Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of retirement savings and the potential benefits of working with financial advisors to maximize returns and secure a comfortable retirement [2][4]. Retirement Savings Insights - A survey indicates that American retirees believe they will need an average of $823,000 in savings for retirement, while the general perception is that $1.26 million is necessary [4]. - The average retiree spends approximately $59,616 annually, which translates to about $5,000 monthly, while the average Social Security check is only $2,071 per month, creating a significant shortfall of nearly $3,000 [5]. - The median retirement savings for households aged 55 to 64 is around $185,000, highlighting a potential inadequacy in savings for many Americans [6][7]. Investment Strategies - Investing in gold is presented as a viable option to preserve retirement savings, with gold prices having increased over 70% in the past year, and projections suggesting prices could reach between $6,000 and $6,300 per ounce by the end of 2026 [11][12]. - Gold is viewed as a hedge against inflation and market volatility, making it an attractive asset for retirement portfolios [10][12]. Financial Tools and Services - Financial advisors can enhance investment returns by up to 3% through effective asset allocation, investment selection, and tax management [2]. - Services like Advisor.com offer personalized guidance to help individuals assess their retirement goals and investment strategies [8]. - Platforms like Acorns allow users to automatically invest spare change into diversified portfolios, making it easier to build savings [16][17]. - Real estate investment opportunities have become more accessible, allowing individuals to invest in shares of vacation homes or rental properties with minimal capital [19][20].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the expertise of Sensor Unlimited in financial economics, particularly in the mortgage market, commercial market, and banking industry, highlighting her contributions to asset allocation and ETFs [2] Group 1: Company Overview - Sensor Unlimited has a PhD in financial economics and has spent a decade focusing on the mortgage and banking sectors [2] - The company offers two model portfolios aimed at different investment strategies: one for short-term survival and another for aggressive long-term growth [2] Group 2: Services Offered - The company provides direct access via chat for discussing investment ideas and offers monthly updates on all holdings [2] - Tax discussions and ticker critiques are available upon request, enhancing the service's value for investors [2]

Core Insights - The article discusses the expertise of Sensor Unlimited, who has a PhD in financial economics and specializes in the mortgage market, commercial market, and banking industry [2] Group 1: Company Overview - Sensor Unlimited is a quantitative modeler with a decade of experience in covering various financial sectors, including asset allocation and ETFs related to the overall market, bonds, banking, and housing markets [2] Group 2: Services Offered - The investing group Envision Early Retirement, led by Sensor Unlimited, provides solutions aimed at generating high income and growth with isolated risks through dynamic asset allocation [2] - The group features two model portfolios: one focused on short-term survival/withdrawal and the other on aggressive long-term growth, along with direct access for discussions, monthly updates, tax discussions, and ticker critiques by request [2]

Company Overview - Rubicon Associates is led by a Chartered Financial Analyst with over 20 years of experience in investment management, focusing on fixed income and preferred stock portfolios, as well as asset allocation and macro portfolios [1] - The principal has managed nearly $7 billion in credit investments and oversaw research and trading activities in the credit market [1] - The firm has also managed a short-duration fund worth $20 billion and served as Chief Strategist at a wealth management firm [1] Research and Advisory - Rubicon Associates has provided analysis and investment advice for both public and private companies globally [1] - The firm has written for various financial platforms, including Seeking Alpha, Learn Bonds, and TheStreet.com, and has advised institutional and private investors [1]

Core Insights - Bitwise has launched seven model portfolios focused on digital assets to cater to different investor risk preferences [2][5] - The portfolios will provide access to various types of ETFs, including spot crypto ETFs, crypto index ETFs, thematic ETFs, and crypto equity ETFs [2][4] - The model portfolios aim to help financial advisors allocate assets effectively in the crypto space, with a significant projected growth in model portfolio assets from $7.7 trillion in Q1 2025 to $13.2 trillion by 2029 [5] Portfolio Details - The "core" portfolios will offer broad exposure to the crypto ecosystem, while thematic portfolios will focus on specific themes such as stablecoins and tokenization [2] - A risk-managed portfolio will invest in two Bitwise funds that rotate between Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Treasuries based on momentum to address concerns about crypto volatility [3][7] - The models will include both Bitwise's own ETFs and third-party funds, enhancing diversification [4] Market Context - Many financial advisors currently rely on model portfolios for asset allocation, indicating a growing trend in the use of such models in the wealth management industry [5] - Bitwise aims to scale its model portfolio business across various platforms, particularly targeting large wealth manager platforms [6] - The portfolios will be systematically monitored and rebalanced to maintain target asset allocations and mitigate single-asset risk [7]

