Podcasts about vettafi

Jane Edmondson, head of index product strategy at TMX VettaFi, tells Proactive Investors that Ukraine's GDP - after collapsing 30% in 2022 - is forecast to grow 4.5% this year, and that 90% of companies in the country are now fully operational. She argues that reconstruction is already under way and that investors do not need to wait for a peace deal to begin gaining exposure. Edmondson cites the Ukraine Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment, published jointly by the Ukrainian government, the World Bank, the EU Commission and the United Nations, which put the cost of reconstruction and recovery at approximately $589 billion (around €510 billion) - roughly three times Ukraine's nominal GDP. The largest individual needs are in transportation, energy and housing, each requiring around $90 billion, while Citi estimates foreign direct investment could contribute $87 billion to $145 billion, covering 15 to 25% of total funding needs. She explains how the underlying index for the Defiance Ukraine Reconstruction UAWAR ETF is constructed: companies must either be Ukrainian by domicile or headquarters, or must belong to business segments directly identified in the damage and needs assessment as recovery priorities - including construction and infrastructure, defense, building materials, and energy transition. European companies are favoured over global names for defense and infrastructure given geographic proximity, and global industrial names are included only if tied to recovery areas, with capped weightings. Edmondson names several holdings across categories: Ukrainian drone-software firm Swarmer, telecom operator Kyivstar, and iron ore pellet producer Ferrexpo on the Ukrainian side; and Caterpillar, Vinci, CRH, ABB, Siemens, Schneider Electric, Eaton, Emerson, BAE Systems and Rheinmetall among the international names. She notes that Ukraine's reconstruction plans follow a 'Build Back Better' framework aligned with EU sustainability goals, covering clean energy, sustainable agriculture and green transportation. #TMXVettaFi #UAWAR #UkraineReconstruction #DefianceETF #Ukraine #ReconstructionInvesting #ETF #Infrastructure #EmergingMarkets #ThematicInvesting

TMX VettaFi's head of business development for EMEA & Asia, Axel Belorde, spoke with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the structural drivers fuelling demand for drones and autonomous systems across defence, government and commercial markets. Belorde pointed to military modernisation as a key driver, with decision-makers weighing whether to replace ageing equipment or adopt technology offering an asymmetric edge. He also flagged civil applications - policing, border security, disaster response - plus a growing range of commercial uses. Smaller and medium-sized drones, he said, can deliver outsized results relative to their cost, with lighter material and energy demands easing pressure on supply chains versus traditional equipment. Belorde emphasised drones' role as data-gathering platforms, with fleet data combined with satellite and IoT inputs to sharpen decision-making and power operational AI: "Data wins wars and data also wins in terms of deploying operational AI and having good outcomes." On the commercial side, he cited delivery, warehouse management and predictive maintenance — including drones running continuous inventory checks to cut stockouts and free up working capital, and autonomous systems surveying critical infrastructure. His summary: "You don't have to have a human shape for an autonomous system to work" - a drone just needs to be fit for purpose, nimble and cost-efficient to deliver outsized impact. Visit Proactive's YouTube channel for more interviews and videos. Give the video a like, subscribe to the channel and enable notifications so you don't miss future content. Read Proactive's Editorial Policy here: https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/pages/editorialPolicy #Drones #DroneTechnology #AutonomousSystems #DefenceTechnology #MilitaryTechnology #ArtificialIntelligence #OperationalAI #SupplyChains #SupplyChainResilience #Robotics #Automation #PredictiveMaintenance #CriticalInfrastructure #TMXVettaFi #Proactive

Rob Haworth, senior investment strategist at U.S. Bank Asset Management, entered the year saying that the stock market could "4-peat," by posting its fourth consecutive year of double-digit gains. While he says now that the market and economy have legitimate concerns to overcome, they also have fundamentals in place to do just that, setting up the potential for a 5-peat in 2027. Haworth does suggest that investors diversify further to help get them through the trouble spots, but he suggests putting more focus on domestic markets than international, being certain not to get too overloaded in the hot sectors and looking into parts of the fixed-income market where higher yields have been mostly overlooked. Ron Mastrogiovanni, chief executive officer at HealthView Services, discusses the firm's recent research, titled "Social Security Solvency & Retirement Planning: Calculating Lost Benefits and Income Solutions," which examines the financial impact of potential Social Security benefits reductions on future retirees. The report shows that, without steps to fully fund the program, a 54-year-old couple retiring in eight years receiving average Social Security benefits could lose more than $160,000 over their lifetime, with high-income families losing as much as $500,000. Even if changes are made to extend solvency, Mastrogiovanni suggests everyone — even younger workers — should consider the possibility of lower Social Security benefits as they make retirement plans. With small-cap stocks staging a strong rally this year — the small-cap index is up more than 20 percent year-to-date — Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi turns to an Avantis fund as his ETF of the Week, noting that the fund brings active management to stock selection, but does less trading than the small-cap index funds that regularly re-constitue as the benchmark changes.

