If you take a look and you turn back to the topic of who's going to lead the Fed and what it could mean for your portfolio, that's what our next guest is here to tell you about. His trading advice depending on who the president picks as the next Federal Reserve chair. Joining us now is Yan Silagi, the CEO and co-founder of Reflexivity, a markets AIdriven platform.And Yan, if we talk about the two Kevin, Kevin Walsh, Kevin Hasset, are there different playbooks that you have for either one of them. Maybe let' ...

Core Insights - The Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) offers a solution for investors seeking dividend income, especially in a market characterized by record performance and increased risk-taking [2][4]. Dividend Growth and Capital Appreciation - In October, VIG paid a dividend of $0.8647 per share, requiring investors to own 155 shares to generate $500 in annual income, translating to an investment of $32,000 based on the price on December 11 [4]. - Over the past decade, VIG's dividend has increased by 82%, enhancing the income stream for shareholders, while the ETF's price has appreciated by 188% during the same period [5]. ETF Composition and Concentration - The Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF consists of 338 total stocks, providing broad diversification; however, the top 10 positions represent 34% of the portfolio's assets, indicating a degree of concentration [7].

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Core Viewpoint - Vanguard offers three exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that are considered solid investment options regardless of potential market downturns in 2026, emphasizing a long-term investment strategy [2][12]. Group 1: Vanguard S&P 500 ETF - The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) tracks the S&P 500 index, which includes approximately 500 companies representative of the U.S. economy [3]. - Historical data shows that after every bear market, the S&P 500 index eventually reaches new highs, indicating a strong long-term upward trend [5]. - The ETF has a low expense ratio of 0.03%, making it an attractive option even when the index is near all-time highs [6]. Group 2: Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF - The Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) focuses on stocks that have increased dividends annually for at least 10 consecutive years, eliminating the highest-yielding 25% to favor growth [7][8]. - This ETF has a low expense ratio of 0.05% and includes over 330 stocks, providing diversification and a history of price appreciation and dividend growth [9]. - The investment strategy is designed to favor financially strong companies with good business models, making it a growth-oriented choice rather than a yield-focused one [8]. Group 3: Vanguard Utilities ETF - The Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) is positioned to benefit from a projected 55% increase in electricity demand between 2020 and 2040, driven by advancements in AI, data centers, and electric vehicles [10]. - The ETF has a reasonable expense ratio of 0.9% and ensures portfolio diversification, with approximately 90% of its holdings exposed to the anticipated growth in electricity demand [11]. - This ETF offers a straightforward way to capitalize on long-term opportunities in the utility sector, which is expected to see significant investment and growth [10].

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the advantages of investing in exchange-traded funds (ETFs), particularly for investors seeking diversified exposure to multiple companies at once [1] Group 1: Vanguard ETFs Overview - Vanguard offers over 100 ETFs, with three recommended for long-term investment due to their complementary focuses [2] Group 2: Vanguard S&P 500 ETF - The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT: VOO) tracks around 500 of the largest American companies, providing exposure to the broader U.S. economy [4] - VOO is tech-heavy, with 36.1% of the ETF allocated to technology companies, while still including top companies from various sectors [5] - The ETF has a low expense ratio of 0.03%, equating to $0.30 per $1,000 invested, making it an attractive option for diversification and blue-chip holdings [7] Group 3: Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF - The Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (NYSEMKT: VIG) focuses on companies that have increased their dividends for 10 consecutive years, ensuring sustainable dividend growth [8] - VIG currently has a dividend yield of 1.6%, which is lower than other dividend ETFs, but its emphasis on consistent dividend increases makes it a strong long-term investment [9] - Over the past decade, VIG has increased its dividend payout by over 82% [10]

