TSPY vs IVVW: Income Fund Comparison

TappAlpha SPY Growth & Daily Income ETF - US (TSPY) and iShares S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF - US (IVVW) are both income-focused funds. Below is our independent side-by-side review using the Dependable Income Investing 13-factor scoring system — designed specifically for income investors seeking reliable, sustainable distributions.

TSPY: 0.77% Management Expense Ratio. IVVW: Expense ratio is 0.25%. This is very low for a covered call fund. TSPY inception date was August 15th 2024. IVVW fund inception date was March 14 2024 - about 2.2 years which rounds up to 3 years. Full Dependability and Return scores for both funds are available in the app.

TSPY IVVW
Fund Name TappAlpha SPY Growth & Daily Income ETF - US iShares S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF - US
Fund Type Index Based Fund Index Based Fund
Exchange NYSE/NASDAQ NYSE/NASDAQ
Last Reviewed Aug 25, 2025 Jun 24, 2026
Author , Income Investing Analyst
TSPY
IVVW
Overall Score
Dependability

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Fund Attributes: TSPY vs IVVW 20% of overall score

Fund Attributes cover the foundational characteristics of each fund: cost, company backing, track record, and size. These factors reflect stability and cost-efficiency for long-term income investors.

Criterion
TSPY
IVVW
Expense Ratio
2/5

0.77% Management Expense Ratio.

4/5

Expense ratio is 0.25%. This is very low for a covered call fund.

Fund Company Size
1/5

TappAlpha is a small Seattle based fund company that launched TSPY mid August 2024.

5/5

iShares (BlackRock) manages well over 3 trillion in assets.

Fund History
2/5

Inception date was August 15th 2024.

3/5

Fund inception date was March 14 2024 - about 2.2 years which rounds up to 3 years.

Fund AUM
1/5

About $66 million in AUM - small fund.

2/5

Net assets are about 286.86 million.

Risk: TSPY vs IVVW 35% of overall score

Risk factors evaluate how each fund manages volatility, diversification, and the nature of its underlying assets — critical considerations for income investors who prioritise capital preservation.

Criterion
TSPY
IVVW
Volatility
3/5

Beta is similar to SPY which it holds.

5/5

Beta is 0.67 vs SPY over the price series since March 2024 - below market sensitivity. Standalone volatility is about 10.60% annualized (weekly returns) which is low-to-moderate and confirms the low beta reading.

Lower volatility may indicate more stability — important for investors living off their income.
Sector Diversification
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Holding across more sectors reduces the impact of any single industry downturn.
Geographic Diversification
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Exposure across geographies can reduce risk from any single country's economic conditions.
Fund Risk
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The fund's overall risk profile, based on self-reported classifications where available.
Underlying Assets
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What the fund actually holds — stocks, bonds, synthetics, or other funds — affects risk profile significantly.

See the full Risk analysis for both TSPY and IVVW — volatility ratings, diversification scores, and analyst notes.

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Return: TSPY vs IVVW 45% of overall score

Return factors assess income generation quality: current yield, distribution consistency, price history, and payment frequency. This is the most heavily weighted category for income investors.

Criterion
TSPY
IVVW
Yield
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The current dividend yield, reflecting the annual income generated relative to fund price.
Yield Stability
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How consistent the distribution amounts have been over time — critical for income investors who budget around payments.
Capital History
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The fund's track record of price appreciation or depreciation, reflecting total return alongside income.
Distribution Frequency
4/5

Pays monthly.

4/5

Pays monthly - confirmed from distribution history.

How often the fund pays distributions — monthly payments are generally preferred by income investors.

See the full Return analysis for both TSPY and IVVW — yield ratings, distribution consistency scores, and capital history.

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Our Review Methodology

Every fund reviewed on Dependable Income Investing is scored using our 13-factor Fund Report Card, organised into three weighted categories: Fund Attributes (20%), Risk (35%), and Return (45%). Each criterion is rated 1–5 by our analysts based on publicly available fund data.

We also calculate a Dependability Score — a weighted composite of six income-specific factors ranked by importance for retirement income investors: Yield Stability, Yield, Volatility, Capital History, Fund Risk, and Underlying Assets. This score answers the question income investors care about most: can I depend on this fund to pay me reliably?

Full scores, ratings, and analyst notes for both TSPY and IVVW are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.

See our full scoring methodology →

Frequently Asked Questions: TSPY vs IVVW

Which has a lower expense ratio, TSPY or IVVW?

TSPY: 0.77% Management Expense Ratio.
IVVW: Expense ratio is 0.25%. This is very low for a covered call fund.

Which fund has more assets under management, TSPY or IVVW?

TSPY: About $66 million in AUM - small fund.
IVVW: Net assets are about 286.86 million.

Which fund has been trading longer, TSPY or IVVW?

TSPY: Inception date was August 15th 2024.
IVVW: Fund inception date was March 14 2024 - about 2.2 years which rounds up to 3 years.

Who manages TSPY vs IVVW?

TSPY: TappAlpha is a small Seattle based fund company that launched TSPY mid August 2024.
IVVW: iShares (BlackRock) manages well over 3 trillion in assets.

Where can I see the full TSPY vs IVVW comparison with scores?

The complete side-by-side comparison — including all Risk and Return scores, analyst notes, Overall Score, and Dependability Score for both funds — is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.

What is the difference between TSPY and IVVW?

TappAlpha SPY Growth & Daily Income ETF - US is a Index Based Fund. 0.77% Management Expense Ratio. iShares S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF - US is a Index Based Fund. Expense ratio is 0.25%. This is very low for a covered call fund. Full comparison including Dependability Score is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.

Which is better for income investors, TSPY or IVVW?

TSPY: 0.77% Management Expense Ratio. Inception date was August 15th 2024. IVVW: Expense ratio is 0.25%. This is very low for a covered call fund. Fund inception date was March 14 2024 - about 2.2 years which rounds up to 3 years. Which scores higher on Dependability and Return is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.

Do TSPY and IVVW pay monthly distributions?

TSPY: Pays monthly. IVVW: Pays monthly - confirmed from distribution history. Full yield and distribution stability scores for both funds are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.

See the Full TSPY vs IVVW Comparison

The Dependable Income Investing app gives you the complete picture: all 13 scoring factors for both funds, Risk and Return analyst notes, Dependability Scores, and tools to compare any income fund side by side.

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