However, retirees and conservative investors seeking income for living expenses or just as an investment hedge may feel left out - the paltry dividends from pure stock index ETFs are negligible, yet their double digit gains are reliable portfolio asset growth factors that are essential for staying ahead of inflation. The popularity of the ultra high dividend YieldMax ETFs flipped the script and made covered call dividends themselves into a wealth building platform through dividend compounding.
CEO Larry Fink said the global market currently holds more than $4.5 trillion in digital wallets, spanning crypto, stablecoins, and tokenized assets. "A lot of that money is outside the United States," Fink said on CNBC earlier today, emphasizing the opportunity for the firm to reach new investors through digital channels. Fink said tokenization could allow investors who are entering markets through crypto to access more traditional long-term products, such as retirement funds.
VOO tracks the S&P 500, an index of 500 large-cap U.S. companies across sectors like technology, healthcare, and finance. Giants like Apple ( NASDAQ:AAPL ), Microsoft ( NASDAQ:MSFT ), and Amazon ( NASDAQ:AMZN ) dominate its holdings, reflecting the performance of America's biggest firms. VTI, on the other hand, follows the CRSP US Total Market Index, encompassing over 3,600 stocks, including large-, mid-, small-, and micro-cap companies. This broader scope captures nearly the entire U.S. stock market, offering more diversification.
Gold prices have surged over 45% in 2024, reaching multiple record peaks and heading toward their strongest annual performance in 45 years. Beyond purchases by central banks, the precious metal has gained momentum from the Federal Reserve's interest rate reductions, the global shift away from dollar dependence, and increased investment in gold ETFs. In addition, with the stock market seemingly printing new all-time highs every week, gold and the gold miners are seen as a solid hedge against a market meltdown