Donald Trump’s stance on renewable energy has created uncertainty, but investors are still finding opportunities in the sector. Federal permitting delays and funding pauses have caused disruptions, though legal challenges may curb their effects. 

Meanwhile, energy firms such as TotalEnergies see long-term potential in the U.S. market and continue to invest in clean power. Enphase Energy has defied expectations with solid earnings and an expanded domestic manufacturing footprint. 

While offshore wind faces setbacks, onshore projects are set to grow significantly this year. Companies like First Solar and Vestas Wind Systems, despite recent stock declines, could benefit from the ongoing transition to renewables.

Finsum: Renewables aren’t dead, but there is certainly going to be more attention on which firms can withstand the tightening that could come with the new administration. 

Yael van der Wouden’s The Safe Keep delves into the dark history of Jewish property theft during World War II in the Netherlands, exploring how stolen belongings were never returned to their rightful owners. The novel follows Isabel, a woman maintaining her family home after her mother’s passing, only to uncover unsettling truths about its past.

James by Percival Everett reimagines The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by shifting the focus to Jim, offering a profound critique of literary history and racial narratives. Samantha Harvey’s Orbital juxtaposes the routine of astronauts aboard the International Space Station with the escalating climate crisis on Earth, questioning the cost of human ambition. 

Charlotte Wood’s Stone Yard Devotional follows a woman seeking refuge in a remote religious community, confronting themes of loss, responsibility, and spiritual contemplation. Rachel Kushner’s Creation Lake satirizes the contradictions of utopian communities through the lens of an undercover spy navigating the flaws of an eco-activist commune.

Finsum: These are great options to stay in the zietgiest of fiction but also escape the day-to-day work for those in finance. 

Insurance companies are increasingly turning to asset-backed bonds to support annuity payouts amid surging demand for retirement income products. Securitized assets now make up a quarter of insurers’ bond holdings, with exposure growing by $365 billion since 2017, according to Morgan Stanley. 

Higher interest rates have fueled record annuity sales, reaching $432.4 billion in 2024, marking a 12% annual increase. This trend has intensified insurers’ appetite for asset-backed securities (ABS) and collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), which saw combined holdings rise to $312 billion last year. 

Esoteric ABS, including whole business and digital infrastructure securitizations, have become key components of insurers’ portfolios due to their yield and duration advantages. As demographic shifts drive continued demand for annuities, Morgan Stanley projects structured credit exposure to grow at a 6% annualized rate through 2027.

Finsum: It’s important to understand the underlying structure of annuities, because it tells a compelling story for their high demand. 

Value stocks are making a strong comeback in early 2025, with major names like JPMorgan Chase, IBM, and Ford surpassing earnings expectations. The Vanguard Value ETF, which has lagged behind the S&P 500 in recent years, is now up 4.8% year-to-date, outpacing the broader market’s 3.5% gain. 

A key driver has been robust earnings, as 72% of value companies have exceeded forecasts, well above the long-term median of 63%. Large banks have been standout performers, benefiting from improved investment banking revenue and lower interest rates compared to last year. 

IBM has also surged, riding the AI wave and streamlining operations, while Ford remains a deep-value play despite short-term headwinds. With a forward P/E of just 6.4 and a high dividend yield, Ford could reward investors willing to weather its challenges.

Finsum: Factor investing is very cyclical, and with interest rate uncertainty it might be time to consider value as a critical factor when making portfolio changes. 

Syntax Data has joined forces with FTSE Russell to bring its indices into the Syntax Direct platform, allowing financial advisors to build more customized investment strategies. This partnership enhances direct indexing, a fast-growing segment in wealth management, by giving advisors greater flexibility to tailor portfolios for clients. 

The demand for personalized investment solutions has surged, with assets in direct indexing swelling from $100 billion in 2015 to over $615 billion today, according to industry estimates. With the integration of FTSE Russell indices, advisors can refine portfolios based on specific factors such as market trends, risk preferences, and fundamental metrics.

 The platform also simplifies managing large, diversified benchmarks, making institutional-grade strategies more accessible in private wealth management. By combining customization with scalability, this collaboration enables advisors to deliver more precise and cost-effective investment solutions.

Finsum: Having access to Russell brings a lot of flexibility to investors when paired with direct indexing and particularly allow them to increase value exposure.