I’m a 65-year-old preparing for retirement within the next three to five years. I’m looking at different types of retirement funds. Would adding stocks that are dividend-structured along with gold and cryptocurrencies be a good mixture? -Earl Shifting from building wealth for retirement to distributing wealth during retirement involves considering preferences related to your life and money. Those factors can include your risk capacity, risk tolerance, lifestyle preferences, longevity, needs, diversificatio ...

Core Insights - The S&P 500 has shown significant growth, with an increase of over 15% in 2025, following gains of over 20% in both 2024 and 2023, compared to its historical average annual return of 9% to 10% [1][2] Group 1: ETF Performance and Characteristics - The Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is the largest ETF globally, surpassing $2 trillion in net assets, and includes thousands of companies not in the S&P 500, representing about 16% of the total U.S. stock market [5][6] - The Total Stock Market ETF is expected to perform similarly to the S&P 500 over the long term but may be more suitable for investors wanting full market participation [6][7] - The Vanguard Value ETF focuses on value stocks, which tend to perform better during market sell-offs, with major holdings in companies like JPMorgan Chase and Berkshire Hathaway, and offers a yield of 2.1% with a P/E ratio of 21.2 [9][10] - The Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF yields 2.2% and includes major companies like Walmart and Coca-Cola, which are expected to perform well during economic downturns due to their strong supply chains [12][13] Group 2: Market Trends and Investor Behavior - The S&P 500's rapid rise is attributed to strong earnings growth from key companies, including Nvidia, which, along with 19 others, constitutes about half of the index [2] - The consumer staples sector has underperformed in 2025, facing challenges from inflation and reduced consumer spending, but is expected to hold up during market sell-offs [11][13] - Investors are encouraged to use ETFs as part of a diversified portfolio, allowing for exposure to different sectors while managing risk [14]

The challenge, especially within my supply chain, is now how do you have enough productivity initiatives to offset the the increased cost of of all the products for the industry as a whole. You have more than 80% dependence on China as a sourcing market for some of the bigger players. That exposure is less and they have more nimble, more flexible supply chains to navigate this disruption For the medium sized and smaller players, this has been very, very disruptive.Can you just move your supply chain out of ...

Meanwhile, it was yet another day where the AI narrative had the market swinging back and forth. So, as we head into 2026, how should investors distinguish what's a move led purely by an AI headline and what's a real concern for the market. Joining us now are Doug Peta.He is chief US investment strategist at BCA Research and Matt Stucky, chief portfolio manager at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management. Guys, welcome. Um, let's see.Uh, Matt, how should investors treat this AI turbulence in a market that's st ...

Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) has broken below the psychological $90,000 level, marking a break from its consolidation range that signals increased pressure on leveraged positions. What Happened: In a recent podcast, prominent analyst Trader Mayne described the breakdown from the triangle apex as a decisive short-term development. While the broader "Santa Rally" narrative remains intact on higher timeframes, he wa ...

Diversification is usually a winning investment strategy, and that's proven especially true in 2025 when international stocks largely outperformed U.S. equities. While the S&P 500 is up about 15% this year, stocks in Spain have surged 40%, and South Korea is up 65%.Despite the tariff woes with the U.S., its largest trading partner, Canada’s stock market has doubled the S&P 500’s stock performance this year.And all signs point to this trend continuing, and even strengthening, in 2026.Now, getting exposure to ...

Core Viewpoint - As 2025 approaches, there is a growing debate regarding concentration and high valuations in large-cap stocks, alongside concerns about macroeconomic uncertainty and economic conditions, leading to a collective call for diversification, particularly highlighting opportunities in small-cap stocks [1] Group 1 - The discussion emphasizes the need for diversification in investment strategies [1] - There are concerns about the concentration of investments in large-cap stocks and their lofty valuations [1] - The macroeconomic environment and economic conditions are contributing to the call for diversification [1] Group 2 - Small-cap stocks are identified as a specific area of opportunity within the diversification strategy [1]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of selecting the right exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for building substantial wealth over time with minimal effort [2] - It highlights three specific Vanguard ETFs that are recommended for investment in 2026, focusing on their potential for long-term growth [2] Vanguard S&P 500 ETF - The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT: VOO) is presented as a solid investment choice for both new and experienced investors, containing 500 of the largest U.S. stocks [3] - This ETF offers instant diversification across various sectors, which helps reduce volatility and risk, particularly due to its focus on large-cap stocks [4] Vanguard Growth ETF - The Vanguard Growth ETF (NYSEMKT: VUG) is suggested for investors seeking above-average returns, with an average annual return of 17.22% over the past decade, compared to 14.58% for the S&P 500 ETF [6] - While it carries more risk due to its narrower focus on growth stocks (only 160 stocks), it is still considered a viable option for those wanting higher returns while investing in large-cap stocks [7]

Core Viewpoint - Dividend investing in Singapore offers a pathway to financial independence and a reliable income stream for retirement through strategic portfolio management and reinvestment of dividends [1]. Group 1: Building a Portfolio - The first step in creating a reliable retirement income is to build a portfolio of dependable dividend-paying companies, focusing on their balance sheets, free cash flows, and growth indicators [2]. - A payout ratio between 40%-70% is ideal, indicating a balance between dividend payments and retained earnings for reinvestment [2]. - Companies with a history of increasing dividends, such as Parkway Life REIT, CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust, and DBS Group Holdings, are recommended for a strong dividend-focused portfolio [3]. Group 2: Reinvesting Dividends - Reinvesting dividends instead of cashing them out accelerates compounding, leading to increased future dividends from newly acquired shares [5]. - Compounding can transform modest yearly returns into significant wealth over time, and strategies like Dollar-Cost Averaging can be employed for reinvestment [6]. Group 3: Diversification - Diversifying income streams across various sectors reduces reliance on any single industry, helping to stabilize income during economic fluctuations [7]. - A balanced portfolio should include financial institutions like DBS and Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation, REITs like Parkway Life REIT, and defensive consumer stocks such as Sheng Siong Group and SBS Transit [8]. Group 4: Transitioning to Income Mode - As retirement approaches, investors should shift from reinvesting dividends to withdrawing them for living expenses, while maintaining an emergency fund covering 12 to 24 months of expenses [9]. - A systematic withdrawal plan is essential to ensure continued compounding and a stable income stream during retirement [10]. Group 5: Financial Independence through Dividends - Dividend investing is a methodical approach to achieving financial independence, focusing on selecting reliable dividend payers, regular reinvestment, diversification, and strategic withdrawals [11].

Owning 25 stocks is insurance. Owning 1 stock is a prayer. ...