Direct indexing has been in the news a lot more in recent years. Larger industry players have strategically acquired a number of providers—including Parametric. And many new entrants have entered the space, looking to build on its success.
In this article, Russ Koesterich discusses the potential impact of seasonal weakness, momentum and the effect these factors could have on earnings in 2H2025.
The world’s largest asset manager is adding to bets on the artificial intelligence within its US model portfolios while trimming its overall equity risk because of tariff uncertainty.
The materiality of ESG factors differs across sectors and markets. Investors need to understand how.
Innovative ETFs are making waves as investors look for fresh ways to navigate a market marked by rapid growth and ongoing volatility.
Most investors would jump at the chance to add more money to their portfolio, but they often fail to consider the hidden costs associated with it.
Certificates of deposit (CDs) and Treasuries both can offer steady, predictable investment income—but how to decide between them? Here are five factors to help you choose.
Market headlines may change daily, but the role of a financial advisor remains remarkably consistent: to be the calm in the storm, the strategist with a plan and—most importantly—the voice of reason when clients need it most.
This video provides an update on the monthly moving averages we track for the S&P 500 and the Ivy Portfolio after the close of the last business day of the month.
Valid until the market close on May 31, 2025
This article provides an update on the monthly moving averages we track for the S&P 500 and the Ivy Portfolio after the close of the last business day of the month.
Trend-following strategies can offer attractive, positively skewed returns, with large positive outperformance often coinciding with large equity selloffs, thereby offering tail protection.
While tariff negotiations may well bear fruit eventually, investors today are trying to figure out the impact of changing trade pacts on GDP growth, interest rate levels, the value of the dollar, and the ability of the Treasury to refinance $9.2 trillion of our $36 trillion federal debt in 2025.
While the S&P 500 index was almost unchanged in April, the dollar remained extremely weak, ending the month down over 4%.
In the latest ETF 360, VettaFi’s Kirsten Change interviewed THOR Funds founding principal and CIO Brad Roth. They discussed two index-based strategies calibrated to manage downside risk. Accordingly, downside protection and risk management are top of mind in today’s unusual market environment.
Gold has been a high-performing investment over the prior year. It has rallied on the back of falling short-term interest rates and recently increased uncertainty about global trade and economic growth.
Uncertainty surrounding trade policy is a key driver of our forecast this quarter, which includes an increased probability of a recession.
Even with tariff uncertainty, there’s no stopping the engine of ETF creation. More than 288 new ETFs have already launched this year.
BNY’s Ben Slavin provides an in-depth look at recent ETF trading and flows, and unpacks the latest on the ETF share class structure and product innovation. VettaFi’s Kirsten Chang highlights five noteworthy ETF launches.
For financial advisors, moving to independence and an RIA means navigating a sea of decisions, including business model types and vision.
Tariff uncertainty, a weakening US dollar, and surging Treasury yields are flashing warning signs for investors. Explore how political risks, fiscal policy, and global volatility are reshaping capital flows and market confidence.
Active management has not disappeared — it has simply evolved. Rather than focusing on outdated stock selection methodologies, today’s most effective active strategies center on active portfolio construction and dynamic asset allocation.
Investing in stocks so far in 2025 has not been for the faint of heart. Some market indices have undergone wild swings, flirting with bear-market territory
The reciprocal reprieve does not alter the tectonic shift in the trade outlook.
Unlike traditional methods that rely on selling assets, crypto lending 2.0 enables investors to borrow against their bitcoin, unlocking liquidity while preserving the upside potential.
As with all decisions involving uncertainty, we want to find the answer which maximizes your expected risk-adjusted return, not your base-case or expected return. This means that we have to go beyond the industry standard and explicitly account for risk in our analysis.
Another period of heightened volatility in the markets reminds us why tax management can be such an essential part of fixed income investing.
DoubleLine Global Bond Portfolio Manager Bill Campbell shares DoubleLine’s outlook for risk markets, the U.S. Treasury curve, inflation, growth and Federal Reserve policy in light of Washington’s reciprocal tariffs and reactions of U.S. trade partners.
