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]

Core Insights - Money market funds attracted $935 billion in new assets in the previous year, exceeding expectations and demonstrating resilience against anticipated outflows due to Federal Reserve rate cuts [1] - Continued growth in money market funds is projected, with an additional $500 billion in inflows expected by the end of 2026, pushing total assets beyond $8.6 trillion [1] Market Trends - Money market funds are expected to remain essential for financial advisors, even if interest rates decline, serving various purposes such as emergency reserves and volatility buffers [2] - The popularity of money market funds surged as the Federal Reserve began raising rates in 2022, peaking in mid-2023 with rates between 5.25% and 5.5% [3] - Current federal funds rates are between 3.5% and 3.75%, maintaining the attractiveness of money market funds for yield-seeking investors [3] Yield Comparisons - As of the latest data, the 7-day yields for the Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund and the Fidelity Government Money Market Fund were 3.69% and 3.43%, respectively, while the Crane 100 Money Fund Index stood at 3.58% [3] - Yields on money market funds remain competitive compared to traditional bank deposit products, which are less attractive [4] Investor Composition - Retail investors accounted for 34% of total money market inflows, while institutional investors represented 64% [5] - Money market fund yields have exceeded 3% only twice in the last two decades, with a significant portion of that time yielding effectively zero due to the Federal Reserve's lower bound rates [5]

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 Insights - Dividend stocks are essential for a diversified portfolio, providing stability and passive income during market downturns [1][2] - They are particularly valuable for investors needing passive income, such as retirees, as they prioritize safety over market outperformance [2] Investment Vehicles - Investing in dividend stocks through ETFs offers broad exposure and protection for portfolios [3] - Recommended ETFs include the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) and the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) for those with $500 to invest [3] Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF - The Schwab ETF tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, holding approximately 102 stocks across various sectors [5] - Major holdings include Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, ConocoPhillips, Lockheed Martin, and Chevron, each representing about 4% of the portfolio [6] - The ETF has a current dividend yield of 3.7% and a low expense ratio of 0.06% [7] Performance Metrics - Over the past five years, the Schwab ETF has increased by 55%, while the S&P 500 has nearly doubled [8] - The ETF is priced at $28 per share, making it accessible for investors with limited capital [8]

Ridofranz / Getty Images Vanguard reports that one in four retirees don't touch their retirement savings at all during the first five years after leaving work. Key Takeaways Recent research shows that married retirees withdraw about 2.1% of their savings annually, while spending 80% of their guaranteed income, like Social Security. Morningstar's latest analysis suggests retirees can safely withdraw 3.9% to start, close to the classic 4% annual withdrawal rule Those willing to adjust spending based on ...

Core Insights - XRP's price has increased by 25% in the first week of the year, significantly outperforming the broader crypto market, with $1.3 billion invested in XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs) [1][3] - Regulatory clarity in the US is a major factor contributing to XRP's strong performance, with the potential passage of the Clarity Act seen as beneficial for XRP [2][6] - Ripple has achieved significant business milestones, including a $500 million funding round that tripled its valuation to $40 billion, and partnerships with Mastercard and Gemini [5][6] Investment Trends - XRP ETFs have seen a remarkable $1.3 billion in investments since their launch, with no net outflows recorded, contrasting sharply with other crypto ETFs like Solana, which attracted $420 million, and Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs that experienced outflows of $2.4 billion and $898 million respectively [3][4] - Analysts believe that the proliferation of ETFs is a key catalyst for increasing investments in XRP, indicating a growing institutional interest in digital assets [4] Company Developments - Ripple's recent strategic funding round included notable investors such as Citadel Securities and Galaxy Digital, enhancing its market position [5] - The partnership with Mastercard and Gemini aims to facilitate stablecoin payments for credit card transactions, further integrating XRP into financial systems [5]

