Earn free CE credits and discover new strategies For more news, information, and analysis, visit VettaFi | ETF Trends. chuck jaffeetf of the weekexpert insightsIALTiSharesPodcaststodd rosenbluth VettaFi's Head of Research Todd Rosenbluth discussed the iShares Systematic Alternatives Active ETF (IALT) on this week's "ETF of the Week†podcast with Chuck Jaffe of "Money Life.†RELATED TOPICS ...

Core Insights - Retirees may feel anxious about investing in the stock market due to concerns over potential corrections and the risk of a bubble in artificial intelligence investments [1] Investment Options - There are strategies to mitigate exposure to technology while maintaining a relatively low risk profile, such as investing in low-volatility, dividend-paying exchange-traded funds (ETFs) [2] Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF - The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF offers a dividend yield of 3.7%, significantly higher than the S&P 500 average of 1.1%, focusing on financially strong dividend stocks [4] - The ETF's holdings are concentrated in stable sectors like energy, consumer staples, healthcare, and industrials, which constitute about two-thirds of its portfolio [5] - With a low beta value of 0.68, the fund exhibits less volatility compared to the broader market, and its 12-month returns of 2% indicate a stable investment option [6] Vanguard Value Index Fund ETF - The Vanguard Value Index Fund ETF provides a yield of 2% and has a low expense ratio of 0.04%, making it an attractive option for retirees [7] - Its beta value of 0.76 suggests it offers protection against market volatility, and it has seen a rise of over 14% in the past year [8]

Core Insights - The Inspire Small/Mid Cap ETF (ISMD) debuted on February 28, 2017, and provides broad exposure to the Style Box - All Cap Blend category of the market [1] Fund Overview - The fund is sponsored by Inspire and has accumulated over $240.91 million in assets, categorizing it as an average-sized ETF in its segment [5] - ISMD aims to match the performance of the Inspire Small/Mid Cap Impact Equal Weight Index, selecting securities from publicly traded small and mid-cap companies with an Inspire Impact Score of zero or higher [6] Cost Structure - The annual operating expenses for ISMD are 0.57%, which is comparable to most peer products in the space, and it has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.17% [7] Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF's largest allocation is in the Financials sector, comprising approximately 18.3% of the portfolio, followed by Industrials and Information Technology [8] - The top 10 holdings account for about 3.85% of total assets, with Bbh Sweep Vehicle (BBHETFMM) making up about 0.67% of the fund's total assets [9] Performance Metrics - As of January 8, 2026, ISMD has increased by roughly 3.27% and is up about 7.66% year-to-date, with a trading range between $29.72 and $40.28 over the past 52 weeks [11] - The ETF has a beta of 1.01 and a standard deviation of 19.86% for the trailing three-year period, effectively diversifying company-specific risk with around 498 holdings [11] Alternatives - The Inspire Small/Mid Cap ETF is a viable option for investors looking to outperform the Style Box - All Cap Blend segment, but there are other ETFs available in the market [12] - Notable alternatives include Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV) and iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (ESGU), which have significantly larger asset bases and lower expense ratios [13]

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Core Insights - The ETF market experienced nearly $1.5 trillion in net inflows in 2025, marking a record year for the industry [1] Small-Cap ETFs - Small-cap ETFs faced net redemptions in 2025, with approximately $7 billion in outflows, significantly underperforming large-cap counterparts [2] - The S&P 600 rose about 6%, lagging the S&P 500 by over 1,000 basis points, although the gap narrowed to 100 basis points in Q4 [2][3] - Major outflows were concentrated in the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) and iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR) [3] Thematic ETFs and AI - Thematic ETFs, particularly those focused on artificial intelligence, saw around $16 billion in inflows, representing over half of all thematic inflows [4] - The iShares AI Innovation and Tech Active ETF (BAI) attracted nearly $8 billion [4] - Other notable thematic plays included the Range Nuclear Renaissance Index ETF (NUKZ), which increased by 55%, and the ROBO Global Robotics & Automation Index ETF (ROBO), which gained 22% in 2025 [4] High Yield ETFs - High yield ETFs, such as the iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG) and the iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (USHY), returned close to 9% in 2025, outperforming the Aggregate Bond Index [5] - Despite tight credit spreads, 38% of advisors still find high yield corporate bonds attractive [5] Industry Developments - Over 30 firms, including Dimensional Fund Advisors, BlackRock, and JPMorgan Chase & Co., are expected to launch ETF share classes of mutual funds by the end of Q1 [6] - Goldman Sachs is integrating Innovator ETFs following a $2 billion acquisition, which is anticipated to create synergies by combining Innovator's products with Goldman's distribution network [7] New ETF Strategies - Cullen Roche launched three new ETFs in November 2025, targeting five-, 10-, and 20-year time horizons using an asset-liability matching framework to address sequence of returns risk [8]

