Research Impact and Recognition
The Center's research has drawn national and international recognition, including interviews for two articles in the Financial Times of London, the premier investment newspaper in the world. A research paper led to an advising relationship with Tradr and AXS Investments, the introduction of new Exchange Traded Funds, and an invitation to the NASDAQ closing bell ceremony. Collaborations include a paper co-authored with high school student Akash Ashwin, who has since been accepted to Carnegie Mellon University; a paper with visiting scholar Nan Li from China and three of her colleagues, published in the Journal of International Economics and Finance; and papers with three finance and economics colleagues outside the Center: Gary Shelley, Anca Traian, and Son Wilson.
William Trainor with wife Theva at Nasdaq closing bell ceremony.
Peer-Reviewed and ABDC-Listed Publications
| Authors | Title | Journal | Year |
| Trainor | Beyond Volatility Decay: Correcting Relative Expected Return Estimates for Leveraged ETFs | Journal of Risk and Financial Management | 2026 |
| Trainor | Weekly and Monthly and Quarterly 'Leveraged ETFs', Oh My! | Journal of Beta Investment Strategies / AXS | 2026 |
| Chen, M., Li, G. Li, Nan.,Yang, X., Trainor, W. | Impact of Digital Economy on Default Recovery: Evidence from China | International Review of Economics and Finance | 2025 |
| Trainor, Wilson, Kilgore | Regional Bank Stock Reactions to Using Held-to-Maturity Securities | Journal of Business and Economic Studies | 2025 |
| Trainor, Traian | Mitigating Loss Trauma: Cash Secured Put vs Dollar Cost Averaging | Journal of Investment Consulting | 2024 |
| Trainor, Shelley | Zero Commissions Effect on Stock Trading | Empirical Economics Letters | 2023 |
Trade and Professional Publications
- Trainor (2024). Longer Calendar Leveraged 2.0x SOX (Semiconductor) ETFs. Seeking Alpha, November 2024.
- Trainor (2024). S&P 500 Leveraged ETFs til the New Year. Seeking Alpha, September 2024.
- Trainor (2024). Calendar Leveraged Exchange Traded Funds. NAAIM — National Association of Active Investment Managers, October 2024.
- Trainor (2023). Swan's Deep Dive Likely Over. Seeking Alpha, October 2023.
ETSU Economic Report Contributions
ETSU Economic Report (formerly Appalachian Highlands Economic Update) reaches a regional professional and business audience. Trainor and Kilgore together contributed all nine quarterly entries encompassing every single quarter for over two years. Articles can be found here: https://www.etsu.edu/cbat/economics/economic_update/default.php
| Author | Title | Quarter / Year |
| Kilgore | Blockchain — The Assassin of Financial Privacy | Q1 2026 |
| Trainor | Valuing the S&P 500 | Q4 2025 |
| Kilgore | Fed Up (With the Inconsistency of the FOMC) | Q3 2025 |
| Trainor | The Financial Market's Tariff Tantrum | Q2 2025 |
| Trainor | Financial Markets Overview | Q1 2025 |
| Kilgore | Silicon Valley Bank — Could it Happen Again? | Q4 2024 |
| Trainor | Futures to Predict the Future | Q3 2024 |
| Trainor | The Magnificent Seven | Q2 2024 |
| Trainor | Financial Markets Overview | Q1 2024 |
Submitted / In Preparation
- Trainor & Kilgore (2026). Economic Viability of Proposed 50+ Year Mortgages in the U.S. Housing Market. Presented at 2026 ARBs, Submitted to Journal of Business Administration Online with Arkansas Tech.
- Trainor & Ashwin (2026). Structural Changes in Cryptocurrency Price Discovery After Launch of Bitcoin and Ethereum Spot ETFs. Presented at 2026 ARBs, under review at The Journal of Alternative Investments.
Academic/Conference and Public/Civic Presentations
- 2024 Economics Forum, W. Trainor. Greed, Fear, Bubbles, and Troubles.
- 2025 Economics Forum, W. Trainor. Let it Ride of Take the Money and Run.
- 2026 Economics Forum, W. Trainor, Interest: How it Affects Everything, Everywhere, All at Once.
- 2026 ARBS, Trainor & Kilgore (2026). Economic Viability of Proposed 50+ Year Mortgages in the U.S. Housing Market.
- 2026 ARBS, Trainor & Ashwin (2026). Structural Changes in Cryptocurrency Price Discovery After Launch of Bitcoin and Ethereum Spot ETFs.
- 2026, Bucs and Brews, Kilgore (2026). Silicon Valley Bank: Could it happen again?
- 2026 Kiwanis Club, Kingsport, Kilgore (2026). Silicon Valley Bank: Could it happen again?
Conference and Presentation Photos
2026 ARBS Conference — Trainor and Kilgore
2026 Economics Forum, Left: Kilgore interviews Fed President Tom Barkin. Right: Trainor presents "Greed, Fear, Bubbles, and Troubles."