On this episode of the "ETF of the Week" podcast, VettaFi's Head of Research, Todd Rosenbluth, discussed the Avantis U.S. Small Cap Equity ETF (AVSC) with Chuck Jaffe of Money Life.

Steffen Szumowski Nuclear Analyst with Vettafi joined Steve Darling from Proactive to discuss the evolving nuclear energy sector, saying today's industry is "hard to recognize" compared with past decades as restarts, plant life extensions, and new reactor construction replace years of shutdowns. Szumowski said the current nuclear revival began before the recent surge in artificial intelligence, describing AI as "gasoline on top of a fire" rather than the original catalyst. He believes the shift was driven primarily by global climate policies following the Paris Agreement, with growing recognition that renewable energy alone cannot provide the reliable, low-carbon baseload electricity needed to meet future demand. The discussion also focused on energy security, with Szumowski pointing to geopolitical events, including the Russia-Ukraine war and tensions involving Iran, as reinforcing the importance of domestic energy independence. He cited France's large nuclear fleet as an example of how nuclear generation has helped reduce exposure to volatile fossil fuel prices. On reactor development, Szumowski highlighted the rapid pace of new construction in China, ongoing projects in the UK and Russia, and continued progress on advanced reactor technologies in the United States. While no new large-scale reactors have yet broken ground in the U.S., he said companies such as Cameco have suggested additional announcements could emerge through U.S. Department of Energy and Department of Commerce initiatives. Looking ahead, Szumowski believes investors have not missed the opportunity, describing the nuclear renaissance as "still just getting started" with additional announcements expected across both large-scale nuclear plants and small modular reactor projects. One ETF to watch is the Range Nuclear Renaissance Index ETF which is designed to track the performance of companies that are involved in the nuclear fuel and energy. #proactiveinvestors #RangeNuclearRenaissanceIndexETF #NuclearEnergy #NuclearRenaissance #Uranium #EnergyTransition #CleanEnergy #SmallModularReactors #AI #PowerGeneration #Investing #EnergySecurity

Economist Rebecca Homkes, a lecturer at Duke University and London Business School whose consulting practice focuses on the things that influence the thinking of chief executives, says that the valuations of A.I. companies are sky high because investors believe in the transformational technology, but that when that transformation shows up — and investors worry that an industry like software could get pinched in the transformation — investors tend to panic. She sees concerns that the A.I. funding cycle has become so circular that any troubles could unwind the market quickly, so while she is not expecting a recession or a bubble quickly, she does suggest danger signs are visible now. Carter Braxton Worth, chief executive officer at Worth Charting — known by many as "the Chart Master" on CNBC — brings technical analysis to the Market Call, noting that he doesn't study companies, he studies shares. Worth notes that he currently favors small-cap financials, utilities and energy companies, and he warns of the "bifurcation of technology," where one area of the sector does very well while another one does very poorly, which he considers a sign of potential trouble ahead. This bifurcation is similar -- but with a technical analysis bent -- to Homkes' explanation of the wild market responses to AI stocks. Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi, brings the proverbial hammer of THOR to the ETF of the Week, bestowing the weekly title to a new income-focused stock fund  from Thornburg that carries that mythic ticker symbol.

On this episode of the "ETF of the Week" podcast, VettaFi's Head of Research, Todd Rosenbluth, discussed the Thornburg Premium Income Builder ETF (THOR) with Chuck Jaffe of Money Life.

TMX VettaFi head of business development EMEA & Asia Axel Belorde joined Proactive's Stephen Gunnion to discuss the technologies shaping the future of defence investing and what investors should be watching. Belorde highlighted autonomous systems, AI, battlefield management software and cybersecurity as the key themes driving defence sector evolution. He explained that autonomous technologies now extend well beyond drones to cover robotics, unmanned systems and AI-powered software that integrates multiple data sources for better operational decision-making, with lower-cost platforms delivering significant capability while reducing dependence on critical minerals and heavy manufacturing. On software, Belorde stressed its growing strategic importance. "More and more data is going to win wars. Well, guess what? If that data gets compromised, you're better off with no data than compromised data." He also highlighted the dual-use nature of many defence technologies, spanning logistics, predictive maintenance and public safety, which broadens the investment opportunity beyond traditional aerospace and defence manufacturers. For ETF investors, he suggested looking beyond established names towards data integration, cybersecurity and autonomous systems companies. Visit the Proactive YouTube channel for more interviews with leading companies and industry experts. If you enjoyed this video, please like, subscribe to the channel and enable notifications so you never miss future content. Read Proactive's Editorial Policy here: https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/pages/editorialPolicy #TMXVettaFi #Defence #DefenceInvesting #DefenceETF #ETFInvesting #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #AutonomousSystems #Drones #Cybersecurity #BattlefieldManagement #MilitaryTechnology #Robotics #DefenceTechnology #Investing #Innovation #EMEA #CapitalMarkets #SecurityTechnology #Proactive

