Group 1 - The iREIT+HOYA Capital service focuses on income-producing asset classes, aiming to provide sustainable portfolio income, diversification, and inflation hedging [1][2] - European stocks experienced significant growth in 2025, as the region's undervaluation became increasingly apparent to investors [2] - The investment group offers high-yield, dividend growth ideas, targeting dividend yields up to 10% across various asset classes including REITs, ETFs, and closed-end funds [2]

Core Insights - The logistics sector has seen significant engagement from investors, particularly in the ASEAN and US markets, highlighting its growth potential and diversification opportunities [1] Investment Focus - The company has diversified its investments across various sectors including banking, telecommunications, logistics, and hotels, indicating a strategic approach to portfolio management [1] - The entry into the US market in 2020 reflects a growing interest in international investment opportunities, particularly in sectors like banks, hotels, and shipping [1] Market Trends - The popularity of insurance companies in the Philippines since 2014 suggests a shift in investment preferences among local investors, moving towards more diversified financial products [1] - The trend of using platforms like Seeking Alpha for analysis indicates a growing reliance on data-driven insights for investment decisions in both the ASEAN and US markets [1]

Core Insights - The integration of alternative investments into client portfolios is evolving from an opportunistic add-on to a calculated component of portfolio construction, reflecting a structural shift in advisor strategies [2][3][5] Group 1: Portfolio Construction and Strategy - Alternative investments can be categorized into three types: income and low-volatility growth, growth alternatives, and real assets for inflation hedging, depending on client risk and return profiles [1] - Private credit is utilized for income and downside support, while private equity and venture capital are sought for long-term growth, emphasizing pacing and vintage diversification [2] - Advisors are increasingly using alternatives as a core part of portfolio construction, with 50% allocating at least 10% of client assets to alternatives and 75% allocating at least 5% [3][5] Group 2: Client Demand and Market Trends - Higher-net-worth clients often inquire about alternative investments after reaching significant financial milestones, typically around $1 million in investable assets [8] - The demand for alternatives is driven by a desire for diversification and risk management rather than solely for market-beating returns [8][9] - The trend towards alternative investments is supported by an extended bull market in equities, which has become concentrated and expensive [5] Group 3: Technology and Accessibility - Technology and AI are streamlining access to alternative investments, making it easier for financial advisors to introduce these strategies to clients [6] - 77% of advisors utilize model portfolios for alternative investing, with 55% valuing analysis tools as essential technology features [7] Group 4: Risk Management and Client Concerns - Clients are increasingly focused on ensuring their portfolios are not overly reliant on a single market environment, with alternatives providing a means to manage concentration risk [10][11] - Alternatives can reduce volatility drag during withdrawal phases, but they also come with trade-offs such as less liquidity, complexity, and higher fees [9]

Core Insights - The article compares two small-cap ETFs: State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 600 Small Cap ETF (SPSM) and Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF (SCHA), focusing on their costs, performance, risk, and portfolio composition [2] Cost & Size Comparison - SPSM has a lower expense ratio of 0.03% compared to SCHA's 0.04% - SPSM's one-year return is 5.32%, while SCHA's is significantly higher at 11.33% - SPSM offers a dividend yield of 1.70%, which is higher than SCHA's 1.38% - SPSM has an AUM of $13 billion, whereas SCHA has $19 billion [3][4] Performance & Risk Comparison - SPSM's maximum drawdown over five years is -27.95%, while SCHA's is deeper at -30.79% - The growth of $1,000 invested over five years is $1,322 for SPSM and $1,294 for SCHA [5] Portfolio Composition - SCHA tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Small-Cap Total Stock Market Index and holds 1,745 stocks, providing greater diversification - SPSM tracks the S&P SmallCap 600 Index and contains 607 stocks, with significant allocations in financial services, industrials, and technology [6][7] - SCHA's top holdings include Sandisk, Lumentum Holdings, and Rocket Companies, while SPSM's largest holdings are Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Armstrong World Industries, and InterDigital [7][8] Investment Implications - Investing in small-cap stocks can enhance portfolio diversification and exposure to growth potential - SCHA has shown higher volatility with a higher beta and a more severe maximum drawdown, despite outperforming SPSM in the past year [10]