An enduring image from 2024 will be the capture of the SpaceX booster rocket by the Mechazilla robot arms on its return to Earth.
To summarize the market action of March of 2025: U.S. stocks (SPX) did poorly, international stocks (especially Europe, VGK) did well in dollar terms, and gold (IAU) did spectacularly well. The main culprit appears to market concerns about the Trump administration’s tariff policies.
The first quarter of 2025 took investors on a rollercoaster, driven by on-again, off-again tariff policy announcements.
Investors face new challenges as their wealth grows. So it’s a good thing that direct indexing is designed to fit their allocations just the way they are.
Investors often debate the merits of value versus growth investing, but when it comes to developed international equities, the conversation isn't static; it moves in cycles.
In a recent piece, I analyzed the construction of downside-protected strategies. Here, I propose a measure of the relative attractiveness of these strategies over time and examine their historical performance.
BlackRock Inc. Chief Executive Officer Larry Fink pledged to open up private markets to millions of everyday investors, not just the wealthy few, contending individuals should share more of the gains from economic growth.
The world’s largest asset manager is betting big on a growing breed of derivatives-powered ETFs that’s shaking up the art of active portfolio management.
How recent market volatility has contributed to a sharp reversal in global equities.
BlackRock Inc., fresh off a $28 billion deal spree to transform into a major player in alternative assets, is integrating complex private investments into its ready-made portfolios for individuals.
Emerging markets offer the potential for long-term diversified investment returns but they can endure challenging periods of volatility and uncertainty. Head of Portfolio Strategy David Dali maps out the issues to consider when constructing and managing a portfolio for emerging markets.
Green bond issuers tend to excel at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, per a Bank for International Settlements study.
Recently, downside-protected ETFs have garnered a lot of investor attention. These products are long the stock market – via different indexes – and use options to create downside-protected payoffs.
On this episode of the “ETF of the Week” podcast, VettaFi’s Head of Research Todd Rosenbluth talks about the American Century U.S. Quality Value ETF (VALQ) with Money Life host Chuck Jaffe. The pair covered a range of topics related to the fund, providing investors with a deeper understanding of the ETF.
It's been full steam ahead for active ETFs, with total assets now rapidly approaching the $1 trillion milestone.
One of the textbook drivers of alpha is an information edge. Having more information, advanced ways to use that information, and the ability to react to it before anyone else has been a massive advantage throughout the history of markets.
The 60/40 portfolio, where 60% is invested in stocks and 40% in bonds, is the initial starting point for many portfolios. The exact asset mix is often adjusted based on an investor’s time horizon, risk tolerance, and financial goals, but the simple, proportional stock-bond combination is what is often considered a “balanced” portfolio.
In today’s rapidly evolving financial landscape, advisors are expected to be more than just portfolio managers. Clients don’t just want investment recommendations—they seek a trusted partner who understands their financial needs, offers strategic guidance and provides peace of mind during turbulent times.
Three months into 2025, the U.S. IPO (initial public offering) market remains in a rut. Why? And, perhaps just as importantly, is a rebound still possible?
While restrictive covenants serve an important role, their enforceability hinges on their scope, the dictates of state law and, ultimately, public policy considerations regarding balancing employer business interests with employee rights to pursue their careers.
As the consumer goes, so goes the U.S. economy. Consumers make up roughly 70 percent of U.S. GDP.
Parametric’s tax optimized ladders (TOL) solution may help to enhance after-tax yield by seeking to optimize the allocation between tax-exempt and taxable bonds, based on an investor’s own tax rate and the relative value between sectors.
The EV shakeout is underway. When the dust settles, only a few players will remain. Many more will be relegated to the scrapyard of failed ambitions.
Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio’s famous “All Weather” strategy has arrived in the exchange-traded fund market, just as the kind of macro-driven turmoil it seeks to guard against sweeps global assets.
Unlike most of the rest of the world, I will attempt to minimize all there is to say about the beginning of the next 4 years, as the persistent yack and what to make of it reverberates in all corners of the financial globe.
