The bond market is undergoing a profound transformation as actively managed fixed-income ETFs gain traction among investors looking for more agile solutions. These funds combine strategic bond selection with the flexibility and transparency of the ETF format, offering a powerful tool for navigating an environment defined by volatility and uncertainty. 

Unlike passive strategies tied to static benchmarks, active managers can explore underfollowed sectors of the bond market, aiming for higher yields and stronger risk management. The ETF Rule of 2019 opened the floodgates for innovation, helping fuel a surge in actively managed ETF launches and inflows, particularly in fixed income. 

Investors are drawn to the structure’s real-time trading, lower embedded costs, and resilience in stressed markets—traits that are increasingly valuable in a dynamic rate environment. 

Finsum: Active fixed-income ETFs are becoming a key component of modern portfolio construction, reshaping how investors engage with the bond market.

Private credit has grown so large and intertwined with banks and insurers that it now poses a systemic risk in future financial crises, according to a new Moody’s Analytics study co-authored by economists and regulators. 

The report warns that the opaque nature of private credit and its deepening ties to traditional finance could amplify financial shocks due to increased interconnectedness. Since the 2008 crisis, banks have reduced lending amid tighter regulations, creating room for private credit funds—often lending to riskier, heavily indebted companies—to flourish with less oversight. 

Researchers used business development companies as a proxy for the sector and found their market behavior is now more correlated with broader financial stress than in the past. Although private credit firms argue they are less prone to panics due to their long-term investor base, banks are still deeply exposed through indirect relationships like fund financing and risk transfers. 

Finsum: While private markets tend to be insulated from recessions compared to their public counter parts it’s important to keep this risk in mind when investing

Despite recent political pushback, institutional support for ESG (environmental, social, and governance) investing remains strong, with many large investors continuing to prioritize sustainability. 

This is good news for ESG-focused ETFs like the Invesco ESG Nasdaq 100 ETF (QQMG) and the ESG Nasdaq Next Gen 100 ETF (QQJG), which could see more adoption as political resistance fades. A 2025 BNP Paribas survey found that 87% of institutional investors have not altered their ESG goals, and 84% expect sustainability progress to continue or accelerate through 2030. 

Furthermore, 85% of respondents said they now integrate sustainability criteria into their investment processes. However, challenges persist, including concerns about ESG data reliability, greenwashing, and balancing short-term performance with long-term sustainability. 

Finsum: ETFs that aim to address those concerns by tracking transparent, sustainability-aligned indexes with performance in line with their non-ESG benchmarks.

Small-cap stocks have struggled in early 2025, hurt by trade tensions and economic sensitivity, but a broadening equity market may set the stage for recovery. Despite current volatility, small-caps could benefit from their domestic focus—nearly 80% of Russell 2000 revenues come from within the U.S.—which offers insulation from global trade disruptions. 

Historically, small-caps have outperformed during periods when large-cap dominance fades, and current signs of market broadening echo those conditions. To navigate uncertainty, investors should favor high-quality small-cap stocks with strong fundamentals, as they tend to hold up better in downturns and outperform in recoveries. 

Market timing, however, remains risky, missing just a few key months can erase most gains, making long-term commitment crucial. 

Finsum: Patient investors who focus on quality and use active management may be best positioned to capture small-cap upside as market conditions evolve.

A new Goldman Sachs Asset Management survey shows insurers are increasingly focused on annuities as a retirement income solution amid ongoing market volatility. Sixty-four percent of respondents rank annuities among their top three priorities, with many already offering or considering in-plan annuity options. 

Integration into managed accounts and target-date funds is rising, and automatic plan defaults are viewed as key to driving adoption during retirement decumulation. Registered index-linked and guaranteed variable annuities are gaining popularity, and insurers are diversifying underlying indices, with rising interest in AI strategies and international markets. 

AI is also being widely adopted, with 90% of insurers seeing it as vital for improving investor understanding, education, and operational efficiency. 

Finsum: Registered investment advisers have become the leading growth channel for annuity distribution, surpassing independent firms.

With markets shaky despite record highs, investors are turning to commodity ETFs as a hedge against inflation and uncertainty driven by Trump-era tariffs and policy risks. Commodity prices tend to rise with inflation, making them attractive during volatile periods, and ETFs offer simplified access to hard assets like gold, oil, and copper without the complexity of futures trading. 

The Invesco PDBC fund leads the space with $4.7 billion in assets and diversified exposure, notably in energy and metals, all while avoiding cumbersome K-1 tax forms. Meanwhile, the actively managed First Trust FTGC ETF charges higher fees but provides exposure to a wider range of commodities, including agriculture and precious metals. 

