WisdomTree Refreshes Traditional Asset Allocations With Pair of New ETFsETF Trends is now VettaFi. Read More --Even some of the most tried and true asset classes can benefit from upgrades. ETFs are the perfect vehicles with which to provide those improvements. WisdomTree answered that bell on January 22 when it rolled out two new ETFs — the [WisdomTree Efficient TIPS Plus Gold Fund (GDT)] and the [WisdomTree Efficient Long/Short U.S. Equity Fund (WTLS)]. Those rookie funds are the seventh and eighth, respec ...

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of making informed investment decisions during retirement, as mistakes can have significant long-term consequences [1][2] Group 1: Investment Strategies - Transitioning from an aggressive investment strategy during the accumulation phase to a more conservative approach in retirement can be challenging, leading to potential investment mistakes [1] - The focus during retirement should shift from growing the investment portfolio to protecting it and ensuring sustainable withdrawals [2] Group 2: Recommended Assets - Money market funds have regained popularity among retirees due to rising interest rates, with a record $8 trillion in these funds as of December 2025, up from $4.6 trillion at the end of 2020, and yields reaching as high as 4.6% [4][5] - Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) are highlighted as a safeguard against inflation, with their principal amount adjusted to match inflation rates, making them a more attractive option despite modest yields [6][7]

Core Viewpoint - Economic uncertainty has led to increased interest in cryptocurrency as a hedge against inflation and a means of portfolio diversification [1] Group 1: Reasons for Confidence in Cryptocurrency - Bitcoin's supply is capped at 21 million coins, providing a fixed supply that contrasts with government-issued currencies [2] - The fixed supply of Bitcoin reassures investors concerned about the long-term purchasing power of cash, as it is not subject to political decision-making [3] - Bitcoin's dramatic growth over the past decade has led to its perception as a form of digital gold, appealing to those seeking independence from national monetary systems [4] Group 2: Broader Appeal of Cryptocurrency - Cryptocurrency operates on decentralized networks, eliminating the need for intermediaries like governments or financial institutions, which is attractive to those who have lost faith in traditional financial frameworks [5] - Holding private keys allows investors to maintain access to their assets regardless of the stability of banks or governments [6] Group 3: Strategic Asset Perspective - Some investors view cryptocurrency as a strategic asset that provides inflation protection and diversification, with performance not always correlating with traditional assets like stocks, bonds, or real estate [7] - Recent research indicates that Bitcoin often reacts positively to sudden increases in inflation, suggesting it can offer short-term protection during inflationary periods [8]

Core Insights - REITs are often overlooked as investments despite their potential, creating opportunities for investors [1] - The current environment features income-producing real estate companies offering yields around 5% backed by tangible assets and inflation-indexed leases [2] - Interest rates are projected to decline by 2026, alleviating previous headwinds for REITs and allowing for growth in rents and distributions [3] Group 1: REIT Advantages - REITs are required to distribute 90% of taxable income to shareholders, ensuring consistent cash payouts and elevated yields [4] - Many REIT leases include rent escalators tied to CPI, providing built-in inflation protection for investors [5] Group 2: Company Highlights - Vici Properties focuses on gaming and experiential real estate, currently yielding 6.53% with a $1.80 annual dividend and a 4.13% growth rate over the past eight years [6][7] - NNN REIT has raised its dividend for 37 consecutive years, yielding 5.93% with a $2.40 annual dividend and a diversified tenant base across necessity-based retail [9][12] - Realty Income Corporation offers a monthly dividend yield of 5.65% with a $3.24 annual distribution, having increased dividends for 22 consecutive years [13][14][15] - Simon Property Group operates premium malls and outlet centers, currently yielding around 4.78% with an $8.80 annual dividend and a 5.56% growth rate [16][17][18]

Core Insights - Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (EPD) secures stable, fee-based income through long-term contracts with shippers, ensuring predictable cash flow [1][8] - EPD's midstream assets include over 50,000 miles of pipeline and more than 300 million barrels of liquids storage [1][8] - Long-term contracts are inflation-protected, allowing EPD to raise fees to offset inflation-related costs [2][8] - EPD anticipates increased cash flow from key growth projects, including Athena and Mentone West 2, expected to be operational by the end of 2026 [2][3] Business Model Comparison - Kinder Morgan Inc. (KMI) and The Williams Companies, Inc. (WMB) also have stable business models similar to EPD, generating fee-based revenues through long-term contracts [4] - KMI and WMB expect to enhance their predictable cash flows through expansion projects, contributing to business stability [4] Financial Performance - EPD's shares have gained 0.7% over the past year, contrasting with a 1.1% decline in the broader industry [5] - EPD trades at a trailing 12-month enterprise-value-to-EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) of 10.49X, below the industry average of 12.31X [7]