Chris Retzler, portfolio manager for the Needham Funds, says that the stock market is benefitting from an artificial-intelligence powered industrial revolution "that we haven't seen the likes of in a very long time," but he says that this will not end the way the Internet bubble did because the players have strong balance sheets and prospects. Retzler thinks there is a strong fundamental story that can lead the market higher from here, and that the small-cap rally that has powered recent gains is a long-term shift that should bring smaller companies back to their traditional role of providing a higher-risk, higher-reward investment option. He worries about the potential impact of inflation and the timing and magnitude of any interest rate hikes, but he says the base case is for current conditions to remain in place and largely unchanged for several months. Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi, makes JPMorgan Core Plus Bond his ETF of the Week, noting that the fund has seen strong inflows to match its recent strong performance, citing low fees for active management and a yield of roughly 5% as other key factors to consider. Plus, Stanford University professor Tina Seelig discusses her book "What I Wish I Knew About Luck: A Crash Course on Turning Aspirations into Achievements," noting the significant difference between having good fortune and true good luck, and how individuals can make their own luck, often through small habits that amount to little more than common courtesy and good manners.

On this episode of the "ETF of the Week" podcast, VettaFi's Head of Research, Todd Rosenbluth, discussed the JPMorgan Core Plus Bond ETF (JCPB) with Chuck Jaffe of Money Life.

Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA Research says investors should "be prepared for some additional volatility" at least until and through the midterm elections, but he thinks it represents "a reason to buy, not to bail." Stovall says that he's looking for solid double-digit earnings growth into 2027, and he makes the case that the technology sector has been driving the market higher but remains trading at a relative discount in price/earnings ratio. Traditional summer market doldrums, therefore, set up chances to profit from a rally he expects once the voting is done. Further, he points to the market's expanded breadth which, when combined with a positive first half of the year, historically is a sign that the market will rise over the rest of the year. Stovall's big worry for the economy and market involves the Federal Reserve and the potential for higher rates to lead to stagflation and other condition changes, but he's not expecting the Fed to move rates this year, so he thinks those worries are further into the future. Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi, has focused a lot of his recent ETF of the Week picks on actively managed funds, but today he goes with a hot fund based on a technology-heavy index as something that would work well for investors who expect the market's uptrend to continue.  In the Market Call, Manny Weintraub, principal at Cannell & Spears, talks about how he finds "super great stocks that are not going to kill you" and whether stocks in the hottest sectors are being set up to murder investors when market conditions and sentiments change.  

On this episode of the "ETF of the Week" podcast, VettaFi's Head of Research, Todd Rosenbluth, discussed the Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF (QQQM) with Chuck Jaffe of Money Life.

Kristen VanGelder, co-chief investment officer at Evanston Capital — a firm that manages hedge funds built out of hedge funds — says that sophisticated money managers have very different sentiments about current market conditions than Main Street investors, noting that where average investors are showing lousy sentiment numbers, sharpies are leaning into the market's increasing "dispersion" and the ability to play one thing against the next to turn volatility into profits. She says that global macro investors "have the glimmer in their eye," because the pressure of war and a complicated global inflationary picture are creating opportunities beyond what investors can fund sticking with fundamental investing domestically. Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi, goes away from his long-running trend of focusing on actively managed ETFs and turns to a new Vanguard high-yield corporate bond index fund as his "ETF of the Week," noting that the ultra-low fees on the fund and the outperformance of the index make it something to consider now.  In the Market Call, Tom Martin, senior portfolio manager for Globalt Investments, discusses his earnings-driven investment style and what to make of the volatile market reactions around perceived "sand-bagging," where companies meet profit projections but the Street doesn't think expectations were set high enough.

VettaFi's Head of Research Todd Rosenbluth discussed the Vanguard US High-Yield Corporate BD Index ETF (VCHY) on this week's “ETF of the Week” podcast with Chuck Jaffe of “Money Life.” 

Steven Dover, chief market strategist at Franklin Templeton, says there is still more upside to the market, based on earnings growth, noting that the economy and stock market have been resilient due to the "phenomenal" profits companies have been generating. Dover notes that the market is fully valued, but not expensive; "We think earnings this next year could be [up] 15 to 20 percent, so the market could follow that without being more expensive." Dover, who is also the head of the Franklin Templeton Institute, notes that the earnings growth has been greatest among small caps, which is why he is leaning in that direction, and he advocates for fixed income as ballast for portfolios now; ;he had previously lightened up on the Magnificent Seven and other market leaders, and he says that the market has relaxed on those stocks, which may create targeted buying opportunities. Kevin Dreyer, co-chief investment officer for value at Gabelli Asset Management — part of the team running Gabelli Equity Trust and other closed-end funds — discusses how he is finding value looking for names that are "differentiated and not highly correlated" to the stocks that have been leading the market's return to record levels. Specifically, Dreyer says he is looking for businesses that are "A.I. resilient" and able to withstand and/or benefit from the development of artificial intelligence. One area he cited as particularly attractive is sports and entertainment, because " You can't have an algorithm or chatbot replicate the New York Knicks … but you and I can go out and buy MSGS, which owns the Knicks."  Plus, Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi, turns to a trending part of the market and makes an actively managed Fidelity small- and mid-cap fund his pick for "ETF of the Week."