Core Insights - Ray Dalio emphasizes the importance of gold as a diversifier in investment portfolios, especially during economic downturns [1][5][6] - Gold has seen a significant price increase of over 70% in the past year, attracting renewed interest from local prospectors [2][4] - Experts suggest that a 25% allocation to gold in investment portfolios is reasonable, viewing it as an insurance policy against dollar weakness [7] Gold as an Investment - Gold is regarded as a safe haven asset, not subject to unlimited printing by central banks, making it a hedge against inflation [5] - JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon predicts that gold prices could rise to $10,000 per ounce, with the current spot price around $4,484 [8] - Gold IRAs offer investors the opportunity to hold physical gold within a retirement account, combining tax advantages with the protective benefits of gold [9] Market Trends - The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis reports that the purchasing power of the U.S. dollar has significantly declined, with $100 in 2025 equating to $12.05 in 1970 [11] - Real estate has also been highlighted as a strong asset for wealth preservation, with housing prices increasing by over 225% in the last 30 years [12] - The current economic environment has made homeownership more challenging, prompting individuals to seek alternative income streams, such as gold prospecting [13]

Core Insights - The "Trump Bump" may initially boost market confidence, but successful investing requires careful planning and a long-term perspective, emphasizing the importance of diversification to mitigate market fluctuations [1] Art Market - Masterworks is facilitating access to art investments by allowing fractional shares in high-value artworks from renowned artists like Picasso and Basquiat, with the firm having sold approximately $45 million worth of art to date [2][3] - The potential for increased discretionary income among affluent individuals may enhance confidence in luxury purchases, including art, as tax cuts are anticipated under the Trump administration [4] - The art market's performance is suggested to be less correlated with stock market trends, providing a diversification opportunity for investors [6] Investment Performance - Masterworks has successfully exited 23 paintings since its launch in 2019, all yielding profits, with net annualized returns reported at 14.6%, 17.6%, and 17.8% [7] - The art market's optimism is paralleled by the crypto market, which saw Bitcoin prices soar above $170,000 following Trump's electoral win, indicating a potential surge in both sectors [8] Economic Context - The U.S. Federal Reserve's recent rate cut of 0.25% has contributed to stock market confidence, suggesting that interest rates play a significant role in market dynamics [11] - Historical data indicates that U.S. elections have not significantly impacted the medium to long-term performance of the stock market, underscoring the importance of long-term investment strategies [13] Precious Metals - Gold prices have reached unprecedented highs, with projections from Goldman Sachs suggesting an 11% increase by the end of 2025, highlighting its potential as a stable long-term investment [14]

Core Insights - TikTok has evolved into a platform for practical investing advice, with strategies gaining millions of views that can help individuals build long-term wealth as they approach 2026 [1] Group 1: Diversification Strategies - Portfolio diversification is a widely discussed strategy on TikTok, confirmed by experts as a smart move to protect against market fluctuations [2] - Diversifying investments across multiple asset classes can manage risk and reduce the impact of single market events, with stocks and bonds being a good starting point [3] - A self-directed IRA offers additional control and flexibility, allowing investments in alternative assets like real estate and precious metals [4] Group 2: Dollar-Cost Averaging - Dollar-cost averaging (DCA) is gaining popularity as a strategy that allows regular investment of a fixed amount, regardless of market conditions [4] - This approach helps reduce emotional decision-making and the impact of market volatility, with many investors applying it to retirement contributions [5] - Consistent contributions to an IRA can potentially grow retirement savings into seven figures over decades in a tax-advantaged account [5] Group 3: Index Fund Investing - Index funds are becoming a dominant topic on TikTok, appealing to those who may not be skilled in stock picking, as they provide exposure to the entire market [6] - Investing in index funds automatically diversifies investments across various market sectors, alleviating the stress of selecting individual stocks [7]