While investors were fixated on inflation data Friday, the most significant surprise came from the advanced trade balance, which posted an unprecedented $37 billion deterioration
Ultra-wealthy investors have unique needs and goals. While a typical high net worth client is focused on the next dozen years, these more deep-pocketed clients – like their institutional counterparts – have a much longer time horizon.
We wrote in last month's letter that the U.S. stock market had to meet lofty earnings expectations to maintain its strong performance relative to global benchmarks, while the latter had a lower bar because of considerably cheaper valuation multiples and higher dividend yields.
Russ Koesterich discusses the risk of higher interest rates and the potential impact (both positive and negative) such a move could have on markets.
Many independent firms and Registered Investment Advisors aspire to move upmarket, targeting wealthier clients who demand more sophisticated financial solutions.
The world’s biggest asset manager is finally allowing Bitcoin into its $150 billion model-portfolio universe.
The managed account industry has seen tremendous growth and client adoption, with assets increasing by 28% over the last year and 50% over the past two years.
Chief Investment Officer of Global Asset Allocation, Anwiti Bahuguna, Ph.D., outlines the investment themes and return expectations from our new 10-year outlook.
Long maturity treasuries can provide downside protection to offset equity risk, in our view.
The Hang Seng Tech Index has soared 23% this year, far outpacing the Nasdaq 100’s 5.3% gain. Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and Tencent Holdings Ltd.’s shares are back to their 2022 levels, while EV makers BYD Co. and Xiaomi Corp. hit new record highs.
At the start of each new year, there are regular predictions that international equity markets will outperform U.S. large-cap ones.
In this note, we'd like to share our analysis of one potential solution we've been hearing about a lot lately. It involves leveraged direct index tax-loss harvesting.
The Ivy Portfolio is based on the asset allocation strategy used by endowment funds from Harvard and Yale. It is an equally weighted portfolio constructed with 5 ETFs that feature a mix of different asset classes. By allocating across different asset classes, diversification is achieved, and risk is reduced.
The DeepSeek blip notwithstanding (our initial take on the news is here), January 2025 was a good month for financial markets. The S&P 500 was up a robust 2.7%, though Nasdaq lagged (largely due to DeepSeek, in our opinion) with “only” a 1.7% monthly return.
In this article, Russ Koesterich discusses why gold may continue to advance in 2025 despite a stronger dollar and elevated real rate environment.
The higher yields they currently offer can be a benefit for income-oriented investors, but those yields reflect the additional risks they face.
Equity markets are facing a variety of headwinds, but the economy remains strong, and we believe there will be ample opportunities to invest in attractively valued quality growth companies in 2025.
In this article, we will demonstrate how the use of daily options within a covered call strategy has the potential to generate substantial income while also targeting the total return of equities.
Are U.S. stocks in a massive valuation bubble? We don’t think so. Will U.S. stocks outperform their European and Asian counterparts over the next 10 years? Maybe.
A seemingly unstoppable flood of money has Vanguard Group Inc. on the brink of claiming a crown that State Street Corp. has held for decades.
For stocks, Christmas came with a 'Santa Clause' rally soon after the election. Since then, there's been a correction in US markets.
We explore how advancements in indexing solutions have allowed investors to tailor their portfolios according to their specific objectives or risk profiles.
There are a few things it makes sense to get a start on when a new year begins. One is tax-loss harvesting.
While stocks can move higher, the bond market will continue to matter. Higher rates suggest that equity leadership may continue to reside in companies that are relatively rate insensitive.
For this edition of Bull vs. Bear, the VettaFi writers debate the case for using sector ETFs to make bets on the new market regime.
Friday’s rip-roaring jobs report has pushed the betting markets to price in a single rate cut for the entire year of 2025.
Ten years ago, Research Affiliates launched the Asset Allocation Interactive online tool, making our CMEs freely available to the public. With one full cycle complete, we can see what has worked well and where we can improve.
Every new year brings with it a new opportunity to stop for a moment, revisit resolutions, and refresh outlooks.