VettaFi's Head of Research Todd Rosenbluth discussed the Fidelity Fundamental Small-Mid Cap ETF (FFSM) on this week's “ETF of the Week” podcast with Chuck Jaffe of “Money Life.” 

Fritz Folts, chief investment strategist at 3EDGE Asset Management, says he has pulled back slightly on equity exposure but gone deeper into a diversified approach because the market has been crazy, driven by investors' fear of missing out, sky-high expectations and more, to the point where the key is to participate and not be wrong because you are taking chances on what amounts to a wild guess. If Folts had to guess, he'd expect the stock market to have a bumpy ride in the second half of the year, finishing roughly flat from current levels. Michael Monaghan, founder and portfolio manager of the Founder ETFs makes his debut in the Market Call, talking about his firm's methodology, which focuses on companies where the original founder remains in the driver seat. Research shows that founder-led companies tend to outperform for several reasons, notably that the entrepreneurs behind them have a long-term vision and are not swayed by short-term market noise or pressured to produce a quarterly profit. Monaghan, who runs the Founders 100 ETF, discusses how founder-CEOs influence giants like Nvidia and Meta Platforms and how a portfolio of these stocks can expect more stable long-term performance.  In the ETF of the Week segment, Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi, focuses on a value fund from T. Rowe Price that just hit its third anniversary, gaining roughly 30 percent over the last 12 months

VettaFi's Head of Research Todd Rosenbluth discussed the T. Rowe Price Value ETF (TVAL) on this week's “ETF of the Week” podcast with Chuck Jaffe of “Money Life.” 

Todd Rosenbluth of TMX VettaFi talks about his firm's RAFI Indices acquisition and the growing shift toward fundamentally weighted ETFs. He also highlights rising interest in thematic funds like Procure Space ETF (UFO) and ROBO Global Robotics & Automation ETF (ROBO), while cautioning on leveraged products tied to Tesla (TSLA) and Nvidia (NVDA).======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day.Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

Matthew Miskin, co-chief investment strategist at John Hancock Investment Management, says that the current stock market has been driven to record highs on the back of strong earnings that have overpowered economic concerns, but he notes that the stock market bubble that inflated during the Internet boom of the late 1990s grew on the backs of companies with no real earnings. As a result, with IPOs like SpaceX dominating the headlines, Miskin is preaching caution, noting that these attention-grabbing stocks are coming public without profits. Miskin says that's a rising risk, but that inflation is less of a risk than it was just a few months ago, and he believes there may be pockets of downturn or slowdown, but that should push investors to diversify, rather than to overhaul a portfolio or back away from equities. Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi, looks at a free-cash flow factor fund that has a stellar track record and that will celebrate its third birthday next week for his ETF of the Week. The birthday is important because it makes the fund eligible for ratings that will signal its stellar performance even more strongly to investors. Ken Burdon, partner in the registered fund practice at Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett, discusses a recent Supreme Court ruling that's a game-changer for activist investors in closed-end funds.  Critics of activism have long held that professional arbitrageurs used federal courts to pressure closed-end funds into deals that benefit activists' at the expense of the long-term objectives of ordinary shareholders. Burdon says the decision  doesn't stop the activists from pursuing cases but removes a key path that activists took to pursue their actions much more quickly and easily.

VettaFi's Head of Research Todd Rosenbluth discussed the Victoryshares Free Cash Flow ETF (VFLO) on this week's “ETF of the Week” podcast with Chuck Jaffe of “Money Life.” 

Bill Stone, chief investment officer at Glenview Trust, says that the stock market "continues to price in that the Iran conflict is going to be over [soon]," which has kept the focus on blockbuster earnings numbers, which have been so strong that they have overcome virtually all economic and stock market concerns. He expects that earnings trend to continue, powering the market through some summer doldrums to where it finishes the year on a positive note. "Stocks don't go up short-term always with earnings but, long-term, earnings are the fuel that sends stocks higher," Stone says; with the earnings trend in place, he says long-term investors should be less concerned about worrisome headlines about inflation, war and more. Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi, looks at the Procure Space ETF (ticker: UFO) as his "ETF of the Week," noting how the fund has been a rocket ship this year, and that it will be worth watching as the SpaceX IPO launches this week and markets adjust to having that big-name stock joining the space-race sector. In the Market Call, Hank Smith, head of investment strategy at The Haverford Trust Co., discusses the benefits of companies that pay growing dividends and that have an A-rated balance sheet.

VettaFi's Head of Research Todd Rosenbluth discussed the Procure Space ETF (UFO) on this week's “ETF of the Week” podcast with Chuck Jaffe of “Money Life.” 

