iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF

AGG

Market cap $137B

In terms of sheer size, DWS may not compete with the Vanguards and BlackRocks in the ETF space when it comes to garnering the most market share. However, it does something to discern itself from the masses: offer unique ETF products.

One of the most important things to remember is that if you want to build up wealth, it's different than retirement income, and if you're on the former side, you want to start accumulating money now.

In my equity watchlist there will not be only the USA, I will closely follow global markets, especially factor strategies. In the bond segment, I really appreciate active management; I think passive ones will remain poorly able to capture the evolutions of 2026. Among the segments with alpha potential, I identify the small cap value segment due to lower valuations and better earnings expectations.

U.S. equity markets climbed to fresh record highs in the Christmas-shortened trading week, buoyed by surprisingly solid GDP data, positive holiday spending trends, and a pullback in global interest rates. The delayed GDP report released this week showed a modest reacceleration in U.S. economic growth in the third-quarter to the strongest pace in two years alongside a cooler-than-expected inflation reading. Precious metals stole the show. Gold, silver, and platinum extended a historic rally fueled by a combination of easing rates, central-bank buying, end-market demand, and investor appetite for hard assets.

U.S. equity markets posted mixed performance as surprisingly cool inflation data and soft employment data were tempered by a hawkish pushback from Fed officials and skeptics clinging to inflation fears. The critical CPI report showed inflation easing to four-year lows, a heavily criticized report that may, ironically, be the most accurate inflation reading in several years due to collection limitations. The report "zeroed out" shelter inflation due to incomplete collection, combined with an antiquated and lagged sampling methodology, effectively "correcting" its data by removing the most persistent source of distortion.

If you are depending on Social Security for your retirement income, you might want to add reinforcements.

Many advisors and investors are contemplating or actively adjusting their portfolios for the new year. That's why the insights gathered from attendees at last week's VettaFi 2026 Market Outlook Symposium were so compelling.

U.S. equity markets posted mixed performance after an unusually divided Federal Reserve delivered a third-straight rate cut, but signaled a likely "pause" in the easing cycle. Perhaps the last rate cut under the "Powell Fed," the FOMC voted 9-3 to lower the federal funds rate to 3.75%, with two votes to keep rates unchanged. Markets saw hawkish undertones in the updated Economic Projections and commentary from Chair Powell, which emphasized lingering uncertainty around the inflation outlook and lack of conviction in softening labor markets.

My portfolio goal is sustainable, stress-free income—prioritizing safety over chasing high yields. Even though it might be very tempting, tilting investments towards 10%+ yields is not the smartest thing to do. The historical stock market annual return figure is around 10%, which is very difficult to meet for income investors, who are usually concentrated into fixed income factor (lower return potential).

U.S. equity markets climbed to the cusp of fresh record-highs as another soft slate of employment data and modest PCE inflation data helped solidify the case for another rate cut. ADP provided the most evident signs of cooling labor markets, posting job losses in three of the past six months and a cooldown in wage growth to four-year lows. The PCE report showed corresponding disinflation in discretionary services categories, offsetting modest upward pressures on goods prices, resulting in the first monthly deceleration in core inflation since April.