🧠 The Smart Money Brief

🚀 Big Moves This Year

ETF 1-Year Return

ARKK +55.6% (hello volatility!)

SPYG +18.5% (steady growth)

VYM +11.1% (safe and solid)

Others +3% to +13% range Best Risk/Reward:

SPYG – Sharpe ratio 1.20 with low volatility

 • 🧘‍♂️ Lowest Volatility:

VYM – Just 10% vol over the past year. Sleep well.

 • 🧪 Most Momentum:

ARKK – +37.5% in just 3 months. (But drawdown over 67% in 5 years!)Check out the Shop

🔍 ETF Face-Off: A Few You Should Know

🌐 SPYG – Large Cap Growth

 • 5-Year growth from $45 → $94.79

 • Smooth glide, minimal turbulence

 • Sharpe ratio: 1.20 (the higher the better)

 • Expense: 0.04%

✅ Perfect core holding for growth lovers.

• ⚡️ ARKK – The Wild One

   • Explosive 1Y bounce: $45 → $70

   • Massive 5Y drawdown: -67%

   • Beta: 1.50 (moves fast, in both directions)

   • Momentum: +37.5% in 3 months

  ⚠️ High risk, high reward. Not for the faint of heart.

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  💼 VYM – High Dividend Hero

   • Quiet, consistent: $120 → $133.31 this year

   • Dividend: 2.63%

   • Volatility: lowest of the pack

   • Expense ratio: 0.06%

  📈 Ideal for income and peace of mind.

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  🌍 VWO & VEA – Global Diversifiers

   • VWO: 3.5% yield, solid value, emerging markets

   • VEA: rock-steady, 2.8% yield, low expense

  🌐 Smart diversification outside the U.S.

Pro-Tip- If you’re investing $20/month, focus on low-cost, high-conviction ETFs. Let compounding + consistency do the work.

If you’re deploying a lump sum, balance risk with diversification: some rocket fuel, some concrete.

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Nerd Metrics (if you’re into that stuff)

ETF Beta Max Drawdown Expense Yield

ARKK 1.50 -67% 0.75% 0.06%

SPYG 1.10 -29% 0.04% 0.60%

VYM 0.85.  -20% 0.06% 2.63%

VWO 0.90 -25% 0.08% 3.50%

SPMO 0.95  -20% 0.12%  1.50%

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Takeaways

What’s Trending Now

Disruptive tech is roaring back, led by ARKK’s explosive rebound. But the real winner? Growth ETFs with low cost and consistent returns. Risk-aware investors are leaning into SPYG for performance without panic.

Portfolio Refresh Ideas

Still holding only S&P 500? It’s time to diversify. Rotate in a high-yield play like VYM, add global flavor with VWO or VEA, and consider sprinkling in ARKK for upside exposure. Just like your wardrobe, your portfolio needs layers.

Risk Style Forecast

Beta matters. ARKK is running hot at 1.50, while VYM and VEA keep it chill under 0.90. Match your picks to your personality: thrill-seeker or steady climber?

Asset Class Focus

ETFs aren’t just stocks in a basket — they’re strategy tools. From momentum-based plays (SPMO) to quality-driven picks (SPHQ), the structure behind the scenes is what separates passive from powerful.