Everyone has an idea about how the stock market works, yet bond markets are widely misunderstood. Retail investors often label them as ‘uninteresting’—to put it mildly. However, bonds play an important role in the overall success of your investment strategy. In 2025, not only do they offer a juicy yield, but they may also act as a powerful weapon in your portfolio. Today, let’s explore a simplified Bond ETF calculator to get an intuitive sense of the upside and downside of Bond ETFs, and why keeping cash may not always be preferable.

[Read more]

What is the single most universally held belief in all of investing? Think about it for a minute. Our vote would be “Investors MUST own US stocks.” It has been well established that US stocks have historically outperformed bonds over time, and likewise, US stocks have outperformed most foreign stock markets as well as other asset classes. How many times have you seen a version of this chart?

[Read more]

The United States owes foreign investors $8.5 trillion of its national debt—almost one-quarter of its total debt. The graphic above illustrates the foreign holders of U.S. national debt using data from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, as of December 2024. The U.S. debt increases when the government spends more than it collects in taxes and other revenue. To cover this shortfall, the U.S. Treasury issues Treasury bills, notes, and bonds. These securities are highly liquid, widely used by central banks as reserves, and favored by investors during market volatility.

[Read more]

Most equities have entered, or are on the cusp of, a bear market. Not all bear markets are the same. The type of bear market has some bearing on the triggers, timing and speed of the recovery. Our framework identifies 3 types: 'Structural' bear markets, 'Cyclical' bear markets and 'Event-driven' bear markets. Cyclical bear markets are the most common, with falls averaging 30%. Bear market rallies are common, but a sustained trough typically requires a combination of cheap valuations, extreme negative positioning, policy intervention and a slowing of macro deterioration.

[Read more]

Liquid alternatives are sold as strategies that improve portfolio diversification, especially when traditional stock and bond markets tank. Have they passed the test that markets have posed this year? Liquid alternatives are one option for enhancing diversification. These mutual funds and exchange-traded funds offer exposure to strategies like long-short equity, merger arbitrage, and trend-following.

[Read more]

The math nerds have taken over Wall Street. Why? How? And by god what does it mean? Dan Toomey is the only mortal capable of answering such questions. Suck it 60 Minutes. Featuring interviews with Gregory Zuckerman (WSJ investigative reporter and author of The Man Who Solved the Market), Inti Mantripp (former quant analyst at Bank of America), and a couple of anonymous hosses who have worked in ~the elite quant space~.

The firm's annual Market Overview is a comprehensive, data-driven review and analysis of private markets investment activity over the prior year, as well as predictions for the year ahead. The detailed report leverages Hamilton Lane's industry-leading database that encompasses data on more than 58,000 funds across 57 vintage years*. Among the report's findings: Credit, infrastructure and secondaries: Each of these sectors is set up for success. Venture and growth: Investors should have exposure to these areas. Equity: In particular, the co-investment side where investors can be selective.

[Read more]

Top Asset Management Giants in 2024! 💼💰 Here’s the ranking of the world’s top 10 asset management firms by AUM (Assets Under Management) in 2024: 1️⃣ BlackRock: $10.47T 🇺🇸 2️⃣ Vanguard: $9.30T 🇺🇸 3️⃣ Fidelity: $5.30T 🇺🇸 4️⃣ State Street: $3.63T 🇺🇸 5️⃣ Morgan Stanley: $3.56T 🇺🇸 6️⃣ JPMorgan Chase: $3.34T 🇺🇸 7️⃣ Crédit Agricole: $2.86T 🇫🇷 8️⃣ Goldman Sachs: $2.85T 🇺🇸 9️⃣ UBS: $2.62T 🇨🇭 🔟 Capital Group: $2.60T 🇺🇸

[Read more]

This article is Part 6 of our Definitive Guide to Slashing ETF Costs and Taxes. One of the most confusing aspects of UCITS ETFs is currencies. Pay special attention. Not only can they affect the long term performance of the Stocks and Bonds, but they also impact the FX conversion fees you pay your Broker. Today, let’s look at the best practices and what you can do to reduce FX fees.

[Read more]

Imagine discovering your broker has gone belly-up overnight, leaving your hard-earned investments in the balance. In a market where investors tirelessly chase after low fees, the often-ignored specter of broker failure lurks in the shadows. The collapse of a broker isn’t just a plot twist in a Hollywood blockbuster—it’s a stark reality that has left many investors stranded and panicking. Could your broker be next? What safeguards do you have in place? Here is what you need to know to protect your savings.

[Read more]

Zach Lytle, 26, worked as a software engineer for three years before quitting in April 2024 to hike the Pacific Crest Trail, a more than 2,600-mile trail that spans from Mexico to Canada. Lytle isn't alone. Many Gen Zers and millennials are taking career breaks despite having relatively short careers. On social media, influencers have coined these breaks "micro-retirements" or "mini-retirements". So why have some embraced this trend, and is it right for you?

[Read more]

In 2024, the average hourly labour costs in the whole economy were estimated to be €33.5 in the EU and €37.3 in the euro area.

The lowest hourly labour costs recorded in: - Bulgaria (€10.6) - Romania (€12.5) - Hungary (€14.1)

The highest in: - Luxembourg (€55.2) - Denmark (€50.1) - Belgium (€48.2)

[Read more]

While Europe struggles with debt and stagnation, Poland is booming—the fastest-growing major economy on the continent! How did Poland transform from a broken USSR satellite into a tech and military powerhouse? We explore its smart moves—slow privatization, EU funds, innovation—and risks like debt and brain drain. Can it overtake Germany or France?