Don’t Take All the Credit
The article by WisdomTree analysts Jeff Weniger and Kevin Flanagan examines the state of U.S. credit markets amid lingering Middle‑East conflict concerns. It notes that investment‑grade and high‑yield spreads entered 2026 at the low end of historical ranges, briefly widened when the conflict began, and have since tightened modestly. At the same time, private‑credit BDCs confront AI‑related exposure, redemption pressure and heightened scrutiny, though default rates remain within norms, leaving volatility elevated.
Wall Street Tail-Risk Hedges Rally as Conflict Shakes Markets
Wall Street’s tail‑risk hedges have surged as the Iran‑Israel conflict wiped roughly $6 trillion from global equities and pushed oil above $100 per barrel. Leveraged VIX ETFs such as UVIX and UVXY jumped 30% and 20% respectively in March, while long‑expiry...
Busting the Myth of Treasuries as a Haven
Recent market episodes, including the US‑Iran war and the 2022 rally, showed stocks and Treasuries moving together, challenging the notion that Treasuries act as a safe haven in bear markets. Bloomberg’s analysis of data back to 1926 finds near‑zero correlation...
The ETF Frontier: Defined Outcomes and Private Equity
Goldman Sachs Asset Management is seeing strong momentum with its premium‑income ETFs, GPIX and GPIQ, each adding more than $500 million in early 2026 and pushing total assets above $3 billion. The products deliver monthly cash flow while maintaining core equity exposure,...
Boosting After-Tax Returns: An “All of the Above” Effort
The article argues that boosting after‑tax returns requires a holistic, "all‑of‑the‑above" strategy, not just higher pretax performance or lower tax bills. It highlights how high‑turnover, short‑term gains can erode gains with steep tax rates, while tax‑efficient assets and structures can...
Are EM Bonds the Most Obvious Trade in the World?
Emerging‑market (EM) bonds are delivering roughly double the yield of developed‑market debt while their volatility has fallen below that of traditional safe‑haven assets. The structural advantage stems from EM governments carrying about half the debt‑to‑GDP ratios of their developed counterparts,...
ETF Roundup: 3 New ETF Launches in February to Watch
February 2026 saw over 50 new ETF launches, highlighted by three niche funds. VanEck introduced the Communication Services TruSector ETF (TRUC) with a 14‑basis‑point fee, actively selecting leading media and telecom firms. ALPS launched the SMR, Nuclear & Technology ETF...
SEC Is Pushing Back Against New Wave of High-Leverage ETF Plans
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has warned leveraged‑ETF issuers to pause the effective dates of new high‑leverage funds, citing concerns over compliance with Rule 18f‑4. The agency’s Division of Investment Management used a brief group call to signal that proposed...
Tax Strategies Every High-Net-Worth Advisor Should Know
In a recent LPL Financial and VettaFi webcast, experts urged advisors to adopt a "tax‑first" mindset, shifting from reactive compliance to proactive, multi‑year planning. They highlighted that capital‑gains and income taxes now outweigh estate‑tax concerns for many high‑net‑worth families. The...
Private Debt: Are We Seeing Cracks or Is There Still Opportunity?
The 2025 bankruptcies of subprime auto lender Tricolor Holdings and auto‑parts maker First Brands sparked heightened regulatory scrutiny of private credit, raising fears of systemic fraud. However, senior‑secured, first‑lien loans—backed by tangible collateral—remained largely insulated from the fallout, delivering strong...
How The Tax Code Got So Complicated
The U.S. tax code has ballooned to over 70,000 pages since the 1913 16th Amendment, growing through countless piecemeal credits, deductions, and temporary measures. This complexity forces Americans to spend an estimated 7.1 billion hours and $388 billion in lost productivity each...
Continuation Funds: What They Are and Why They Matter
Continuation funds are new private‑equity vehicles that let general partners transfer one or more portfolio companies into a separate fund, extending the holding period beyond the typical ten‑year life. They give limited partners a choice to cash out or roll...
AI Scare Trade Shatters Two Investing Myths
Bloomberg’s Shuli Ren argues that the AI‑scare trade is reshaping equity valuations, pulling US software stocks lower while South Korea’s Kospi soars 44% this year. The article debunks two entrenched myths: that book value is irrelevant and that aging populations...
Morgan on the Road to Exchange
Morgan on the Road to Exchange featured an interview with Jennifer Morgan, founder and CEO of Connective Communications. Morgan discussed her innovative “Storyselling” methodology, which blends storytelling techniques with sales strategies. She announced that the workshop will debut at the...
Out With the Old: 5 Reasons Wealthy People Should Outsource Financial Administration
The article outlines five compelling reasons why ultra‑wealthy individuals should outsource their financial administration. It argues that the sheer complexity of diversified assets, tax regimes, and regulatory obligations exceeds the capacity of most personal staff. By delegating to specialist firms,...
The Hidden Cost of Sounding Too Prepared
Advisors who appear overly prepared can unintentionally make client meetings feel pre‑scripted, prompting clients to limit their input. When answers arrive before questions fully form, clients adapt by staying on the surface rather than sharing deeper concerns. Shifting from delivering...
BNY’s Eric Hundahl Talks 2026 Market Opportunities & More
BNY Mellon’s senior strategist Eric Hundahl outlined the investment landscape for 2026, emphasizing opportunities across emerging markets, technology, and sustainable assets. He highlighted that easing inflation and stabilizing fixed‑income yields are creating a more favorable risk‑adjusted environment. Hundahl also warned...
Navigating the Unusual Twist in S&P 500 Factor Correlation
At the start of 2026 the S&P 500’s traditional factor seesaw has tilted, with high‑beta and low‑volatility stocks moving in tandem rather than opposite directions. Historically, these two factors exhibit strong negative correlation, providing a natural hedge for investors. Recent...
US Mortgage Rates Reach Lowest Since 2022, Spurs Refinancing
U.S. mortgage rates slipped last week to roughly 6.5%, the lowest level recorded since 2022, igniting a wave of refinancing activity. The decline aligns with the Federal Reserve’s recent pause on interest‑rate hikes and softer inflation readings that have eased...
JPMorgan, BofA Favor Venezuela Bonds With More Unpaid Interest
JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Bank of America are urging clients to buy Venezuelan global bonds that carry large amounts of unpaid interest, known as accrued coupons. The banks argue that these distressed securities could deliver outsized returns if Venezuela...
AI Threat Signals Investors Should Shift Bets to Builders — Not Coders, UBS Wealth CIO Says
Ubis Wealth Management’s CIO Ulrike Hoffmann‑Burchardi warns that artificial intelligence is eroding the moat of software‑centric businesses. She argues that AI‑driven automation will compress margins for firms reliant on code, while physical‑world operators—miners, power producers and industrial manufacturers—stand to gain...
