podcasts, and industry conferences, eventually connecting with VettaFi, where Lydon served as Vice Chairman.
VettaFi combines indexing, digital distribution, data analytics, and specialized content. It was acquired by TMX Group, operator of the Toronto Stock Exchange, among other market infrastructures. In January 2024, TMX completed the acquisition of the remaining 78% of VettaFi it did not already own, following an initial 22% stake purchase the prior year. The agreement for the remaining stake was valued at $848 million, bringing total investment across the full acquisition to $1.03 billion.
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Education, Innovation, and Industry Business Engagement
Lydon’s contributions also include authoring books, including “The ETF Trend Following Playbook,” published by FT Press/Pearson, focused on incorporating ETFs into trend-following strategies. The book underscores a defining theme of his career: discussing fund structures alongside the specific investment and risk management methods in which they are deployed.
His involvement in industry development is also reflected in a minority investment in NEOS Investments, announced in December 2024 alongside Aretex Capital. The asset manager specializes in options-based income strategies. In the announcement, NEOS highlighted Lydon’s extensive experience in educating financial professionals and institutions on options-based strategies.
This expertise is highly relevant for a market that now gathers widely diverse strategies under the ETF structure. Broad benchmark indices, thematic portfolios, fixed-income vehicles, and derivative-enhanced structures each require distinct analytical frameworks. As product lineups expand, understanding return drivers, underlying risks, and portfolio allocation roles becomes increasingly vital.
An Existing Relationship with the Brazilian Market
Brazil was already on Lydon’s radar earlier this year. In an article published in January 2026 prior to the DEX ETF Summit held in February, he examined opportunities to develop local solutions for Brazilian investors and financial advisors. Education, distribution, infrastructure, and product design emerged as critical components in this evolution.
In his analysis, lessons from the US market’s evolution—including challenges surrounding distributor education and investor outreach—can offer valuable insights for Brazil. This perspective connects international experience to local market needs: how to expand access, communicate product differences, and build effective solutions tailored to Brazilian investors.
At INDEX 2026, his session offers attendees direct access to this wealth of experience. The event will gather professionals from asset management, distribution, exchange infrastructure, and portfolio allocation to discuss the future of the index and ETF market.