Core Insights - Traditional retirement advice may be overly conservative, often recommending a balanced portfolio that includes conservative assets like bonds, while James Choi suggests maintaining a 100% stock portfolio during most of one's working life [1][8] Group 1: Asset Allocation Perspectives - Choi argues that conventional financial advice fails to consider human capital, which includes future wage income and Social Security benefits, as a significant economic asset for working individuals [3][8] - The correlation between labor income shocks and stock market returns is minimal, allowing individuals to take on more risk in their investment portfolios [3][4] - Choi's academic models propose that individuals should ideally hold 100% stocks or even leverage positions of 200% to 300% stocks, depending on their financial objectives [9] Group 2: Behavioral Considerations - Financial advisors caution that a 100% equity portfolio may not be suitable for everyone, as many investors do not behave rationally during market downturns, potentially leading to poor decision-making [5][7] - Individuals in cyclical or high-volatility industries may find their job prospects closely tied to economic cycles, which could affect their investment strategies [6][8] - Choi acknowledges that for those with lower risk tolerance, a higher stock allocation may not be appropriate, emphasizing the need for personalized investment strategies [7][9] Group 3: Practical Tools - Choi has developed a spreadsheet tool that allows individuals to input personal financial factors to receive tailored portfolio allocation recommendations, though it is intended as a thought exercise rather than direct investment advice [9]

Group 1: PICTON Investments Fund - PICTON Investments has launched an open-ended fund focusing on "trophy asset" general partner-led secondary investments, targeting mature, high-quality companies with significant value-creation potential [1] - The fund aims to capture private equity alpha through underwriting discipline, asset quality, and manager selectivity, rather than broad market exposure [1] - Morningside Capital Inc. will lead the sourcing and underwriting of private equity investments for the fund, while PICTON Investments will manage its liquid investments [1] Group 2: CI Global Asset Management Funds - CI Global Asset Management has introduced two new asset-allocation funds that include exposure to non-traditional assets such as gold and bitcoin [2][3] - The CI Balanced+ Asset Allocation ETF Fund allocates approximately 57% to equity securities, 38% to fixed-income securities, and 5% to other assets, with a target allocation of 2.5% each in gold and bitcoin [4] - The CI Equity+ Asset Allocation ETF Fund features an allocation of roughly 92% to equity securities and 8% to other assets, with a target allocation of 4% each in gold and bitcoin [5] Group 3: Sun Life Global Investments Funds - Sun Life Global Investments has launched ETF series for two existing mutual funds, now available on the TSX under the ticker symbols SBLG and SBLI [7] - The funds were renamed to better reflect the proprietary blended research approach used by their sub-advisor, MFS Investment Management [8] Group 4: First Trust Nuclear Power ETF - First Trust Canada has launched the First Trust Bloomberg Nuclear Power ETF, which began trading on January 19, with a management fee of 0.85% [10] - The fund aims to replicate the performance of the Bloomberg Nuclear Power Index and invests in companies involved in nuclear energy production [11][12] - Its top five holdings include Cameco Corp., Doosan Enerbility Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., BHP Group Limited, and BWX Technologies, Inc. [13] Group 5: J.P. Morgan Asset Management Fund - J.P. Morgan Asset Management Canada has launched the JPMorgan International Developed Equity Active ETF, which began trading on January 28 [14] - The fund targets long-term capital growth by investing in large- and mid-cap stocks in foreign developed markets, with a management fee of 0.55% [15] Group 6: PIMCO Managed Balanced Portfolio - PIMCO Canada Corp. has launched the PIMCO Managed Balanced Portfolio, a diversified 60/40 asset-allocation fund [16] - The fund allocates 60% to passive global equity ETFs and 40% to actively managed fixed-income funds [16][17] Group 7: Fidelity Global Opportunities Fund - Fidelity Investments Canada ULC has launched the Fidelity Global Opportunities Long/Short Fund, which employs a long/short strategy to navigate various market conditions [18][19] Group 8: Proposed Mining Fund by Next Edge Capital - Next Edge Capital Corp. has filed a preliminary prospectus for a proposed CMP Next Edge 2026 Critical and Precious Metals Short Duration Flow-Through LP, focusing on flow-through shares of mining companies [20][21] Group 9: RBC Global Asset Management Fund Closure - RBC Global Asset Management Inc. plans to terminate the RBC QUBE Low Volatility Emerging Markets Equity Fund on or about March 30, 2026, due to limited growth potential [22][23] Group 10: Fund Changes by Multiple Firms - PICTON Investments will discontinue performance fees for three mutual funds effective January 30 [25] - SLGI Asset Management Inc. will change sub-advisors for two funds, with new names reflecting the change [26][27] - CIBC Asset Management Inc. will change the ticker symbol for one of its ETFs effective February 4 [28] - Invesco Canada Ltd. has changed the risk rating for one of its ETFs from medium to high [29] - BMO Asset Management Inc. has reduced management fees for select ETFs and updated risk ratings [30][31]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of understanding individual investor sentiment and market analysis for making informed investment decisions [1]. Group 1 - Charles Rotblut is the editor of the AAII Journal, which focuses on individual investor sentiment and market analysis [1]. - The publication aims to provide insights that can help investors create wealth by understanding the risk-reward ratio [1].

