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It has a lot of Industrials and Financials as well as Consumer Discrtionary, and I like SMDV more (but own a lot and can't add), but I am establishing a position in Vanguard Morningstar Small-Cap Value ETF (VBR). I am funding it with a reduction in iShares TIPS Bond ETF (TIP) at a price that is marginally lower than where I last added on 9/23 and then again last week. VBR has given up more than half of the year-to-date gains. The trades: Sell 35 TIP at $104.27 Buy 15 VBR at $

The week was okay for stocks and tough for bonds again. Last week, I discussed the 4th quarter ahead, right before the end of Q3. A Look at the Market The S&P 500 has returned 13.8% 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 18%. At the same time, iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG) has declined in price in 2026. With dividends included, the retu

Yesterday, I added a small position in Utilities SPDR ETF (XLU), exiting another equity ETF. I am exiting XLU and adding to iShares TIPS ETF (TIP). The trades: Sell all (100 shares) XLU at $40.01 Buy 35 TIP at $104.47 The updated model portfolio:

I like it, but I am taking a small loss on ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL) and replacing it with Utilities SPDR ETF (XLU). XLU is down a lot in 2026, falling more than AGG. The trades: Sell all (60 shares) NOBL at $53.95 Buy 100 XLU at $39.25 The updated model portfolio:

September was a very challenging month for bonds and did challenge stocks too, especially smaller ones. The S&P 500 slipped during the month, but it did gain during Q3, as I discuss below. It is not on track to return 20% or more this year, and this would break the three-year big-gains streak. The Market July was a rough month, but after a very strong August, large-cap stocks did retreat in September. The S&P 500 has returned 12.7% with dividends included, and the price is up

I am doing that trade I did yesterday at at even better price today, exiting the recently purchased Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Index ETF (VGSH) and adding to ProShares S&P MidCap 400 Dividend Aristocrats (REGL), The trades: Sell all (50 shares) VGSH at $57.58 Buy 25 REGL at $87.19 The updated model portfolio:

I remain cautious on equities, but I am boosting exposure by adding to ProShares S&P MidCap 400 Dividend Aristocrats (REGL), reducing the recently purchased Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Index ETF (VGSH). I am also adding to the very cheap PIMCO 15+ Years TIPS ETF (LTPZ). The trades: Sell 50 VGSH at $57.50 Buy 25 REGL at $87.29 Buy 20 LTPZ at $45.07 The updated model portfolio:

I have boosted equity exposure a lot recently, and I am reducing it today. I am cutting the recently new position in ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL) at a small loss and reducing ProShares S&P MidCap 400 Dividend Aristocrats (REGL) too. I am adding a new position in Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Index ETF (VGSH), which I had exited in August, and I am also adding to iShares TIPS Bond ETF (TIP). The trades: Sell 50 NOBL at $55.32 Sell 50 REGL at $88.81 Buy 100

Maybe I cursed it! I am reducing iShares TIPS Bond ETF (TIP) again and boosting ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL). The trades: Sell 25 TIP at $105.55 Buy 50 NOBL at $55.50 The updated model portfolio:

I am not a big fan of stocks at their current prices, but I am boosting equity exposure again with the reintroduction of ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL), which I exited on August 19th. I am still underweight equities after this elimination of Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securiries ETF (VTIP), which I and my wife own still, and reduction in iShares TIPS Bond ETF (TIP). The trades: Sell all (40 shares) VTIP at $49.34 Sell 20 TIP at $105.51 Buy 60 N

The week was volatile for stocks and bonds, and stocks fell slightly as did bonds. Last week, I discussed how TIPS aren't acting very well in Q3. They were weak this week. A Look at the Market The S&P 500 has returned 12.6% with dividends included, and the price is up 12.0% 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 18%. At the same time, iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG) has declined in

I remain bearish, but I am trimming Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index ETF (VTIP) to add to ProShares Russell 2000 Dividend Growers ETF (SMDV). The trades: Sell 30 VTIP at $49.34 Buy 20 SMDV at $73.68 The updated model portfolio:

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: