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I am extending from Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index ETF (VTIP) to PIMCO 15+ Year US TIPS ETF (LTPZ) and iShares TIPS Bond ETF (TIP). The trades: Sell 70 VTIP at $49.34 Buy 25 LTPZ at $47.09 Buy 25 TIP at $105.40 The updated model portfolio:

Yesterday, a day ahead of the FOMC meeting, I added to ProShares S&P MidCap 400 Dividend Aristocrats (REGL) and sold some Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index ETF (VTIP). Today, I am trimming REGL slightly, and also reducing PIMCO 15+ Year US TIPS ETF (LTPZ), which gapped up today but is cheap and adding to VTIP. The trades: Sell 25 LTPZ at $47.34 Sell 10 REGL at $90.84 Buy 40 VTIP at $49.52 The updated model portfolio:

I did this yesterday, and I am doing it again at a better price, remaining very underweight stocks and very overweight TIPS. I am reducing Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index ETF (VTIP) and adding to ProShares S&P MidCap 400 Dividend Aristocrats (REGL) again. The trades: Sell 75 VTIP at $49.49 Buy 45 REGL at $90.52 The updated model portfolio:

I wrote about how cheap TIPS are this weekend, saying that they are not working. Why, then, am I selling? Well, I am reducing the very short-dated ones, which are a surrogate for cash, and I still own a lot. I am reducing Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index ETF (VTIP) and adding to ProShares S&P MidCap 400 Dividend Aristocrats (REGL) again. The trades: Sell 50 VTIP at $49.54 Buy 25 REGL at $91.07 The updated model portfolio:

Stocks fell this week and bonds slipped again. Last week, I discussed how semiconductor ETFs are down a lot in Q3. They rallied this short week but are still down quarter-to-date. A Look at the Market The S&P 500 has returned 12.7% with dividends included, and the price is up 12.1% for SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) in 2026 so far. This leaves the market on track to post a return for the full year right at under 19%. At the same time, iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG) has decl

This week and last, I reduced TIPS (VTIP) and added to the two equity ETFs. I am reducing exposure to ProShares S&P MidCap 400 Dividend Aristocrats (REGL), which is down slightly, and adding exposure to iShares TIPS Bond ETF (TIP). The trades: Sell 25 REGL at $90.96 Buy 20 TIP at $105.83 The updated model portfolio:

Earlier today, I added to ProShares Russell 2000 Dividend Aristocrates ETF (SMDV) and trimmed Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Index ETF (VTIP) again to fund it. I am doing it again. The trades: Sell 50 VTIP at $49.67 Buy 30 SMDV at $74.91 The updated model portfolio:

Yesterday, I boosted REGL, but today I am adding to ProShares Russell 2000 Dividend Aristocrates ETF (SMDV) and trimming Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Index ETF (VTIP) again to fund it. The trades: Sell 50 VTIP at $49.66 Buy 40 SMDV at $75.00 The updated model portfolio:

I did this trade earlier today as well as late last week, but I am open to it again at a better price. I remain very underweight equities in the model portfolio. I am adding to ProShares S&P MidCap 400 Dividend Aristocrats (REGL) and reducing Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index ETF (VTIP). The trades: Sell 50 VTIP at $49.72 Buy 25 REGL at $91.29 The updated model portfolio:

Stocks advanced marginally and bonds slipped this week. Last week, I discussed how "sell in May and go away" is not really working out just yet. A Look at the Market The S&P 500 has returned 13.5% with dividends included, and the price is up 12.9% for SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) in 2026 so far. This leaves the market on track to post a return for the full year right at 20%. At the same time, iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG) has declined in price in 2026. With dividends inc

It's up today, but ProShares S&P MidCap 400 Dividend Aristocrats (REGL) has dropped a lot over thepast few weeks and I am adding to it. I am funding it with another reduction of Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index ETF (VTIP). The trades: Sell 50 VTIP at $49.69 (changed to correct from 48.69) Buy 30 REGL at $92.70 The updated model portfolio:

Buy the dip is not really my idea of the way to play, but I am adding to ProShares Russell 2000 Dividend Aristocrates ETF (SMDV) and trimming Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Index ETF (VTIP) to fund it. The trades: Sell 50 VTIP at $48.69 Buy 30 SMDV at $75.35 The updated model portfolio:

August was a positive month for stocks, which ended higher as measured by the S&P 500, and bonds, which rose modestly. Stocks are up in 2026, aiming for a 20% return for large-caps and better for smaller ones. During July, I decided to stop writing at Seeking Alpha, as I explained in writing. Not to worry! I am still writing a lot, and I am working on finding a new spot. The Market July was a rough month, and August was better. The S&P 500 has returned 13.1% with dividends in

Last week, I boosted equity exposure in my model portfolio, and I am doing it again today. The exposure is still very low. The sale this time will be some Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index ETF (VTIP), and I will boost the recently trimmed ProShares S&P 400 Mid-Cap 400 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (REGL), which did fill a gap today that was below the trading level. The trades: Sell 25 VTIP at $49.66 Buy 20 REGL at $93.01 The updated model portfolio:

Stocks and bonds advanced this week, though they both pulled back on Friday. Last week, I discussed the big rally in Bitcoin (and IBIT). A Look at the Market The S&P 500 has returned 13.4% with dividends included, and the price is up 12.8% for SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) in 2026 so far. This leaves the market on track to post a return for the full year right at 20%. At the same time, iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG) has declined in price in 2026. With dividends included, t

I reduced it yesterday, and I am trimming it again today at a higher price. I will still hold a very large position in ProShares S&P MidCap 400 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (REGL). I am boosting one that I trimmed, PIMCO 15+ Year US TIPS ETF (LTPZ). The trades: Sell 10 REGL at $94.59 Buy 25 LTPZ at $48.44 The updated model portfolio:

Year-to-date, ProShares Russell 2000 Dividend Growers ETF (SMDV) is ahead of the ProShares S&P 400 Mid-Cap 400 Dividend Aristocrates ETF (REGL), but small-caps are beating mid-caps by more. Here is a look at the action since late 2022: In Q3 so far, REGL has advanced 2.6%, while SMDV has declined by 0.3%. I am swapping some REGL for some SMDV. The trades: Sell 50 REGL at $93.91 Buy 75 SMDV at $76.81 The updated model portfolio:

I like TIPS a lot and fear equities are going lower, but I am trimming PIMCO 15+Year US TIPS Index ETF (LTPZ) and adding again to ProShares Russell 2000 Dividend Growers ETF (SMDV). The trades: Sell 25 LTPZ at $48.49 Buy 25 SMDV at $76.76 The updated model portfolio:

I have a lot of TIPS, but I am buying more as inflation concerns pick up. I am exiting Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Index ETF (VGSH) and boosting shorter-duration TIPS VTIP and also iShares TIPS Bond ETF (TIP). The trades: Sell all (150 shares) VGSH at $58.13 Buy 50 VTIP at $49.79 Buy 50 TIP at $107.36 The updated model portfolio:

The news was quite interesting this week, as Treasury Secretary Bessent boosted bond repurchases, sparking a rally for a day in Treasuries. The market fell this week for stocks. Last week, I discussed why I am not that interested in Fidelity ETFs. A Look at the Market The S&P 500 has returned 12.9% with dividends included, and the price is up 12.3% for SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) in 2026 so far. This leaves the market on track to post a return for the full year below 20%. At the s