While the market has largely moved past that year’s recession debate, it’s worth noting that the traditional definition that persisted for all our careers—two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth—did occur in the first half of 2022.
In our year ahead outlook, we unveil 5 key factors we believe offer rare certainty in these uncertain times. Discover how we’re navigating this landscape and positioning portfolios to seize opportunities and mitigate risks in the year ahead.
For 2025 and beyond, a few particular global and industry trends can offer attractive long-term returns for advisors and investors alike.
Three interconnected lessons from 2024 help shape our 2025 outlook.
After a strong November 2024, markets were generally down in December. The S&P 500 index was down 2.3%, while energy, small caps, value stocks, and REITs performed considerably worse.
Fixed income is top of mind as investors look to a new interest rate regime. Sylvia Yeh dives into the outlook for 2025.
CAPE, or the cyclically adjusted price-to-earnings ratio, introduced in 1988 by economists John Campbell and Robert Shiller, is arguably the best-known indicator of broad market valuation. And CAPE is now at an almost (though not quite) all-time high level, according to data from Robert Shiller's website.
In an actively managed portfolio, there’s no way to escape capital gains taxes altogether. But understanding the importance of tax efficiency is crucial to long-term success for investors and advisors.
Why cyclical leadership in equities could continue into 2025.
Separately Managed Accounts
What is Direct Indexing?
Direct indexing has been in the news a lot more in recent years. Larger industry players have strategically acquired a number of providers—including Parametric. And many new entrants have entered the space, looking to build on its success.
Seasonal Weakness Is a Bigger Risk This Year
In this article, Russ Koesterich discusses the potential impact of seasonal weakness, momentum and the effect these factors could have on earnings in 2H2025.
BlackRock Adds to AI-Stocks Bet in $160 Billion Model Portfolios
The world’s largest asset manager is adding to bets on the artificial intelligence within its US model portfolios while trimming its overall equity risk because of tariff uncertainty.
Materiality Matters: The ESG Factors That Count
The materiality of ESG factors differs across sectors and markets. Investors need to understand how.
First-of-Their-Kind Innovative ETFs Launched in 2025
Innovative ETFs are making waves as investors look for fresh ways to navigate a market marked by rapid growth and ongoing volatility.
The Case for International Equities in Target-Date Funds
Most investors would jump at the chance to add more money to their portfolio, but they often fail to consider the hidden costs associated with it.
CD or Treasury? Five Factors to Consider
Certificates of deposit (CDs) and Treasuries both can offer steady, predictable investment income—but how to decide between them? Here are five factors to help you choose.
When Markets Shake, Advisors Steady the Ship
Market headlines may change daily, but the role of a financial advisor remains remarkably consistent: to be the calm in the storm, the strategist with a plan and—most importantly—the voice of reason when clients need it most.
Moving Averages of the Ivy Portfolio and S&P 500: April 2025
This video provides an update on the monthly moving averages we track for the S&P 500 and the Ivy Portfolio after the close of the last business day of the month.
Moving Averages of the Ivy Portfolio and S&P 500: April 2025
Valid until the market close on May 31, 2025
This article provides an update on the monthly moving averages we track for the S&P 500 and the Ivy Portfolio after the close of the last business day of the month.
Walking the Tightrope: Trend Following’s Tricky Tradeoffs
Trend-following strategies can offer attractive, positively skewed returns, with large positive outperformance often coinciding with large equity selloffs, thereby offering tail protection.
Fixed Income and Tariff Policy: Advising Clients in an Era of Uncertainty
While tariff negotiations may well bear fruit eventually, investors today are trying to figure out the impact of changing trade pacts on GDP growth, interest rate levels, the value of the dollar, and the ability of the Treasury to refinance $9.2 trillion of our $36 trillion federal debt in 2025.
QuantStreet May 2025 Letter: Negotiations
While the S&P 500 index was almost unchanged in April, the dollar remained extremely weak, ending the month down over 4%.
ETF 360: THOR Funds Are “Still Worthy”
In the latest ETF 360, VettaFi’s Kirsten Change interviewed THOR Funds founding principal and CIO Brad Roth. They discussed two index-based strategies calibrated to manage downside risk. Accordingly, downside protection and risk management are top of mind in today’s unusual market environment.
