##  [# Are Cockroach Portfolios the Key to Thriving In Any Market? ](/sections/equity/are-cockroach-portfolios-key-thriving-any-market) 

 

# Are Cockroach Portfolios the Key to Thriving In Any Market? 

 

 

Is there value right now in investing in a cockroach portfolio, designed to be resilient across macro environments? The Zoo crew this week discusses why boring portfolios are almost always better, even though FOMO makes staying invested difficult for many.



 

 

 

 

 [![ETFZooLogo](/sites/default/files/styles/author_image_icon/public/2025-11/ETFZooLogo.png?itok=cteL2eHH "ETFZooLogo")](/authors/etf-zoo-podcast) 

[By ETF Zoo Podcast](/authors/etf-zoo-podcast)

 May 13, 2026

 Edited by: ETF.com Staff

 

 

 [ + Follow ](/etf/login) 

     Share  <a class="a2a a2a_button_email"> Email </a><a class="a2a a2a_button_linkedin"> LinkedIn </a><a class="a2a a2a_button_facebook"> Facebook </a><a class="a2a a2a_button_x"> X (Twitter) </a> 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  
            googletag.cmd.push(function() {
                googletag.display('js-dfp-tag-article_page_302x26');
            });
    
    

 

 

  

 



 

 

  Loading 

 

 



 
            let duration = 0, percent = '0', new_percent = '';
            jwplayer("etfVideo").setup({
                playlist: "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/BnxdXd2X",
                aspectratio: "16:9",
                autostart: "viewable",
                ga: {}
            });
            jwplayer().on('time', function(e) {
                duration = e.duration
                if (e.position >= duration * 0.25){
                    percent = '25';
                } 
                if (e.position >= duration * 0.50){
                    percent = '50';
                } 
                if (e.position >= duration * 0.75){
                    percent = '75';
                } 
                if (e.position == duration){
                    percent = '100';
                }
                if (new_percent != percent){
                    // GTM Datalayer - Video Event
                    dataLayer.push({
                        'event': 'video',
                        'video_id': 'BnxdXd2X',
                        'video_percent': percent,
                        'video_url': 'http://www.etf.com/markdownify/node/136807' 
                    });
                    new_percent = percent;     
                }
            });
         

 



 

 

There may be real value to investing in a portfolio comprised of a handful of defensive, low cost ETFs, but they’re still a hard sell to most investors. That’s according to the *ETF Zoo* crew this week, which included Dave Nadig, President &amp; Director of Research at ETF.com, talks with Mike Akins, Founding Partner of ETF Action; Tony Dong, MSc, CETF, Founder and Owner of ETF Portfolio Blueprint; and Todd Sohn, Senior ETF &amp; Technical Strategist, Strategas Securities.

Cockroach portfolios are those that take defensive positions in resilient strategies that are designed to thrive across a range of macroeconomic environments while minimizing exposure to one singular driver. Tony Dong shares his passive cockroach portfolio, split evenly across five low-cost, liquid ETFs in defensive sectors, broad treasuries, and spot gold, as well as its historical performance and risk-adjusted returns. That said, there’s still a psychological hurdle for many investors to stay the course while watching volatile assets surge. It turns out that FOMO is the real enemy of straightforward, reliable, “boring” strategies like these, even if they generate notable risk-adjusted returns.

Don’t miss the full conversation that covers the SpaceX IPO and talks of benchmark indices changing their rules to allow early inclusion of the company, the Corgi cannon of ETF launches, general ETF fund flows shattering records yet again, and more. Tune in [**here**](https://www.etf.com/sections/podcasts/etf-zoo-spacex-corgi-cannon-anything-goes).

*Discover the news, data, and voices shaping the ETF community. Follow along* [***here.***](https://www.etf.com/sections/podcasts)



 

 

 [ + Follow ](/etf/login) 

 [ ETF Zoo Podcast ](/authors/etf-zoo-podcast) 

 

 

  Welcome to ETF Zoo, the podcast where we check into recent happenings in the wild world of ETFs. Hosts Dave Nadig, President and Director of Research…   [View Bio](/authors/etf-zoo-podcast)

 



 

 


 Related Topics  [Equity](http://www.etf.com/topics/equity) 

 [Gold](http://www.etf.com/topics/gold) 

 [Treasury](http://www.etf.com/topics/treasury) 

 [Fixed Income](http://www.etf.com/topics/fixed-income) 

 [Sectors](http://www.etf.com/topics/sectors)