Group 1 - The difficulty of picking individual stocks is highlighted, with a J.P. Morgan study indicating that 40% of stocks in the Russell 3000 Index had negative returns from 1980 to 2020, and two-thirds underperformed the overall market [1] - Investing in high-quality index exchange-traded funds (ETFs) from Vanguard and employing dollar-cost averaging can effectively build wealth over time [1] - Starting with $5,000 and investing an additional $1,000 monthly for 30 years could result in a portfolio worth $3.2 million with a 12% average return, with nearly 90% of gains coming from market performance [2] Group 2 - The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT: VOO) is recommended as a core holding for individual investors, tracking the performance of the S&P 500, which consists of 500 large U.S. stocks [4][5] - The S&P 500 is a market capitalization-weighted index, meaning larger companies have a greater impact on its performance, contributing to its historical success [5] - The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF has shown strong performance with an average annual return of 14.6% over the past 10 years and 17.6% over the past five years [6] Group 3 - The Vanguard Mega Cap Growth ETF (NYSEMKT: MGK) focuses on large-cap growth stocks, providing a concentrated portfolio of 66 of the biggest growth stocks [7] - The Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF is presented as a solid alternative for those seeking less growth-heavy investments [8]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes that starting to invest does not require a large sum of money, with the possibility to begin with as little as $100 [1] - Consistent monthly investments, such as through dollar-cost averaging, can lead to significant wealth accumulation over time [2] Investment Strategies - Dollar-cost averaging allows investors to invest a fixed amount monthly, regardless of market conditions, which can yield substantial returns over the long term [2] - For new investors or those with limited funds, investing in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) is recommended for diversification and risk management [3] Recommended ETFs - The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is highlighted as the largest ETF, tracking the S&P 500 and providing exposure to about 500 major U.S. companies, with an average annual return of 14.6% over the past decade [5][8] - The Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) focuses on growth stocks, tracking the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index, and has generated a yearly average return of 17.4% over the past decade [9][12] - The Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) targets companies with a history of increasing dividends, achieving an average return of 12.8% over the past decade [13][15] Investment Mechanics - A $100 investment in these ETFs will purchase fractional shares, allowing investors to participate even if the share price exceeds $100 [16]

Core Insights - The Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF is designed for dividend investors seeking reliable income with minimal effort, tracking the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 index which selects companies based on a composite score [2][4][5] - The ETF focuses on companies with strong financials, a history of dividend growth, and attractive valuations, making it a suitable option for long-term income generation [6][7][10] Investment Approach - The ETF's investment strategy mirrors that of income investors, selecting the top 100 companies based on a composite score that includes financial strength and dividend growth [5][7] - The index only includes stocks with a minimum of 10 consecutive years of dividend increases, excluding real estate investment trusts due to their unique structures [3] Performance Metrics - The ETF has a low expense ratio of 0.06%, making it cost-effective for investors [6] - Historical performance shows that both the ETF's price and dividend have trended higher over time, indicating solid growth potential for dividend investors [8] Dividend Yield Consideration - The ETF offers a dividend yield of approximately 3.8%, which some investors may find low, but it is essential to consider the long-term growth potential of the dividend [9][10] - A lower starting yield with expected steady growth may be more beneficial for investors in the long run, especially in the context of inflation [10]

Core Insights - The increasing popularity of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) is largely due to their ability to provide diversification, with many ETFs holding thousands of bonds or stocks, thus offering deep-bench portfolios [1] - However, diversification can be misleading, as capitalization-weighted index funds and ETFs may be heavily concentrated in a few stocks, particularly with the rise of the "Magnificent Seven" stocks, where just five stocks account for over 27% of S&P 500 ETFs [2] - This high level of concentration raises concerns among investors, yet the index's returns remain strong due to the prominence of a small number of stocks [3] ETF Analysis - The Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF, with $98 billion in assets under management, is a leading dividend ETF, but it is concentrated with just three stocks—Broadcom, Microsoft, and JPMorgan Chase—making up approximately 15% of its portfolio [5] - The ETF's benchmark, the S&P U.S. Dividend Growers Index, includes companies that have increased dividends for at least 10 consecutive years while excluding the top 25% with the highest yields, with components weighted by market capitalization [6] - Broadcom, Microsoft, and JPMorgan are reliable dividend growers, maintaining manageable payout ratios while allowing for long-term growth, which justifies their significant presence in the ETF [7]

Core Insights - The Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) is a well-known fund with nearly two decades of history and over $115 billion in assets under management [1] Group 1: Investment Strategy - The primary investment strategy focuses on buying income investments and utilizing the income to purchase undervalued stocks with long-term growth potential [1] Group 2: Sector Focus - The analysis will primarily concentrate on high-yield income ETFs and growth stocks, particularly in the sports, real estate, and technology sectors [1]