The Gold Investment Thesis Revisited
Gold has been a high-performing investment over the prior year. It has rallied on the back of falling short-term interest rates and recently increased uncertainty about global trade and economic growth.
Asset Allocation Quarterly: 2nd Quarter 2025
Uncertainty surrounding trade policy is a key driver of our forecast this quarter, which includes an increased probability of a recession.
ETF Market Booms: Record Launches & Sophisticated Strategies
Even with tariff uncertainty, there’s no stopping the engine of ETF creation. More than 288 new ETFs have already launched this year.
BNY’s Ben Slavin on ETF Trading, Flows, Share Class Structure, & Innovation
BNY’s Ben Slavin provides an in-depth look at recent ETF trading and flows, and unpacks the latest on the ETF share class structure and product innovation. VettaFi’s Kirsten Chang highlights five noteworthy ETF launches.
3 Considerations for Advisors Branching Out to an RIA
For financial advisors, moving to independence and an RIA means navigating a sea of decisions, including business model types and vision.
Smoke Signals: Dollar Decline, Tariffs and Treasury Yields Surge Signal Market Volatility
Tariff uncertainty, a weakening US dollar, and surging Treasury yields are flashing warning signs for investors. Explore how political risks, fiscal policy, and global volatility are reshaping capital flows and market confidence.
The Evolution of Active Management: From Stock Picking to Active Asset Allocation
Active management has not disappeared — it has simply evolved. Rather than focusing on outdated stock selection methodologies, today’s most effective active strategies center on active portfolio construction and dynamic asset allocation.
Consider Direct Indexing to Offset Pain From Market Volatility
Investing in stocks so far in 2025 has not been for the faint of heart. Some market indices have undergone wild swings, flirting with bear-market territory
A Week of Whiplash
The reciprocal reprieve does not alter the tectonic shift in the trade outlook.
Crypto Lending 2.0: Unlocking the Potential of Bitcoin Without Selling It
Unlike traditional methods that rely on selling assets, crypto lending 2.0 enables investors to borrow against their bitcoin, unlocking liquidity while preserving the upside potential.
Where Did I Put My Investments?
As with all decisions involving uncertainty, we want to find the answer which maximizes your expected risk-adjusted return, not your base-case or expected return. This means that we have to go beyond the industry standard and explicitly account for risk in our analysis.
Fixed Income Tax Loss Harvesting: Realizing Losses No Matter When They Occur
Another period of heightened volatility in the markets reminds us why tax management can be such an essential part of fixed income investing.
DoubleLine's Take on the Reciprocal Tariffs
DoubleLine Global Bond Portfolio Manager Bill Campbell shares DoubleLine’s outlook for risk markets, the U.S. Treasury curve, inflation, growth and Federal Reserve policy in light of Washington’s reciprocal tariffs and reactions of U.S. trade partners.
2025 Global Market Outlook: The Mechazilla Moment
An enduring image from 2024 will be the capture of the SpaceX booster rocket by the Mechazilla robot arms on its return to Earth.
April 2025 Update
To summarize the market action of March of 2025: U.S. stocks (SPX) did poorly, international stocks (especially Europe, VGK) did well in dollar terms, and gold (IAU) did spectacularly well. The main culprit appears to market concerns about the Trump administration’s tariff policies.
Q1 2025 in Review: Investors Take a Wild Ride
The first quarter of 2025 took investors on a rollercoaster, driven by on-again, off-again tariff policy announcements.
How to Fit Direct Indexing into a Client’s Current Portfolio
Investors face new challenges as their wealth grows. So it’s a good thing that direct indexing is designed to fit their allocations just the way they are.
Moving Averages of the Ivy Portfolio and S&P 500: March 2025
This video provides an update on the monthly moving averages we track for the S&P 500 and the Ivy Portfolio after the close of the last business day of the month.