Core Insights - The article discusses the performance of three ETFs in 2025, highlighting their underperformance in the current market conditions while emphasizing the importance of understanding the reasons behind this performance [2][4][14] Group 1: ETF Performance Analysis - The ASA Msei USA quality factor ETF, which focuses on large to midcap companies with high profitability and low leverage, lagged its category index by six percentage points from January to October 2025, despite lower volatility [4][5] - The Avantis US small cap value ETF, which employs a profitability screen to avoid distressed stocks, trailed its category index by over six percentage points in the year-to-date period ending October 2025, contrasting with its strong performance in previous years [9][10] - The Vanguard short-term inflation protected securities ETF, which invests in TIPS, has seen a downward trend in 2025, with credit spreads favoring riskier bonds over its high-quality, low-duration portfolio [13][14] Group 2: Market Conditions and ETF Strategies - The quality tilt of the ASA ETF did not help during the current market rally, as it excluded major market leaders that did not meet its quality criteria [5] - The Avantis ETF's focus on small-cap stocks negatively impacted its returns during market volatilities, although it still outperformed its category index by 4.5% annually since its inception in 2019 [10][11] - The Vanguard ETF is designed to protect against unexpected inflation and has historically outperformed its category average during stress markets, such as in 2022 and March 2020 [14][15]

Core Insights - Enterprise Products Partners LP (EPD) has a robust pipeline network exceeding 50,000 miles and over 300 million barrels of liquid storage capacity, which contributes to stable cash flows [1][8] - Approximately 90% of EPD's long-term contracts have inflation-linked fee increases, providing protection against inflation and ensuring consistent cash flow generation [2][8] - EPD anticipates additional cash flows from $5.1 billion in key capital projects, including the Bahia pipeline and fractionator 14, enhancing its attractiveness for income-seeking investors [3][8] Business Model and Performance - EPD's business model is primarily inflation-protected, allowing it to maintain cash flow stability across various market conditions [2][8] - Other midstream energy companies, such as Kinder Morgan Inc. (KMI) and Enbridge Inc. (ENB), also exhibit stable cash flow characteristics due to their fee-based earnings from midstream assets [4] - EPD's units have increased by 7.2% over the past year, contrasting with a 5.6% decline in the broader industry composite [5] Valuation and Earnings Estimates - EPD's current enterprise value to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) ratio stands at 10.52X, slightly below the industry average of 10.56X, indicating a potentially attractive valuation [7] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for EPD's 2025 earnings has been revised downward over the past month, with current estimates at $2.62 per unit for the year [10][11]

Group 1 - The Schwab U.S. TIPS ETF (SCHP) provides protection against inflation through U.S. Treasury bonds denominated in dollars [1] - The ETF is part of the fixed income market, which offers various investment options to hedge against inflation [1]

Core Argument - The article discusses the growing trend among social media influencers advocating for early Social Security benefits at age 62, contrasting with traditional advice to delay benefits until age 70 for a larger monthly payout [1][2]. Group 1: Early Claiming vs. Delayed Benefits - Social media influencers suggest that claiming Social Security at 62 and investing the funds could yield higher returns than waiting for a larger benefit [1][3]. - Traditional financial advice recommends delaying benefits until age 70 to maximize monthly payouts, which can increase by approximately 8% for each year of delay [2][4]. - Claiming early can result in a reduction of benefits by up to 30% compared to the amount received at Full Retirement Age (FRA) [4]. Group 2: Investment Returns and Risks - The S&P 500 has returned about 14% in the current year, with a decade-long average annual return of over 12%, leading to the argument that investing early benefits could compensate for lower Social Security checks [5]. - However, the article emphasizes that future investment returns are uncertain, while delayed Social Security benefits provide a guaranteed, risk-free income with annual inflation adjustments [5][6]. Group 3: Importance of Inflation Protection - Social Security benefits are highlighted as the primary source of income for most retirees, with annual cost-of-living adjustments serving as a crucial protection against inflation [6].

Core Viewpoint - The current market environment is characterized by a transition into a new cycle, driven by recent Federal Reserve rate cuts and a shift in market leadership towards emerging markets and real assets, suggesting a need for portfolio evolution away from large-cap tech stocks [1][2]. ETF Market Trends - The ETF industry has experienced record inflows, with $1.2 trillion in inflows this year, while mutual funds have seen $1 trillion in outflows, indicating a significant shift in investor preference towards ETFs [1][2]. - Over 900 new ETFs have been launched this year, reflecting ongoing innovation and growth within the ETF space [1]. Investment Strategies - Investors are advised to diversify their portfolios by including asset classes and sectors that benefit from higher inflation, such as gold, which is up 54% year-to-date, and emerging markets, which are also up 27% [1][2]. - Leveraged ETFs are gaining popularity, but caution is advised due to their complexity and the high costs associated with accessing leverage, which can lead to underperformance compared to benchmarks [1][2]. Market Performance Insights - The S&P 500 has been outperformed by sectors such as industrials and banks, which have seen gains of 16% and 19% respectively, compared to the S&P's 12% increase [1]. - The weakening dollar has been identified as a catalyst for non-U.S. markets outperforming the U.S., with historical trends showing that a weaker dollar typically benefits gold and emerging markets [2]. Future Outlook - The ETF industry is expected to continue its growth trajectory, with predictions of more crypto-related ETF launches and innovations in share class structures that could further drive flows from mutual funds to ETFs [9][12]. - The complexity of the ETF market is increasing, necessitating more due diligence from investors as new products are introduced [11].