Joseph S. Moore, author of "How to Get Rich in American History: 300 Years of Financial Advice That Worked (& Didn't)," says that America is dealing with "Big Woe" (as in "Woe is me"), but that examining the past makes it clear that "The American Dream is alive and well." Moore points out that what people think is unique today has all been played out in the past, comparing cryptocurrency to the thousands of self-issued currencies that existed before the start of the Civil War, prediction markets to the "bucket shops" of the 1800s and more, but he also notes that the advice that people think "always works" has not actually proven that if you look throughout financial history. "The dynamic, changing economy we live in is evolving," he says, "so hopefully we can learn something from the past to better understand where we are in the present." Kelley Wright, editor at Investment Quality Trends — now celebrating its 60th year, making it one of the longest-running investment newsletters — brings his dividend-with-value focus to the Market Call. Plus, in the ETF of the Week, Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi, examines a unique Treasury-focused fund as a way to ride out current rate swings while goosing yields in the ultra-safe portion of your portfolio.

VettaFi's Head of Research Todd Rosenbluth discussed the NEOS Enhanced Income 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (CSHI) on this week's “ETF of the Week” podcast with Chuck Jaffe of “Money Life.” 

Adam Rozencwajg, managing partner at Goehring & Rozencwajg — a firm that focuses on natural resource investing — says that the war in Iran has already created "the most severe shock to energy markets in history," which he says is three times more severe in terms of barrels produced than anything seen in the 1970s, and that the situation will get markedly worse from here. Rozencwajg says that it takes about 90 days from oil to make it from the well to the consumer; it's now been about 80 days since the wells were shut off because oil couldn't be shipped, which means "We should begin to feel the physical crunch in about 10 days time." He says inventory levels have dropped precipitously, could evaporate if tensions continue and that could lead to oil priced at $150 to $200 per barrel for months, and even after the Strait or Hormuz reopens; while he thinks the economy can avoid recession in those conditions, he acknowledges it would dramatically raise recession risk. Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi, takies a very different take on energy and power markets, picking a classic utilities sector fund as his "ETF of the Week." Allison Hadley discusses a study done for American Home Shield, which showed that homeowners spent an average of $3,737 on repairs in 2025, but that nearly one in five of those homeowners had to take on debt to pay for those fixes. Moreover, the survey found that 57% of the homeowners who made repairs were blindsided, meaning the cost came out of nowhere. Plus, Chuck answers a listener's question about indexed universal life insurance policies, a popular product among social media influencers that sounds too good to be true, and that probably is for most consumers.

VettaFi's Head of Research Todd Rosenbluth discussed the State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) on this week's “ETF of the Week” podcast with Chuck Jaffe of “Money Life.” 

Brendan Ahern, chief investment officer at KraneShares — which manages a number of funds tied to China — says that President Trump's recent trip to China was viewed very differently overseas than it was in America. In China, the trip was viewed very positively for establishing trade boards, improving communications and laying a foundation for future negotiations.  Domestically, however, the view of China has been that a tepid consumer is making the economy struggle, and that's before inflation kicks up globally based on oil prices. Ahearn, who also is the author of China Last Night, says China is prepared for oil and gas shortages, but it is looking at domestic consumption stimulus to help rev up consumers to help drive economic growth and improvement. "It's not all rainbows and unicorns over there, economically," he says, "but it's certainly not the apocalypse you would expect either." One statement in Ahern's Big Interview is that "There's no such thing as China-ex investing," meaning it's hard to buy any funds or ETFs where the holdings truly exclude businesses from China, but Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi, actually makes the point that in rare-earth metals, investors may want to take steps to avoid exposure to China. He makes the month-old Sprott Rare Earths Ex-China fund his "ETF of the Week," noting that rare-earth metals are a thematic play akin to buying gold miners, and that the new ETF, by avoiding China, follows a very different path than its longer-established competition. Plus, Chantel Bonneau Stewart, Wealth Management Advisor at WiseFit Wealth Management and Insurance Solutions at Northwestern Mutual discusses the launch of Northwestern Mutual's Personal Prosperity Index, which in its initial reading found that Americans feel good about the health of their relationships, body, mind and money, but they're not feeling nearly so good about the economy and politics.

VettaFi's Head of Research Todd Rosenbluth discussed the Sprott Rare Earths Ex-China ETF (REXC) on this week's “ETF of the Week” podcast with Chuck Jaffe of “Money Life.” 

VettaFi's Head of Research Todd Rosenbluth discussed the Roundhill Memory ETF (DRAM) on this week's “ETF of the Week” podcast with Chuck Jaffe of “Money Life.” 

