Interval funds, which offer limited liquidity and access to private markets, are gaining traction as investors seek alternatives to traditional ETFs and mutual funds. Asset managers like TCW, Blackstone, and Vanguard have launched new interval funds this year, bringing the total to 139 with about $100 billion in assets. 

These funds, which allow redemptions only at set intervals (typically quarterly), enable investments in less liquid assets like private credit. For example, TCW’s new fund focuses 80% on private asset-backed credit, illustrating the shift toward alternative income strategies. 

Meanwhile, attempts to bring private asset exposure to ETFs, such as the PRIV ETF, have struggled due to regulatory concerns over liquidity and naming.

Finsum: Advisors are increasingly allocating client portfolios to interval funds, favoring their higher yields despite reduced liquidity and higher fees.

Private equity firms began the year with strong momentum and over $1.6 trillion in dry powder, eager to deploy capital amid improving deal activity. However, rising trade tensions and macroeconomic uncertainty are making investors more cautious, with many GPs expecting tariffs to slow deployment over the coming months. 

Despite this, Q1 saw a surge in deals—volume rose over 45% and value more than doubled year-over-year—driven by large transactions like Sycamore Partners’ take-private of Walgreens. Market volatility has paradoxically raised firms’ risk appetite, with nearly three-quarters indicating they’re more willing to act on mispriced opportunities across sectors such as defense, middle-market manufacturing, and distressed assets. 

Amid these trends, firms such as CNL Strategic Capital are shifting focus to value creation within their portfolio of companies seeking long-term growth

Finsum: Private Markets are a great way to sidestep current volatility

Managed accounts in defined contribution plans have long existed but suffer from low adoption, partly due to limited participant engagement. New technology now allows these accounts to personalize portfolios using more data than just age, potentially improving retirement outcomes. 

Providers are developing hybrid solutions like personalized target-date funds (PTDFs), which tailor asset allocations using existing data without requiring user input. However, experts stress that true personalization—and value—depends on incorporating outside assets and participant-provided details like retirement goals and risk tolerance. 

While artificial intelligence and subscription models may improve engagement, industry leaders see the ultimate goal as total household financial management. 

Finsum: Whether managed accounts can scale effectively and deliver on this promise remains a central question for the future of retirement planning.

Value investing pays off long term, but only a few funds consistently get it right—seven top performers just made the cut. Standouts like ClearBridge Dividend Strategy (LCBEX) and Dodge & Cox Stock (DODGX) delivered strong one-, three-, and five-year returns, outpacing peers with disciplined, research-driven approaches. 

Fidelity Equity-Income (FEKFX) and Fidelity High Dividend ETF (FDVV) combine yield with quality, offering income without overloading on risk. 

Oakmark Select (OANLX) and Natixis Oakmark (NOANX) take concentrated bets on undervalued giants, while WisdomTree U.S. LargeCap Dividend (DLN) adds a smart dividend tilt with broad exposure. On average, large-value funds gained 8.58% over the past year, but these funds beat that benchmark while sticking to sound fundamentals. 

Finsum: With interest rates remaining elevated, large cap could be more resilient compared to the small cap counter parts. 

With recession warnings growing louder, elevated bond yields are offering a compelling entry point for fixed income investors. During times of rising recession risk, bonds often shine as a defensive play—prices typically climb as demand surges and yields fall, making today's higher yields especially attractive to lock in. 

UBS highlights that quality, investment-grade bonds are offering strong yield potential without pushing investors into riskier territory. The Neuberger Berman Flexible Credit Income ETF (NBFC) stands out as one such vehicle, combining active management with multi-sector exposure to generate consistent income with reduced volatility. 

With a 7.10% 30-day SEC yield and over 350 holdings, NBFC delivers both competitive returns and cost efficiency, making it a strong candidate in today's income-hungry environment.

Finsum: Still, for those seeking more income and broader diversification, a mix of bonds and credit assets—like emerging market debt or private credit—can provide a powerful balance.