The Rhythm of Style: Value vs. Growth in Developed International Markets—Part 1
Investors often debate the merits of value versus growth investing, but when it comes to developed international equities, the conversation isn't static; it moves in cycles.
Downside-Protected Strategies: Relative Value
In a recent piece, I analyzed the construction of downside-protected strategies. Here, I propose a measure of the relative attractiveness of these strategies over time and examine their historical performance.
Larry Fink Vows to Unlock Private Investments for the Masses
BlackRock Inc. Chief Executive Officer Larry Fink pledged to open up private markets to millions of everyday investors, not just the wealthy few, contending individuals should share more of the gains from economic growth.
BlackRock Sees Outcome ETFs Jumping to $650 Billion by 2030
The world’s largest asset manager is betting big on a growing breed of derivatives-powered ETFs that’s shaking up the art of active portfolio management.
Volatility Brings Changes to Market Leadership
How recent market volatility has contributed to a sharp reversal in global equities.
BlackRock Adds Private Credit, Equity Funds to Model Portfolios
BlackRock Inc., fresh off a $28 billion deal spree to transform into a major player in alternative assets, is integrating complex private investments into its ready-made portfolios for individuals.
The Investment Portfolio Approach
Emerging markets offer the potential for long-term diversified investment returns but they can endure challenging periods of volatility and uncertainty. Head of Portfolio Strategy David Dali maps out the issues to consider when constructing and managing a portfolio for emerging markets.
Study Shows Green Bond Issuers Better at Reducing Emissions
Green bond issuers tend to excel at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, per a Bank for International Settlements study.
Downside-Protected Strategies
Recently, downside-protected ETFs have garnered a lot of investor attention. These products are long the stock market – via different indexes – and use options to create downside-protected payoffs.
American Century US Quality Value ETF (VALQ)
On this episode of the “ETF of the Week” podcast, VettaFi’s Head of Research Todd Rosenbluth talks about the American Century U.S. Quality Value ETF (VALQ) with Money Life host Chuck Jaffe. The pair covered a range of topics related to the fund, providing investors with a deeper understanding of the ETF.
Nearing $1 Trillion: Active ETF Engine Roars On
It's been full steam ahead for active ETFs, with total assets now rapidly approaching the $1 trillion milestone.
How To Invest with Clarity Through Market Volatility
One of the textbook drivers of alpha is an information edge. Having more information, advanced ways to use that information, and the ability to react to it before anyone else has been a massive advantage throughout the history of markets.
Rebuilding Resilience in 60/40 Portfolios
The 60/40 portfolio, where 60% is invested in stocks and 40% in bonds, is the initial starting point for many portfolios. The exact asset mix is often adjusted based on an investor’s time horizon, risk tolerance, and financial goals, but the simple, proportional stock-bond combination is what is often considered a “balanced” portfolio.
Becoming Your Client’s Financial MD: A New Advisory Mindset
In today’s rapidly evolving financial landscape, advisors are expected to be more than just portfolio managers. Clients don’t just want investment recommendations—they seek a trusted partner who understands their financial needs, offers strategic guidance and provides peace of mind during turbulent times.
Why Is the IPO Market Struggling? Here’s What Active Managers Have to Say
Three months into 2025, the U.S. IPO (initial public offering) market remains in a rut. Why? And, perhaps just as importantly, is a rebound still possible?
Understanding Restrictive Covenants and Current Challenges to Noncompetes
While restrictive covenants serve an important role, their enforceability hinges on their scope, the dictates of state law and, ultimately, public policy considerations regarding balancing employer business interests with employee rights to pursue their careers.
All Eyes on the Consumer: Is the Economic Engine Sputtering?
As the consumer goes, so goes the U.S. economy. Consumers make up roughly 70 percent of U.S. GDP.
Tax Optimized Ladders: Elevating Taxes as a Crucial Element of Customization in Fixed Income Portfolios
Parametric’s tax optimized ladders (TOL) solution may help to enhance after-tax yield by seeking to optimize the allocation between tax-exempt and taxable bonds, based on an investor’s own tax rate and the relative value between sectors.
