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1. Crypto ETF Craze Might Be Getting Too Crazy
Last year brought some seminal moments regarding the intersection of the cryptocurrency universe and the exchange traded funds industry. The ball got rolling in January 2024 when a batch of spot bitcoin ETFs came to mark, some of which now rank as the most successful ETF launches of all-time. Six months later, the market welcomed spot ETFs linked to ethereum – the second-largest digital currency by market value. As of late Jan. 31, the combined market values of bitcoin and ethereum was north of $2.4 trillion. Alone, bitcoin is worth more than Saudi Arabian oil giant Saudi Aramco. — Todd Shriber
2. Post-Election Market Surge: Analyzing Investor Optimism Under Trump's New Policies
Bullish exuberance is returning to the markets and the economy in a big way following the Presidential election. Such is particularly the case with recent executive orders signed by Trump, which fulfill Trump’s promises to “Make America Great Again.” Given that short-term market dynamics are driven primarily by sentiment, as investors, we can not dismiss the rapid turn in optimism over the last few weeks. We addressed this point in this past weekend’s “Bull Bear Report,” which I want to build on in today’s commentary. — Lance Roberts
3. Maximizing Your Clients’ Charitable Impact Through a Life Insurance Donation
When working with your clients to plan their charitable giving, it’s important to think about their entire financial landscape—and often, that might include life insurance policies. If you have a philanthropically inclined client that no longer needs their life insurance policy, you may consider working with them to contribute their policy to a 501(c)(3) public charity, like a donor-advised fund. By contributing a life insurance policy during their lifetime, your client can use the value of their policy to benefit their favorite causes, while also claiming a current-year income tax deduction (if your client itemizes) and potentially reducing their estate tax liability. Your client can also name a charity now to be a beneficiary of their policy after their lifetime, helping to extend their charitable legacy. — the Charitable Strategies Group at DAFgiving360™
4. Maximizing Investment Insights with Data: Leveraging AI for Smarter Decisions
Robert Huntsman is the Chief Data Officer at iCapital, a company dedicated to powering the world's alternative investment marketplace. In this episode, Doug and Robert explore the advancement of data management and solutions, highlighting the technology-driven tools transforming private market investing. — iCapital
5. 20 Webinar Ideas for Financial Advisors To Host in 2025
99% of advisors say “If I can just get in front of people, I’ll close the deal.” (DeVoe & Company). Events are your opportunity to do just this – get in front of people and close the deal. Hosting webinars is a scalable strategy to generate high-quality leads with a high return on investment, while building brand awareness and credibility. Here are 20 webinar ideas to use in 2025, broken down by client type. — FMG
6. 3 Fund Strategies Amidst US Tech Stock Decline
Trump’s return to the White House sparked a stock market rally last week, led by the promise of the $500bn artificial intelligence (AI) investment, Stargate. US stocks soared off the back of the news, along with solid earnings from some market leaders, reaching a new record closing high. — Victoria Hasler
7. DeepSeek: A True Inflection Point or Just Hype?
Being an optimist, I always think the future is bright – is it orange or yellow and blue? – yet, when looking back into the past, almost every year has something happening somewhere that moves the world’s axis. It’s like my favourite quote from Vladimir Ilyich Lenin who, after the Russian Revolution in 1918, said that “there are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen” (although Lenin never actually said it). I like this quote because it illustrates pockets of change around the world, some of which are localised and some are global. Local pockets of change are illustrated by what is happening in Gaza and the Ukraine. Global pockets of change are illustrated by the 2008 financial crisis and the AI revolution of the past year. — Chris Skinner
8. Market Optimism Soars Amidst Looming Risks: What Investors Should Know
It’s hard not to be excited about the prospects for the municipal market in 2025. Yields sit at some of the highest levels in decades, the aggregate credit quality of the market remains high, and the days of supply-induced distortions seem to be behind us. On the one hand, the fundamentals of the market remain robust, offering a promising outlook. On the other hand, headline risks pose concerns and should be considered. This duality presents a unique scenario for investors as they navigate the year ahead, but ultimately likely represents a return to normalization and more room for opportunity. Frankly, it is refreshing to see the market begin to price in more risk. — JB Golden
9. Decoding Trump's Tariff Policies: A Technical Analysis
In this episode, host Lindsey Bell is joined by Jay Woods, Chief Global Strategist at Freedom Capital Markets. Jay, a Wall Street veteran, shares insights on the 2025 market, secular bull trends, and President Trump's policies. They explore technical indicators like S&P 500 levels, RSI, and corrections, emphasizing the balance of fundamental and technical analysis for investors. — What Does It Mean?
10. Why Active ETFs, Why Now?
Active ETFs combine some of the most useful features of ETFs—liquidity, transparent fees, favorable tax treatment, and diversification—with active management. — Fidelity Investments
11. Economic Experts Weigh In: The Consequences of Trump's Latest Tariffs
President Trump has levied 25 percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada and 10 percent tariffs on China. The Wall Street Journal calls this “the dumbest trade war in history.” I’d used stronger language. So would virtually every international trade economist on the planet. But you don’t need to be a trained economist to question starting a trade war with our closest ally, Canada, nor our southern neighbor, Mexico, let alone what is now or soon to be the world’s largest economy, namely China. — Laurence Kotlikoff