Ross Mayfield, investment strategist at Baird, says that the Federal Reserve "is going to be very hard pressed to find a reason to cut [rates] here," and he thinks that if the central bank does have to make rate reductions down the road, "it won't be for reasons investors would be excited about." Mayfield says he remains bullish, noting that "a consolidation period is probably in order," setting up a volatile summer setting up a continuation of the bull market later in the year, barring any sort of exogenous shock. And speaking of shocks, Mayfield addresses what he sees as building signs of a market bubble, and while he says they bear watching, he is not expecting that kind of action to result from current conditions. Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi, makes Roundhill Memory — a brand-new fund that has raked in billions of dollars in assets in just weeks since it opened — his "ETF of the Week," noting that the fund has gotten off to a gangbusters start but that the fund's focus on just a few hot stocks should have investors concerned about whether it's a flash in the pan or here to last. Will Rhind, chief executive officer at GraniteShares, returns to the Market Call, and focuses largely on business-development companies, which got hammered due to software lending in March, rebounded sharply in April but remain unloved by the market today. GraniteShares' HIPS U.S. High Income ETF invests largely in BDCs and closed-end funds; Rhind outlines the current yield outlook in that space and for master limited partnerships.

Erik Aarts, senior fixed income strategist at Touchstone Investments, says the last few weeks have shown a disconnect between stock and bond markets, with the bond markets getting particularly cautious while stocks have raced back to record highs. What the bond market is worried about, Aarts says,  is that higher oil prices will bleed into another round of higher inflation. ... At its base case, that's why yields are up today." Aarts also discusses how high-yield bonds are not living so much up to their label as "junk bonds," and that much of that high-risk exposure has moved to or stayed in private credit markets, changing the risk-reward profile of high-yield bonds and making them more attractive than other categories now. For his ETF of the Week, Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi, goes in an unusual direction, picking an emerging markets sovereign debt fund that gets poor grade from Morningstar but that Rosenblth says fits the bill for a growing group of investors looking for overseas bond exposure that's tied to the dollar.  Wall Street veteran Anthony Gallea, chief executive at Working Profit and publisher of the Working Profit Investment Letter, adds the twist of finding a catalyst to a Benjamin Graham-Warren Buffett style of value investing. In the Market Call, Gallea discusses how that works and where he sees potential catalysts now.

VettaFi's Head of Research Todd Rosenbluth discussed the Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) on this week's “ETF of the Week” podcast with Chuck Jaffe of “Money Life.” 

Jason Hsu, chief investment officer at Rayliant Global Advisors, says that "thee's the real economy and there's what the S&P 500 and Nasdaq are measuring" and they're different, which is why it's "not crazy for the stock market to reflect something almost separated from reality." As a result, consumers can freak out at what they see at the gas pumps and grocery stores and concerns over war can be on everyone's mind at the same time the market is re-testing record highs. In a wide-ranging Big Interview, Hsu also discusses why the U.S. and China have backed away from trade-war tensions and how artificial intelligence may have a bigger impact on work forces in India and China than it does in the U.S. and more. In the Market Call, Nancy Prial, co-chief executive officer and senior portfolio manager at Essex Investment Management, discusses the current ongoing rally in small-cap growth stocks and why she expects smaller stocks to return to their historical path of delivering gains that are slightly better than brand-name stocks over time. Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi, looks to a domestic dividend-driven fund for his ETF of the Week, noting that it's a defensive pick in part because "that's what has worked this year."

VettaFi's Head of Research Todd Rosenbluth discussed the Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) on this week's “ETF of the Week” podcast with Chuck Jaffe of “Money Life.” 

John Silvia, chief executive officer at Dynamic Economic Strategy, says he expects the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates steady, leaving mortgage rates stuck at 6%-plus and in an environment with the 10-year Treasury rising slightly. Silvia points out that the central bank is not going to be frantic about 3% inflation and reducing it to the 2% target level, but he says that investors and retirees will suffer from that higher inflation, creating more of a retirement-savings struggle. Courtney Werning, principal at Meyer Wilson Werning and the 2027 president-elect for the Public Investors Advocate Bar Association, discusses how and why smart consumers and investors get caught up in scams and how artificial intelligence has raised fraud risks, particularly for seniors. Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi , turns to Japan for his ETF of the Week, suggesting that it might be worth a portfolio tilt for someone looking to add foreign exposure to a portfolio. In the process, he discusses whether investors looking that way want to hedge the currency risk or play it straight.

VettaFi's Head of Research Todd Rosenbluth discussed the WisdomTree Japan Opportunities Fund (OPPJ) on this week's “ETF of the Week” podcast with Chuck Jaffe of “Money Life.” 

Gabe Diederich, portfolio manager at Baird, says that long-term indicators for inflation haven't moved much, which is good news for bond investors interested in capturing steady income for the long haul. He says in the Big Interview that he expects the Federal Reserve to wait on rate changes — so long as the economy and labor market remains stable — until there is more clarity and certainty in the numbers. Diederich says that fundamentals for bonds across the spectrum look solid, but he says "There's a great story for the tax advantage of municipal bonds," and that investors should look to take advantage of the tax benefits to generate real income and stabilize portfolios. Kevin Callahan, founding partner, Fairway Capital Management — portfolio manager for the Fairway Private Equity & Venture Capital Opportunities Fund — talks about whether concerns in the private credit markets are bleeding into the venture-capital and private-equity space, and what lies ahead for alternatives markets, particularly as older technology investments made just a few years ago are looking less attractive in the face of artificial-intelligence developments today.  Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi, highlights the brand new Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust, and what the entrance of one of the world's biggest money managers to the crypto ETF space — introducing the lowest-cost spot bitcoin fund — means for investors and the industry.