The EV Shakeout
The EV shakeout is underway. When the dust settles, only a few players will remain. Many more will be relegated to the scrapyard of failed ambitions.
Ray Dalio’s ‘All Weather’ Strategy Enters ETF Land During Turmoil
Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio’s famous “All Weather” strategy has arrived in the exchange-traded fund market, just as the kind of macro-driven turmoil it seeks to guard against sweeps global assets.
Anarchy in the USA
Unlike most of the rest of the world, I will attempt to minimize all there is to say about the beginning of the next 4 years, as the persistent yack and what to make of it reverberates in all corners of the financial globe.
Tariff Uncertainty Weighs on Markets as Growth Slows
While investors were fixated on inflation data Friday, the most significant surprise came from the advanced trade balance, which posted an unprecedented $37 billion deterioration
Why Ultra-Wealthy Investors Can – and Should – Invest Like an Institution
Ultra-wealthy investors have unique needs and goals. While a typical high net worth client is focused on the next dozen years, these more deep-pocketed clients – like their institutional counterparts – have a much longer time horizon.
QuantStreet March 2025 Letter: Geopolitics
We wrote in last month's letter that the U.S. stock market had to meet lofty earnings expectations to maintain its strong performance relative to global benchmarks, while the latter had a lower bar because of considerably cheaper valuation multiples and higher dividend yields.
Rates Still a Risk for Stocks
Russ Koesterich discusses the risk of higher interest rates and the potential impact (both positive and negative) such a move could have on markets.
Real Talk With Rias: Considering Moving Upmarket? Here Are Some Issues to Consider
Many independent firms and Registered Investment Advisors aspire to move upmarket, targeting wealthier clients who demand more sophisticated financial solutions.
BlackRock Adds Its Bitcoin ETF to Model Portfolio for First Time
The world’s biggest asset manager is finally allowing Bitcoin into its $150 billion model-portfolio universe.
Bond Ladders: Unlocking Direct Indexing Opportunities in Fixed Income
The managed account industry has seen tremendous growth and client adoption, with assets increasing by 28% over the last year and 50% over the past two years.
Capital Market Assumptions: 10-Year Outlook
Chief Investment Officer of Global Asset Allocation, Anwiti Bahuguna, Ph.D., outlines the investment themes and return expectations from our new 10-year outlook.
Of Stocks and Bonds
Long maturity treasuries can provide downside protection to offset equity risk, in our view.
Four Reasons to Buy China Tech, and One Fatal Snag
The Hang Seng Tech Index has soared 23% this year, far outpacing the Nasdaq 100’s 5.3% gain. Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and Tencent Holdings Ltd.’s shares are back to their 2022 levels, while EV makers BYD Co. and Xiaomi Corp. hit new record highs.
Time for an Overseas Trip? Some Advisors Think So
At the start of each new year, there are regular predictions that international equity markets will outperform U.S. large-cap ones.
Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Fire: Selling a Highly Appreciated Stock Without Paying Taxes?
In this note, we'd like to share our analysis of one potential solution we've been hearing about a lot lately. It involves leveraged direct index tax-loss harvesting.
Moving Averages of the Ivy Portfolio and S&P 500: January 2025
The Ivy Portfolio is based on the asset allocation strategy used by endowment funds from Harvard and Yale. It is an equally weighted portfolio constructed with 5 ETFs that feature a mix of different asset classes. By allocating across different asset classes, diversification is achieved, and risk is reduced.
QuantStreet February 2025 Letter: More of the Same
The DeepSeek blip notwithstanding (our initial take on the news is here), January 2025 was a good month for financial markets. The S&P 500 was up a robust 2.7%, though Nasdaq lagged (largely due to DeepSeek, in our opinion) with “only” a 1.7% monthly return.
Stay Long Gold, Just Not as a Hedge
In this article, Russ Koesterich discusses why gold may continue to advance in 2025 despite a stronger dollar and elevated real rate environment.
Are Preferred Securities Still Attractive?
The higher yields they currently offer can be a benefit for income-oriented investors, but those yields reflect the additional risks they face.
