Low-volatility ETFs are proving their worth during the current market downturn, outperforming broad benchmarks like the S&P 500. Funds like iShares USMV and Invesco SPLV are both up over 3% year-to-date, even as the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is down nearly 5%. 

Despite their performance, these ETFs haven't attracted significant inflows, overshadowed by trendier buffered and defined-outcome products that rely on complex options strategies. Low-volatility ETFs, by contrast, use a simpler factor-investing approach and tend to come with lower fees, making them more cost-efficient. 

While they can underperform during strong bull markets, their resilience shines when equities struggle, as seen during major drawdowns in 2022 and 2018. 

Finsum: Advisors still value them for clients seeking steadier returns in uncertain conditions, especially as bonds show increasing volatility themselves.

Pickleball has continued its meteoric rise, maintaining its title as America’s fastest-growing sport for the fourth year in a row. In 2024 alone, participation surged nearly 46%, with the number of U.S. players estimated at 19.8 million by SFIA, and some alternative estimates from the APP suggesting that number could be as high as 48 million. 

The sport is becoming increasingly popular among younger demographics, with the 25–34 age group now leading participation and the average player age dropping to just under 35. Infrastructure is racing to keep up, with over 68,000 courts now in the U.S. and a projected $855 million investment needed to meet future demand. 

While challenges like court shortages persist, the sport’s rapid growth has attracted significant attention from manufacturers, with over 1,200 new paddles and 476 brands registered in 2024 alone. 

Finsum: With cross-generational appeal and increasing institutional support, pickleball has evolved from a niche pastime to a defining part of the American athletic landscape.

As market volatility rattles investors, many are turning to “buffer” ETFs—funds that trade off some upside potential in exchange for protection against downside risk. These ETFs, which use options strategies to cap losses while limiting gains, have drawn $4.7 billion in inflows so far this year, with a notable $140 million coming in on the S&P 500’s worst day of 2024. 

Financial advisors are increasingly adopting them to reassure clients and keep them invested during turbulent times, especially as traditional stock valuations remain high. The appeal lies in downside protection, though investors must accept lower upside caps and higher fees—some charging more than ten times what plain index ETFs do. 

Assets in buffer ETFs surged to $64 billion by February, up from $38 billion at the end of 2023, as their defensive qualities grow more attractive in an uncertain economic and political climate. 

Finsum: Some advisors warn against overcommitting, reminding investors to balance protection with realistic expectations about long-term growth and costs.