Core Viewpoint - The iShares MSCI EAFE ETF has demonstrated strong recent performance, indicating a potential shift for investors after a decade of US equity dominance [1] Group 1 - International developed markets have lagged behind US markets for the past ten years [1] - The recent performance of the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF may signal a turning point for investment strategies [1]

Group 1: ETF Issuer M&A Activity - Goldman Sachs announced the acquisition of Innovator Capital Management for $2 billion, expected to close in Q2 2026, enhancing its ETF offerings in defined outcome ETFs, which have grown to over $80 billion industrywide [2][4] - The acquisition aims to address Goldman's stagnant ETF business by integrating a specialized product suite from Innovator, which has a proven track record [3][4] - Predictions indicate multiple transactions in 2026, with larger asset managers acquiring smaller ETF issuers, highlighting a trend towards consolidation in the ETF industry [5][6] Group 2: Smart Beta ETFs Resurgence - Smart beta ETFs, which combine elements of passive and active management, have seen a resurgence with several asset managers launching new products that align with smart beta principles [7][8] - The smart beta ETF category currently holds approximately $1.1 trillion in assets, with predictions of inflows doubling to $75 billion in 2026, driven by investor interest in systematic, factor-targeted portfolios [11][12] Group 3: Growth of Crypto Index ETFs - Spot crypto ETFs attracted around $35 billion in inflows in 2025, following a favorable regulatory shift in the U.S. under new SEC leadership [13][14] - The crypto index ETF category is expected to triple in assets to over $5 billion in 2026, as more investors seek diversified exposure to cryptocurrencies through index-based products [19] Group 4: International Equity ETFs - International equity ETFs experienced record inflows of approximately $250 billion in 2025, surpassing the previous record of $198 billion in 2021, with expectations for further growth in 2026 [24][26] - Factors such as last year's international outperformance and stretched U.S. equity valuations may drive reallocations towards international equity ETFs [26][27] Group 5: Fixed Income ETFs - Fixed income ETFs saw inflows of roughly $450 billion in 2025, significantly exceeding the previous record, with predictions for continued growth in 2026 [29][31] - Key drivers for this growth include capital migrating from money market funds and expectations of lower interest rates, which may prompt advisors to reallocate portfolios towards fixed income ETFs [32][35]

Core Viewpoint - The iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bill ETF (SGOV) is highlighted as a preferred cash management tool for investors, emphasizing its role in providing liquidity and safety in volatile markets [1]. Group 1: Investment Strategy - The investment approach is macro-oriented and data-driven, focusing on identifying trends that may not be recognized by mainstream financial media [1]. - The importance of position sizing over security selection is stressed, indicating a disciplined risk management strategy [1]. Group 2: Market Philosophy - The article references the idea that successful investing often requires holding unconventional positions, aligning with the views of notable investors like Howard Marks and David Swensen [1]. - Historical insights are emphasized as instructive for current investment strategies, suggesting that past events can guide future decisions [1].

Core Insights - The surge in silver prices has prompted mining companies to adjust their pricing strategies based on evolving fundamentals [1] Group 1: Market Dynamics - Mining companies are increasingly factoring in the changing fundamentals of silver into their pricing models [1] - The iShares MSCI Global Silver holdings reflect these adjustments in market behavior [1] Group 2: Research and Analysis - Financial Serenity, managed by Tommaso Scarpellini, focuses on asset management sector analysis [1] - The initiative aims to provide in-depth insights into the dynamics of the asset management market [1] - The analysis combines rigorous data evaluation with actionable opinions on ETFs and trending instruments [1]

Core Insights - The podcast episode focuses on reviewing Todd Rosenbluth's favorite ETF picks from 2025, highlighting their performance and investment strategies [1][2][3] Group 1: ETF Performance - T. Rowe Price's International Equity ETF (TOUS) has outperformed both the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) and the S&P 500, with a year-to-date increase of 33% compared to 31% for IEFA and more than double for the S&P 500 [6] - Vanguard's 0-3 Month Treasury Bill ETF (VBIL), launched in the first quarter of 2025, has attracted $4.5 billion in assets, making it the most popular newly launched ETF this year [10][11] - NEOS's Nasdaq 100 High Income ETF (QQQI) has gathered $6 billion in assets, benefiting from options-based strategies to generate enhanced income [13][14] Group 2: Investment Strategies - The focus of the ETFs discussed includes international equity, short-term treasury investments, and growth strategies through Nasdaq-100 exposure [5][12] - The podcast emphasizes the importance of identifying trends in the ETF market, with a particular focus on actively managed and options-based strategies that have gained traction among investors [4][14]