For those focused on specific assets, the iShares Gold Trust (IAU) offers low-cost access to gold, while the CPER fund targets copper futures, riding recent price momentum in industrial metals. 

Finsum:  ETFs provide accessible, diversified, and tax-friendly ways for investors to gain exposure to commodities within traditional brokerage accounts.

U.S. stocks ended mostly flat after the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady and signaled slower future cuts, while geopolitical tensions between Israel and Iran pushed oil prices higher. 

Fed Chair Jerome Powell emphasized that future rate decisions will remain data-dependent and warned of rising consumer prices this summer due to Trump’s new tariffs. Despite earlier gains, markets lost momentum following the Fed’s cautious tone; the Dow slipped 0.10%, the S&P 500 dipped 0.03%, and the Nasdaq edged up 0.13%. 

Meanwhile, Brent and WTI crude rose slightly amid fears of broader Middle East conflict and supply disruptions. U.S. Treasury yields, initially lower on safe-haven demand, rebounded after Powell’s comments on inflation. 

Finsum: Economic data added to uncertainty, with retail sales declining sharply in May and jobless claims suggesting weakening labor market momentum.

The active Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) market in the US is experiencing rapid growth, with assets expanding from $81 billion in 2019 to $631 billion in 2024. Despite this surge, active ETFs still comprise only 6% of total active Assets Under Management (AUM), suggesting significant room for expansion. However, success in this space is not guaranteed. A small number of dominant funds and managers capture a disproportionate share of flows, and early asset accumulation – particularly in the first year – is a critical determinant of long-term success.

The paper outlines three strategic imperatives for managers looking to launch or scale active ETFs: 

1. Go with the flow -Success hinges on robust distribution, particularly within Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) channels, which account for the majority of active ETF assets. Managers must align with the right distributors and tailor outreach to platform-specific dynamics, recognizing that entry barriers are higher in brokerdealer and wirehouse channels. 
2. Pick a lane -Leading managers have thrived by leveraging one or more of the following: unique investment strategies (e.g., innovation, income), proprietary distribution channels and strong brand identity. While hitting on all three is unlikely, identifying and doubling down on one’s inherent strengths is essential. 
3. Less is more -Focused engagement with high-potential advisors who already use active ETFs significantly improves conversion and gross sales. By prioritizing advisor scoring and segmentation, managers can better allocate resources and boost early momentum. Other key insights include the diversification of active ETFs beyond bonds to equities and niche strategies, declining concentration among top managers and the critical role of tailored incentive structures for internal sales teams during the launch phase. Ultimately, while the market presents significant tailwinds, achieving “escape velocity” requires precise execution across product design, distribution, marketing and sales

Access the paper here.

Independent financial advisors switching broker-dealers prioritize a smooth transition, supportive infrastructure, and a business-friendly environment with product and operational flexibility. 

Recruiter Derrick Friedman emphasizes that advisors now have the leverage to demand these conditions—and if broker-dealers (BDs) don’t meet them, they risk decline. Industry consolidation has shrunk the pool of large BDs, prompting many advisors to consider RIAs, especially those seeking fewer compliance burdens and more freedom to grow fee-based practices. 

Hybrid models remain attractive to advisors who still maintain transactional business and want to retain flexibility. Technology—like DocuSign—has reduced friction in transitions, making it easier for advisors to move their book of business quickly. 

Finsum: While RIAs are expanding rapidly, BDs aren't disappearing; instead, consolidation is pushing advisors and recruiters alike to explore a wider landscape of firms.

On May 28, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor rescinded its 2022 guidance that had discouraged 401(k) plans from offering cryptocurrency investments, signaling a return to investment neutrality. 

The original 2022 Release had raised concerns in the benefits industry by implying heightened fiduciary scrutiny for crypto, leading to legal challenges, though it was ultimately deemed nonbinding. Despite lacking legal force, the 2022 guidance effectively chilled crypto’s inclusion in retirement plans, with GAO data showing minimal adoption and crypto exposure limited mostly to self-directed brokerage windows. 

Under the Trump administration, broader federal policy shifted to encourage digital asset innovation, with agencies like the SEC relaxing enforcement and facilitating clearer frameworks for crypto. While the Labor Department has not explicitly endorsed crypto in 401(k)s, it now stresses fiduciaries must evaluate all investment options contextually and prudently. 

Finsum: Whether this neutral stance extends to other investment types or persists beyond the current administration remains an open question.