Wealth Management
Value investing has long been a cornerstone strategy for successful investors, offering opportunities to buy undervalued stocks poised for long-term growth. While value stocks lagged behind growth stocks during the era of low interest rates, they staged a notable comeback in 2022 before once again underperforming in 2023.
For those seeking to capitalize on value opportunities, ETFs like Vanguard Value ETF (VTV) or iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (IWD) offer broad exposure to undervalued companies at a low cost. Smaller-cap-focused options, such as the Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF (VBR), provide diversification with higher growth potential.
ETFs focused on high dividends, like the Fidelity High Dividend ETF (FDVV), also combine value strategies with consistent income streams.
Finsum: Investing in value ETFs, you can diversify your portfolio and tap into opportunities across industries without extensive research required.
In 2025, monetizing your hobbies can lead to both personal fulfillment and financial success. Many Millennials find passion-driven side hustles particularly rewarding.
- If you’re a collector, for example, curating rare or vintage items and selling them on platforms like Etsy or eBay can be lucrative, especially when coupled with content creation to engage potential buyers.
- Travel enthusiasts can turn their adventures into income by sharing travel blogs, selling breathtaking photos, or offering bespoke travel planning services.
- Similarly, artistic pursuits provide endless opportunities, such as selling digital art, creating craft subscription boxes, or offering tutorials and courses online.
By focusing on a niche that excites you and aligns with market demand, you can craft a career that combines passion and purpose.
Finsum: While hobbies can just be hobbies, finding ways that they can remain more revenue neutral can make indulging in them much easier.
BondBloxx has introduced the PCMM ETF, the first of its kind to provide direct access to private credit markets through collateralized loan obligations (CLOs). This ETF focuses on middle-market companies, a $5 trillion subset of the $30 trillion private credit market, offering diversification for fixed-income portfolios.
Private credit, characterized by short durations and low correlations to equities, provides resilience against Federal Reserve policy shifts. The fund, which invests 80% of its assets in private credit CLOs, delivers current yields around 7% and charges a 68-basis-point fee.
PCMM is positioned as a liquid, transparent, and cost-effective alternative to traditional private credit vehicles like interval funds. BondBloxx envisions this ETF as a key tool for financial advisors seeking enhanced returns and diversification in their clients’ portfolios.
Finsum: This is another perfect example of ETFs making alternatives or more complicated assets easier for clients.
More...
The New York Times Book Review’s nonfiction selections for 2024 explore profound personal narratives, historical analysis, and timely social commentary. “Cold Crematorium” by József Debreczeni reflects on his harrowing experiences during the Holocaust with striking humor and humanity, resisting platitudes to convey the depth of his observations.
Jonathan Blitzer’s “Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here” examines U.S. immigration policy’s fallout through vivid storytelling and careful analysis, tying human experiences to political decisions.
Lucy Sante reflects on her transgender journey and a life of self-discovery in “I Heard Her Call My Name,” blending intimate memoir with cultural criticism.
In “Reagan,” Max Boot reassesses Ronald Reagan’s political legacy, questioning its role in shaping modern conservatism with depth and nuance.
Finally, Hampton Sides’ “The Wide Wide Sea” chronicles the tumultuous final voyage of James Cook, combining historical scholarship with Indigenous perspectives.
Finsum: These works collectively tackle identity, power, and historical reckonings.
As 2025 approaches, municipal bonds and related ETFs present intriguing opportunities for fixed-income investors. Actively managed options, like the ALPS Intermediate Municipal Bond ETF (MNBD), are outperforming some passive counterparts, showcasing the value of active management in this space.
Experts predict declining muni bond issuance in early 2025, creating a favorable supply backdrop for the asset class. Attractive after-tax yields, such as 6.1% for high tax brackets, are expected to sustain strong demand across mutual funds, ETFs, and managed accounts.
Goldman Sachs Asset Management anticipates robust technical support for munis, highlighting net supply reductions and compelling credit opportunities.
Finsum: For investors seeking accessible exposure, ETFs like MNBD simplify participation in the municipal bond market.
BlackRock has announced a $12 billion acquisition of HPS Investment Partners, a private credit firm led by former Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan executives. The deal highlights BlackRock’s push into private credit, a rapidly expanding $1.6 trillion market that has grown as banks retreat from leveraged lending.
CEO Larry Fink emphasized the blending of public and private markets as a core feature of modern investing. The move aligns with BlackRock’s broader strategy to deepen its presence in alternative assets, following acquisitions of Preqin and Global Infrastructure Partners earlier this year.
While some industry leaders, including JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon, have raised concerns about risks in private credit, BlackRock sees significant opportunities for growth.
Finsum: This acquisition could boost BlackRock’s effort to position itself as a leader in alternative asset management.