VettaFi's Head of Research Todd Rosenbluth discussed the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust (MSBT) on this week's “ETF of the Week” podcast with Chuck Jaffe of “Money Life.” 

Mark Yusko, chief investment officer at Morgan Creek Capital Management, says global uncertainty "is at the highest level it has ever been," which is why investors have been leaning into quality and other factors they understand and are comfortable with, but he says value-oriented investors should be looking for less-traveled paths, searching for opportunities where they feel really uncomfortable "and where it's hard to pull the trigger." Yusko discusses ETFs in the Market Call, but also talks current events, noting that "Volatility is disagreement about future outcomes." With the "ETF of the Week," Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi, turns to an actively managed municipal bond fund as a tax-time diversion, but he notes that the low-cost fund with a solid tax-free yield deserves long-term consideration too. Jamie Hopkins, co-author of "Your Retirement Sketchbook: 125 Retirement Planning Lessons from Financial Experts," discusses the new book, holes many people leave in their financial planning and how to take charge of the process and fill in the gaps.

VettaFi's Head of Research Todd Rosenbluth discussed the Goldman Sachs Municipal Income ETF (GMUB) on this week's “ETF of the Week” podcast with Chuck Jaffe of “Money Life.” 

Ryan Isherwood, chief investment officer at Significance Capital, says that the stock market's momentum has not been broken even as it backed away from recent record highs, which means that stocks have been correcting since last October. That makes it more of a time correction — which can last longer — than a short, steep price drop. That said, Isherwood noted that there are strong signs that the market could resume its long-term upward trend and bullish bias once the geo-political pullback ends as there is more clarity in the headlines. Yelena Maleyev, senior economist at KPMG Economics, discusses the March 2026 Outlook Survey from the National Association for Business Economics, released today, which showed that  the consensus forecast among economists has deteriorated sharply in the last few weeks, with two-thirds of the group expecting a reduction of GDP this year, and in many cases that economic activity slowdown will be big, but will stop short of recession conditions. Nearly 70% of the economists said the broadening of geopolitical conflicts is the "greatest downside risk to the  economy over the next 12 months;" just 8% felt that way about geopolitical worries just three months ago. Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi, turns to a diversified natural resources index fund as his "ETF of the Week," noting that a multi-sector approach involving upstream energy companies, agricultural companies and more can be a good diversifier — while providing a decent yield — in current conditions. Plus Matt Weyandt, a client portfolio manager on the listed real assets team at Nuveen, discusses how a "Halo theme" — heavy asset, low obsolescence — positions investments in real estate, infrastructure and commodities to perform well despite global headlines that are buffeting markets. Specifically, Weyandt notes that location-specific hard assets  with contractual income streams are built to deliver regardless of the broad market conditions.

VettaFi's Head of Research Todd Rosenbluth discussed the FlexShares Morningstar Global Upstream Natural Resources Index Fund (GUNR) on this week's “ETF of the Week” podcast with Chuck Jaffe of “Money Life.” 

Thomas Winmill, portfolio manager for the Midas Funds, says that while war typically is good for precious metals generally, the case for gold miners being able to deliver outsized returns is particularly strong now. Moreover, Winmill says the forces that contributed to gold being up more than 50 percent in the last 12 months — despite being down more than 10 percent in the last 30 days — are intact, and while war in Iran and geopolitics generally are creating a downturn, the longer-term forces will return once there is more clarity about economies around the globe. Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi, looks to a relatively young, actively managed, concentrated, equity-income fund that uses an options/derivative strategy as his ETF of the Week, noting that it's an addition to a portfolio that adds stability, but that should be used in moderation. Plus, Tom McIntyre of McIntyre, Freedman & Flynn — who was the show's first-ever Market Call guest in 2012 — returns to Money Life, bringing his news-sensitive investment style with plenty of news to talk about. McIntyre was last on the show nearly a year ago, when he was positive on energy and oil stocks; he discusses where they fit in a portfolio now, amid the turmoil in the oil business due to the war in Iran.

Axel Merk, president and chief investment officer at Merk Investments and the Merk Funds, says that the Federal Reserve's Wednesday disclosures were not a surprise, but do suggest a bit of a ho-hum attitude that the market has over the situation in Iran. Mostly, he says, the market is pricing things as if the tensions and resulting impacts on the oil market will remain short-term disruptions. He discusses his expectations for oil, god and more in the Big Interview.    Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi, also looks at gold, with his pick for the ETF of the Week, and does it in a way that is unusual for him, because it focuses more on the fund's expenses than his typical weekly selection.     Alex Morris, chief executive officer at F/m investments, talks about the firm's filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to tokenize its Treasury fund, a first-of-its-kind move that has potential to change the way ETFs trade, making them directly accessible on the blockchain. He discusses the industry implications but also why this is the obvious next step in integrating crypto into the rest of the financial world.    Plus, Chuck filled up his gas tank yesterday, and the price was 90 cents higher than the last time he was at the pump. Rather than complain, he discussed the situation with people at nearby pumps, and he describes the politically diverse conversation and his takeaways from it.