Core Viewpoint - Strong Tower Advisory Services has fully liquidated its position in the F/m US Treasury 3 Month Bill ETF (NASDAQ:TBIL), indicating a strategic shift in investment focus [1][2]. ETF Overview - The F/m US Treasury 3 Month Bill ETF (TBIL) has assets under management (AUM) of $6.31 billion and offers a yield of 4.06% [4]. - As of January 22, TBIL shares were priced at $49.98, showing minimal price fluctuation over the past year, with a 1-year total return of 4.13% [3][4]. Investment Strategy - TBIL's investment strategy focuses on tracking the performance of the most recently issued 3-month U.S. Treasury bill, with at least 80% of assets invested in this security [9]. - The fund provides daily liquidity and is structured as an ETF, making it a low-cost vehicle for capital preservation and current income [9][11]. Market Context - The liquidation of TBIL shares by Strong Tower Advisory Services may reflect a broader trend where ultra-short Treasury ETFs are seen as less attractive when opportunity costs rise [10]. - The fund's performance has remained stable, fulfilling its role as an institutional cash tool, but may become redundant as liquidity is available through other investments [11][12].

Investment Strategy for Retirees - The importance of balancing riskier investments with safer options is emphasized, suggesting a rule of thumb where retirees subtract their age from 110 to determine the percentage of their portfolio to allocate to equities [2] - Retirees should avoid being overly conservative, as this could lead to running out of funds while still needing them, especially during market downturns [3] Market Conditions and Investment Risks - The volatility in the stock market is attributed to geopolitical factors, including tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, which have affected global relations and market stability [4] - Retirees are advised to be cautious with their investments, particularly if they have a limited amount of cash, such as $143,000, which may not be sufficient for long-term living expenses [5] Professional Financial Advice - Engaging with a financial advisor can potentially increase net returns by about 3% over time, significantly impacting long-term growth [7] - Advisor.com offers a platform to connect retirees with licensed financial professionals for personalized investment guidance [8] Investment Options - Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track the S&P 500 are recommended as a common choice for equity investments, with the S&P 500 showing an annualized return of 12.5% over the past five years [10] - Diversification is crucial, as the S&P 500 is heavily weighted towards a few large tech companies, which could expose portfolios to sector-specific risks [12] Alternative Investment Vehicles - Bonds and Certificates of Deposit (CDs) are highlighted as low-risk investment options that can provide regular income streams for retirees [19][18] - Bonds, particularly Treasury bonds, are considered a safer investment due to the backing of the federal government, while CDs offer guaranteed interest rates [19] Cash Management - Retirees are advised to maintain a few months' worth of living expenses in a high-yield savings account to ensure liquidity while also considering other low-risk investment options [16]