Equity Outlook: Climbing the Wall of Worry
Equity markets are facing a variety of headwinds, but the economy remains strong, and we believe there will be ample opportunities to invest in attractively valued quality growth companies in 2025.
Balancing Yield & Total Return
In this article, we will demonstrate how the use of daily options within a covered call strategy has the potential to generate substantial income while also targeting the total return of equities.
The Mother of All Bubbles?
Are U.S. stocks in a massive valuation bubble? We don’t think so. Will U.S. stocks outperform their European and Asian counterparts over the next 10 years? Maybe.
Vanguard’s S&P 500 Fund Is About to Become World’s Largest ETF
A seemingly unstoppable flood of money has Vanguard Group Inc. on the brink of claiming a crown that State Street Corp. has held for decades.
Not Time Yet for Stocks to Worry About Rising Rates
For stocks, Christmas came with a 'Santa Clause' rally soon after the election. Since then, there's been a correction in US markets.
Index Investing as an Active Decision: An Exploration of Evolution and Customization
We explore how advancements in indexing solutions have allowed investors to tailor their portfolios according to their specific objectives or risk profiles.
Direct Indexing: An Easy Way to Tax-Loss Harvest All Year Round
There are a few things it makes sense to get a start on when a new year begins. One is tax-loss harvesting.
Will Higher Rates Doom Stocks? Not Necessarily
While stocks can move higher, the bond market will continue to matter. Higher rates suggest that equity leadership may continue to reside in companies that are relatively rate insensitive.
Bull vs. Bear: Using Sector ETFs to Make Bets on the New Regime
For this edition of Bull vs. Bear, the VettaFi writers debate the case for using sector ETFs to make bets on the new market regime.
Active Fixed Income in 2025: Another Golden Year Ahead
Friday’s rip-roaring jobs report has pushed the betting markets to price in a single rate cut for the entire year of 2025.
Asset Allocation Interactive at 10 Years: The Good, the Not Too Bad, and the Ugly
Ten years ago, Research Affiliates launched the Asset Allocation Interactive online tool, making our CMEs freely available to the public. With one full cycle complete, we can see what has worked well and where we can improve.
Market Predictions & ETF Ideas for a New Year
Every new year brings with it a new opportunity to stop for a moment, revisit resolutions, and refresh outlooks.
High Hopes or Hollow Hype? A 2025 Reality Check
While the market has largely moved past that year’s recession debate, it’s worth noting that the traditional definition that persisted for all our careers—two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth—did occur in the first half of 2022.
2025 Year Ahead: Certainties for an Uncertain World
In our year ahead outlook, we unveil 5 key factors we believe offer rare certainty in these uncertain times. Discover how we’re navigating this landscape and positioning portfolios to seize opportunities and mitigate risks in the year ahead.
Keep These Investment Themes In Mind For 2025
For 2025 and beyond, a few particular global and industry trends can offer attractive long-term returns for advisors and investors alike.
Three Investment Lessons From 2024
Three interconnected lessons from 2024 help shape our 2025 outlook.
QuantStreet January 2025 Letter: Trump-Trade Reversal
After a strong November 2024, markets were generally down in December. The S&P 500 index was down 2.3%, while energy, small caps, value stocks, and REITs performed considerably worse.
Muni Bonds in a New Interest Rate Regime
Fixed income is top of mind as investors look to a new interest rate regime. Sylvia Yeh dives into the outlook for 2025.
Does High CAPE Predict Low Market Returns?
CAPE, or the cyclically adjusted price-to-earnings ratio, introduced in 1988 by economists John Campbell and Robert Shiller, is arguably the best-known indicator of broad market valuation. And CAPE is now at an almost (though not quite) all-time high level, according to data from Robert Shiller's website.
How to Manage Taxes in Direct Indexing Portfolios
In an actively managed portfolio, there’s no way to escape capital gains taxes altogether. But understanding the importance of tax efficiency is crucial to long-term success for investors and advisors.
Economic Resilience Supports Cyclical Rally
Why cyclical leadership in equities could continue into 2025.