Jay Jacobs, U.S. head of equity ETFs at BlackRock, says that the artificial-intelligence revolution has delivered massive spending, but not at levels that have been spent relative to gross domestic product, during other generational shifts like the introduction of the automobile. As a result, while he understands the bubble concerns, he expects AI to continue holding its place among BlackRock's global thematic trends. Also on that list of trends is geopolitical shifts, which were well underway before current events evolved into a war in Iran; because those trends were in place before today's developments, Jacobs says he doesn't expect markets or outlooks to be dramatically impacted by headline events. Jacobs also discusses the new iShares Staked Ethereum fund, a new development in the crypto space, which the firm is launching today. Wade Pfau,  professor of retirement income, at The American College of Financial Services, discusses his revised, third edition of "Retirement Planning Guidebook: Navigating the Important Decisions for Retirement Success," which includes a new section covering sequence-of-inflation risk. Pfau says that concern -- which financial advisers mostly overlooked -- is particularly important now given growing concerns about sticky inflation, and that it may be as important for retirement savers as sequence-of-return risk, which Chuck typically says is his biggest retirement-savings worry. Plus, Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi, leans into global turmoil this week, picking a diversified international fund as his ETF of the Week.

Sal Gilbertie, chief executive officer at Teucrium Trading — which runs commodity-oriented ETFs — says that war in the Middle East will have mostly short- and medium-term impacts on markets, commodities and inflation, noting that "If you're not already long energy, you're taking a pretty big risk by buying it now." He says he will be watching fertilizer prices — because Iran is a large producer of urea, a key ingredient in fertilizers — expecting to see some inflationary pressures, but he thinks that, too, will pass quickly. Teucrium also runs crypto funds and Gilbertie also gives his take on how leading currencies will get through the current "crypto winter." With current events in the Middle East impacting his thinking, Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi, turns to a large-cap, low-volatility index fund for the "ETF of the Week," noting that the fund may not be the highest of flyers but it has a history of softening the blow of market downturns and troubles. Rod Yancy, founder of the Oath Money and Meaning Institute, discusses research which found that healthcare costs — premium, prescriptions, long-term care and more — are the top financial worry of American retirees entering 2026, but which also showed that a solid majority of retirees have a positive outlook this year despite current economic and geopolitical concerns. Plus, Chuck answers a listener's question about using artificial intelligence to improve personal portfolio results.

Todd Rosenbluth with VettaFi notes that non-U.S. ETFs saw their second strongest month on record for inflows. This shift toward international markets is one Todd believes is caused by a combination in U.S. economic uncertainty and higher growth outlook abroad. He later talks about the ETF strategies he recommends for investors. ======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day.Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – / schwabnetwork Follow us on Facebook – / schwabnetwork Follow us on LinkedIn - / schwab-network About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

Ed O'Gorman, chief executive and chief investment officer at River Wealth Advisors, says that despite headline risks, investors need to "participate, without being overexposed" to market forces, balancing risks and approaches. He notes that recent action indicates that the market is broadening out, highlighting that an equal-weighted approach recently has delivered better results and lower returns, a sign that it's a good time to diversify and rebalance portfolios into the face of the news cycle. Bob Powell, retirement columnist at TheStreet.com and the co-founder of FinStream TV, dives into new research showing that household spending tends to decline modestly over the course of retirement, typically by small annual amounts that turn into big money over the decades of retirement. He has created a "Retirement Reality Check" that lets investors see for themselves how spending reductions -- the standard pattern, even if not conventional wisdom -- change the trajectories of retirement savings and spending. With the "ETF of the Week,"Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi, focuses on a large-cap value fund that in its three-plus year history has accumulated what may be the most accolades and honors of any fund, getting perfect marks from both Morningstar and Lipper, with a structure and management discipline that should lead to continued future success. Plus, Emily Fanous discusses survey work she did for Credible.com study which found that 77% of Americans engaged last year in risky financial activities.

Greg Daco, chief economist at EY, says the economy has been dealing with historic and conflicting economic shocks, but if it can continue the current capital investment cycle and see the productivity gains promised by artificial intelligence, it should be able to remain resilient in pushing past wobbles and weakness. Daco, who currently serves as the president of the National Association for Business Economics, discusses his concerns that growing polarization between different consumers and businesses are increasing the fragility of what he calls "the A pillars of economic growth" — affluent consumers, A.I. investment and asset-price appreciation economic growth — and how that creates "pockets of risk" that could change the cycle.  Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi, leans into signs that the stock market has been broadening to make an equal-weight fund his ETF of the Week, noting that the balanced construction creates a very different take on the market than the traditional index fund covering the same ground. Mike Bailey, director of research at FBB Capital Partners, brings his "beat and replace" methodology back to the Market Call, discussing how secular change in industries and economies creates the upgrading opportunities he looks for.