Core Insights - Hedge funds have been actively buying and selling throughout the third quarter, with their 13F filings revealing key investment trends and favorites [2] Group 1: SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) - SPY continues to dominate the market, tracking the S&P 500 index and holding approximately 500 large-cap U.S. stocks, with an expense ratio of 0.09% and a yield of 1.04% [4] - The fund has a significant tech focus, allocating 34.54% to technology, followed by financials at 13.44% and consumer discretionary at 10.50% [4] - SPY's top 10 holdings constitute 46% of the portfolio, including major companies like Nvidia, Microsoft, Apple, Meta, Tesla, and Amazon [4] - Point72 Asset Management increased its holding in SPY by 3.3%, totaling 5.89% of its portfolio, while Tudor Investment added a new position with 3,650,000 shares, representing 4.19% of its portfolio [5] - SPY has achieved a 1-year return of 14.85% and a 3-year return of 20.41%, with a year-to-date gain of 17.65% [5] Group 2: Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) - The Invesco QQQ Trust has seen increased interest from hedge funds, with Elliott Investment Management raising its position by 3.3% to 5.28% of its portfolio, and Citadel Advisors increasing its stake by 0.59% to 4.04% [8] - Point72 Asset Management also increased its stake in QQQ by 1.56% [8] - QQQ has gained 21.67% year-to-date, with over 50% of its allocation in technology and 53% in its top 10 holdings [7] Group 3: iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) - Ray Dalio raised his stake in IVV by 4.83%, now holding over 1 million shares, which represents 10.62% of his portfolio [7]

Core Viewpoint - The combination of portfolio diversification and reliable income through municipal bonds and related ETFs suggests that 2026 could be an optimal time for investors to consider funds like the ALPS Intermediate Municipal Bond ETF (MNBD) [1] Group 1: Performance and Comparison - The actively managed MNBD has shown impressive performance in 2025, achieving a year-to-date return of over 5%, significantly outperforming the largest ETF in the category, which is essentially flat for the year [2] - Investors should be cautious and understand the characteristics of municipal bonds before investing in MNBD in 2026 [2] Group 2: Characteristics of Municipal Bonds - Municipal bonds are debt instruments issued by state and local governments to finance public projects, providing tax-free income through interest payments [3] - Investors often utilize individual municipal bonds for tax benefits, including the ability to deduct accrued interest from federal and state taxes [4] Group 3: Advantages of MNBD - MNBD is beneficial for enhancing diversification in equity portfolios, making it a suitable option for non-taxable accounts like retirement vehicles [4] - Diversification helps minimize investment risk, as municipal bonds have different risk and reward profiles compared to Treasurys and corporate bonds [5] - The intermediate-term nature of MNBD means it is less correlated to stocks than long-dated fixed income assets, further enhancing its diversification properties [6] Group 4: Active Management Benefits - MNBD's status as an active ETF allows it to respond more efficiently to varying financial conditions of municipal bond issuers, unlike passive rivals [7] - Bond funds like MNBD benefit from experienced fund managers who monitor municipalities and associated risks, providing an additional layer of oversight for investors [8]

Core Insights - Investors are encouraged to consider rebalancing their portfolios as the fiscal year ends, particularly for tax loss harvesting and positioning for the upcoming year [1] - A diversified investment approach is recommended, incorporating various types of securities for better long-term risk-adjusted returns [2] Company Analysis Alphabet (GOOG) - Alphabet is highlighted as a top investment choice due to its strong growth profile, driven by investments in its AI LLM platform (Gemini) [3][4] - The company achieved over $100 billion in quarterly revenue for the first time in Q3, with a year-over-year revenue growth of 16% and earnings surging by 33% [4] - Alphabet's core search and media businesses are expected to become increasingly profitable, particularly with the rising demand for cloud storage, search, and AI efficiency [5] Restaurant Brands (QSR) - Restaurant Brands is positioned as a defensive investment, benefiting from its portfolio of quick-service restaurants, including Burger King and Tim Hortons [6][7] - The company reported a revenue increase of approximately 7% year-over-year, with earnings also rising by a similar amount, indicating strong performance [9] - The anticipated economic conditions in 2026 suggest a consumer trend towards seeking value in dining out, which could favor Restaurant Brands [8] iShares 20+ Year Treasury ETF (TLT) - TLT is presented as a defensive investment option for cautious investors, providing exposure to U.S. Treasurys [11][12] - This ETF is seen as a protective measure against potential market drawdowns, with the possibility of gaining value if interest rates decrease or economic growth expectations slow [14]