Core Viewpoint - Morgan Stanley is entering the digital asset product market by filing trusts for bitcoin and Solana exchange-traded products (ETPs), marking a significant shift from its previous avoidance of direct participation in this booming category [1][4]. Group 1: Market Entry and Strategy - The forthcoming ETPs may help Morgan Stanley consolidate wallet share among its wealth management clients, reducing the likelihood of clients using other crypto custodians [2]. - The bank's entry into the ETP market comes after other major players, like BlackRock, have established dominance with significant assets under management, such as BlackRock's $73 billion IBIT [3]. - Morgan Stanley expanded access to crypto ETPs last year, allowing all clients, not just those with $1.5 million and high risk tolerance, to participate [3]. Group 2: Financial Implications - As of September, Morgan Stanley reported $1.8 trillion in assets under management or supervision, indicating a substantial opportunity for growth in asset management and operational efficiency through these new products [4]. - The filings for new products come at a time when the SEC has allowed major exchanges to use generic listing standards, facilitating faster fund launches across various types of ETPs [5]. Group 3: Technological Considerations - The benefits of distributed ledger technology, such as faster transaction speeds, enhanced security, and lower costs, are becoming increasingly recognized, suggesting that the underlying technology could disrupt the financial services sector [6].

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]

Core Insights - 2025 was a strong year for fixed income ETFs, driven by market uncertainty leading investors to bonds [1] - Vanguard dominated inflows with four funds in the top 10, highlighting diverse investor interest in fixed income [1][2] Inflows and Fund Performance - Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND) and Vanguard Total International Bond ETF (BNDX) led with inflows of $21 billion and $13 billion respectively, indicating a broad interest in both U.S. and international bonds [2] - BND provides investment-grade exposure to U.S. debt, while BNDX focuses solely on international investment-grade bonds, reflecting a shift in investor preference due to macroeconomic factors [3] Short-Term Bond Demand - Short-term bond funds gained popularity in 2025, with Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund ETF Shares (BSV) attracting over $8 billion in inflows, as investors sought to mitigate rate risk and earn returns on cash [4][5] - The potential for further rate cuts by the Federal Reserve may continue to enhance the appeal of short-term bond funds [4][6] Corporate Bonds Outlook - The forecast for more rate cuts in 2026 could tighten credit spreads, improving the outlook for corporate bond fundamentals and making them more attractive compared to government debt [6] - Vanguard Interim-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCIT) saw inflows of approximately $8.6 billion, tracking U.S. investment-grade corporate bonds and balancing rate risk with higher yields [7]

Core Viewpoint - ETF investors are entering the new year with a mix of confidence and caution, showing a preference for equities and income while avoiding leverage and macro trades [1][8]. Group 1: ETF Inflows and Performance - U.S.-listed ETFs attracted $42.8 billion in inflows during the week ending Jan. 2, driven by a strong market close to 2025 [2]. - U.S. equity ETFs led the inflows, with $30.5 billion, where the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) received the highest inflow of $8.65 billion, followed by SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) with $7.75 billion and Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) with $4.03 billion [3]. - The demand was primarily for broad-market funds rather than sector-specific or thematic ETFs, indicating a general bullish sentiment without high-conviction bets [4]. Group 2: Fixed-Income and Other Asset Classes - Fixed-income ETFs also saw significant interest, with U.S. bond funds attracting $6.8 billion and international fixed income adding $2 billion, reflecting a focus on yield rather than duration risk [5]. - Commodity ETFs, such as SPDR Gold Shares and abrdn Physical Silver Shares ETF, experienced outflows of $686 million, while currency ETFs lost $249 million, indicating a decline in demand for inflation hedges as equity optimism rises [6]. Group 3: Risk Appetite and Trading Strategies - Higher-risk trading strategies faced notable withdrawals, with leveraged ETFs losing $919 million and inverse products seeing $447 million in outflows, suggesting a shift towards simpler investment strategies [7]. - Overall, the asset-class data indicates a market that is optimistic yet disciplined, with investors favoring equities and income while sidelining more aggressive trading strategies [8].